I think I bought my last Remington.

[J.R.W.]

On June 21st, I ordered a Rem700 SPS Varmint .223. When it arrived a week later I stopped by to check it out. Upon inspection, I found what appeared to be tooling marks left in the bolt face.

Fast forward to present, Remington has had the rifle for two weeks, though they'll only admit it was "checked in" on July 15. It has yet to even be examined. Personally, I dont consider this a warranty issue. The rifle was defective out of the box and should be repaired or replaced on an ASAP basis.

After stopping by the shop that ordered it for me to fill out new paperwork as mine had expired, I called Remington to express my discontent. I explained to him my disappointment with the quality of Remington products as my other 700, a 308 Tactical is experiencing the primer extrusion that has been noted here with some frequency as of late. All he had to offer was, "I don't know." He also stated repairs such as this are currently taking four to six weeks. I was then transferred to a supervisors voicemail and I am waiting for a call back.

Working in a service field myself, I understand stuff happens. As a consumer, I value how a company handles the issues more than anything. The representative I spoke with never even so much as apologized that it would be around 10 weeks before I get to fire a production rifle. Unfortunately, I think the only thing I got out of my phone call today was a desire to buy a Savage. Please don't take this as Remington bashing, it is meant to be anything but that. My 308 Tactical as a great gun, it will shoot .4" or so @ 100yds if I can hold my stuff together. It is meant to inform any other potential buyers that the quality that Remington once stood for seems to have slipped away.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

I'm with you when it comes to Remington. I like the guns a lot, but quality ain't what it used to be. I broke down and bought one of the new triangle barreled 700's in 7mm magnum last year and it had a couple of real bad burs in the chamber. First they had me send it to one of their "authorized" repair centers and it came back with the exact same problem it had when I sent it (30 days later). I then sent it to their factory in New York and when it came back this time the chamber was smooth as could be. I've since purchased a couple more 700's but both were older models that have already been field tested. No more new ones for me.

 

[dogrunner]

FYI: Not positive if this is currently policy, but several years ago I know for a fact that Remington farmed out repairs.......to get them to actually do the job themselves one had to specify "in house repairs"..

BUddy sent a 742 in & it was worked on by a local smith.......lousy job too.

 

[mshootnit]

My 700 had some bolt handle wobble after it was locked up and didn't feel real solid to me. Most 700's don't do that. Also when you looked at the primer strike it was not centered or even close showing little attention to concentricity in the manufacturing process. Some of the CDL rifles had less than spectacular fit as it relates to the stock and recoil pad. I think the quality may have slipped some at least at that point (about 5 years ago) My buddy told me of a recent shotgun purchase of a Rem 1100 or 1187 that was no good. They seem to be recalling several guns at this time. (ACR, 17 HMR). I don't know what to think for sure but I know that the old 700's were very nice. I saw a fellow head out into the field with a 700 which was circa 1989 in 300 win mag and that thing was absolutely sweet.

 

[bigedp51]

I couldn't be happier with my Remington 700, I think the beaver they hired to chew out the bolt face recess did a great job. The same beaver was a little sloppy on the bolt lugs, only one bolt lug was touching the lug recesses. The two Stevens 200 I bought were made better at less than half the price.

 

[godale]

i think remmy has had their quality going down for about 8 years. i have a model 7 in 243 new from 2003. i love it. but starting in 2006 wghen i was looking for a 06 i chose savage and never looked back

 

[Oathkeeper1775]

Same

My Uncle owns a gunstore near Denver; I was complaining to him about the sloppiness of a Rem 770 in .243 I bought for my Dau., out here in Oregon.

He opened up on a lot about the conversations he's had with them. Remington is being told so I hope they turn it around. They are basically marketing clones to make ends meet as far as I can tell.

The 770 was almost 400 bucks; way too much play in the bolt, 30-06 size ejection port and magazine well. Good starter rifle but it sure suprized me.

Stoger is another black eye as far as I'm concerned as well.

I'm looking closer at the Savage lines now days....

 

[rori]

I bought a Savage 110CL a little over 40 years ago and it has killed more big game than I can remember. Went 20 years without cleaning the bore and it still shot into an inch when I finally decided the experiment was over. When I bought it it said 270 win on it. Couldnt hit a 50 yard target with it. After several range trips it still wouldnt shoot well. I was sitting at the kitchen table with some bullets and put one in the end of the barrel. It fell thru into the chamber.Turns out it was chambered for 270 but the rifling was for a 7mm.Savage really took care of me on that deal and its been to 3 different countries and taken game in all of them. Never had any problem with it since then and when it goes bang there is something dead out there. Savage great rifles, great customer service but ugly rifles. I dont care what they look like theyre death sticks and I like em. Frank

 

[bigedp51]

Below two months after getting out of the service I bought my new Remington deer rifle.
November 20, 1973

 

[Shimitup]

What I find interesting is that they do not appear to be machined at all, it looks like a casting.

 

[J.R.W.]

Just a quick update. I left the message for the supervisor at 1:00 this afternoon. I never received a call back. I'll be spending some time on the phone tomorrow. I'm just flat out disgusted with the situation. I'll be updating this thread as things progress, however that may be. As to the comment above in regards to the bolt being cast, I believe they are now using powdered metal rather than machining the bolts. This is supported by the contact information listed on their website as well as the link:

http://www.remingtonpmpd.com/

This would explain why the bolts are not being manufactured to the tolerances they once were. I'm going to see what options I have on regards to the money I've laid out already and if the owner will allow me store credit to buy another rifle.

 

[slowr1der]

I as many others have been posting these issues for several years now. What I really don't understand is why people still buy them. Even more so, and this isn't to be rude, but when people do ignore the posts about all of the issues they are having and buy one anyway, and then have the same issue, why complain as you knew what you were getting? Or, are they selling a bunch to people that haven't read up on them?

At this point in time with so much better options out there for less money, and that don't have quality issues, I just don't see why people even consider Remington.

 

[J.R.W.]

I guess I'm a slow learner. My only gripe with the Savage is the Accutrigger. I just can't adapt to the blade in the center and I've tried. I'm not saying the X-Mark trigger is any better, it leaves a lot to be desired. I like the overall feel of the 700, just kind of fits. I might just take a store credit and think for a while about what to do next.

I'll be e-mailing customer service in the morning and I'll be including a link to this thread. Hopefully it stirs the pot a bit. I do like the products Remington offers, they just need to be made better.

 

[Get R Done Guns]

Big Whitey,

What about a Browning? They have had some good pricing as of late.

 

[J.R.W.]

To Whom It May Concern,

After purchasing two Model 700 rifles, I have some issues I would like addressed. The first issue has to do with the latter of the two rifles I have bought. On June 21, I ordered a SPS Varmint in .223 through a local gun shop. Upon inspecting it upon arrival, I immediately rejected it. There were tooling marks of some sort on the bolt face, and the extractor groove looks to have been machined by hand with a Dremel. The rifle was returned to the factory and was logged into inventory on July 15. To my knowledge, the rifle arrived several days if not a full week prior. I called the customer service number listed on your website this afternoon, July 21, and spoke to a representative regarding these rifles. I do not recall his name but I'm not quite sure he could not have been less concerned. I was informed the rifle had not been inspected as of yet and I could expect to wait four to six weeks at least for this to be resolved. When I expressed my discontent with apparent quality control issues the only response offered was, "I don't know". I left a message for a customer service supervisor and have yet to receive a return call.

My first Remington purchase, a SPS Tactical in .308, also has an issue stemming from the bolt. With factory ammunition all the way down to mild handloads I get primer extrusion. I am hesitant to return this rifle for service due to the fact that it does shoot very accurately. After examining the bolts and seeing contact information for a powdered metal products division within Remington I would assume this to be the process used to produce the bolts at present. The lack of quality and tolerances being held is visible to the naked eye.

More so than the problems outlined above, I find the lack of commitment to quality the most disappointing. The rifle that was returned for service is brand new and unfired since it left the factory the first time. To be told it would be a total of eight to ten weeks total to have an item that was defective in the box repaired is unacceptable. I would like to discuss the apparent issues I am seeing with the products as an active member of the shooting community both via local clubs and online forums. At present, I would be unable to recommend Remington products to anyone which is especially unfortunate as I find the R1 to be a very attractive pistol.

Thank you in advance for your prompt response.

John Washburn

Also, for reference the serial numbers are as fallows:

SPS Tactical G6972xxx
SPS Varmint G7017xxx

Here is a copy of the e-mail I just sent them. I will post their response if I get one.

 

[J.R.W.]

I've looked at Browning, Savage, Tikka, Howa, and CZ. I'm pretty set on seeing this through. To be told that long to fix something broken out of the box in wrong. I want answers. I'm big on accountability and this entire situation is disgusting. I hope to hear something tomorrow.

 

[mdThanatos]

I have not liked the quality of remington for a few years now, not just their firearms but ammo too. My only Remington is an old .22 single shot my uncle gave me, my first rifle. I love my Marlins, an 1894 and an XS7. I don't know if I would buy a new Marlin anymore though, been hearing bad things since they came under control of Remington. My next bolt gun will probably be a Savage, which is a shame to me because Remington and Marlin are names that I grew up with but can no longer look towards.

 

[Oathkeeper1775]

I as many others have been posting these issues for several years now. What I really don't understand is why people still buy them. Even more so, and this isn't to be rude, but when people do ignore the posts about all of the issues they are having and buy one anyway, and then have the same issue, why complain as you knew what you were getting? Or, are they selling a bunch to people that haven't read up on them?

At this point in time with so much better options out there for less money, and that don't have quality issues, I just don't see why people even consider Remington.

I'm still catching upon things; when I joined the army in 1979, Companies like Troy Built, U Haul, Chevy, Dodge, Ford and Remington were "The Cats Meow". Any of their products were told to be top notch. So while I'm away doing my things, all these clones come into the market-place and trick un suspecting buyers.

I've been taken so many times by cloned brand names it makes me sick, I even get taken on fake military surplus every now and then....

No different than the fake food sold these days eh?

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I bought my last Remington a while back, quality is gone, so am I. mainly stick to Rugers now. Savage is really good nowadays too. I am 57 and have seen quality come and go.

 

[Cryogaijin]

My family has been buying Remingtons exclusively for over 150 years. (From the man himself, no less. Benny of having history in US NY.) Unless something dramatically changes, my poor poor r597 in .17hmr will be my last. Why? Insufficient QC, and insufficient compensation for notably defective guns. The .17mhr 597 has a problem of being made out of explodium. There is a recall on 'em whereby remmy will give you back half the value of the gun you bought.

As Penn and Teller would say, BS.

If it comes to me from the factory defective, you better give me 100% of the value that I'm out. Hell I'd even take a marlin bolt action .17 as a replacement, but $230 is an insult for a gun I paid a bit more than $450 for.

 

[Cop Bob]

Shimitup: What I find interesting is that they do not appear to be machined at all, it looks like a casting.

You are absolutely correct !!! All of my older 700's are machined... therein lies the problem.

No problem with using slightly oversize cast blanks, it requires less chase machining. But just throwing them out there with no fitting at all? No wonder there are so many complaints..

Precision casting can be done.. The process was first developed by Alcoa Aluminum during WWII.. It was done to eliminate the need for chase machining in the Nordin Bomb Sight.. The master caster that developed the process was a man named Jerry Horbar. His son was a good friend and Police Officer, and a heck of a machinist/gunsmith/competitive shooter/Coach in his own right.

Everything that I was told about it, it was to save time in the machining end. As back then there were no CNC machines. The setup was critical and time consuming... just faster than setting up the blanks in a lathe and cutting the threads and reliefs required... Required burnishing the parts after coming out of the mold, but that was done buy the dozens in large vibratory burnishing cleaners in batches...

Todays CNC's would eat that up like candy and spit them out like corn... why they went to a casting is beyond me...

 

[J.R.W.]

Just an update, I recieved a useless corporate response from Remington.

Response (Anne)07/22/2011 11:51 AM
Thank you for contacting Remington.

I do apologize for the issues that you have experienced with our firerams. I am showing that the firearm that was sent in for repair is in process, and we have replaced the bolt. Once it is completely repaired, we will be returning it to

And here is my reply:

Anne,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my message. I'm still dismayed by the fact that no one has been able to address what seems to be and epidemic of quality issues with Remington's products. If you have a moment to view this thread, you'll see that I'm far from the only person that feels this way.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7458982#post7458982

Please feel free to pass these sentiments along as I hope to see some positive change. Until such time, I will not purchase another Remington product and I'll see to it that this rifle is returned to the distributor when it arrives.

Sincerely,

John Washburn

It is unfortunate that they won't admit they've dropped that ball for a long time with their flagship rifle. As I've informed them, I will not be accepting this rifle. I'm thinking of dropping a few extra beans and buying a Kimber. Anybody have some trigger time with an 84m Pro Varmint?

 

[VP-46 G.K.]

I am sorry to hear about your problem, and I do hope that you can get it resolved to your satisfaction. It does seem that you have been handling the situation very professionally so I hope that Remington steps up!
It is sad to see such a good company go down the drain, but Winchester had their problems and they came back (thank you FN) maybe Remington is on the same track??

I have always been a Remington fan, but I can't ignore everything that I have heard and read about Remington these past years. My last new Remington was a S.S. 700BDL in 7mm mag with the stupid bolt lock on the shroud. Other than that useless piece of garbage on my rifle everything about it was great, plus it shot as all my other did - GREAT under an inch with Hornaday factory 154gr

Anyway, over the last 10 years I have been buying older used model 700's from the the late 60's thorough the late 80's and have been extremely happy with my purchases. I can pick up a sweet older 700 for under $500.00 all day and still have money left over for a nice Leupold or Burris scope. I am actually about to close a deal on a excellent condition 700 made in 1970 with the blued/S.S. barrel for $475.00.

If the new Remington 700's do not make the cut, I say start looking for an older used one and you will be happen again.

 

[godale]

i agree with the poster before me about the older remmys. however anybody who calls a savage ugly has not looked at a 14/114 or a weather warrior.they are not your dads savage anymore

 

[LTR shooter]

I hate to hear of your misfortune with the SPS. I bought one in 2007 and it was one of the last two 700s I have purchased. The quality of my .223 SPS Varmint is actually quite good , one of the best shooting rifles I have owned.

Looks as though quality has slipped considerably these days. My next rifle will probably be a custom build.