Remington Ammunition
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Heritage & History
Remington Ammunition is one of America's oldest ammunition brands, tracing its origins to 1816 when Eliphalet Remington founded the company in Ilion, New York. The ammunition division has changed hands multiple times — most recently through the 2020 bankruptcy — and now operates separately from Remington firearms. Remington is a SAAMI member.
:::callout
Remington ammunition has the longest pedigree in American shooting, but the brand's recent history is complicated. The 2020 bankruptcy split ammunition from firearms, and ownership changes have created uncertainty about quality consistency. The Core-Lokt bullet — introduced in 1939 — has probably killed more deer than any other bullet design in history. Whether new-production Remington lives up to that legacy is an ongoing question the market is still answering.
:::Key milestones:
- 1816 — Eliphalet Remington founds the company in Ilion, New York
- 1939 — Core-Lokt bullet introduced (becomes America's best-selling hunting bullet)
- 1962 — .223 Remington developed (becomes 5.56 NATO)
- 2007 — Cerberus Capital acquires Remington; cost-cutting begins
- 2020 — Bankruptcy; ammunition division sold separately from firearms
- Present — SAAMI member; ammunition division under new ownership; rebuilding
Product Lines
Hunting ammunition:
Product Line Bullet Type Application Price Tier Notes Core-Lokt Controlled-expansion SP Deer, medium game Budget-mid America's best-selling hunting bullet since 1939 Core-Lokt Tipped Polymer-tipped bonded All-around hunting Mid Modernized Core-Lokt; improved BC and terminal performance Premier AccuTip Polymer-tipped Precision hunting Mid-premium Better accuracy than Core-Lokt Premier Scirocco Bonded polymer-tipped Large game, long range Premium Swift Scirocco bullet; high weight retention :::callout
Core-Lokt is the most proven deer bullet in American history. Since 1939, it has been the default recommendation at gun counters across America — affordable, available everywhere, and it just works on whitetails. The new Core-Lokt Tipped adds a polymer tip for better BC and more consistent expansion. If you hunt deer and don't handload, Core-Lokt Tipped in your caliber is a solid no-drama choice.
:::Tactical and defensive:
Product Line Type Application Notes Golden Saber Bonded JHP Self-defense (handgun) LE adoption; good expansion UMC FMJ Training, range Budget practice ammo Premier Match OTM/BTHP Precision rifle Match-grade consistency Shotshell:
Product Line Type Application Notes Nitro Mag Lead shot Upland, waterfowl Traditional Remington shotshell Premier STS Target load Trap, skeet, sporting clays Competition shotshell; highly regarded Slugger Rifled slug Deer hunting Standard rifled slug Express Multi-purpose General shotshell Budget-friendly Proprietary cartridges Remington developed:
Cartridge Year Status Notes .223 Remington 1962 Ubiquitous Became 5.56 NATO; most popular rifle cartridge in the world .260 Remington 1997 Niche but excellent 6.5mm; ballistically superior but lost to 6.5 Creedmoor in popularity 6.5 Creedmoor 2007 (Hornady) Dominant Not a Remington cartridge, but .260 Rem fans note it arrived 10 years later .300 Remington Ultra Mag 1999 Declining Overbore; impressive velocity, short barrel life .17 Remington 1971 Niche Ultra-fast varmint cartridge Innovation & Technology
Innovation Product Impact Core-Lokt bullet (1939) Core-Lokt First commercially successful controlled-expansion hunting bullet Core-Lokt Tipped Core-Lokt Tipped Modernized with polymer tip; improved BC and expansion .223 Remington Military/civilian Became the world's most-used centerfire rifle cartridge .260 Remington Precision/hunting Pioneered 6.5mm in American market (before 6.5 CM) Premier STS shotshell STS One of the most consistent target shotshells ever made Golden Saber bonded Golden Saber LE-adopted defensive handgun ammunition Remington ammunition vs. competitors:
Feature Remington Federal Hornady Winchester History Since 1816 Since 1922 Since 1949 Since 1866 Hunting breadth Good Excellent Excellent Very good Premium hunting Core-Lokt Tipped Trophy Bonded / Terminal Ascent ELD-X / CX Expedition Big Game Match ammo Premier Match Gold Medal Match Match Innovation pace Slow (rebuilding) Fast Fastest Moderate Availability Inconsistent (post-bankruptcy) Excellent Excellent Very good QC consistency Variable (improving?) Very good Very good Good Performance & Use Cases
Application Best Remington Product Why Whitetail deer (value) Core-Lokt Proven since 1939; available everywhere; affordable Whitetail deer (premium) Core-Lokt Tipped Better BC and terminal performance than original Large game (elk, moose) Premier Scirocco or Core-Lokt Tipped Bonded construction for deep penetration Trap/skeet/clays Premier STS One of the best target shotshells made Range practice UMC Budget-friendly; adequate for training Self-defense Golden Saber Bonded JHP; LE adoption Precision rifle Premier Match Match-grade; competitive with Federal Gold Medal Common praise:
- Core-Lokt is America's most-proven deer bullet (85+ years)
- Core-Lokt Tipped is a genuine modernization that works
- Premier STS is an elite target shotshell
- Golden Saber has legitimate LE adoption and testing
- .223 Remington is literally the most successful cartridge they ever developed
Common criticism:
- Post-bankruptcy quality consistency is still an open question
- Velocity sometimes falls short of published specifications
- Availability has been inconsistent during ownership transitions
- Innovation has stalled compared to Federal and Hornady
- .260 Remington was better than 6.5 CM but Remington let Hornady win the marketing war
- UMC range ammo is unremarkable compared to alternatives
Buyer's Guide
If You Need... Buy This Why Deer hunting (budget) Core-Lokt 85 years of proven performance; cheapest quality option Deer hunting (better) Core-Lokt Tipped Modern upgrade; better accuracy and terminal performance Trap/skeet shells Premier STS Elite target shotshell; consistent and clean Self-defense (handgun) Golden Saber Bonded; LE-tested; reliable expansion Range practice UMC Budget; functional; nothing special Precision rifle Premier Match Match-grade; competitive with Gold Medal Match :::callout
Bottom line: Remington ammunition carries 200 years of history, but history doesn't load itself. The Core-Lokt is still a great deer bullet, the STS is still an elite shotshell, and the Golden Saber is a legitimate defensive round. But Remington has lost ground to Federal and Hornady in innovation and consistency during years of corporate chaos. If you find Remington ammo at a good price in a caliber you shoot, it's fine — especially Core-Lokt for hunting and STS for clays. For anything where you need the absolute best, Federal Premium and Hornady currently have the edge.
:::References
- Remington official site: remington.com
- American Rifleman: Remington ammunition history
- Lucky Gunner: Remington ammunition testing and reviews
- Outdoor Life: Core-Lokt Tipped review
- Field & Stream: Remington ammunition coverage
Read the original article in The Handbook | By Boise Gun Club Editorial Team
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What Remington line do you typically grab, and have you noticed any quality differences between their budget stuff and the premium offerings?
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