The Remington R51 and I have an interesting relationship. The gun premiered in 2014, but there was a fair bit of lead-up from the time the guns were announced to their release. I followed the production of the gun and was looking forward to it. Single-stack 9mms were the hot stuff in 2014, and Remington promised something different.
One of my character flaws is liking things that are different just because they are different. In 2014, single-stack 9mm handguns were all traditional striker-fired Browning short-recoil action guns with polymer frames.
Remington R51
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Remington HTP 9mm Ammo 115 Gr JHP, 20rds - RTP9MM1A | Palmetto State Armory | $ 19.99 $ 17.99 |
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Remington HTP 9mm Ammo +P 115 gr JHP, 20rds - RTP9MM6A | Palmetto State Armory | $ 19.99 $ 17.99 |
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Remington Range Clean 9mm 115 gr Ammo FNEB - 50rds - 27681 | Palmetto State Armory | $ 26.99 $ 23.99 |
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The Remington R51 offered a single-stack 9mm with an internal single-action hammer, and it used the hesitation-locked action designed by John Pedersen.
The Remington R51 was a sequel to the Model 51, a .380 ACP or .32 ACP pistol first produced in 1918. The Model 51 delivered an interesting overall design for the era, but it was never super popular. It was a neat gun that Remington had in its annals and decided to bring back to the modern world. The R51 used better metallurgy and design to create a 9mm version of the Model 51.
The Controversy
We can’t talk about the Remington R51 without talking about its controversy. I didn’t buy one in 2014 because, well, they sucked. In the firearms world, the R51 became a bit of a cultural milestone. Many people still call it the gun that killed Remington. It also changed the gun media for the better.
People saw glowing reviews in traditional paper magazines, which directly contrasted with user experiences shared on the internet. Websites began publishing their reviews, which weren’t so glowing. The Remington R51 had failures to extract, stovepipes, failures to feed, magazines failing to lock in place, and more.
The biggest issue was that the gun could fire before the action closed, resulting in an out-of-battery detonation. This was downright dangerous. Remington announced a voluntary recall in 2014. It took two years for Remington to ship the Gen 2 guns. The best way to tell a Gen 2 is by where it’s made. Gen 2s come from Alabama, and Gen 1s come from North Carolina.
Gen 2s still had problems, notably the failure to feed issue. Apparently, trimming the magazine follower fixes the issue. Mine is a used model R51, and it appears someone did that mod, which results in one of my two magazines failing to lock the slide open.
The Remington R51 in 2025
Where would it stand today if the Remington R51 ran like an absolute clock, and the release was problem-free? Likely with most other single-stack 9mms. It wouldn’t be obsolete, but Remington would have probably produced a micro compact, optics-ready variant by now. Assuming the gun ran reliably, I’m still unsure how successful it would have been.
Taking the gun apart is a nightmare. Much like the original Model 51, it’s a tough gun to take apart. Something about a Pedersen design from 1918 doesn’t translate well to 2014, much less 2025.
The hesitation lock is pretty neat. It’s more complicated than a Browning short recoil action, so I get why the short recoil operation is more popular. The hesitation lock is better described as a delayed blowback action.
This system allows you to use a very Walther-like design. The recoil spring nests over the barrel, keeping the bore axis low. The gun uses a fixed barrel, like a Walther PP.
The ergonomics are surprisingly nice. I like how the gun fits in my hand, which is a silly consideration but worth making. The slide is easier to manipulate than most. The magazine release is ambidextrous, and the slide release is easy to reach and access.
The grip is aggressively textured and has removable and replaceable panels. Remington made wood panels, which I’m currently searching for. The gun uses a grip safety that clicks nicely when engaged.
The gun’s most notable aspect is its look. It has an eye-catching art deco style.
Shooting the R51
It’s a shame the gun had such a bad reputation and legacy because the Gen 2 shoots nicely. Yes, the first user had to modify the magazines, but it runs surprisingly well. The gun does seem to have less muzzle rise than comparable models and guns of similar size and caliber. This makes the sights very easy to track, which makes rapid, accurate fire a bit easier.
I was surprised how quickly the front sight returned to the target. It’s rather nice. While the muzzle rise is minimal, the rearward recoil is slightly more intense than similar guns. The recoil feels like it goes straight rearward rather than rearward and upward. The hesitation lock certainly has a unique feel.
Remington didn’t skimp on sights. They are quite large and easy to see. Easy-to-see sights are easy-to-align sights, and the little R51 shoots accurately. At 15 yards, you can easily create tight little groups that don’t exceed more than three inches. At 25 yards, I can keep all of my shots on 10-inch gongs, and at 50 yards, I can keep them hitting an FBI Q target.
The single-action trigger has some takeup, and it’s not 1911-quality, but it’s nice and crisp. I’d like to see more single-action internal hammer guns out there, but it seems like the FN Reflex is the only company trying something different.
Is It Reliable?
I didn’t torture test this gun, and since I’ve owned it, I’ve probably fired 200 rounds through it. I had no real problems with the gun. It fired, extracted, ejected, and loaded each and every time. One of the magazines fails to lock the slide open on empty, and that’s the only issue I’ve had. That’s not a huge test, but this isn’t a carry gun for me.
It’s a curiosity—a fun piece of firearm history, or infamy. The Remington R51 didn’t kill Remington; unchecked venture capitalists killed Remington, but the R51 didn’t help. It’s a real shame because in a different timeline, I’m carrying an R51 with a stack and a half magazine and a red dot in 2025.
About Travis Pike
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms enthusiast, and now a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor and is the world’s Okayest firearms instructor.
Why is this a silly consideration? Ergonomics are very important be it a firearm, camera or any other device where the hands are used to operate it.
The fixed barrel would make it a nice muffler host, if it had been popular enough to grow an aftermarket for modification parts like a threaded barrel.
I really wanted one of these when they first came out. As their many problems began to surface, I was glad I didn’t get one. Ditto the second production run. Pity! It was a neat looking design.
I found and bought a North American Arms (NAA) Ranger (that break top that they only made a few of) at a pawn shop for $200. It was hard to keep that ecstatic look off my face until I was out of their store.
I carry my r51 daily. It has been flawless with >2000 rounds downrange. I guess I got lucky.