TITLE: Projective and reflexive modules
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: Is there an easy way to prove that if $M$ is finitely generated projective $R$-module, then $M$ is a reflexive module using just the definition of the natural map?
The natural map is $\theta: M \rightarrow M^{**}$ is defined by $\theta(m)=\widehat{m},$ where given $f \in M^{*},$ we have $\widehat{m}(f)=f(m).$
Using just the natural map and the dual basis for projective modules, it is easy to see that $M$ is torsionless (or that $\theta$ is injective), but I'm struggling to see that $\theta$ is surjective. 
I'm using this page's notation, and they also give another path to prove what I'm asking.

REPLY [3 votes]: Let $M\oplus N=R^k$; then applying $\operatorname{Hom}_R(-,R)$ to the split exact sequence $0\to M\to R^k\to N\to0$ preserves split exactness. Applying it again you get the commutative diagram with split exact rows:
$$\require{AMScd}
\begin{CD}
0 @>>> M @>>> R^k @>>> N @>>> 0 \\
@. @VVV @VVV @VVV @. \\
0 @>>> M^{**} @>>> (R^k)^{**} @>>> N^{**} @>>> 0
\end{CD}
$$
The middle vertical arrow is easily seen to be an isomorphism. By diagram chasing, $M\to M^{**}$ is injective and by symmetry also $N\to N^{**}$ is injective. Hence, by diagram chasing, $M\to M^{**}$ is surjective.