Remington and Tradition

[Texas_Bryan]

Is it me, or does it seem like Remington is introducing eight gigagillion different types of rifle calibers over the past several years?  Why?  I've bought quiet a few Remingtons over the years and it seems as though they're no longer that company of tradition I remember.  I looked at there product list earlier and it seems like they have jumped on every gimmick they could invent.  There's twenty different 700's and 10 different 870's.  I don't know what to make of this.  It seems back when I was little and buying my first long guns, ten years ago, they had the 700 BDL or ADL and the 870 Express or Wingmaster. 

My father and grandfathers have their Remington 700, and there all BDL's, and that's all they needed.  In 2001 I bought my first rifle and it was a 700 ADL, but now they don't even offer it anymore.  But what's with the gimmicks, or am I just the most old fashioned 21 year old alive?

[m25operator]

Gdb, you may be old fashioned, or just plain smart, everyone wants fries, and a soda, supersized to go with their meal, or 20" alloys on their KiA, We don't need these things but want them. Some options are cool, camo, left handed options, extended magazines on shotguns etc..., but a lot of it comes down to marketing, Remington wants more marketshare, and they will get it by offering more options, politically correct AR's without bayo lugs, and cool camo, and 98 mauser patterns, and of course the  tried and true 700, 870, 1100's but with more options. Buy what you want or need, and let the others buy the rest. You are an underage educated consumer. Hard to find. Not underaged to purchase, but beyond your years in questioning your options and products, I think you will do fine.

[alfsauve]

,,,,,,or am I just the most old fashioned 21 year old alive?

yep, you are.   You evidently got a knack for discernment.

I'm not a Remington officiando, but I too was bewildered by the vast expanse of offerings.    I hesitate to buy Remington cause I'm just not sure which one.   I'd think I'd rather go with a Tikka or Savage than wade into their waters.

Speaking of Savage, they've touted recently their history of simplfing their product line with the model 110, but it looks like they too have become very bloated with offerings.

 

[alfsauve]

On the plus side.   Remington has a ballistic calculator for their ammo (also UMC brand).    Nice if you're shooting Remington ammo.  Or if your loads are about the same.

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/remington_shoot_ballistics_software.asp

[1776 Rebel]

These companies are businesses. The first rule of a business (other than some mom and pop store) is to grow it. So the question comes up in the board meetings, HOW? You can acquire some other company to get its customers (cerberus model - who actually own Rem) or you can attract additional customers to you. Since these companies are so old already they pretty much have saturated the market and have touched all "their" customers. Attracting more means coming up with some new reason for purchase (either internal or external motivation). More so for a publicly traded company like a Ruger for instance. Final way is to diversify and get into other kinds of business (Ruger for instance does castings for Calloway golf, Remington is into a ton of "other" stuff). Problem is most of the gun companies are bleeding money. When Remington was bought for 370 million in 2007 they had 252 million in debt.

Your probably much too young to remember fins on cars back in the day. Same for the firearms industry. New gizmos every year at SHOT show. I laugh when I watch the hunting shows. The host is outfitted in 3000 dollars of camo, high tech binoculars, spotting scope, range finder etc. The guide (who is some local guy, eskimo, african tracker, who is going to make the hunt actually happen!) has got on a pair of torn blue jeans and has a 94 in 30/30. Its all marketing. All business BS.

[Sponsor]

[Timothy]

It's the same in fishing equipment!  Most lures are designed to catch the fisherman, NOT the fish!

I consistantly catch fish with only a handful of lures in my pocket, same thing with hunting.  People will tend to buy what they think will make them take more game when in fact, they are the ones being taken by the marketing machine!

I've taken plenty of deer without having to pour piss on my boots or wear camoflage! 

I can also break 80 on the golf course with a 100 dollar set of clubs.....it's not the gun, it's the shooter as they say....

[shooter32]

I've taken plenty of deer without having to pour piss on my boots or wear camoflage!

LOL I tell my boy's the same thing Tim

1776,Tim,m25 and alfsauve you guys are right on the money!!! Keeping up with the Jones 

[Texas_Bryan]

Then I guess I'll just have to take my tradition from the line up and let the gimmicks be for some one else.  Thanks everyone for the input.

P.S.  I'm looking to buy a tactical/target bolt action in the next year or so in .308, of course I'm now looking at Remington, but I also was checking out Savage's site and offerings.  If anyone has any suggestions of what to look for lets hear it.

Thanks