As for why I went with the main factory as opposed to the regional service centers, I figured that a safety issue should be brought to the attention of the top folks. Might have been a mistake, but at least they were really nice about it.
If you go through a Service Center you would have an advocate between you and the person at the Factory if you don't like the response. A factory Rep has avenues of contact at the factory that you will never have.
There is no more safety issues sending it back to an authorized rep than there is to the factory.
Factory Reps dont just fall off the Turnip Truck and decide they want to be a Remington factory rep, Remington has very strict standards as to whom they choose to represent them.
When you go directly to the factory, you run the risk of being told :
"Your rifle conforms to Factory Specs and no repair is needed".
And unfortunately, this answer is one that pops up more and more often.
At which point you have no recourse.
