Rifleman Review: Remington R51

by
posted on September 30, 2020
Released back in 2014, the Remington R51 is a semi-automatic sub-compact handgun chambered in 9 mm that feeds from a single-stack magazine. The R51 is a modern adaptation of an older design produced by Remington, the Model 51. The Model 51 was produced from 1918 to 1927, chambered in either .380 ACP or .32 ACP.

The Model 51 was largely designed by John E. Pedersen, a renowned inventor in the first half of the 20th century who designed such items at the Pedersen Device for the M1903 Mark I and the Pedersen toggle-lock rifle that competed against the Garand rifle for U.S. adoption. Pedersen developed a hesitation-lock action that uses a breech block separate of the slide, which is normally a single piece in other semi-automatic handgun designs..


When fired, the breech block of the Pedersen hesitation-lock moves rearward with the slide before camping up and out of lock.
The Pedersen hesitation-lock allowed less material to be used in the slide of the Model 51, reducing weight and felt recoil. The design also allowed for a lower bore axis with a fixed barrel.


Pedersen also worked on designing and refining the ergonomic of the Model 51, some of which carried over into the R51.
The R51 uses the same Pedersen hesitation-lock design as the older Model 51. The R51 is comprised of an aluminum frame with a steel slide. It also uses a single-action trigger with a hammer hidden within the slide.


Safety features on the R51 include a passive firing-pin safety as well as a grip safety on the backstop of the pistol.
The R51 also comes with a three-dot sight system that can be removed and changed with aftermarket sights if so desired. Due to the use of the Pedersen hesitation-lock design, the R51 has a low bore axis with less moving mass.


The barrel itself does not move during the unlocking phase. While the R51 had reliability issues when first released in 2014, it was recalled and reworked by Remington, the issues were largely fixed on later production examples.

For more information on the R51 handgun chambered in 9 mm, visit remington.com.

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.

Latest

Fn Americana 545 Tactical Giveaway
Fn Americana 545 Tactical Giveaway

The Great FN Gun Giveaway At NRAAM 2025

Here’s a chance to win a custom, one-of-a-kind FN 545 Tactical pistol at the 154th NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits, April 24-27, in Atlanta, Ga. No purchase necessary.

Training With Moving Targets

Most target shooters understand static or bullseye-type stationary targets quite well, but did you know that adding motion into your training routine will improve practical marksmanship and the skills necessary to conquer defensive situations?

USA Shooting Celebrates 30th Anniversary

USA Shooting marks a historic milestone in April as it celebrates 30 years as the national governing body for international shooting sports within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Rifleman Review: Rock River Arms LAR-15M .17 HMR

Building a reliable semi-automatic rifle chambered for the .17 HMR can be a challenge, but Rock River Arms seems to have solved the issue with its unique RRA .17 HMR AR-style rifle.

New For 2025: Tanfoglio Hexagon Tactical & Hexagon P

Tanfoglio manufactures CZ 75 pattern pistols in a variety of forms, and for 2025, the company is adding two new variants to its lineup with the Hexagon Tactical and Hexagon P.

See New Guns & Gear At The NRA's Annual Meetings In Georgia

Freedom-loving American patriots gather every spring at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits to celebrate their liberty and check out the newest crop of guns, optics, ammunition and accessories. This year, 2025, the fun will take place in Atlanta, Ga.—we hope to see you there!

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.