Anyone buy a Remington R51 yesterday?

[1SOW]

Does anyone think that a gun with this much bad press can ever recover, even if they finally fix it?

Not with me at this point.  I've already sought out different carry options.


Taurus PT-111 and PT709, both in 9mm.

I've reverted back to my P239 which is a totally reliable pistol.

I do want the R51 to operate at its potential.  The size, weight,  carry and shooting FEEL was really nice.  It also shot very very well at 10 yards,  when I could get the trigger to function. 

I've been looking at the list of found problems on another forum while seriously considering trying to fix those that Remington/Cerebus doesn't repair:
1.  A real trigger and pin that actually fits  2.  Reaming the chamber to SAAMI specs  3. Smoothing and polishing everything that moves/rubs  4. "Finding" a way to make the grip safety engagement smoother and more postive.  Both of the magazines functioned well,  unlike some other owner experiences noted.

May even discuss #1 and #4 with another forum member who might be interested in doing some "tinkering". 

[jwc007]

I've reverted back to my P239 which is a totally reliable pistol.

Exactly what I've done with my Taurus PT111 and PT709.  I know they work!

Good luck fixing your Remington R51, though.  I like the ergonomics of the basic design, it just needs a good bit of refinement.

[bobanddog]

Sounds like the approach that Harley-Davidson buyers took during the AMF years.  Those who knew motorcycles knew the bike would be FUBAR as delivered but they bought them anyway, and then took them apart and fixed everything that was wrong.  Those who didn't know motorcycles where blissfully ignorant and thought they were supposed to shake themselves apart, douse your legs with hot oil, require an overhaul every ten thousand miles and refuse to start when not cuddled and kept warm at night.

Either way, the only thing that straightens such a company out is a change of ownership or enough people saying 'no more' and taking their business elsewhere.

[s0nspark]

Those who didn't know motorcycles where blissfully ignorant and thought they were supposed to shake themselves apart, douse your legs with hot oil, require an overhaul every ten thousand miles and refuse to start when not cuddled and kept warm at night.

Oh man... that was too funny!

[1SOW]

Maybe a "glimmer' of hope  copied from another forum by an owner who has been following the pistol faults  closely:

Among the comments on his review of the R51 is this from Jeff Quinn (gunblast.com) posted 4 days ago:

"I had a meeting last week with the Remington folks at their headquarters in North Carolina. They are aware of the problem and the damage to their reputation. They are working on a fix to make ALL of the production guns consistent, so that every R51 on the market is as good as it can be. They are not going to rush the problem guns back out until they have a permanent fix, not just a bandaid."
Several posters on RemingtonOwners.com report being offered full refunds for their R51s awaiting repair. One posted this regarding his conversation with ROC CS:

"I just spoke to customer service regarding my R51. He confirmed that the R51 was made at Para USA in Pineville, NC. He said he didn't know if the plan was replace or repair at this point - he had heard both. He said that they were told two weeks ago that they had a fix and the guns would be heading out "within the next week or two". Now he says he doesn't have any idea when they will be returned. I asked about serial numbers and if that had anything to do with repair or replace. My R51 is in the 2000 range. He said he didn't think so. According to him, there is supposed to be a large group of engineers that are checking each return over prior to return and also that the number of R51's that have been returned is fairly small compared to the number produced."

I hope this is the case.  I would rather have a smoothly functioning pistol than a refund,  IF parts and support become available.. 

[GRB5111]

This news indicates there may be some resolution. It's better for Remington to take its time and make sure the fix corrects all the issues. Here's hoping they get it right one time, and customers like 1SOW will be able to have the pistol they thought they were buying. I'm still a future customer if this is all resolved.

[1SOW]

3 days ago,  I emailed Remington Customer Support and asked for an update on 'WHAT' was going to be the action taken by Remington to make MY R51 run smoothly and safely.
Surprisingly,  I got a response: 

Good morning, Mr. '1SOW',
The latest update is that your gun is going to be replaced. We are told that it should be coming back to you in about four to six weeks.
We appreciate your patience!

    Considering it's been two months already, another 1-1.5 months is an improvement.  "We are told that it should be..."  Told?
I'm an optimist!   I'm an optimist!  _{I'm an optimist?}

If this pistol does come back,  I AM going to shot the pee pee out of it. 

[Towns]

We are told that it should be.

Don't you love those non-commital and elusive words.

Still sounds hopeful though.  I'm excited for you. 

By the way, when your club hosts their BUG matches, are they usually part of a regular match, or they BUG only matches?  I know you'd like to try out the R-51 in one of those.

[twowheels]

My club sometimes incorporates a bug stage or 2 in a regular idpa match but we had a full bug match a couple months ago which was a real hoot with difficult stages.  Everyone was many points down. 

[1SOW]

By the way, when your club hosts their BUG matches, are they usually part of a regular match, or they BUG only matches?  I know you'd like to try out the R-51 in one of those.

Usually it's just one--sometimes two-- bug stages of the 5 stages.  Sometimes it's pistol,  bug, shotgun, rifle;  Hence a "FUN SHOOT".;
I need a 9mm carbine,  but it won't be made by Remington. 

[GRB5111]

That's encouraging news. Love how they respond like it's under the control of someone else. Fingers crossed that within 6 weeks you'll have the gun you thought you were buying . . .

[puddintame]

plain and simple. if it doesn't go BANG every time. I wont invest in it. and the R51..............

[jwc007]

Remington pulls the plug on the R51..................http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/07/foghorn/breaking-remington-scrubs-traces-r51-website/

[cntrydawwwg]

It's to bad. I really wanted it to work also. Its a good thing that they pull it rather than keep producing a flawed product. If QC would have dealt with this from the beginning before they released to the public they would have a better customer base. IMHO

[henehcuhp]

Kahr CW/CM9. Keltec PF9/Ruger LC9. S&W Shield. Bersa BP9.

Those all immediately come to mind for single stack carry 9mm's in the $400 or less realm. I'm sure there are others. And there are even more options if you're willing to pay a touch more. Being willing to accept a .380 in return for size and cost advantages also hugely increases options.

Which leads to me to ask the same question I have all along: why did anyone care about the R51? It never seemed to have ANY promise in my mind. I got to hold a pre-release model and it just seemed terrible...I honestly cannot name another gun that screams 'I am shoddily built' at such a volume.

I feel bad for the people who bought one of these, only to (apparently) get shafted. At least other manufacturers that commonly have teething issues on new models (looking at you, Sig) generally get them worked out. But I really don't get why anyone put any confidence in Remington or this gun to begin with.