First Look: Remington Alpha 1 New Model 700 From Remington
August 11, 2022
The Remington Alpha 1 is the next evolution of the 700 series of rifles from Remington Firearms. After a few years of restructuring, Remington is returning to their roots, producing firearms that not only perform but ones that have the highest levels of quality control aimed at the hunting market.Â
Not the same Remington
It’s no secret that quality control issues plagued Remington in the past. But things have changed. This is not the old Remington; the new company is focused on what made them a legacy firearms brand. This means focusing on quality shotguns and bolt action rifles. After Ken D’arcy took over and restructured the company, things changed.
At the Remington Alpha 1 launch event, I talked with D’Arcy (CEO of Remington Arms) and Hunter Cummings (VP of Engineering) about all the changes. Even as CEO, D’arcy said his primary focus is product development.
“I’m a hunter, and Remington is returning to our roots and developing firearms for hunters,” he said. “I looked at the market and saw what a hunter wants and needs. That is what we are going to make. No marketing gimmicks – just a quality product.”
D’Arcy is unique among CEOs in that he is also an end-user. Before attending the launch event at the FTW Ranch, he was on a hunting trip. After the event, he’ll immediately head out for a pronghorn hunt using the new Alpha 1.
“The leadership at Remington is authentic and committed to the product,” D’Arcy said. “I don’t think you can be the leader of a firearm company without going out and hunting for days and experiencing issues in the field that the end user will experience.”
Remington 700 Alpha 1
The new Remington Alpha 1 is a completely different gun from the regular Remington 700. It has a new action, a new bolt, and new barrels. The fluted bolt of the Alpha One is a single piece, which is a big upgrade from the old 700s, which were a 4-piece design. Because the pieces of the 700 bolt were soldered together, it limited the availability of the coatings you could have for the bolt. Now, Remington can choose from both PVD and nitrate for the Alpha 1.
The bolt handle of the Alpha 1 is threaded onto the bolt, and there will be aftermarket handles available. The firing pin assembly is now a tool-less disassembly, much like the Remington 783. The extractor has also been upgraded with a sliding design that allows the end user to replace them if they break. The bolt still maintains the strength and the “three rings of steel” that Remington is known for. The feel of the bolt has changed a lot because the primary extraction surface on the cam surface has changed. This makes for a very smooth bolt that doesn’t feel like a 700, but in a good way. It is smooth … very smooth.
The receivers have been upgraded quite a bit as well. The magazine well is longer, for larger bullets. The ejection port has been opened up for better extraction like the 40X that Remington did in the past. All the Alpha 1’s have 8-40 screws for the scope mounts. The receiver itself is now fully round and is all the same height, unlike the old actions. The scope mounts are not the same as the old versions and will not accept the old style on the Alpha 1. The receiver is backward compatible with old 700 stocks but will need inletting for the magwell. There is an external bolt release on the left side for quick removal from the receiver. There are gas bleed-off valves on both sides of the receiver to help if a case should rupture.
All the twist rates on the 700’s and the Alpha 1’s have been upgraded. The new twist rates are now faster for heavier bullets and are marked on the side of the barrel. All the barrels are now 5R barrels for improved performance. The barrels have been redesigned from front to back. The throat chambers have been changed to make way for the free bore length and size. Â
Quality has been improved across the board to the point that the bolts of all Remington Alpha 1s can be exchanged with any other bolt of the same head size and still have the proper head spacing. The same is true with the barrels–any gunsmith can swap out the barrels by just screwing them in. The tolerances are held so tight that the Alpha One has basically become plug and play with parts. This is a drastic change from the old Remington rifles.
The barrel steel has been changed to the correct properties that a barrel should have. In the past, Remington was more concerned with how fast they could make a barrel and how long the tooling would last. The new Remington is concerned with quality, and the correct steel is used in the entire gun to make a better product. The barrel is fluted and has an 11-degree target crown. The thread protector extends slightly past the end of the barrel to protect it.
The Alpha 1 has several aftermarket parts that include a Timney trigger, AG composite stock, and Obendorf bottom metal. All the guns are Cerakoted.
Overall, the Remington Alpha 1 is a well-thought-out rifle that is a balance of custom and factory options. This is great to see from a rifle manufacturer. Looking at where the market is and asking for feedback and delivering. I look forward to doing a more in-depth review of the Alpha One closer to its launch date in October.
Jeremy Mallette is co-founder of International Sportsman. An avid hunter and outdoorsman, he has spent more than a decade in the outdoor industry, from hiking and camping to silencers and hunting. His father taught him to shoot at age six, and he received his first firearm at age eight — a 1942 Colt Commando .38 special revolver. He enjoys yearly trips to Kansas for pheasant hunting, spending time with his children at the deer lease, and collecting unique firearms.