The R51 is out, and so is the jury.
Coming into SHOT '14, there were two products that had a lot of buzz and preconceived opinions to go along with it- the G42 and Remington's R51. From the conversations both online and around the casinos and bars, the world was ready to hate the G42 (mainly for being 380), and excited to see the R51 (Remington's first new pistol in many many moons).
Having spent a little time with both, I can tell you that the glowing reviews of the G42 are well deserved as are some of the mixed reactions to the R51.
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The R51 is comfortable to hold, but feels and looks a bit like a PPK on HGH.
First, the quick factory specs-
The R51 is a complete modernization overhaul of the Remington Model 51 pistol from the early 20th century. It's built solidly with an aluminum frame and stainless steel slide. It functions via a Pedersen Block action which allows a very low bore design, minimizes felt recoil and allows for the use of +P ammunition. It's chambered in good old 9mm, features a single-stack 7+1 capacity and fires these rounds through a 3.4" barrel. There is an unobtrusive grip safety that disappears once you point the pistol. It weighs in at 22oz, but feels a bit lighter in the hand.
The grip is mostly smooth aluminum with a checkered front strap. There are replaceable polymer inserts on either side that will eventually be available in different materials like mother-of-pearl and rosewood, if those are more your style.
The R51 was created for and marketed towards concealed carry use, and to that end, there is not a single sharp edge to be found anywhere- including a gentle curve on the back edge of the rear sight. The sights on top are metal, drift adjustable and highlighted by 3 large, bright white dots. Being a single stack, it is very narrow and should be easy to conceal under almost any shirt.
The value looks to be decent with an MSRP of $420. (Two magazines included, additional magazines available for $29.99/ea). There is a second model available sporting an integrated, trigger guard-mounted Crimson Trace laser (MSRP $609).
So, why all the mixed reactions to the gun? Part of it comes from Remington's marketing of it- you couldn't toss a 3-day assault pack anywhere near the Remington booth without hitting the word "subcompact". Simply put, this gun is not a subcompact. It feels (and measures) like a mid-size handgun, comfortably allowing 3 fingers to fit under the trigger guard. Some people liked it's 50's ray gun styling, while others were turned off by it. And curiously, Remington had no samples for media to shoot at SHOT range day, so we all have to take Big Green's word for all the "percentages of muzzle flip reduction" and "feel of the increased lock time". Just dry firing, the trigger has a longer-than-expected travel, stacking up slightly just before the break. Finally, it being a new design, real world durability verdicts will have to wait awhile.
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AAC's booth displayed an R51 wearing their Ti-RANT 9S silencer.
One intriguing aspect of the non-tilting barrel design is in conjunction with suppressors. The non-moving barrel theoretically provides a perfect platform for the addition of a compact can, not requiring the extra size, weight, complexity, or cost associated with an integrated recoil booster. It remains to be seen if fellow Remington Outdoor Company element AAC will offer a dedicated booster less can for the R51. In the meantime, it looks and feels just fine with the company's Ti-RANT 9S.
