New Rem Mod 7 AWS Rifle (6.8 Rem SPC) Cough

[Big Paulie]

Well, . . .excuse me.

I was wrong.

    Remington has just announced that it will make a rifle this year for its new Rem 6.8mm SPC.

   It is called the Model 7 "Alaska Wilderness Rifle" (AWR).  AND it only costs a mere $1,447 !  Straight from the custom shop.

     Gee what a great marketing department Remington has. This is sure to create lots and lots of interest in the new cartridge for hunters.  I don't know bout you, but I have tons of money lying around!   They sure were  smart not to offer it in the Model 700 ADL!

   Personally, I think that someone from Winchester is running the Remington Arms Co..

Best Regards, Big Paulie

[Robert]

I really needed a good chuckle.  That is just too good....a 1500 dollar rifle with NO AMMO. That's cool.  Remington is definately on the cutting edge again with that one.

[Ramrod]

6.8? Put a fork in it, it's done. :-D

[kombi1976]

You're excused, Big Paulie.  
But you're right, why isn't Remington backing up their products? :|
I mean for Pete's sake, an "Alaska Wilderness Rifle" in 6.8mm Rem SPC?? :eek:
Isn't the strength of the 6.8 for varmints & predators up to medium sized game? :?
Isn't the normal reason folks go to Alaska to hunt moose and elk and big bears........correct me if I'm wrong.
If they built a custom rifle in a cartridge like 8mm Rem Mag or 338 Ultra Mag or even 350 Rem Mag I could understand it but by all estimations the 6.8 isn't that lethal.
BTW, Remington do list ammo for the 6.8 SPC on their site, 4 loads and all 115gn.
There are 3 Remington Express loads with differing bullets, all of which have a claimed MV of 2800fps and one Premium Core-Lokt Ultra Bonded which has an MV of 2775fps.
Marketed the right way this could be an amazing product for them.
Here in Australia there are only 3 game animals really unsuitable for this cartridge and they aren't game that people hunt on a day to day basis.
For everything else it qualifies as a brilliant all round cartridge.
Why not make it easily available?
They seem to flood the market with everything else.

[Big Paulie]

Well Guys, here is what i really think.

1.  I have heard that they have run into technical problems in agreeing on final SAAMI specs etc. for the new cartridge in connection with military applications.  There is definitely some technical problem holding up the mass production of the round.

2.  Although they lists lots of different factory ammo for the round, apparently nobody can find any.

3.       Here is the best:  I believe that due to delays, their marketing people are really afraid that this round is going to die in the public mind, even before it gets truly released.  The marketing people have probably told the suits that unless they release a bolt action in this cartridge this year, then the new round is totally dead!     Accordingly, just to keep the name of the round in the public's mind, just to pretend that it is a dynamic and viable round, they came up with this ridiculous ploy of releasing a custom shop bolt action rifle in this new round, calling it the "Alaskan Wilderness Rifle,"   knowing however that nobody in their right mind will actually buy one!!    At most, maybe they'll get orders for 50 or so!!

        In other words, they all sat around a big table, and said, "How do we announce that we are manufacturing a brand new rifle in this brand new exciting caliber, without really having to manufacture any???"

       "Hey, . . . I know  [fill in the rest!]"

Big Paulie

[htrjv]

and I respect you for having yours, but let's not be myoptic about this round and firearms.  Take a look at Thompson Center's 2005 catalog.  At least one other manufacturer is doing something with this round, including Hornady Manufacturing.  Oh, I forgot to even mention the numerous other AR-15 boys, who have already made numerous uppers for this round.  
You may have it in for Remington, but let's not get carried away with it here.  IMHO  Joe

[kombi1976]

The fact remains, though, htrjv, that the company that developed this round and obviously decided it was a goer, at least to let it get this far, is making less than a half hearted attempt at putting it in the bolt-action hunting rifle category, the biggest sector of the market place for sporting shooters.
Doesn't that strike you as odd?
Afterall, when Winchester developed the 300WSM both Browning A-Bolts and Winchester Mod 70s were marketed én mass in this cartridge.
Why aren't Remington doing the same, especially if all the reviews are as good as the one I read the other night?
I'm really tempted to email Remington and ask........

[Ramrod]

I think the Remington salespeople are scared. They probably can't afford another huge marketing flop.

[Big Paulie]

Well, if Remington has any type of rational strategy, maybe it is this:   Let Barrett take all of the manufacturing costs and risks by making uppers in 6.8 for the AR shooters.  Remington only has to make the ammo.   Then, if the 6.8 proves to be a big hit with the AR shooters, this will naturally build a big interest among the hunters and sport shooters, without big advertising or high manufacturing/tooling expense by Remington.  When and if this interest builds to a high point, and Remington knows for sure that there is is demand for sporting rifles in the new caliber, then Remiington will take the risk and invest in the tooling for large scale manufacture of the Model 7 or 700 in this new caliber.

  Remington has fallen on hard times, and maybe the foregoing is a way to go forth with the round, without spending too much cash up front.  They are probably still licking their wounds from the .260 Remington, which was a great round but just never took off.

Big Paulie

[Ramrod]

Big Paulie, what do you mean by the risk in investing in tooling? All we are talking about here are chamber reamers. Remington already has the rest of the parts in house.

[kombi1976]

Big Paulie, what do you mean by the risk in investing in tooling? All we are talking about here are chamber reamers. Remington already has the rest of the parts in house.

Excellent point.
Why don't they don't just do a short run of M700s, say 400 and really promote them?
That'd really guage the interest.
After all, 400 rifles is a drop in the bucket in the US market.

[Big Paulie]

As far as tooling, I guess perhaps that they may need to machine new bolt faces on the bolts, since they probably don't have one that matches up?  They may also have to design a new magazine with the proper feed lips for this round?  They are also going to have to ream out new barrel chambers for this round?  I think that even this small stuff can cost money.

  If there are no new costs, then I agree, they should make a limited run and sell them with great fanfare!  

   

Big Paulie,

[bgjohn]

Big Paulie, what do you mean by the risk in investing in tooling? All we are talking about here are chamber reamers. Remington already has the rest of the parts in house.

I agree. Tooling costs my butt! Grrr! :x

[Big Paulie]

Well guys, if you are right and there are no significant tooling costs, then we are left with only two theories:  (i) my "conspiracy" theory, or (ii) the guys at Remington are just plain idiots.

Big Paulie

P.S.- I know that I am an idiot myself, . . .but we are not talking about me!  (Unless you want to create a new board about me.)

[Ramrod]

I'll stick with my "scared" theory. Better to hide at your desk, only comming out to kiss the bosses behind, than to do something that might get you fired. I don't know enough to call the Rem. people idiots. Maybe just monkeys like the Superbowl commercial. Thats american buissiness nowadays.

P.S.
Big Paulie, you can't be an idiot if you are smart enough to ask questions!