Remington Announces New R-51 Pistol

The R-51 uses the Pederson action but that’s where we depart from the original. As you can see from the photos the entire pistol has been streamlined and dehorned. There’s not one sharp edge anywhere on this pistol. The magazine release is ambidextrous. There is the usual internal drop safety. The primary safety is the grip safety. As you draw the pistol you can feel as well as hear the grip safety click and disengage. Once the grip safety is depressed you’re ready to fire. The R-51 has an internal hammer you would term this a single action.




A good deal of time was also spent on getting the grip circumference and angle as close to perfect as they could manage. They did a good job because the grip not only feels good but it’s a natural pointer. When you draw and bring the pistol on target the sights are pretty much lined up. The shooters hand also sits very high and much closer to the bore axis reducing felt recoil.
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New for 2014, the Remington R51 Sub-Compact pistol was designed as a modern version of Remington’s original Model 51. Originally designed in 1915 by John Pedersen, the Model 51 was considered ahead of its time, and soon became one of Gen. George Patton’s personal sidearms during WWII.

While designing the new R51 Sub-Compact, Remington aimed to modernize Pedersen’s design to work with 9mm Luger and .40 S&W cartridges. They also wanted to maintain the personality, shooting characteristics and size of the original Model 51.

Enter the R51 Sub-Compact—a modern, concealable pistol with the ability to handle +P factory ammunition. The R51 uses a hammer-fired, Pedersen action with a locked breech and fixed 416 stainless steel barrel. It also features drift-adjustable sights and an aluminum frame with 25 lines-per-inch checkering on the front grip strap.

An ambidextrous magazine release allows left- and right-handed shooters to eject the flush-fitting, seven-round magazines—two of which come standard with the pistol.

Additional versions of the R51 Sub-Compact line will include one with a built-in Crimson Trace Laserguard, as well as another model with a threaded barrel for suppressor attachment.

The standard Remington R51 Sub-Compact will be available Feb. 1, 2014 at a price of $389.

The R51 also joins a collection of new offerings from Remington for 2014.


Old school meets new school in the Remington R51.


The hammer-fired Pedersen action also features a fixed barrel and
locked breech to handle some of the hotter +P ammunition.



A lowered, flared ejection port was designed to improve spent
shell case ejection.



The low bore axis and 20-degree grip angle aids in reduced muzzle
flip and lower felt recoil.


Interchangeable grips and a light slide-racking force allows ease
of operation among many different operators.



The R51 features a positive grip safety and smooth, rounded
edges for comfortable concealment.


Drift-adjustable sights enable operators to adjust the sights to
their preference.


An upcoming version of the R51 includes a threaded barrel for
suppressor attachment.



The Remington R51 was designed with a modernized version
of the traditional hammer-fired Pedersen action.


The R51 feeds from 7-round magazines.

Testing revealed the R51 is comfortable and controllable, even
when shooting one-handed.


G&A editors put several R51s through their paces during testing for
the upcoming March 2014 issue.