The North American mass market, served by the USA manufacturers has consistently chosen the very cheapest possible firearms. The Europeans have quite a different approach, but lately have come out with economy models for the North American market. Even so, the Europeans tend to maintain a reasonable minimum of quality standards. I used to respect and crave Remington products. But after starting to collect and shoot German firearms more than twenty years ago, like Sauer, Merkel, Krieghoff, and the cheaper but still excellent products from CZ of the Czech Republic and Sako of Finland, Beretta of Italy, I haven't bought any Remington stuff since. I generally buy 2-5 firearms per year, so I'm not a typical buyer perhaps. Before dropping Remington from consideration, I had a long list of Remington QC problems, bad triggers, bad fit and finish, mis-aligned scope base holes, sticky action parts, warped stocks, etc. etc. I have never, not once, had similar trouble with a European firearm.
European ammunition is superior too, but I do economize with American made Federal or Hornady ammo quite often. Remington ammunition has been substandard, just like their firearms. Especially when compared with Norma, Lapua, Fiocchi, RWS, etc.
So Remington certainly hasn't got any money lately from me, a buyer who is willing to pay a premium for quality. Remington in recent years had a focus on the bottom end of the market, with low profit margins coupled with shoddy manufacturing and poor QC. With predictable results.
I don't wish the company any harm, but won't miss them.
RJ
