Layoffs at the Arms (Remington)

[Jeb Stuart]

Lol, I doubt Remington is going anywhere.

I think this nostalgia is somewhat misplaced. There are a number of high quality American made bolt rifles, they just don’t say “Remington” on the receiver. Kimber, Weatherby come to mind. As a millennial I’m not much of an expert on the current bolt market, so I’m guessing there are several I’m completely unaware of.

I wonder sometimes how nostalgic people would be about handguns and rifles from the 60s era if the internet had been around to broadcast/amplify every bad experience someone had with a new product. Maybe the ones in service today are the ones that worked. How many went to a scrap heap?

I would bet some of the high end Remington's are fine quality. I wonder how many people bash them that never even owned one. And to say there are not extremely fine Bolt actions in the modern day world we live in, is Hogwash. And I would bet there are many that are even better. A lot of advances over the years.

 

[Palolosj]

One thing I will say about Remington custom shop very high grade guns. The engraving was very good much better than Winchester.
I would not worry one can still get best quality US firearms from members of ACGG.

 

[DairyVet]

I wonder how many people bash them that never even owned one.

At least one on this forum

(raises hand, bows head in shame...)

 

[Bama59]

My only complaint is the Remington employees driving crazy at shift change but do hope they keep their jobs, I've never recovered from losing a job several years ago. Plenty of positive information about the 1911 pistol and AR's plus great prices. Also have fired several hundred rounds of Remington ammo with no problems

 

[herrwalther]

Just curious, how many people work at the plant? What was this guys position? Was he a skilled worker? Janitor? Are you saying that the plant has a lay off because of one model that you feel is not quality? You say they will hire just about anybody at the Huntsville plant, how do you know this? Are these minimum wage jobs? Do other manufacturing plants hire only skilled workers in all departments? Can you do some comparisons to other manufacturing plants that are different? I have heard the same kind of disparagement's with many others. Smith and Wesson has suffered some big losses the past few quarters, is it because they brought it upon themselves? How about Ruger, and others? I have over the years, in my career visited many manufacturing plants Lol, I doubt any one of them is really different in the quality of employment for their particular job on the plant assembly floor etc.
Other than disparagement of the Products you feel are not up to standards, what suggestions would you have for Remington Corporate leaders? More diverse investments? Redesign of the marketing structure, and on and on?

A little over 2000 people work at the Remington plant in Hunstville. This guy worked in production on their DPMS line, and he hardly knew a thing about what he was building. The "they will hire anyone" comes from him. While he self-admits he doesn't know much or have a passion for firearms, he told told stories of people worse than he. Many of his co workers admitted to being felons and they go through metal detectors at the end of the shift to look for snatched parts. The 770 is just ONE bad example I have had with Remington. With enough bad experiences, I will be hard pressed to be interested in something else from Remington.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

Maybe they should bring back the 788. I have 4 of them and have never bought a 700 because I never saw a reason.....

 

[Tommygunn]

A little over 2000 people work at the Remington plant in Hunstville. This guy worked in production on their DPMS line, and he hardly knew a thing about what he was building. The "they will hire anyone" comes from him. While he self-admits he doesn't know much or have a passion for firearms, he told told stories of people worse than he. Many of his co workers admitted to being felons and they go through metal detectors at the end of the shift to look for snatched parts. The 770 is just ONE bad example I have had with Remington. With enough bad experiences, I will be hard pressed to be interested in something else from Remington.

Just curious; what does he do in his job? What does he have to know about how guns work to do it? If his job is to inventory the number of polymer pistol grips in stock for their AR-15s, all he has to know is how to count.
If it's something to do with the fine points of fitting bolt or trigger parts .....

I have two D. P. M. S. rifles, neither of which have had any problems.

 

[herrwalther]

Just curious; what does he do in his job? What does he have to know about how guns work to do it? If his job is to inventory the number of polymer pistol grips in stock for their AR-15s, all he has to know is how to count.
If it's something to do with the fine points of fitting bolt or trigger parts .....

I have two D. P. M. S. rifles, neither of which have had any problems.

Former position at Remington was working at gas tube alignment. Reason he was fired: too many quality control issues. Sure it isn't required to be firearm savvy to work on them, but I am sure it would help.

 

[Tommygunn]

Oh, "former position." *Sigh* Atleast they cashiered him .... and hopefully trained his replacement better ....


Maybe I'll stick to Windham or S&W the next time I want a cheap AR-15.....

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Sure it isn't required to be firearm savvy to work on them, but I am sure it would help.

While I certainly agree with this statement, I would offer the concept that, in any manufacturing, all that is required is knowledge of the process one is assigned to do. Both of my parents worked in manufacturing at different times in their lives, as did I (briefly). None of us knew how to do every task on the line at which we worked. The parts I made, if someone hadn't shown me a photo of the finished item, I would never have known what I was making. All that was required of me was to operate a machine and handle raw materials. This is the hall mark and essential factor in mass production.

 

[Texas10mm]

While I certainly agree with this statement, I would offer the concept that, in any manufacturing, all that is required is knowledge of the process one is assigned to do. Both of my parents worked in manufacturing at different times in their lives, as did I (briefly). None of us knew how to do every task on the line at which we worked. The parts I made, if someone hadn't shown me a photo of the finished item, I would never have known what I was making. All that was required of me was to operate a machine and handle raw materials. This is the hall mark and essential factor in mass production.

Correct. Not everyone who works on an automotive assembly line is a master mechanic.

 

[herrwalther]

Correct. Not everyone who works on an automotive assembly line is a master mechanic.

Nope. *Former Remington employee* and I worked manufacturing for a major automotive line, multi billion dollar company. But pretty much everyone there knows how to change their own oil or replace a flat tire. A baseline knowledge of what you are working on helps.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Nope. *Former Remington employee* and I worked manufacturing for a major automotive line, multi billion dollar company. But pretty much everyone there knows how to change their own oil or replace a flat tire. A baseline knowledge of what you are working on helps.

That's a baseline knowledge for everyone with a driver's license.

 

[herrwalther]

That's a baseline knowledge for everyone with a driver's license.

It would surprise you how many people don't know how to. I have run into adults who didn't even know how to open the hood of their own vehicles. And I admit, I didn't know how to change a tire right away, that changed quickly on my first flat I had. Crash course learning on the road side is a good teacher.

 

[Double_J]

I have a male coworker that did not know how to add air to his tires, nor how to check the oil in his engine. We both work as Quality Engineers in the Quality Control department for a major automotive manufacturer in Montgomery Alabama. I also helped teach another employee how to change his tire in the parking lot so he did not have to wait for Triple A. The requirements to work on an assembly line are not that high, and most people do not take a shop class anymore in high school.

 

[SSN Vet]

The whole concept of assembly line mass manufacturing is specialization of labor... that is, each worker learns one task well and then does it over and over and over.

I work in manufacturing and our largest hiring criteria are

1.) can pass drug test (and we're considered old school for even doing drug screening).
2.) has transportation and can actually get to work.
3.) shows up to work regularly.

If we can meet those three criteria, we consider ourselves lucky.

The national unemployment rate is 3.7% (4% is considered full employment) and in our state it is 2.4%

 

[dh1633pm]

Corporations have a culture just like families and other groups. I won't get into who I might know or might not know at the Ilion Plant. One person I know is an expert with AR style rifles, the R11 Pistol, and the 700. Another I know works in the custom shop. All good people who would rather not work than have one rifle escape the plant with a defect. One tried to move to Huntsville, the company will not allow transfers. You apply like anyone off the street and take whatever wage is being offered and loose any benefits you have gained by longevity. The same happened when Bushmaster and Marlin were purchased and moved.

We will see how the current changes work out. Funny, the Marlin portion of the factory is going full tilt. I purchased a 700 Milspec Series 2 last fall. Excellent quality and workmanship. I also purchased a Marlin 1895 in 45 Colt. I compared it with my 90's model 1895G it compared favorably. Wood to metal fit was actually better.

 

[kcofohio]

Correct. Not everyone who works on an automotive assembly line is a master mechanic.

To my understanding, that is why Henry Ford had the assembly lines and repeatable machines designed. Before that, many parts of the car were made by craftsmen. But each craftsman had their own way of doing things, with a variance of time in labor.

 

[kcofohio]

I have a male coworker that did not know how to add air to his tires, nor how to check the oil in his engine. We both work as Quality Engineers in the Quality Control department for a major automotive manufacturer in Montgomery Alabama. I also helped teach another employee how to change his tire in the parking lot so he did not have to wait for Triple A. The requirements to work on an assembly line are not that high, and most people do not take a shop class anymore in high school.

Our youngest daughter has dated a couple guys that couldn't help her change a tire. I always thought that was a given that a guy would know some basic wrenching. So now she knows how and the next boyfriend will get a grilling from me on some basics.
When I work on her car, now she is right there with me learning.

 

[tercel89]

Man, you hit the nail on the head. High Round Count, High end Military combat weapons to include shotguns, Tacticool anything. The time when a single shot rifle is a thing of the past. No more becoming one with the gun, taking your time, getting to know the wind, the sun etc. A era when a teen will own a 1,000 dollar cell phone. And it is getting worse.
Don't have to go far to find one. Just come to my local indoor Pistol range and you will find many shooting a ton of ammo out of a AR. Normally as fast as they are allowed.

I was in the ER interviewing a crash victim from a wreck. I saw a teenager being rolled in from an ambulance on a bed covered with blood and all they were screaming about was "where's my phone !!!! " . What the heck has this world went to ?

 

[Riomouse911]

A bunch of people who are incapable of anything except tapping on a telephone screen with their fingers, that’s what!

I always had a romantic notion that the peoplewho worked on assembling the firearms I’ve bought are gun folks with an eye for how things should be.

Sadly, it seems like outside of the very high end makers and small boutique shops a lot of the folks that show up at these larger firearms plants are one step removed from the French fry machine at Mickey D’s.

Sad

Stay safe.

 

[S&W620]

Old guys complaining about young people.

How original...

 

[SharpDog]

I might be in the market for a Versa-Max but all of this Remington-bashing has turned me off on that

 

[jertex]

I've been leary of Remington products since my buddies brand new 1187 literally fell apart the first time he fired it in 2001. On the other hand, I took a chance on a 1911 Carry Commander because Academy sports had discontinued them and were selling them for under $500 and there was a Remington $150 rebate promotion. It's a well-made pistol that is even better since I gave it a nice trigger job with Ed Brown parts. That's a quality 1911 but I probably wouldn't have taken a chance on it if I hadn't been able to that kind of price.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I've shot the versa-max and I like it, all my Remington firearms are older ones, the newest from the early 80's the oldest a 03a3.
I think quality control has hurt them and hope they correct it and get back to being a great gun manufacturer. I think a lot of their problems could be the parent company wanting more profit quickly rather than long-term.