WSJ Market Watch reports that the Freedom Group (Remington, Bushmaster, Marlin, AAC et. al.) have abandoned plans to go public …

Freedom Group gave no reason for withdrawing the IPO but the company has been struggling as demand for its key products slips. It posted a $6.7 million loss on sales of $744.3 million last year, down from a profit of $54 million and sales of $848.7 million in 2009.

…

Eric Wold of Merriman Capital, who covers firearms firms Smith & Wesson (SWHC 3.53, 0.00, 0.00%) and Sturm, Ruger (RGR 23.05, -0.04, -0.17%) noted that “the fastest growing part of the industry is handguns” and that Freedom “has none of it.”

He said “it is likely to see them make a move and acquire one of those two companies to put themselves in a better position for an eventual IPO.”

It is inconceivable to me that Remington is not working on bringing a sub-compact to the market. They would be crazy not to do so. Rather than buying a large public company, they could develop it in-house (like Ruger did with the Ruger LCP), buy the rights to a pistol developed overseas (like Springfield did successfully with the XD) or purchase a smaller company such as Para-Ordnance (to expand the Remington 1911 line) and/or Kel-Tec (sub-compacts as well as other innovative products).

While being light on details, Strategy Page reports that the Chinese PLA has decided not to expand its arsenal of shotguns, considering them a riot control weapon rather than a combat weapon.

Type 97-1 Anti-riot gun. Photo from Guns.ru

The Chinese police and army shotgun is the Norinco / Hawk Industries manufactured Type 97-1. It is a copy of the Remington 870. Ironically, the shotgun is imported by Remington (via. Marlin via. H&R) as the H&R Pardner shotgun.

UPDATE: Strategy Page was not entirely correct. China is instead adopting the QBS 09 shotgun.

[Hat Tip: Hell in a handbasket]

[ This guest post was written by Michael. ]

The Pedersen Automatic, or Remington model 51, found little favor in its life between the Great War and the following depression, though not for its lack of mechanical merit. John Pedersen, also known for the Pedersen device which converted the Springfield 1903 into a semi-automatic .30 carbine whose utility was deprecated after WWI and the development of the M1 carbine; the .276 Pesersen cartridge that the M1 Garand was to be chambered in until logistics of ammunition distribution, unfortunately, cast it aside as well; and his toggle-delayed self-loading rifle requiring lubricated cartridges, which did not pass American army trials against the Garand and was not successfully marketed to the Japanese between the wars.

Remington Model 51

The model 51 was a pocket pistol chambered in .380, and later .32 ACP, but not of the conventional direct-blowback design. It features a momentum block to retard the action from coming out of battery until pressure is lowered. The momentum block is situated inside the slide, and in its locked position, extends below and engages the shoulder on the frame, disallowing pressure on the breech face from further opening the action.

Momentum block assembled inside slide, locked and unlocked.

Upon firing, the recoil moves both the slide and block rearward about 2mm for the slide to gain the necessary initial momentum required for the action, at which point the protruding momentum block comes to a stop against the locking shoulder of the frame, arresting its movement and keeping its face against the chamber, containing the pressures. As the slide continues its rearward travel from the initial impulse, a ramped surface on its interior engages an opposing ramped surface on the momentum block, pulling it upwards and inside the slide, thereby disengaging it form the frame allowing the group to fully recoil and cycle the weapon. The barrel, while fixed, was not pressed into the frame as many of similar design were, but held stationary by the takedown pin, allowing for both the removal of the slide and the captive recoil spring around the barrel.

This atypical system of delay, not fully dependent on the mass of the slide as other designs were, allowed the slide to be more delicate and thinner, making it more comfortably pocketed and shaving a couple ounces off compared to other guns of the same size. Other than the slim profile and weight of the pistol, there were other innovations as well. It features a magazine safety, a grip safety that blocked the sear, and the manual safety locked the grip safety, allowing it to be carried chambered with great confidence. The entire pistol could be detail stripped without the employ of any tools; this of course becomes of great novelty once the operator discovers it instead requires three hands.

In its decline, it was also prototyped in .45ACP and accepted for trials by the navy, but again pushed aside in favor of Remington escalating 1911 production for WWII.

More objectively, the grip shape and angle provide an excellent natural point of aim, followed by a crisp trigger pull, a mild and smooth recoil, and accuracy only limited by the round and the shooter. Though nearly six decades my senior, it still accompanies my 1911 with me when I feel inclined to have a backup.

Later this year Remington will be launching a tactical version of the Versa Max shotgun, which was originally introduced last year. This tactical model has many features desired by home defense, law enforcement, competition and military shooters which are lacking from the sporting models.

The most significant different between the sporting models and the tactical model is that the Versa Max Tactical will initially only be offered with a receiver capable of chambering 2.75″ and 3″ 12 gauge shotgun shells, whereas the sporting models also chambes 3.5″ magnum 12 gauge shells. Remington may have made this decision to shave of the extra weight and costs added by the tactical features.

The Versa Max Tactical includes a picatinny rail for mounting optics and forward barrel-clamp side rails for mounting accessories, such as flashlights. The charging handle and magazine release are tactical-sized. The extended magazine holds 7+1 rounds of 2.75″ shells. The barrel is 22″ with vent rib and comes with an IC and Tactical (ported) choke. The stock is black synthetic with overmolded rubber grips.

The MSRP is $1,399 (the same as the synthetic sporting Versa Max model).

[ Many thanks to Woodroez for emailing me info about this gun. ]

ATI is now selling an adapter to mount an AR-15-compatible stock on a 12 gauge Mossberg (500, 535, 590, and 835), Remington (870) and Winchester (1200 and 1300) shotguns.

The Talon mounting system, including the pistol grip, has a low MSRP of MSRP of $44.99. With the 6-position stock pictured above it costs $134.99.

The Advanced Armament Corporation (a sub-division of Remington) has launched a new firearm brand called ‘The Farm‘. The Farm line will include AR-15 and Remington 700 / Model 7 hunting rifles chambered in .300 AAC BLK and designed with suppressor use in mind. These guns will be suitable for mid sized game. The .300 BLK is subtitle for use on any game currently hunted with a .30-30.

The market for suppressors in the United States consists of military, law enforcement, competition shooters and gun enthusiasts. A market segment notably missing is the hunting market. In my opinion, this is because of the cultural and historical contempt for suppressor use that pervades the hunting community. Suppressors are perceived as sinister devices use by hollywood-style assassins and poachers. In some other countries, for example the UK, suppressor use is common and unregulated. As more domestic consumers realize that suppressors are not to be feared, sales will surely rise.

NOTE: This product review was made possible by GunsForSale.com.  To get up-to-date information on where to find cheap Remington rifles for sale, please visit GunsForSale.com.

I think most of us can agree Remington makes some of the finest rifles ever made. Remington .22’s have been used to teach thousands of American youth in learning how to shoot. As adult hunters many of us have taken some of the largest game animals on earth with Remington rifles. Military snipers in several wars used them to take the enemy out from unbelievably long distances. From Vietnam to present day the Remington 700 stills serves and most likely will for many years to come.

For a lot of us the .22 caliber family of rifles holds a more practical interest for everything from teaching your own children to shoot, enjoying family outings on the range to formal competition.

The rifle I chose for this review is the Remington 597 LS HB. It’s only my opinion but I believe this is one of the best looking .22 rifles made. The contrasting colors of the laminate stock as well as the sleek receiver design make it very appealing. On the practical side the magazine is a staggered design that allows the same number of rounds to be loaded as the long single stack magazines most other brands use. These longer magazines always seem to get in the way even when using a bi-pod. The magazine capacity is ten rounds. In the picture above you can see the low profile of this magazine design.

The barrel on the 597 is a 20 inch heavy barrel, free floated, made of carbon steel. This design is unique compared to most other .22 semi auto rifles. This Remington has a dual rod spring loaded design the bolt rides on.

Takedown is simple and straightforward. Once the receiver is separated from the stock two pins are punched out giving the user access to the bolt and guiderods. Using a supplied hex wrench both rods are removed by unscrewing them from the rear of the upper receiver allowing the bolt to be removed for cleaning. The lower portion of the receiver contains the trigger mechanism, which can be cleaned in the usual fashion. After cleaning reassemble in reverse order.

Specifications

Action type – Autoloading
Caliber – .22 LR
Magazine capacity – 10 cartridges
Barrel length – 20″
Barrel material – carbon steel
Barrel finish – satin blue
Sights – none; receiver grooved for tip-off scope mounts and drilled and tapped for Weaver base (supplied)
Overall length – 40″
Weight – 6 pounds
Stock material – brown laminated wood
Stock finish – satin
Length of pull – 14″

This particular example was lacking any lubrication. It’s probably best if the new owner takes the rifle down and lubricates the guiderods at the very least. The trigger and extractor are Teflon coated which makes for a smooth trigger requiring very little lubrication.

The receiver has cuts for direct scope mounting. I prefer to use the sturdier method using the pre-drilled and tapped scope rail. I picked a scope made just for the .22 LR. The BSA Sweet .22. While this scope is inexpensive it works well compensating for bullet drop with the correct turret. This model is a 3x9x40 supplied with target turrets for .22 caliber bullets in 36 grain, 38 grain and 40 grain.

Range Time

After mounting the scope I thought I’d head out to the range and sight the scope in and get familiar with the rifle. I set a target up at 50 yards and had the scope sighted in pretty quickly. Everything was going just fine until about round 275. I pulled the trigger and nothing happened. I pulled the bolt back and the last round fired was still chambered. This about the time I noticed the extractor was gone! Not loose but gone. I never did find the thing. To say I was irritated would be an understatement. Of course not finding the extractor ended my shooting.
After heading home I started some online troubleshooting and found the 597 has a bit of history with extractor problems. Normally I don’t pay much attention to postings on Internet forums until it happens to me and I can validate it. Rather than send the rifle in I ordered a new extractor from Volquartsen called “The Exact Edge”.

After the new extractor arrived I installed it in very little time. No fitting was needed. I tried another range session firing 150 rounds just to check function and where the empty cases were landing. This session turned out fine with the new extractor working well.

I went out the next day to do some serious shooting to see just what this rifle could do accuracy wise. I took ammunition from Remington, Federal Match and American Eagle. All of my shooting was again done from 50 yards. The rifle needed some additional sighting in after handling it so much replacing the extractor etcetera.

I fired a total of 500 rounds of these three types of ammunition. The Federal Match 40 grain load was the most accurate. I fired 200 rounds of this ammunition. The second 100 rounds were in 10 round groups. The average was slightly over 1 inch. I actually believe I could get the groups under 1 inch on a calm day shooting from the bi-pod. This is a very accurate rifle.

After this range trip I was satisfied with it’s performance and the feel of the stock. The front of the stock is wider than some other variations of the 597. The grip of the stock is also wider making it easy to get a firm lock on your shoulder.

Conclusion

As I said in the beginning this is one very handsome, accurate rifle. I suppose the question is would I advise someone to buy one? To be honest I would as long as the potential buyer realizes the extractor may be a weak spot. I have a good friend who has the less expensive version that he’s shot for over two years now with no problems at all. In the last couple of days I’ve shot an additional 200 rounds I called “just to be sure rounds”☺ So, with a total of 700 rounds fired after replacing the extractor I’ve had no malfunctions of any kind. I’ll leave the decision to purchase this rifle with the reader.

There has been a lot of speculation about the future of the Bushmaster / Remington ACR. The rifle has not been selling well, but neither have any other non-AR-15 semi-automatic rifles. A company that supplies parts to many rifle manufactures told me today that about 70% of their business is now supplying AR-15 components. Non-AR-15 rifles are simply not selling.

Some have suggested Magpul now has the capital to start manufacturing their owns firearms.

The rights to the ACR design revert back to Magpul only if Rem/Bushmaster do not meet a minimum sales requirement. The minimum number of rifles they are required to sell is low and, I am told, they will easily meet the target. In the unlikely event Remington thought they could not meet the target, they would simply lower the price in order to increase sales.

Remington has invested a lot into the ACR. They took Magpul’s prototype and turned it into a production gun. Their latest military model will be entered into the Army’s carbine competition. If the ACR wins and becomes the next Army carbine the company will have a guaranteed revenue stream for the next 20 years. Consumers, LEO enforcement and foreign-militaries would all want to own the same gun used by the troops. I suspect the Freedom Group would then resume efforts to go public.

Magpul has designed a few firearms and has a powerful brand. If they wanted to, they could easily sell firearms. On the other hand, why would they produce low-margin firearms when they are selling high-margin accessories. My prediction is that they will instead start producing more and more high-end aluminum and steel rails, mounts and accessories.

(Richard, if you are reading this, please check your inbox

Magpul has announced their first shotgun accessories. The MOE Forend and SGA Stock will go on sale next year. The MOE forend will be compatible with the Magpul line of MOE accessories, which includes rails, foregrips and a flashlight mount.

The Remington 700 SPS will soon be available in a .300 BLK AAC model. I am very pleased nobody at Remington was tempted to increase the barrel length beyond 16.1″ It will come from the factory with a nice green Hogue stock. No word on pricing.

MSRP of $817.

The Freedom Group has just announced that they have purchased 1911 manufacturer Para USA, the company formally known as Para Ordnance. During SHOT Show, Gear Scout reported that they heard rumors about this acquisition. The announcement was supposed to have happened during SHOT but was delayed for unknown reasons.

Para USA Warthog

The press release …

Madison, NC – Freedom Group, Inc., (FGI) through a wholly owned subsidiary has announced today that it has finalized an asset purchase agreement to acquire certain assets of Para USA, INC., (Para).

Founded in 1985, Para has built a solid and enviable reputation for innovation, performance and reliability. Firearms enthusiasts, serious shooting competitors and law enforcement agencies choose with confidence from a wide and growing variety of Para pistols. Para’s revolutionary high capacity frame and light double action ( LDA ™) trigger systems, are part of the innovation that Para has brought to the world famous 1911 design.

“We welcome Para into the Freedom Group Family of Companies,” stated. E. Scott Blackwell, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Freedom Group Inc. “Para USA is a leader in handgun technology and their fine products exemplify quality, innovation and performance. Para is a perfect complement to our industry-leading family of brands, and our success in 2011 with the Remington R1 – 1911. We look forward to deploying both human and financial resources to continue to develop and supply current and future handguns for consumers and our channel partners. We also wish to thank all its employees for their continued dedication that has made Para a success.”

Para will continue day-to-day operations at their Pineville, NC based facility.

In 2009 the Canadian firm Para Ordnance moved their manufacturing facility to Pineville, NC and rebranded themselves as Para USA.

As Remington consolidates its manufacturing in Ilion, NY and Mayfield, KY, I expect to see Para manufacturing moved to the new facility in the near future.

Bryan captured the moment a .300 Win. Mag. round hit two blocks of ballistic gelatin during a demo of either the Remington XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle or the Remington Remington Modular Sniper Rifle (I can’t remember which was being used).

[Photos © Bryan Jones ]

CNBC alleges that Remington 870 shotguns are unsafe. Yes, they claim one of the most popular firearms in the USA, owned by 20 million Americans, which collectively probably fire in excess of 50 millions rounds per year and which has been in production for over 60 years, is fundamentally unsafe and nobody except an injured dove hunter and a serial paid plaintiff expert were able to figure this out. The paid expert goes on to claim that Remington has known about this since the gun went into production (1951) and has never bothered to do anything about it, despite using the same trigger group and trigger group components in a number or other products since then.

The best defense against this nonsense is the puff piece itself, embedded below. It is entirely unconvincing.

It is beyond my understanding that someone would not bother to open a pump action shotgun’s action after they are finished shooting. It takes only a second and renders the gun 100% safe. Leaving a round chambered and propping it up against a truck does not make it safe.

Remington has hit back with a two videos and a statement (reproduced below).

The statement itself…

NBC continues to attack Remington and the firearms industry through sensational and factually inaccurate reporting. On April 11, 2012, Brian Williams again demonstrated NBC’s anti-gun agenda with the claim that the Model 870, Model 1100 and other Remington firearms have a design flaw. That claim is demonstrably false and Remington stands fully behind the safety and reliability of the most popular shotguns in the world.

It wasn’t enough for NBC to attack over 20 million Remington firearms; they also called the Second Amendment into question by suggesting that there is a need for increased government regulation of firearms.

Model 870 and 1100 owners know the truth – these shotguns are used extensively under the most demanding conditions. Tens of billions of rounds have been fired through these firearms, which are valued for their performance and durability by millions of hunters, shooters, law enforcement and military personnel who have relied on Remington.

As the basis for its attacks, NBC continues to rely upon paid “experts” who have been repeatedly hired by plaintiff’s attorneys to testify against Remington and at least 16 other firearms manufacturers. The facts show that the Model 870 and 1100 are two of the most reliable shotguns ever produced – only one lawsuit has been filed in the last seven years and no litigation is pending against the trigger mechanisms of these firearms.

Deceptively editing and ignoring readily available documents and video evidence to drive NBC’s agenda is an all too familiar tactic. Remington stands by the reliability and safety of its firearms and will fully respond to NBC’s attempt to disparage these iconic American products.

I would not defend Remington if I thought there was a fundamental flaw with the Remington 870 or 1100 shotguns. I have fired many rounds through these guns and I am comfortable with disassembling and modifying these trigger groups.

Eventually I would expect any company to manufacture a single faulty unit (or a unit that wears out faster than expected), but NBC is claiming that they have discovered fundamental fault in a 60 year old product’s design, not a one off manufacturing error.

NBC has been trying to make out that the Remington shotgun trigger group is fundamentally flawed. They cherry picked their evidence. Remington responds …

Next time you wonder why your factory gun comes with a painfully heavy trigger remember the above video. I hope that this saga will not result in the entire industry bumping up their trigger pulls by another 1/2 pound.

On a side note: I have modified my Remington shotgun and lightened the trigger to a very light 2.5 lbs.

Mr. Curtis over at Gear Scout broke the news that Remington will be manufacturing M4 Carbines for the US Army.

According to the Department of the Army’s Chief of Legislative Liaison, the Army today executed a delivery order on an existing contract to buy 24,000 M4/M4A1s worth $16,163,252.07. The order comes as line 001 on an IDIQ contract for up to 120,000 carbines worth $83,924,089.00, though U.S. Army Contracting Command lists the “Max Potential Contract Value $180,000,000.00.” The rifles will be made at Remington’s factory in Ilion, N.Y., from the Colt technical data package and, by my math, will cost about $673 a copy. That’s a hell of a group buy price.

This comes as no surprise. In 2009 the US Army took control of the M4 TDP (Technical Data Package), allowing the Army to second source production. The DoD likes to spread production around in order to maintain a “manufacturing and industrial base”.

Colt will still receive royalties from the DoD for any guns derived from the M16 until 2050! I doubt anybody at the time thought the M16 would still be in service today, nearly 50 years later (the previous service rifle, the M14, only lasted 11 years).

Colt M16s and M4 Carbine

In 2009 gun historian Daniel E. Watters wrote (emphasis added) …

It is a bit of an exaggeration to say the Army has control of the TDP. As of July 1, the Army merely gained limited license rights to use the M4 TDP to second source production, as an extension of the 1967 licensing agreement for the M16. Until the end of calender year 2050, the Army will have to pay 5% in royalties to Colt for every M4 procured from second sources. The TDP will remain Colt proprietary data, and any second source M4 contractor will no doubt be required to sign non-disclosure agreements
just as they do for the M16.

This is not the end of Colt’s current .mil contract for the M4. The current contract allows new delivery orders to be placed to the end of calender year 2010. As it now stands, the current delivery orders stretch production out to Spring 2011.

[ Many thanks everyone who sent this in. ]

TotallyCoolPix.com have published a number of high-resolution photos of 82nd Airborne troops with XM2010 rifles on patrol in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan (XM2010s are shown in photo 45 and onwards).

[ Many thanks to Mike for emailing us the link. ]

The Polish Special Forces have been spotted carrying Remington ACR rifles. This appear to be configured with the 5-side handguard, the 10.5″ barrel and ACC Blackout flash hider. I think this is the first ACR I have seen deployed for combat.

[Hat Tip: Special Ops.pl]

[ Many thanks to Albi for emailing us the link. ]

A Columbian Special Forces sniper was photographed with the Remington Modular Sniper Rifle during the Fuerzas Commando Tournament that is being held this week in El Salvador.

[ Many thanks to Danny for emailing us the photo. ]

Scott Blackwell has been named the President of Freedom Group. Scott left Beretta USA in 2006 to become the President of Bushmaster and in 2010 was promoted to the position of FGI’s Chief Sales & Marketing Officer.

Scott Blackwell (left) and Sgt. Marcus Young

From the press release …

Freedom Group, Inc. (FGI), the firearms industry leader with brands including Remington, Bushmaster, DPMS and Marlin, has named Scott Blackwell President. Blackwell, an established industry veteran, served as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer since 2010. As President, Blackwell will oversee all revenue, branding, marketing and communications for FGI, including: Sales and Marketing, Accessories and Lifestyle, Licensing, E-Commerce, Defense and Law Enforcement, Brand Management, Industry Relations, Public Relations and Social Media.

“Scott’s leadership, institutional knowledge and strategic thinking make him a natural fit as President,” said George Kollitides, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FGI. “Scott has been with us from the beginning — in many ways the cornerstone of our Company. Since 2006 I’ve relied on him as an advisor, architect and friend. I’m now honored to call him President, a well-deserved promotion for a man who helped make FGI a leader.”

Two years after buying AAC, Remington are slowly coming to terms with the fact that they are a suppressor manufacturer. They are now selling a version of the R1 1911 Enhanced with a threaded barrel.

The press release says …

“The popularity of silencers is soaring,” said John Trull, Vice President of Firearms Product Management and New Product Implementation. “Shooters are looking to enhance their experience with their firearm suppressed and we are proud to offer them an excellent choice with our Model 1911 R1.”

The Model 1911 R1 Enhanced Threaded Barrel is available today with a suggested retail price of $1040. It is shipped in a custom carrying case with two, eight-round magazines. The barrel is shipped with a thread protector installed.

The MSRP on Remington’s website is $1140 (not the $1040 as stated in the press release).