The firearms industry is home to an incredibly diverse array of brands, offering a vast assortment of products tailored to meet the needs of enthusiasts. Whether you’re a new enthusiast or already have some skin in the game, you’ll find that the list of quality rifle and parts manufacturers is constantly growing. Among the many unique brands though, there are only a few that have stood up to time, repeatedly proving their value to the industry.
Remington is one of those brands. Having been around for over 200 years, they’ve garnered a sizeable reputation for crafting innovative and functional rifles, pistols, and shotguns. Even though they’re the creators of some of the industry’s most popular firearms, their rich history often goes overlooked. Follow along as we break down what’s made Remington into the institution they are today.
The History of Remington
Before becoming the Remington brand we know today, the company initially started out as the E. Remington & Sons Company, founded by Eliphalet Remington II in 1816. At the time, Eliphalet believed that he could make an improved rifle that was better than what was available then, so he soon began developing a new flintlock rifle design. His new rifle worked so well that he entered a local shooting competition with it, and despite not winning, his rifle’s performance caught the attention of many other competitors who later ordered one.
As the demand for his rifle grew, Eliphalet fully opened his business, later moving to a manufacturing site in Ilion, New York, which was still in use by the company until March 2024. The company’s notoriety continued to grow, and they even had a contract with the U.S. Army in 1845 to produce 5,000 Mississippi Rifles. Eliphalet continued to helm the company until his death in 1861, and in 1888, the Remington Family sold the company, with it being renamed the Remington Arms Company, under new ownership.
As America’s oldest operating firearm manufacturer, Remington has become one of largest firearm and parts manufacturers in the world and, at one point, owned several subsidiaries until filing for bankruptcy in 2020. Despite Remington and its subsidiaries being bought by different companies, Remington operations have been continued under the new brand, RemArms, LLC, under their parent brand Vista Outdoors.
Remington Firearms
Remington has produced quite a few different firearms throughout their lifespan, ranging from flintlock muskets to modern-day shotguns and rifles. Over the years they’ve produced some legendary firearms such as the Remington Rolling Block Carbine, the Model 1860 Army Revolver, and the Model 10 Trench Shotgun, to name a few. Nowadays, Remington is still a popular choice thanks to their high-quality shotguns and bolt-action rifles.
Remington Shotguns
Renowned for their shotguns, shotguns like the Remington Model 870 are some of the most popular and affordable shotguns ever designed. The Remington 870 is a pump-action shotgun first introduced in 1950 and has since had its fair share of upgrades with it now being available in multiple chamberings and configurations.
Models like the 870 Fieldmaster are a solid choice for hunting, equipped with a longer 21-inch barrel with a vent rib, wood furniture, and a 4-shell capacity. For more of a tactical shotgun, the 870 Tactical is available with a greater 7-shell capacity and a shorter 18.5-inch barrel. In addition to these traditional 870 stylings, Remington also offers firearms like the 870 TAC-14 which are based on the 870 action but come with a shorter 14-inch barrel, 4-shell capacity, and a raptor pistol grip. These firearms are designed to be compact without compromising on power, making them especially effective for home-defense.
Remington also makes their share of semi-auto shotguns such as the V3, a new addition to the Remington lineup first introduced in 2015. The V3 has quickly become one of the more popular Remington shotgun options available, featuring Remington’s Versaport gas system and many other upgraded internal components. Like the 870, the V3 shotgun is available in several unique configurations, ranging from hunting style shotguns like the V3 Field Pro, to tactical models like the V3 Tactical. Also, another firearm, the TAC-13 is essentially a semi-auto version of the TAC-14, utilizing the V3 platform. It also comes with the V3’s vent rib barrel design, picatinny rail sections for accessory mounting, and a forend strap for better control.
Remington Rifles
Remington’s rifles are just as, if not more, renowned as their shotgun models. Notably, their 700 series bolt-action rifles have gone on to become some of the most popular bolt-action rifles ever designed. In fact, its action has been cloned and used by several other manufacturers like Bergara, Springfield Armory, Aero Precision, and many more, despite being first introduced all the way back in 1962.
The Model 700 uses a remarkably straightforward design, boasting a three-piece bolt and a milled steel receiver, aside from the trigger, barrel, and stock of course. These rifles are available in either short, long, or magnum actions to accommodate a wide array of calibers. Most Model 700 rifles come with an internal magazine which can hold anywhere from 3 to 5 rounds, depending on the caliber, while other models are outfitted with detachable magazines which can hold up to 10 rounds in some cases. We even feature the Remington 700 series in our guide, “Best Rifles for Hunting White Tail Deer in Texas”.
Being such a popular rifle, there are several variants to choose from, each of which being set up for different shooting disciplines. For hunting, models like the 700 SPS and 700 ADL are a solid pick. The ADL is a great budget bolt-action that doesn’t compromise on quality, coming standard with a matte black finish, a matching black synthetic stock, and an internal magazine with a 3- to 5-round capacity (depending on the caliber). The SPS is similar, but comes with an upgraded Timney Impact trigger, a magazine with a hinged floor plate, and gray over molded grip panels.
While the ADL and SPS are great hunting rifles, the 700 is a host for several other unique models. If you’re looking for more of a tactical bolt-action, or something that has some added power and longevity, rifles like the Model 700 SPS Tactical and Long Range both offer some added capability for their respective intended use.
Remington Ammo
Remington isn’t just known for the firearms—they also produce a vast array of ammunition, ranging from smaller rimfire rounds to full power rifle rounds and shotgun shells. Depending on your purpose, they offer a multitude of specialized loads.
For instance, their Core-Lokt series of rifle cartridges are specifically designed for big game hunting and is available in multiple calibers like 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester. If you’re unsure as to which caliber and ammo choice best fits your needs, we recommend checking out our guide on tactical rifle cartridges to get a better idea of what’s available.
Remington’s shotshells have an incredible degree of variety as well, with their AccuTip Sabot Slugs being another solid big game load. They even have other loads specialized for defense and sport shooting too.
Although they produce a wide variety of longarm ammo, Remington is known widely for their pistol ammunition. Currently, their lineup consists of everything from dedicated sub-sonic ammo for suppressed shooting to personal defense rounds with expanding hollow point projectiles. 9mm ammo like their Golden Saber Defense utilizes 147-grain brass jacketed hollow point projectiles. They offer several other rounds as well, making them a solid brand to consider for the next time you’re stocking up for your next range day.
In addition to ammo, Remington also offers some cleaning kits for different rifle and pistol models. Kits like their field cable cleaning kit are a great option for pistols, fitting easily into a range back.
Where is Remington Ammo Produced?
Remington ammo is made in the Remington Ammunition plant in Lonoke, Arkansas. While this branch was closed during their bankruptcy in 2020, the plant was later revitalized and retooled to run on a much larger scale. Now, it’s fully operational and continues to produce Remington ammunition like when it was first acquired by them in 1969.
Conclusion
Despite the challenges they’ve faced over the years, Remington continues to stand tall as a testament of innovation and quality. Since 1816, they’ve consistently produced high-quality firearms, parts, and ammunition that have been a staple amongst enthusiasts.
For hunting and marksmanship, the Model 700 rifle offers a time-tested and proven design that can be equipped for any application. If you’re looking for rugged reliability, the Remington Model 870 and V3 are packed with features and come from the factory equipped in multiple configurations suited for everything from hunting and sport shooting to duty and defense. Regardless of what you’re looking for, you can rest assured knowing that you can’t really go wrong with a Remington firearm.
If you’re on the fence about which to go with, our guide, “Shotguns vs. Rifles: What are the Differences?”, goes over everything you need to know about the two platforms.
