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It has been a few months now since Remington ditched Edgars and moved over to SMK, I was having a chat with an RFD friend today about starting a new build based upon the 700 SPS Varmint and the new MDT LSS chassis...you know the thing a nice starting point that can be upgraded over time as cash permits. As my friend pointed out there is an information vacuum and he hadn't the foggiest idea when SMK might put out pricing and start supplying.

Considering the inroads that companies like Howa are making into the UK market for what I call working rifles for hunting with aggressive pricing and packages I am puzzled why Remington have gone so quiet.

For a target shooter like myself I am still more keen on going for a 700 as the basis for a build but I am getting rather bemused. Am I missing something here does anybody have any idea when we can get our Remingtons again?

PS This is the LSS chassis $399 Canadian dollars and you can order it direct from their Canadian site internationally, it uses AI AICS magazines. I have always liked the Tacti-cool look and that kind of price point even with the cost of shipping and adding the AR15 bits appeals to me.



http://mdttac.com/lss-chassis-remington-700.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZm1s7qdLd4

My RFD contacts assure me that the price lists for Remington UK ARE available and have been for a while.

Not sure about the availability of guns though.

Seen LOTS of Remington guns and spares on the Holts auction site; may be the previous importer dumping surplus stock in one fell swoop...

And that is the rub, I haven't seen any sign of this price list and every RFD I have spoken to has no idea when they will be able to get any rifles.

I am starting to wonder if this a secret business plan by Remington to help the other manufacturers to establish a foothold in the UK market.

Certainly pricing needs to be looked at, whilst the Remington 700 is popular in the UK market it is overpriced for people looking for working rifles. For the price of a basic 700 I can get a Howa 1500 with scope, mounts, bipod and a suppressor. Pretty much everything you want for a basic stalking rifle. Actually when you start buying the tricked out 700 variants you start entering Tikka T3 price territory.

On the other hand for people like myself who want a platform for a target rifle build the 700 is still the better choice if we could actually buy one.

I wonder if there will be any movement at the shooting show?

Fedaykin wrote:Actually when you start buying the tricked out 700 variants you start entering Tikka T3 price territory.

I suspect that you may have inadvertently provided the answer to your dilemma right there! tongueout

Gaz

And MDT does do an LSS chassis for the T3, catch is I want a longer barrel as I do shoot at 600yds regularly and occasionally out to 900yds. Stock T3 Varmint has a 24" barrel which can certainly do those ranges but I would rather have a longer barrel to play with. Maybe I am being unreasonable in that respect, certainly F class kind of start at 26".

If I could have a T3 with a longer barrel off the shelf then I would be interested as it is a lovely action, my friend has one in .243 and it is lovely to use.

GazMorris wrote:

Fedaykin wrote:Actually when you start buying the tricked out 700 variants you start entering Tikka T3 price territory.

I suspect that you may have inadvertently provided the answer to your dilemma right there! tongueout

Gaz

Apart from all of the interesting T3's are on extended delivery, I was quoted 6 months if at at all recently when I was after a T3 tactical in .223 we did find the rifle in the end however it took one hell of an effort to secure it for the customer.

ovenpaa wrote:Apart from all of the interesting T3's are on extended delivery, I was quoted 6 months if at at all recently when I was after a T3 tactical in .223 we did find the rifle in the end however it took one hell of an effort to secure it for the customer.

Sadly true, I ordered a Tikka T3 lite / blued in 260 Remington in November last year and reckon I'll be lucky to see it by June.

Gaz

What you looking for in a Remington? My local shop muct have 20 or so, both new and S/H...

Fedaykin wrote:On the other hand for people like myself who want a platform for a target rifle build the 700 is still the better choice if we could actually buy one.

Why not start off with a Howa as the basis for a target rifle if you are going to throw most of it away anyhow? The basic Howa action is based on a Remington only much better made.

If you are simply looking for a Remington as a 'donor' action, have a look on Guntrader. You should get a shot-out Remmy for around £300. You might even sell some of the bits you don't need on Ebay. I met a guy at the Show who bought one off a stand for £275!

Re-barrell it and re-stock it and yes, you will have a decent rifle for sure but, when you come to sell it - it's just a Remmy.

For a bit more money, you could start off with a custom action from one of the UK manufacturers - like Revolution Precision (they were at the Show). Their actions are much stiffer and truer and built to better tolerances than any Remmy and will hold their value and, you should have a rifle equal to any.

It's great to have a Brit built custom action available off the shelf. DCR is another Brit manufacturer worthy of consideration.