Brand Info
Remington Arms
Manufacturer
The Remington 700 remains the most popular bolt-action rifle in America — the SPS Tactical variant combines the legendary action with modern tactical ergonomics.
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
Founded | 1816 |
Headquarters | Huntsville, AL |
| Tagline | For more than 200 years, Remington firearms have been forged from the untamed spirit that will always define the American spirit — Revolutionizing an industry. Building a nation. This is Remington Country. |
SAAMI | Member |
Products | |
| Key Products | The Models That Matter, Current Shotgun Lineup, Current Rifle Lineup, The Custom Platform Reality, Production Era Guide, 870 vs. Mossberg 500, What to Buy When, The Bottom Line |
Links | |
| www.remarms.com | |
Remington Arms
Reference article
From The Boise Gun Club Handbook
Remington Arms started in 1816 when Eliphalet Remington decided he could build a better rifle than what he could buy. He was right. After more than two centuries, a bankruptcy, and a complete ownership change, Remington's two flagship designs--the Model 870 shotgun and Model 700 rifle--remain the most successful firearms in their categories.
The company you're buying from today isn't the same Remington your grandfather trusted. After DuPont sold in 1993 and Cerberus Capital took over in 2007, quality went downhill fast. Remington filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018, emerged briefly, then filed again in 2020.
The second bankruptcy resulted in a complete asset sale that split the company into pieces. RemArms LLC now owns the firearms division and claims they're restoring the old standards. Time will tell.
The Models That Matteredit
The Big Two
Model 870 shotgun -- The most produced shotgun in American history with over 12 million made. The dual action bars never bind, the steel receiver is indestructible, and the trigger group drops out for cleaning. Every police department in America has run these.
Model 700 rifle -- The most accurate production bolt-action ever built. More custom rifles start with a Remington 700 action than all other actions combined. The cylindrical receiver design is that good.
Era Matters Most
When it was made matters more than what model you buy. Pre-2007 Remingtons are solid. The Cerberus years brought visible cost-cutting.
Current Shotgun Lineupedit
Model Breakdown
| Model | Type | Gauge | Price Range | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 870 Express | Pump | 12, 20 | $400-500 | Basic finish, synthetic stock |
| 870 Wingmaster | Pump | 12, 20 | $700-900 | Polished blue, walnut stock |
| 870 Police | Pump | 12 | $500-600 | Parkerized, metal trigger guard |
| 1100 | Semi-auto | 12, 20 | $700-900 | Gas-operated classic |
| V3 | Semi-auto | 12 | $800-900 | Lighter, modern gas system |
The 870 action feels different than a Mossberg 500--tighter and smoother. Mossberg has the tang safety that works for lefties, but most right-handed shooters prefer how the 870 runs. Steel receiver beats aluminum for durability.
Police Trade-In Gold Mine
Parkerized finish police trade-in 870s are the deal of the century at $250-350. These guns lived in patrol cars for years but barely got shot. The Parkerized finish holds up better than the Express matte blue that rusts if you look at it wrong.
Current Rifle Lineupedit
Factory Options
| Model | Action | Common Calibers | Price Range | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model 700 | Bolt-action | .243 to .458 Win Mag | $700-1500 | Hunting, precision base |
| Model 783 | Bolt-action | .243 to .300 Win Mag | $350-450 | Budget hunting |
| Model Seven | Short bolt-action | .243, .308, others | $800-1000 | Mountain rifle |
Most serious shooters treat the Model 700 as a starting point. Buy the action, then replace the trigger, stock, and often the barrel. The aftermarket support is massive because the action geometry is perfect.
Trigger Reality Check
The factory triggers in Model 700s need work. The Walker trigger (1962-2006) was light and crisp but had safety issues that led to a recall. The X-Mark Pro replacement (2006-2018) was heavier and mushier. Aftermarket triggers from Timney or TriggerTech should be your first upgrade.
The Custom Platform Realityedit
Aftermarket Ecosystem
The Remington 700 footprint dominates custom rifle building. Here's what the aftermarket looks like:
- Triggers: Timney, TriggerTech, Jewell all make drop-in units
- Stocks: Manners, McMillan, MDT chassis systems
- Barrels: Proof Research, Bartlein, Krieger cut pre-threaded for Rem 700
- Bottom metal: Hawkins, CDI, Badger for detachable magazines
Build vs. Buy Math
You can build a $5,000 custom rifle on a $400 Rem 700 action and it'll outshoot rifles costing twice as much. The action geometry is that fundamentally sound.
Model 700 custom build path showing how a basic action becomes a precision platform
Production Era Guideedit
Key milestones in Remington's corporate history affecting product quality
| Era | Years | Quality Rating | What to Expect | Best Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DuPont | Pre-1993 | ★★★★★ | Gold standard, beautiful finishes | Wingmaster, ADL |
| Post-DuPont | 1993-2007 | ★★★★☆ | Good guns, declining finish quality | Police models, SPS |
| Cerberus | 2007-2020 | ★★☆☆☆ | Cost-cutting, QC issues, trigger recall | Avoid if possible |
| RemArms | 2021-present | ★★★?☆ | New ownership, promising early reports | TBD |
870 vs. Mossberg 500edit
Everyone asks, so here's the real difference:
| Feature | Remington 870 | Mossberg 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Action Feel | Smoother, tighter | Adequate, reliable |
| Receiver Material | Steel (more durable) | Aluminum |
| Safety Location | Trigger guard (right-hand) | Tang (ambidextrous) |
| Aftermarket Support | Extensive, established | Good, growing |
| Price Range | $400-900 | $300-700 |
| MIL-SPEC Option | No | Yes (590A1) |
| Quality Consistency | Era-dependent | More consistent |
Both are proven designs. Your hand preference on the safety location probably matters more than the technical differences.
What to Buy Whenedit
| Your Need | Best Choice | Price Range | Why This One |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoothest pump | Pre-2007 870 Wingmaster | $500-700 | Peak Remington quality |
| Budget reliability | Police trade-in 870 | $250-350 | Proven, low mileage |
| Precision platform | Any Model 700 action | $400-800 | Action geometry perfection |
| Hunting on budget | Model 783 | $350-450 | Pillar-bedded, accurate |
| Semi-auto shotgun | Used 1100 or new V3 | $600-900 | Proven vs. modern |
The Bottom Lineedit
Remington created two of the greatest firearm designs in American history. The Model 870 and Model 700 are fundamentally sound platforms that have survived corporate mismanagement, bankruptcy, and ownership changes because the basic designs are that good.
Buy smart by focusing on when it was made. Seek out pre-2007 production, especially police trade-ins and Wingmasters.
Give RemArms a few years to prove they can match the old DuPont-era quality before betting on new production. The actions and basic designs remain excellent. Everything else--triggers, stocks, finishes--can be upgraded or has been inconsistent depending on the era.
Know what you're getting into and you'll end up with firearms that'll outlast you.
The BGC Takeedit
Remington's story is frustrating because the core designs are so damn good. I've seen Model 700s from the 1960s that still shoot sub-MOA groups and 870s with 100,000+ rounds that cycle like new. The engineering is sound.
The corporate ownership mess damaged the brand more than the products. Millions of these guns are still working daily in police cars, duck blinds, and precision rifle competitions.
Yeah, quality declined during the Cerberus years and the trigger recall was a black eye. But those core designs proved their worth over decades of hard use.
If you find a DuPont-era Wingmaster or a police trade-in 870, buy it. Those represent Remington at its finest. For Model 700s, the action is what matters--everything else gets upgraded anyway by serious shooters.
RemArms deserves a chance to rebuild the reputation, but I'm not betting my money on unproven new production when excellent used examples are available. Let them prove themselves for a few years first.
The aftermarket support alone makes these platforms worth owning. When Timney, McMillan, and Proof Research all build parts for your gun, you know you picked a winner.
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