if you look at the prices of the original line of rem guns[700,1100,1187 and 870] with the nice walnut stocks,i believe you will find the same high quality that has always been there.when you get into the matte finished barrels and synthetic stocks at lower prices,you start seeing the obvious reasons why they cost less.i have owned rem guns for over 50 years and never ownrd one i did not like or trust to do the job.