Remington's Motive for Restricting Rifle Sales

D

DarkStar

New member
I've posted this on the Remington Forum, http://www.unitedforums.com/ in an attempt to gather as many opinions as possible:

Remington recently restricted the sale of Model 700 PSS and Model 700 LTR rifles to law enforcement and military only, letterhead required to order. I have been trying to understand the motivation behind their decision.

My first thought was Remington was unable to meet the demands of both the civilian and LE market and decided to pursue the LE exclusively.

My second thought was a bit more sinister. After naming the rifles 'police sharp shooter' and 'light tactical rifle' Remington became concerned that they could draw unwanted attention to themselves from the anti-gun socialists and proceeded to insist for all to hear that the rifles were LE only.

I would like to believe that Remington didn't restrict the PSS and LTR out of liability concerns over names and apperance, but I'd be willing to bet that's what happened. Nevermind that the PSS and the VS are the exact same rifle wearing a different stock. Or that the LTR is a VS in a different stock with a shortened fluted barrel. But who am I kidding? Anyone tried to order a new Model 700 VS in .308 lately? Good luck.

It's not my place to tell Remington how to run their business. If they chose not to sell certain items to the civilian market that's their choice. But the selling then restricting of items plays differently, trusts can be damaged that have been build over generations.

Luckily I've been able to find another LTR .308 for a fairly normal price. I'll keep that one NIB for now. I have 2 to shoot and enjoy. Remington sure created a blackmarket for a perfectly legal firearm.

I'd like to hear from other Remington owners and interested parties for their thoughts on this topic. Did Remington play a bit under the table on the PSS and LTR? Can we expect more of this? Suddenly the VS and VSSF go the same route followed by the VLS and the Sendero? If the criteria for a rifle to be restriced to LE is a long barrel, or just a barrel, we're in big trouble. I just hope this isn't what it appears to be...

Darryl


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"In an age of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." -- George Orwell
 
They are also crippling their shotguns (most can't take magazine extensions). I am not sure why but I have passed up an 870 in favor of a Winchester 1300 and expect such policies to affect my wish for an 1187 Police, too. I am guessing that they hope to appease the enemy.
 
I recall back in the '80s how the folding stocks for the 870s were always marked "For Law Enforcement Use Only". It seems that Remington is consistent in this regard and there is no cause for alarm.

Heck, as a college kid it didn't keep me from getting a folding stock for my 870 either!
 
IMO, Remington is trying to be PC. Besides the dimples in the magazines of most 870s, there's a new keyed safety, that's standard on all new 870s.The safety can be manipulated to on during handling, and requires a key to take it off.
No option is offered on this, so you have to get an aftermarket safety if the idea of having your shotgun go inoperable at an inopportune is not acceptable.

Also, the plastic trigger housings and followers, the QC problems, and the massive indifference of Remington to deal with these issues leads me to believe that one is better off buying those excellent Remingtons they USED to make, used, and letting our purchases send the brass at Remington a message. Maybe they should talk to the brass over at S&W about what appeasing the govt costs...
 
They don't sell their Varmint rifle in .308 with a synthetic stock anymore. All other "varmint" calibers - .223, 25'06 etc. come with the HS Precision stock. If you want a heavy barreled .308, it only comes in a laminated stock, which is not bedded nor has the barrel channel free floated.

I recently got one of these. When I talked to Remington last week, I asked if they would excahnge my laminate stock for a HS synthetic stock. (not equal trade of course, but I wanted the synthetic stock.)
Of course, they wouldn't do this.

It's irritating to have to spend the extra money for a stock to make a rifle more accurate just because of some silly "image" thing.
 
Dave you are wrong on that I was looking at one Monday. The safety can be locked off. but if you unlock it then you can flip it on or off without worry. It is a lot like the hammer lock on most Taurus handguns.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Matrix:

It's irritating to have to spend the extra money for a stock to make a rifle more accurate just because of some silly "image" thing.[/quote]

All you have to do is buy a 700 action from your 'smith, have him barrel it to your specs and call McMillan or HS and have them also make a stock to your spec, add a trigger of your choice and then you'll have what you wanted all along without having to rebuild something you already bought.



[This message has been edited by Nukem (edited October 21, 2000).]
 
Words and terms are important. Gun people invented the terms "Saturday Night Special", "Assault Rifle", "Black Talon", and "Streetsweeper". A lot of grief could have been avoided if the first AK47 importers had called it a "self-loading sporting rifle" rather than trying to hype the product with the term "assault rifle". I agree with not giving the antis a handle by selling a rifle called a "sniper rifle".

Jim
 
When did Remington stop making the VS? I just bought one and I getting to buy another one for my dad. Plus the PSS are still all over the market too, are they just restricting new sales? I might believe the part about the PSS, but I don't think that is right that they stopped putting out the VS.
 
THey still make the VS. They just don't make it in .308. Check out the Varmint rifle page in their catalog, you'll see that a .308 with the heavy barrel is only availible with a laminate stock. You can still get the VS in other calibers, and you can get a Sendero in 7mm or .300.

You just can't get a .308 with a heavy barrel and a synthetic stock from Remington anymore.
 
So you buy the laminate Varmint in .308, order the H-S police stock from Midway, and you have an exact duplicate of a 700PSS. (Really, nothing special save for the stock!)

700pss.jpg
 
Here's my theory. I have heard or read somewhere that Remington is going to be incorporating some kind of keyed lock in the M-700 (sorry, don't have a source, but they are doing it on the 870 so it's only a matter of time until they start on the rifles). Naturally, no department wants that garbage in their sharpshooter's rifles, so the PSS and LTR will continue to be built without the key lock. Consequently, Remington won't continue to sell the "un-keyed" rifles to the general public.

Anybody know if new 870Ps are coming with the keyed lock? I'll bet not!

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Alfadog
NRA Life Member

"DO NOT TAKE COUNSEL OF YOUR FEARS."
--G. S. Patton, Jr., Lt. Gen., USA, 6 March 1944
 
Matrix, I looked at there web page and they still seem to list them. Both in right hand and left handed versions with the composite stock.
http://www.remington.com/firearms/centerfire/700VS.HTM
http://www.remington.com/firearms/centerfire/700vslh.htm

I also just ordered the left handed version in .308. It's in but I just haven't picked it up yet. I will probably pick it up sometime this week. Once I get it I'll post here if it came in composite or the laminate stock.

You have me worried. I want that black composite stock !!!!
 
Hmmmmm
They must have just offered it again. I hope so. It says "Back by popular demand". I got my original information from my 2000 catalog and from the dealer, and when I talked to Remington last week, they didn't correct me.

Mind if I ask how much you're getting it for?
I bought my VLS Varmint in August, paid about 600 for it.
 
The price they quoted me was $675. The price was a little bit high to me but they are also taking my Ruger No. 1 in 270 in on trade. They are giving me $400 for the Ruger towards the Remington. Maybe not a great deal but the way things are going you won't be able to get the LTR or the PSS so I think the prices on the varmint are going to start going up. Greed being what it is the dealers and manufacturers won't be able to help themselves so they will raise the prices.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Matrix:
You just can't get a .308 with a heavy barrel and a synthetic stock from Remington anymore.[/quote]

So a new Rem 700 VSSF in .308 is no longer available. I've heard these are identical mechanically to the PSS, except for the matte black barrel and larger forestock and palm swells of the PSS. Was Rem's decision a product of market conditions or an attempt at being more politically correct regarding precision rifles?
 
I don't know what their reasoning was for pulling this stupid trick.

I'm still ticked at them for discontinuing the VS in .243 cal.

Sounds like they make an awesome bolt action. I'll end up purchasing one yet.

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Keep the 10 rings ragged!
 
They may be offering the Varmint rifle in the synthetic stock again - see the above Remington link. (Back by popular demand) I called my dealer Sunday to ask him about a trade, and he said that he wouldn't be able to get one. Not sure whether demand is much higher than supply, or if they truly aren't making them any more.
 
Matrix, I picked up my 700 VS today and it does have the synthetic stock on it. I talked to the dealer for a little while about it and he told me it was very difficult to get. He contacted three distributors and only could come up with one in .308. It also was lefthanded so I'm sure that had something to do with it. I have a 3.5 x 10 leupold that I'm going to set on it along with a Harris bipod. It will be a couple of weeks before I can get it out to the range. I'm sure it's going to drive me crazy waitingto get it out there.
 
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