Remington Arms
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Heritage & History
Remington Arms is one of America's oldest firearms manufacturers, founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in Ilion, New York. After a 2020 bankruptcy, the firearms division was acquired by RemArms LLC, which continues production of Remington's iconic rifles and shotguns. Remington is a SAAMI member.
:::callout
Remington's story is equal parts triumph and tragedy. The Model 870 is the best-selling shotgun in American history (12+ million produced). The Model 700 is the most accurate production bolt-action ever made and the basis for U.S. military sniper systems. But decades of corporate mismanagement — culminating in 2020 bankruptcy — damaged quality, killed innovation, and shattered trust. RemArms is trying to rebuild, but the Remington you buy today is a different company than the one your grandfather trusted.
:::Key milestones:
- 1816 — Eliphalet Remington forges his first rifle barrel in Ilion, NY
- 1858 — Model 1858 revolver becomes a Civil War icon
- 1933-1993 — DuPont ownership era (stability, quality, innovation)
- 1950 — Model 870 pump shotgun introduced (becomes best-selling ever)
- 1962 — Model 700 bolt-action rifle launched (defines accuracy standard)
- 2007 — Cerberus Capital acquires Remington; cost-cutting begins
- 2018 — First bankruptcy filing
- 2020 — Second bankruptcy; company broken up and sold to multiple buyers
- 2021 — RemArms LLC acquires firearms division; production resumes in Ilion, NY
- Present — SAAMI member; RemArms LLC; rebuilding under new ownership
Product Lines
Shotguns (Remington's strongest legacy):
Model Type Gauge Price Notes Model 870 Express Pump 12, 20 ~$400-$500 Best-selling shotgun in history; 12M+ produced Model 870 Wingmaster Pump (premium) 12, 20 ~$700-$900 Polished blued finish; walnut stock Model 870 Tactical Pump (tactical) 12 ~$500-$600 Extended mag; synthetic furniture Model 870 Police Pump (LE) 12 ~$500-$600 Parkerized; metal trigger guard; issued to thousands of agencies Model 1100 Semi-auto 12, 20 ~$700-$900 Classic gas-operated; smooth cycling V3 Semi-auto 12 ~$800-$900 Modern gas system; lighter weight :::callout
The Model 870 is the most produced shotgun in American history — and for good reason. The dual action bars never bind. The steel receiver is indestructible. The trigger group drops out for easy cleaning. Millions serve in police cruisers, duck blinds, and home defense roles. Pre-2007 870s (especially Wingmasters) are the gold standard. Current RemArms production is rebuilding quality, but smart buyers still seek out older production.
:::Rifles:
Model Type Caliber Range Price Notes Model 700 Bolt-action .243 to .458 WM ~$700-$1,500 Most accurate production bolt rifle; military sniper basis Model 700 SPS Bolt-action (synthetic) Various ~$700-$800 Budget Model 700; synthetic stock Model 700 CDL Bolt-action (walnut) Various ~$1,000-$1,200 Classic walnut + blued; traditional hunting Model 700 PCR Bolt-action (chassis) 6.5 CM, .308, .300 WM ~$1,200-$1,400 Precision chassis; competition-oriented Model 783 Bolt-action (budget) .243 to .300 WM ~$350-$450 Entry-level; pillar-bedded synthetic stock Model Seven Bolt-action (compact) .243, .308, etc. ~$800-$1,000 Short action; lightweight mountain rifle Model 700 as custom build platform:
Component Aftermarket Options Notes Trigger Timney, TriggerTech, Jewell First upgrade most buyers make Stock Manners, McMillan, MDT, Magpul Chassis or traditional composite Barrel Proof Research, Bartlein, Krieger Pre-threaded for Rem 700 footprint Bottom metal Hawkins, Badger, CDI Detachable magazine conversion Scope bases EGW, Badger, Nightforce 20 MOA rail standard for long range :::callout
The Model 700 action is the most popular custom rifle platform in the world. More aftermarket parts exist for the Rem 700 footprint than any other bolt action. Triggers, stocks, chassis, barrels, bottom metal — everything is available. Many serious precision shooters start with a Rem 700 action and replace every other component. The action itself is that good.
:::Innovation & Technology
Innovation Year Impact Model 870 dual action bars 1950 Non-binding pump action; set the standard for reliability Model 700 cylindrical receiver 1962 Tight tolerances; exceptional accuracy; military adoption X-Mark Pro trigger 2006 Replaced Walker trigger; adjustable but controversial Core-Lokt bullet 1939 First successful controlled-expansion hunting bullet (ammo division) Gas-operated semi-auto (1100) 1963 Soft-shooting autoloader; dominated competition shooting Model 870 vs. Mossberg 500:
Feature Remington 870 Mossberg 500 Action feel Smoother, tighter Good but slightly looser Safety location Crossbolt (trigger guard) Tang (top of receiver) — ambidextrous Steel receiver Yes Aluminum Barrel attachment Screw-in magazine cap Same MIL-SPEC rated No Yes (590A1 only) Trigger guard Metal (Police/Wingmaster) Polymer (most models) Ejection port Right side Right side Left-hand friendliness Crossbolt favors right Tang safety works both hands Aftermarket Excellent Excellent Best era Pre-2007 production All eras consistent Price ~$400-$900 ~$200-$700 Model 700 trigger history:
Trigger Era Notes Walker trigger 1962-2006 Light, crisp; controversy over safety in some units X-Mark Pro 2006-2018 Heavier pull; added safety features; many shooters disliked it Recall (2014) 2006-2014 models Trigger recall due to potential unintended discharge Current production 2021+ Updated trigger system under RemArms Aftermarket Any era Timney, TriggerTech, Jewell — most owners replace factory trigger Community & Reputation
Segment Reputation Notes Hunters (traditional) Deep loyalty Multigenerational brand; Model 700 + 870 are American staples Precision shooters Action respected, factory rifle mixed Rem 700 action is gold; factory trigger/stock need upgrading LE/Military Proven but declining contracts 870 Police in thousands of agencies; M24 sniper system Custom builders Essential Rem 700 footprint is THE custom rifle platform Quality-focused buyers Cautious "Which year was it made?" is the first question Common praise:
- Model 870 action is the smoothest pump shotgun ever made
- Model 700 action is the most accurate production bolt action in history
- Pre-2007 (DuPont-era) production quality is exceptional
- Rem 700 footprint has the largest aftermarket of any bolt action
- Police trade-in 870s are incredible values ($250-$350)
- Wingmaster finish quality (old production) is gorgeous
Common criticism:
- Post-2007 QC decline was real and documented (Cerberus cost-cutting)
- Trigger recall damaged trust (Model 700, 2006-2014 production)
- 870 Express finish (matte) rusts easily; older 870s had better finishes
- RemArms is unproven — too early to judge new production quality
- Extractor design (push-feed on 700) is less reliable than controlled-round-feed
- Customer service was terrible during bankruptcy; rebuilding under RemArms
Production eras matter:
Era Quality Notes Pre-1993 (DuPont) Excellent Gold standard; best finishes, tightest QC 1993-2007 (post-DuPont) Good Gradual decline but still solid 2007-2020 (Cerberus) Declining Cost-cutting visible; QC issues; trigger recall 2020 bankruptcy N/A Production halted 2021+ (RemArms) TBD New ownership; claims to have restored standards Buyer's Guide
If You Want... Get This Why Best pump shotgun ever made Pre-2007 870 Wingmaster (used) Smoothest action + beautiful finish; find at gun shows Budget pump shotgun 870 Express (~$400) or police trade-in (~$300) Trade-ins are better value than new Express Best bolt-action platform Model 700 (any condition) The action is what matters; upgrade everything else Budget hunting rifle Model 783 (~$400) Entry-level; pillar-bedded; gets the job done Precision rifle build Rem 700 action + aftermarket everything Most supported custom platform in existence Semi-auto shotgun V3 or used 1100 V3 is lighter; 1100 is the classic :::callout
Bottom line: Remington made two of the greatest firearms in American history — the Model 870 shotgun and the Model 700 rifle. Both designs are masterpieces that have been produced for 60+ years. But the Remington brand itself has been through bankruptcy, ownership chaos, and a quality decline that damaged its reputation. Smart buyers seek pre-2007 production (especially Wingmasters), police trade-in 870s, and Model 700 actions as custom build platforms. RemArms is trying to restore the brand — give them a few years of consistent production before betting on new-production quality matching the DuPont era.
:::References
- Remington/RemArms official site: remarms.com
- American Rifleman: Remington's 200-year history
- Field & Stream: Model 870 and Model 700 retrospectives
- Sniper's Hide: Model 700 custom build discussions
- Outdoor Life: Remington firearms coverage and reviews
Read the original article in The Handbook | By Boise Gun Club Editorial Team
Join the Discussion
If you've owned a Remington over the years, have you noticed a difference in quality between older models and newer production—and does that factor into whether you'd buy from them again?
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