EtronX Rifle and Ammunition

Probably the most “electric” item discussed was the new EtronX electronic rifle. Looking exactly like the famed Model 700, the EtronX rifle has the same profile, bolt stroke, appearance and ergonomics of this popular rifle but with a twist. This new rifle uses patented Remington technology to electronically discharge a round in the chamber with near instant ignition. A strong benefit of this is improved accuracy, but what is really hard to believe is that there are no moving parts - electronics tucked away in the butt of the stock fire the cartridge as supplied by a standard 9-volt battery.

All this is set off by a new electronic trigger that breaks exceptionally well with less travel than the standard 700 trigger. Remington calls it “benchrest performance in a production rifle.” Benchrest shooters will, no doubt, take to this rifle and a possible future heavy barrel version just because of this one feature, as the trigger can be adjusted down to some really fantastic limits!

The safety is of all things a simple toggle switch mounted near the tang as would be the standard Model 700 safety lever. There is a light emitting diode (LED) that shows the operator the status of the gun and if a round is chambered. Eventually if this type rifle really gets popular, I foresee all the pertinent information visible at a glance through the riflescope. Presently, the rifle is equipped with a synthetic stock and a heavy 26-inch fluted 416-grade stainless steel barrel to help dissipate the heat from a varmint rifle of this type.

One practical aspect of this rifle is that it uses the same cases, bullets and propellants as a conventional round. The only variation is the primer: It’s new (read expensive even in bulk) and different in composition than the present-day primers, so they are not interchangeable. It will, however, fit a standard 9 1/2 Large Rifle primer pocket.

With that in mind, the next step in this progression of the EtronX rifle is the ammunition. Presently the .220 Swift, .22-250 Remington and .243 Winchester are being chambered in this rifle. According to Remington executives, the .220 Swift and the .22-250 Remington will be topped off with 50-grain Hornady V-Max bullets while the .243 Winchester and its initial 90-grain offering will include a Nosler Ballistic Tip for improved accuracy and upsetting potentials at longer ranges.

Save your money folks. The EtronX rifle is going to debut at around $2,000. Want to be the first on your block to have one? See your dealer now.

The Remington .338 Ultra Mag

I’m sure more will be added to the basic .300 Ultra Mag family next year. Anyone for betting a week’s pay on Remington going down in bore size next year?

Additional Centerfire Rifle Entries

For Y2K Remington is going to produce a left-handed version of the Model 700 BDL chambered in the extremely popular .300 Ultra Mag. Complete with its high-gloss American walnut stock, polished barrel and related parts, this rifle complete with a three-round magazine will certainly be a hit with left-handed shooters and hunters.

Many, many years back, Remington decided to keep the “Classic” rifle in the line except that it wasn’t going to be a full run production rifle. Instead they added a little mystic to the rifle by introducing it year after year in        a limited run chambered in various cartridges for collector appeal. A rifle with a no-nonsense type stock (no monte carlo hump or cheekpiece), this year the chambering will be the .223 Remington. As a small game hunter, I prefer sporter rifles to heavy barrel guns as I don’t snipe at varmints, rather I patrol the fields moving from place to place in an effort to outsmart the little critters. This rifle is ideal, and this year you’ll see it with its traditional satin-finished stock, blue carbon steel barrel and a five-round magazine as standard.

On the subject of varmints, due to popular demand and a pile of requests, Remington will again introduce the Model 700 VS (Varmint Synthetic) rifle. The reintroduction will hail the return of the gun in the .223 and .22-250 Remington plus the .308 Winchester. This rifle comes with a Kevlar-reinforced composite stock with a full-length, aircraft-grade aluminum-bedding block all tied into a stout 26-inch heavy contour barrel.

To add to the dependable line of Model 597 rimfire rifles, Remington has introduced a Stainless Steel Sporter. This gun has a 20-inch barrel, fully adjustable rifle sights, is drilled and tapped to accept the Remington scope rail, and it still offers a grooved receiver for those famous tip-off mounts. The gun comes with a staggered 10-round magazine, a stainless steel barrel and a hardwood stock.

To compliment its rimfire line, Remington will now offer match-grade ammunition. According to Remington spokesmen, the company will partner with world famous Eley to offer three grades of super accurate ammunition. Relying on the expertise of Eley, Remington will offer Target Rifle, Club Xtra and Match Xtra Plus to American shooters packed in bulk from 50-round boxes to 5,000-round case lots. While the two former entries will feature graphite coated antimony lead alloy bullets, top of the line Match Xtra Plus will include the popular Tenex profile complete with a high antimony lead alloy bullet. Regardless of the grade chosen, all will feature a 40-grain bullet moving at 1,085 fps.

Riding on the heels of that, the .22 Winchester Magnum ammunition line will expand to include the reintroduction of the Premier line, including the 33-grain Hornady V-Max boat-tail bullet with velocities of around 2,000 fps in standard length barrels.

Finally, a few other items are worthy of merit. First is the introduction of scope bases by Remington to fit seven rifle and five shotgun mounts. Made from a high-grade aircraft aluminum in a streamlined one-piece design, look for them to fit Models 7400, 700 short and long actions in both stainless and blued, and the Model Seven.

A new brand of ammunition called the Premier Scirocco is being touted by Remington as offering hunters the best in accuracy and superb weight retention. It features a bullet with a polymer tip, a boat-tail profile all wrapped around a pure copper tapered jacketed bullet by Swift. It will be available in the .30-06 and the .300 Ultra Mag in 180-grain loads. For those who simply can’t get enough of the .300 Ultra Mag, a 200-grain Nosler Partition will be on the way to dealers shortly.

Remington deserves a lot of credit for the amount of product being introduced to American sportsmen this year. What I have detailed here is literally the tip of the iceberg. There are additions in the shotgun field in both guns and ammunition as well with the introduction of a new over-and-under 12-gauge shotgun Remington will call the Ideal. Slimmer and trimmer than previous models, this one should be a favorite with upland and waterfowl hunters. The final tally of product is endless, not to mention accessories and knives.