Remington AR-15?

[K.K]

I thought that I heard/read somewhere that Remington will be marketing their own ARs. Has anyone else seen this one?  Boy, Big Green sure has a lot of irons in the fire these days!

[sniperVLS]

Click on the link to see our past discussions about the R-15.....

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,128949.0.html


Download the 2008 catalog here(.pdf links are to the right of the page)...
http://www.remington.com/products/2008_new_products/

I just put 50% down on the SPS Varmint in .308 (finally) but the R-15 is one of the models I'll definitely be picking up this year, but probably not until I get my checking account built back up and that can only happen when summer hits and landscaping begins.

*Note: The R-15 from what we can tell is pretty much a Bushmaster with the "R" on it, seeing as both Bushmaster and Remington are owned by Cerberus, it makes sense that they mingled on this project. Even in the description, at one point it said it was co-developed with another popular gun maker(although I don't see that part anymore) and that gunmaker is Bushmaster. Big Green supposedly added their own trigger assembly along with their one barrels.

[jvs]

I wonder why Remington isn't chroming the bores.  I'd like Chrome lined.  As far as I can tell, the R-15 is just a Cr V Mo barrel and is not chrome lined.

I'd also like one in 7.62.    I am a big .308 fan.

Without those, Stag (among others) would be a better buy for 5.56 at a smaller price.   Lower prices or not, if it doesn't have a chrome lined bore it is far below industry standards without it and will likely not recruit knowledgable buyers.

[sniperVLS]

I guess I fall into the category of "no knowledge buyer" 

I'd love it in .308 as well, maybe they'l offer it down the road, one can always dream.

[DalesCarpentry]

I wonder why Remington isn't chroming the bores.  I'd like Chrome lined.  As far as I can tell, the R-15 is just a Cr V Mo barrel and is not chrome lined.

I'd also like one in 7.62.    I am a big .308 fan.

Without those, Stag (among others) would be a better buy for 5.56 at a smaller price.   Lower prices or not, if it doesn't have a chrome lined bore it is far below industry standards without it and will likely not recruit knowledgable buyers.

Could you please explain the advantages of a chrome lined bore? I have saw other gun makers that do this but have no idea of the better points to it. Thanks Dale

[jvs]

Dale,   

Corrosion and Heat.   

Chrome lined bores last thousands of rounds longer than unlined bores, and with a semi, barrel life should be a consideration. 

In the early years a chrome coated bore and action is what made the AK-47 superior to the M-16 in Southeast Asia.  Without Chrome the Ak would have been just another Remington R-15.


VLS,

I wasn't sure if you noticed the lack of chrome lining in the specs.  If it is there, Remington isn't telling anyone. 



I can pick up a Stag 5.56, with a chrome lined bore, for $200 under Remingtons MSRP.  This is Remingtons competition IMO.

If Remington has plans on submitting bids for Gov't contracts, they can forget it with those specs.  The Military will not allow fighting rifles without chrome lined bores.  I can guarantee you that.

[sniperVLS]

I wasn't even thinking about the lack of chrome lining, thanks for the heads up. Just out of curiosity, is there word that they are going for military contracts? Or is this just a common assumption amongst the online community?

I'm not military so I won't be shooting it as such so it'll be fine for what I'll use it for. But you do bring up a good point by comparing to other makers that are cheaper and offer the longer lasting barrel. Maybe they'll lower the price or even change the barrel type after it gets into consumers hands and the complaints start?

I doubt I'd ever put more than 1,000 rounds down the tube. With all my other rifles in the safe, I don't run into the problem of running thru barrels 

[jvs]

I wasn't even thinking about the lack of chrome lining, thanks for the heads up. Just out of curiosity, is there word that they are going for military contracts? Or is this just a common assumption amongst the online community?

I'm not military so I won't be shooting it as such so it'll be fine for what I'll use it for. But you do bring up a good point by comparing to other makers that are cheaper and offer the longer lasting barrel. Maybe they'll lower the price or even change the barrel type after it gets into consumers hands and the complaints start?

I doubt I'd ever put more than 1,000 rounds down the tube. With all my other rifles in the safe, I don't run into the problem of running thru barrels 

Rumor has it that Cerberus would like to win a Military Contract, which is why the big push into Firearms.  With Bushmaster and Remington in the portfolio it doesn't make sense if they don't pursue a big fat gov't contract.  I personally doubt that they have a chance at winning one though.

I'm not Military either, but having lived through the time period when the news was about many good, young Marines dying because their early M-16's were jamming up because of the lack of a chrome lining and chrome bolt, I can assure you that McNamara and the Pentagon never forgot that lesson either.

If you don't plan on ever putting more than 1,000 rounds down the tube, then by all means buy one without chrome.  Chrome is meant for longer barrel life under more adverse conditions.  With chrome you don't necessarily have to worry about shooting cheap foreign ammo, nor should you have to worry about buying a few thousand rounds to go plinking with some Sunday afternoon.  Under 1M rounds and you would be safe with a cr v mo barrel without the lining.  With chrome you can abuse the rifle more, it can take it and still perform near flawlessly.  Or good enough for most Civilian conditions.

[nomosendero]

For an AR, I would prefer stainless instead of cm. I have a RRA Varmiter with the 24" Stainless match barrel, it will shoot sub 1/2" over & over. If you follow the match shooters & those who buy AR's for Tar/Var chores, the prefered barrel is a match grade stainless. The
chrome lined bores do have their place & they excell for extended rapid fire, combat situations, they are not as damaged from excessive heat. So, in Mil. applications the chrome lined is better & they can be highly accurate, but for BEST Accuracy & good life for relatively rapid fire, stainless is prefered by most. It is noteworthy though that Bushmaster does use ch. lined in some accurate AR's. Go to the sites of the other leading AR Companies & look at what type of barrels they use for he precision versions. BTW, RRA guarantees 3/4". Other more expensive AR's like the Les Baer use stainless & Les Guar. 1/2". Go to a custom builder like D-Tech & I believe you will hear stainless all the way. But all 3 can be great.

[jvs]

What I'm getting at is if I am looking at two rifles side by side, both are the same price and are set up exactly the same except one has a chrome lined barrel and the other does not.... 

I go with the one with the chromed bolt and bore.    No doubt about it.    This is what Remington is up against when it comes to their competition in the R-15 Class.

And if there were three and one was SS, it would depend on the actual price difference.   I have been known to be cheap and thick headed.

[nomosendero]

If a stainless match barrel is left out of the picture & only comparing Chrome Moly Y Chrome lined, I would agree. But the Match Stainless is not that much more for a lifetime rifle.