What's up with Remington, are they gone again?

[Bill Norris]

Tragedy. I love my older Remingtons even some of the not so old olds like the LVSF, VSSF, AWR, Ti 700s and such. So many iconic firearms with such a storied past that it’s hard to imagine how they aren’t bouncing back. There is a success story waiting to happen with a Remington if the right management ever get into place. If not then the may have a place in history right next to the dodo bird.

It’s not late yet but the it’s not looking good right now.

Yea, it's looking very doubtful Remington will ever find their way back to good quality products.

 

[OldM1Shooter]

My son eagerly bought a brand-new R-700 in .308 to shoot PRS. CONSISTENTLY 2 MOA no matter what. Quality factory loads, 200+ Lapua bullets in Lapua cases testing loads, but only occasionally would a 5-round group do the random fluke thing and approach 1.25 MOA.

So I decided to chase the throat and try a light jam into the lands…and found it was free-bored a full quarter-inch. The bullets world need to be seated about 0.05” into the cases to even touch the rifling.

His 6.5 Grendel AR shot better.

We both shoot builds on Remington actions and custom barrels, but will probably never buy a new one again.

 

[joshb]

The last “good” 700 I bought was a 308 stainless 5R Tenth Anniversary model. That was 17-18 years ago. Most of the ones I bought since then were for the actions. I got one at Cabela’s when they were dumping them for $300. The action and bolt throw felt like it had sand in it. That’s when I moved to Tikka’s and custom actions.

 

[Bill Norris]

The last new Rem 700 .308 I purchased @ 2020 or so, was a piece of junk. When I chambered New Lapua brass and closed the bolt it would scrape brass off the head stamp really deep. Once fired it was to hammer the bolt open with every shot. After about 20 rds. I sent it to Zack @ ODCR (WSMNUT here on the site) to get it blue printed and a decent barrel put on it. Shot like a dream after getting it back as with all builds from him.

 

[1shot]

If it's not a A,B,C or G prefix it's not worth taking a chance. There are to many better options available now.

 

[distinguished]

New owners of Colt are doing a pretty good job it seems. I think they are being very selective in the products they are working on/bringing back.

The words Colt and Quality have not been useable together since the mid '70's. The older employees with real skills were retiring by then.

 

[charlie b]

I've only seen one newer Colt and they are better than in some previous years. CZ ownership seems to have helped a bit. But, they are in it for the government contracts.

Winchester guns got lucky. Way back when they were done screwing up their products the Japanese stepped in. They had already acquired some of the Browning line and the 'retro' Winchester fit their product lines. They have been doing a good job with them for the most part.

Remington and Marlin had the sad fortune of being acquired by a US financial house quite a few years ago, although they had both screwed up their products for a while before that. That group was profit oriented. The gun side of the business was just another company to be used up. So they did. Ruger may save some of the Marlin line. I can understand why they didn't take on the Rem since it was basically competitor to their existing lines.

The new owners of what is left of Remington seemed enthusiastic, but, the pitfall was the NY plant and all the costs associated with that area. Don't know if they will ever dig themselves out of that one. It will be a while before we see if they can work things out.

Basically the gun market dramatically changed with the arrival of 'black' guns, both rifles and Glocks. They changed the landscape completely. The industry in general is just now getting aligned with the new demands. Will be interesting to see how it turns out.

 

[Richard Jones]

Leadership matters?

It does.

 

[CJ6]

What did Remington bring to the SHOT SHOW ?

 

[Doug Casner]

My dad had a ffl back in the 70s and 80s. Sold alot of 700s. Most of them sighted in on his 100 yd. range. They grouped the best on average, of any major manufactures . I bought a cdl 3006 . The stock was riding the barrel all the way down one side, shot terrible. Free floated it, shot a half in. A little fine tuning and the new 700 grouped. They make them for guys that shoot them once a year deer hunting 2 ins. and go hunting. Doug

 

[M-61]

Leadership matters?

Isn’t that always the problem? Management lets the accountants run the show. Then you could have the problem that GM created in the 80’s. ‘ no matter what piece of crap we build folks will buy it because their father always did.’ Suddenly the streets were full of Honda’s. Pontiac, Oldsmobile…. just memories.

 

[Kittitas George]

Many companies jump on the business model taught at the MBA schools 'max profit, customers be damned'. Many times the price of company stocks are less than the assets, property, buildings, machinery. That is when the corporate raiders buy it, think Eastern Airlines and Sears. They do not care about the product or sales. "Just get the money!!!"

 

[M-61]

Don’t know what they teach at MBA schools.
Here’s what I know:
“The first business of business is to stay in business.”

 

[Evlshnngns]

My RAR700 works great. 243w 8twist, fun gun. 2024 model, 500$ new.

Cheapest used 700 within 100 miles is a rusty 308w for 400$

 

[jds holler]

I've been wondering if and when Ruger actions might start showing up on a competitive level - or various modifications of them??
Or has that already happened? jd

 

[Explorer1]

Didn't Rem get split into several entities? I haven't followed them, too many "better" options. One of which is the used market.

 

[Nevned]

I have had several FFL dealers that have been to various dist shows last year and this year, tell me that they are closed again, due to making total crap rifles. Is that so. I have seen guys selling some barreled actions for parts, due to the poor quality. Anyone know anything about this?

Sadly, the only Remington product that I purchase anymore is their 7 1/2 small rifle benchrest primer. I have shot many thousands of them and still have a few barrels that like them. Hopefully they continue to produce this product with the same quality control. I suppose we will see??

 

[Jud96]

It’s a shame because if they (RemArms) cared a little bit, they could still be relevant. If they would just make a rifle with nicer fit and finish, maybe update the extractor and bolt release to attract more people nowadays they’d be fine. The last new 700 I saw was in early 2025 and it was a joke. The finish was that matte grainy looking stuff they use and the bolt was made to look like it was jeweled but it looked like they just chemically removed the matte finish to try and imitate jeweling from 50 feet away. The action also had minimal to no primary extraction, the common theme for 700s in the past 10-15 years. It’s a shame

 

[jpjulian]

I own but a single R700 in .223 and it shoots really well. A well respected gunsmith at home has told me the new RemArms actions, nothing said of the barrels, have needed nothing to get them to shoot well where he said older actions required blueprinting. He's put together several F-Class rifles using those new RemArms actions. That was a year or so ago so I would hope those actions currently manufactured haven't lost quality.
Edit.... my son manages a large LGS in Georgia and just told me they, RemArms, furloughed the entire assembly department a number of months ago. The name is still on the door but basically tits up....

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I own but a single R700 in .223 and it shoots really well. A well respected gunsmith at home has told me the new RemArms actions, nothing said of the barrels, have needed nothing to get them to shoot well where he said older actions required blueprinting. He's put together several F-Class rifles using those new RemArms actions. That was a year or so ago so I would hope those actions currently manufactured haven't lost quality.

Yup,. the Newer, Rem 700 Actions, are made on CNC Machines and Have been, VERY Good, the Last 20+ Years.
My Newer 2020 ish made, SS Rem 700, Short Action only needed, a TINY Bit of, Bolt Lapping ( very straight ! )
Shoots Awesome, w/ Criterion, Rem Age, 6 XC barrel, "Bedded" in a H-S Precision Stock, as Does, my old Hand Made, 1981 Model, Rem 700, "Sporter Bbl" Rifle, in .22-250 !
There might Be some, "Problem years" with, the Rem 700,.. IDK which years , tho !
SAD, to see them Go,.. Downhill ! TIKKA, pretty much, "Rules the Roost",.. Now !