Tam notes that the beer goggles are wearing off when it comes to some folks and the R-51. I agree with Tam on this one: I plan to get one just because of the novelty, and because the price is right. I have no plans to carry an R-51 and didn’t think “what an awesome carry gun” when I first saw it.
I’m generally not a big fan of single stacks for carry, because if I’m dressed for being able to conceal something the size of an R51, I’m dressed for being able to conceal a Glock 19, and all things being equal, I’d rather have 16 rounds than 7. The next step down for me is a pocket pistol, for those situations where I can’t dress to conceal a Glock 19, and where it’d be nice to have some option above pepper spray and harsh language.
Different body types and styles of dress make concealing a gun an extremely variable experience from person to person.
A G19 and R51 might be equally concealable and comfortable for you, but not the next guy or gal. Competition and options are always good.
And of course I just love seeing the concealed carry market red hot.
Effective carry is all about proper gear choice. Using the right equipment (holster and belt) is important. Choosing the right clothing is absolutely critical. Confidence in both of these also plays a large role in your ability to effectively conceal a firearm.
In my experience, people who have trouble effectively concealing a mid-size double-stack 9mm pistol (or claim to) generally lack appropriate gear and/or confidence.
A quarter inch or more in slide width and more than that in grip matters, if you want to wear properly fitted and properly tailored clothing, not baggy casual 24/7.
Cops in suits usually look like cops in suits because their tailoring, even if done well, is extremely asymmetric.
The “right clothing” for real life isn’t always what will best conceal a gun.
There’s only so much a mediocre tailor can do with an off-the-shelf suit. When you buy your suits at Men’s Wearhouse, or Jos. A Bank, you should not be surprised when their in-house tailor doesn’t know how to tailor them to hide a gun.
You used “you” in that response, I assume you were speaking generically? In which case I agree.
Still, the flatter the gun, the more symmetrical the cut. Likewise the more fitted the clothes in any regard.
You have decided that going from 8 to 16 rounds is worth dressing around. That’s fine. Someone else might make a different decision. That’s fine too. I know people who never carry more than a pocket gun, even when they could easily conceal much bigger. They’ve thought about it, and made the choice that works for them.
As long as you do it responsibly, there’s no right or wrong way to carry. That’s why I like the release of the R51. The more options, the better. We’re in the golden age of concealed carry. Its awesome to have to new guns and associated products made available to us weekly.
If you take your rights, self-defense, and self-sufficiency seriously enough to carry, we’re in agreement where it matters regardless of gun choice.
The trigger was horrible, just awful. It was like trying to get a staple gun unstuck. I also heard, from another media member, that it had a lot of issues during media day with either FTF or FTE.
I’m going to wait and see how the gun works out in practice once it is debugged and on the market. It looks promising; time will tell. Clearly a lot of thought went into the design; there is only the question of how well it is going to be executed.
I have no pooch in this fracas, because I many years ago settled on the .38 snub as my hideout gun. I am now too old to see much reason to switch–set in my ways I suppose. But I am glad there are so many options these days for people who don’t see it my way.
Must disagree with the “no single stack for carry” comment. How about the 1911s and variants? Me, I’m a Springfield XD-S guy. But, then again, to each his own. :) This is a gun blog with strong opinions!
I’m all for whatever floats your boat. But for the way I dress, and my build, a single stack might as well be a double stack as far as concealment goes.
Single-stack guns are outdated.
These days, single-stack guns are largely relegated to being either backup or social guns. The R51 seems to be too large to be the former, too ugly to be the latter.
I’m of the school of thought you carry what you like and shoot well with (with some minor ammo considerations), from revolver all the way up to a FiveseveN. The problem with the R51 is I was just astonished by how bad the trigger was, along with engaging the grip safety. I’m very much a fan of people having as many options as possible, I’m just concerned that its a poor option due to design issues and its being marketing explicitly for a CCW role Remington even had a really OTT brochure mentioning “Meth Town” and “You will have your door kicked in at 2AM.”
Just out of curiosity, does Bitter habitually carry? Sebastian often mentions his trusty G19/LCP, but Bitter rarely chimes in on the subject.
Since most of the time we leave the house we’re together, she usually does not carry. She does have an LTC, and has a SIG 239 w/ a Comp-Tac Infidel IWB holster if she does decided to carry, which she will sometimes.
She does not like the feel of double stack pistols in her hand, so she has a single stack pistol.