Called the Model 504, Remington’s new rimfire is a high-end bolt action that replaces the older Model 541-T, which has not been cataloged since the mid-1990s. Remington has kept workhorse rifles like the Model 597 and 552 autoloaders and the 572 pump action, but I think the company must have felt the pressure generated by Kimber, Ruger, Cooper and others that have deluxe rimfire rifles that are doing all they can to keep up with demand.

It was a long time coming, but Remington has introduced a very classic smallbore rifle. With all the trimmings, including a flush-mounted magazine, the current retail price will be around $710. For the first year, John Trull (Remington’s rifle guru) stated, “The Model 504 will be available in the .22 Long Rifle only.” Obviously there is going to be some room here, and if Remington follows the lead of others, we could see the likes of the .22 WMR, .17 HMR or even the .22  Hornet or .218 Bee. Given the expandability of the receiver, I see no reason not to dive into deeper waters, but then again, maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

Remington made the smart move by profiling the stock in man-sized proportions in a classic pattern without any fancy wood tips or high comb. Many shooters have waited for Remington to reenter the premium rimfire market, and the design team wanted to do it right the first time around.

Without going into a full-blown test report, let me go over some of the highlights of this rifle, then we’ll move on to the other new products. The receiver will be machined from a solid carbon steel bar for centerfire strength and rigidity. There will be dual bedding points with a rear locking bolt and dual extractors. The barrel will be 20 inches without open sights, and for the first year of production, it will be shipped with Weaver-styled scope bases. The barrel will have a semi- match chamber to reduce freebore yet will be made to shoot well with a wide variety of factory ammunition. It will also have Remington’s 5R button rifling that is also standard on Model 40-XR target rifles.

Other distinctive features include a 90-degree bolt lift complete with a smooth, round bolt knob and a nickel-plated bolt body. The trigger will be target quality, fully adjustable by an “Authorized Repair Center.” Right out of the box, it will be set at 4 pounds. There will be no ISS safety system on this rifle, and the bolt is fully field strippable without tools.

Finally, the Model 504 is equipped with a six-round flush magazine and an American walnut stock that includes machine cut-checkering, sling swivel studs, a rubber buttpad and a stylized grip cap.

Next on the list in the Model 700 lineup is a design that resembles the Mountain Rifle but is not a replacement. Instead, Remington has added a standard contour barrel like the BDL series, lengthened it to 24 inches and 26 inches (magnums) and increased the width of the forearm much like the dimensions on the flagship Model 700 BDL. The hinged floorplate will be standard, and it will come with a very similar (but not the same) classic-styled stock as the Mountain Rifle, complete with straight comb and cheekpiece for right-handed shooters. Present chamberings include the .243 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, .270 Winchester, .30-06, 7mm Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum plus the newer 7mm and .300 Remington Ultra Mags. Suggested retail is $709 for standard cartridges, $749 for the magnums.

For those who prefer to walk (rather than snipe varmints from a longer distance with a heavy barreled gun), Remington’s new Model 700 LVSF (Light Varmint, Stainless Fluted) is built on the Model 700 action with a 22-inch modern contoured barrel (.657 inch at the muzzle) that comes with six longitudinal flutes and no sights. The action is pillar bedded and comes with a special black composite stock with a blind magazine. Checking in at 6 3/4 pounds, it is available only in short-action cartridges: .17 Remington, .221 Fireball, .223 Remington and .22-250 Remington.

Pairing the 7mm and the .300 Short Action Remington cartridges with the Model 700 Titanium Magnum rifle is yet another interesting line extension. Complete with a synthetic stock, short action and a 24-inch magnum contour barrel, this rifle is a full pound lighter than similar Model 700 counterparts. It too is pillar bedded and sports a Remington R3 recoil pad.

This year Remington will extend the Model 673 Guide Rifle lineup to include the 6.5mm Remington Magnum and popular .308 Winchester. As a weather-resistant rifle complete with a very distinctive laminated stock, this rifle is fine for both deep woods hunting in the East and/or open plains shooting out West. With a curt 22-inch carbon steel barrel it will retail for $825.

As a partner to the Model 673, Remington is reintroducing the 6.5 Remington Magnum in its ammunition line with the Express Core-Lokt 120-grain PSP bullet. Offering controlled expansion with 75 percent weight retention, it’s perfect for medium-sized game. Velocity is 3,210 fps, and with an initial scope setting of around 3.0 inches high at 100 yards, this bullet will strike 3.5 inches low at 300 yards.

Now you can purchase the Model 710 in the 7mm Remington Magnum or .300 Winchester Magnum with a 24-inch barrel, detachable box magazine and a bore-sighted Bushnell 3-9x40mm scope for only $426. Quite a rifle for such a modest price, and it should certainly help get younger shooters into the sport.

For the collector, the 24th version of the Limited Edition Classic is being chambered for the 8mm Mauser (8x57mm S). Although originally a German military cartridge, it never seemed to gather much interest with American shooters, possibly because of its limited availability in sporting firearms. This new rifle may help and features a traditional classic-styled stock less the monte carlo comb and comes with cut-checkering, a highly polished 24-inch barrel and a long action.

Now in its fourth year, Remington offers the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation trade rifle with a portion of the proceeds being donated to RMEF. This year the chambering will be the .300 Winchester Magnum with a Real Tree Hardwoods Gray camo stock, 416 stainless steel long-action receiver and a 24-inch barrel. With a commemorative laser engraved floorplate denoting the occasion, retail will be $835.

To finish out the rifle line, the Model 700 ADL Synthetic and Model Seven will be offered in special youth models. Designed for younger hunters, the length of pull is 12 3/8 inches and caliber choices will be from the .223 Remington to .30-06, depending upon which model you choose.

In ammunition, there has been a lot going on. One of the high-lights of the ammunition session is what Remington calls its “Managed-Recoil” line of centerfire    cartridges. Available in .270 Winchester, .30-06 and 7mm Remington Magnum, basically it offers roughly half the recoil. At the    seminar we were told the common .30-06 will feel like the .243 Winchester on your shoulder. It certainly did at the range, but the question beckons - how do they perform on game?

According to Remington execs, each load has been specially designed for the cartridge, so it offers good expansion, 85 percent weight retention and at least 1,100 foot-pounds (ft-lbs) of energy out to 200 yards. Ideal for deer-sized game, this is the perfect ammunition for folks who want to hunt but are sensitive to recoil.

For the military, Remington developed a new cartridge that will reach out to opposing forces to at least 500 meters. Called the 6.8mm Remington SPC, it is made from the older .30 Remington case necked down to a .270 bullet dimension. The 115-grain bullet will generate 2,800 fps at 2,002 ft-lbs of energy and offers minor modifications to current M16/M4 or M203 lower receiver assemblies.

Additionally, Remington has upgraded its ammunition line to include new Gold Box ammunition that offers custom performance right out of the box. Teamed with its proprietary Premium Core-Lokt Ultra, Scirocco Bonded and AccuTip bullets, they have enhanced accuracy and, depending upon the bullet, a high ballistic coefficient.

Seven new offerings from .25-06 Remington to .338 Winchester Magnum top the list in the Premium Core-Lokt Ultra ammunition, and the popular AccuTip bullet has been added to include popular varmint cartridges from .17 Remington to .243 Winchester. There is a Premium Match ammunition in 6.8 Remington SPC, .300 Winchester Magnum and .300 Remington SA Ultra Mag. Remington reps also stated that more and more components will be available to handloaders in the future, including smaller prepacked packages of brass and bullets.

Additionally, for the shotgun enthusiasts, new models have been introduced with a Model 11-87 Waterfowl Camo topping the list plus four new Model 1100s, including the Classic Field 20, Tournament Skeet 20, Model 1100 Sporting 28 and a Model 1100 Sporting 410 (presently the only .410 semiautomatic being made), along with more smoothbore ammunition in Buckhammer, slugs and conventional shotgun shells in new and brighter packaging.

Remington, like all the others in the business, looks forward to an exciting year in 2004. Looking at the new product line, the company is obviously in it for the long haul.

For more information and a fact-filled catalog, contact the Marketing Department, Remington Arms, 870 Remington Drive, Madison NC 27025.