"What is happening too Remington?"

Gotta hour? lol I think you can sum it up with one easy statement: Welcome too the world of sellouts doing to much business for their own good, especially with such likes as Wal-Mart.

I can't state it any easier than that. To be fair, I don't think ALL of Remington's guns are questionable or their quality has gone "down the crapper" across the board. They still make some decent "good guns" like the BDLs, CDLs, Model 7s, Special Purpose's etc... But man when they build a cheap gun brother they build a CHEAP GUN!!! [:@] And IMHO it began when they started the "Express" model shotguns that they first built for discounters, namely Wal-Mart. They continued into the 700s with revamped ADL synthetics which featured the same "parkerization" that is featured on the Express shotguns. I hope the new SPS 700s are better in that respect than their predecessors the ADLs. That is THE sorriest finish I have EVER seen on a major production company firearm. The finish is so weak that a simple nylon guncase will rub it off and the gun will begin to rust quickly with only light use. Likewise the fit and finish of such guns is deplorable as well. They feel like the plethora of cheap Turkish and former Eastern Bloc country imports that are flooding the markets now.

That cheapness also extends into the plastic parts being used in the guns, particularly trigger assemblies that are featured on such guns. I can't see the justification for saving only $200-$400 on the purchase of say a shotgun when buying a Special Purpose will yeild a gun that can be handed down too ones heirs. While the Express' wont last long enough to even allow those heirs to learn to shoot on the same gun that you did! [:'(] Again I ask, "Is their lower price of admission worth it in the end?"

My first rifle was a 700ADL. That was back in the mid 80s and obviously before the synthetic stocks and that ghastly parkerization finish. The old ADLs simply were BDLs with cheaper stocks that didnt feature a mazagine floorplate or fancy checkering. But the metals, finishes and trigger assemblies were the exact same as the higher priced models.

Quality Control has REALLY taken a severe nosedive at Remington over the last few years. The latest example I have happened within the last 2 months. Case in point. I had a customer come in and buy a 597 (17HMR) laminated stock. We rigged it up with scope, laser boresighted it, sold him a couple boxes of ammo and he was going to go straight too the field to shoot it after he cleaned it up a little. He came back later that afternoon with a nasty mark on his arm and a blown up rifle for his troubles! [:-] I wouldn'tve believed it had I not seen it for myself. The VERY FIRST shot in the rifle caused all kinds of havoc. The bolt froze shut, the ejection arm blew out of the bolt (which was the cause of his wound on the arm) and more unbelievable the laminated stock SPLIT at the pistol grip. About 4 layers just seperated! It looked like you tried to drive a hatchet through the stock. Amazingly he wasn't all that mad and simply wanted a new rifle (how many in todays world would've gotten a lawyer before the rifles report was silent?) and to be on his way again. We replaced his rifle, re-rigged it and sent him on his way. I just would not have believed a simple rimfire could've caused that much damage too itself.

We sent the rifle back too Remington and told them what happened. They sent us a brand new replacement a few weeks later (which was a rediculous amount of time if you ask me!). Then after we got the new rifle back it was recieved by our recieving department (non-hunters and non-gun guys who simply aren't into anything other than doing the 9-5 thing everyday, so unless something is laying in two pieces or obviously abused they continue "business as usual" with receiving.) As I took the rifle from the box and was putting it in a display rack I noticed several small dings in the stock that looked like it had been dropped in gravel or something. The metal was clean though so I cant explain the stock being so banged up. Upon closer inspection AGAIN I noticed seperation in the laminate. Not nearly as obvious as with the case of the blown up rifle, but seperation none the less, through about 3 layers or wood on this one. How ANYONE could've let such a gun go in such condition from the factory is simply beyond my comprehension. It speaks VERY poorly of Big Greens QC and their attention too detail.

The gun was factory sealed in their typical cardboard box with molded styrofoam cradle so I know it wasn't damage done by UPS while in transit. This gun left the factory in such shape. Again thats just one of the latest cases I have with regards too them.

Mark my words, Wal-Mart and Remingtons obsession to supply them at no regards too cost (meaning they are over producing based on their capacity) will be the death of them if they dont do something and do it quick. On the present course I give them 5 years MAX before their name becomes mud among the general gunowning public. Bankrupcty could be a REAL possibility for them within the next decade on their present course!

It urks me too no end that the biggest name in American gunmaking is headed for such a catastrophe if they dont pay attention!
RA