• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Loadout Room

The Loadout Room

Professional Gear Reviews

Hardcore Gear and Adventure

Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • m243The M24: America’s Headhunter
        • skorpFull-Auto Fun — Shooting the full-Auto vz. 61 Škorpion
        • p320-full-leftSIG Sauer M17/M18/P320 Pistol Just Can’t Seem to Escape Safety Controversies
        • TISAS_10100520_1__98179Tisas 1911A1 U.S. Army Review: Best Budget .45 ACP WW2 1911 Clone?
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • Viking-Bags Logo 2Pic of the Day, Viking Motorcycle Bags 45L Tactical XL Bag
        • Hunting in TexasThese 5 ATV Dealers Will Get You Ready For Hunting Season in Texas
        • ac65a540-2ef3-4598-8d11-afdf53f46e94.__CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970_V1___Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review
        • Bluetti 2 handsfree power backpackBluetti Handsfree 2 Review: The Ultimate Power Backpack for Off-Grid Adventurers
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • Neoron Energy DrinkNeoron Brain Booster Review: A Clean Hit of Focus
        • Viking-Bags Logo 2Pic of the Day, Viking Motorcycle Bags 45L Tactical XL Bag
        • Tom and Blake Sell TeaHow Sasquatch Tea Is Revitalizing a Stagnant Tea Market With Veterans and Outdoorsmen in Mind
        • redcat-blackwidow-articleheaderWar of Words: In the Ultra-Competitive Defense Tech Industry, Storytelling is a Secret Weapon
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Buying Guides
  • Shop
  • Advertise
Pistol

Remington’s R51 Is It all True?

March 4, 2018 by Graham Baates Leave a Comment

When the Remington R51 was re-released I was excited.  An American company producing a pistol with a different action than the standard browning locking action.  Call me a gun nerd, but that sort of stuff excites me.  The gun magazines all had rave reviews until it was made public that either money had changed hands or the magazines were simply lying to earn advertising bucks from Remington.  Then came the online reviews.

Problem after problem showed up in YouTube videos.  It seemed every YouTuber had their own unique problem.  The results were more than disappointing.  I waited more than a year to get my hands on one as reaching out to Remington proved as fruitful as planting bullets and trying to grow an ammo tree.  When the prices came down I picked one up.  Is it as bad as they say on the range?

I headed out on a frosty morning and through rain, sleet, then snow ran the R51 through a battery of tests.  Full-mag +1, The “What’s for Dinner” load compatibility test ranging from 165gr to 65gr, and of course a quick grouping from seven yards using Nosler 115gr Match.  The video below shows the results.

Were there some initial hiccups?  Yes.  Did those hiccups go away? Yes.  The argument is fair that modern pistols should be able to run fine out of the box without break in, but I’m more patient with guns.  Besides, that break in period is a great time to get to know a pistol before you trust your life to it.

Speaking of getting to know a pistol, field stripping is a bit more complicated than you might be accustomed to.  Forget that easy Glock field strip, or even a 1911 with a full-length guide rod.  Disassembly of the R51 requires some patience and understanding of how the firearm works.  See what I mean in the video below.

So what have we learned?  The R51 has an uncommon design and that means uncommon disassembly.  To expect otherwise is silly.  While the process is a bit of a turn off, it’s also part of the unique charm of the R51.  I can’t explain why the gun grouped so low.  I shoot a LOT of handguns and always group with Nosler 115gr Match.  The sights may not be correct, or I could have had a bad shooting day.  More time on the range will tell, but then of course I’d have to take the thing apart again to clean it.

Remington is struggling with debt.  They’ve launched a couple failed handguns and money-grabbers were quick to jump on the class action suit against the Model 700.  Even though the R51 isn’t the next best thing, I still admire the attempt to create something new and build it here in America.



Share This

About the Author

Graham Baates “Graham Baates” is a pen name used by a 15-year active Army veteran who spent most of his time in the tactical side of the Intelligence community including tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Post-Army Graham spent some time in the 3-Gun circuit before becoming a full-time NRA Certified defensive handgun instructor. After more than 1,900 hours instructing he now works as an industry writer while curating a YouTube channel on the side.

See All Graham Baates Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

Primary Sidebar

Most Read

  • Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
    Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
  • Vakarian Plate Carrier Review: Elite Comfort and Modularity for Under $300
    Vakarian Plate Carrier Review: Elite Comfort and Modularity for Under $300
  • Pyramyd AIR’s Springfield Hellcat Pro CO2 BB Pistol Is the Ultimate Dry-Fire Trainer
    Pyramyd AIR’s Springfield Hellcat Pro CO2 BB Pistol Is the Ultimate Dry-Fire Trainer
  • Honoring John Taffin and Mike “Duke” Venturino with Some Big-Bore Magnum Revolver Blastin'
    Honoring John Taffin and Mike “Duke” Venturino with Some Big-Bore Magnum Revolver Blastin'
  • My First Single-Action Revolver Purchase: Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR/.22 WMR Range Report
    My First Single-Action Revolver Purchase: Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR/.22 WMR Range Report

Find Us on Facebook

Recent Comments

  • Stepvenlau on UH-1 Holographic Sight by Vortex Optics
  • Stepvenlau on Vortex Spitfire AR Prism Scope with Bullet Drop Compensator (BDC) Dial
  • Stepvenlau on Red Dot Sights on Pistols

Latest From SOFREP

News

Evening Brief: Israel Orders Evacuation of Northern Gaza, Uganda Agrees to Accept US Deportees, US-EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariffs

Entertainment

Words That Make Sense Only If You’ve Worn the Air Force Uniform

Navy

USNS César Chavez to Keep Its Name Amid Pentagon Renaming Push

War Stories

Col. (Ret.) Nate Slate: Young Heroes

Military Content Group

© Copyright 2025 Military Content Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers