The Long Arms of the Law
So what type of products are these groups developing? Remington LE in particular has been busy developing some intriguing products for law enforcement officers. One example is the new 870P MAX. Built on the strengths of the ever-popular Model 870 pump-action shotgun, this variant is a full-featured tactical shotgun. It was developed to provide officers with a fully complemented tactical shotgun right out of the box. It features a Speedfeed pistol-grip buttstock with a full one-inch shorter length of pull than a standard stock for a better fit when wearing body armor. For sighting, the 870P MAX comes fitted out with a Wilson Combat ghost ring rear sight and an XS Sight Systems interchangeable front sight that allows users to switch to a simple bead sight configuration with the ghost ring removed. Rounding out the package is a SureFire Tactical WeaponLight fore-end.

Remington LE has also developed some interesting patrol rifle variants based on the Remington 7600 series of pump-action rifles. In particular, the Model 7615P is a .223 Rem. rifle that employs AR-15/M16 magazines. The other offering is the Model 7600P, conceptually the same as the 7615P but chambered in .308 Win. for more punch. The beauty of these rifles is that they are functionally similar to the Model 870 shotgun, offering departments wanting to switch from shotguns to patrol rifles much easier transitional training.

The Tip of the Spear
Remington MPD has also been busy developing firearms and products that build on the strengths of Remington's firearms. Some of its most interesting products are based off the rifle for which Remington's military efforts are most often associated—the M24 SWS.

Remington MPD has developed some upgraded versions of the original M24 SWS, namely the M24A2 and the M24A3. "The M24 SWS is a great, capable weapon system. However, we developed the M24A2 with some modifications intended for operators who wanted to squeeze even more performance out of the design," Haugen explained.

The M24A2 is available as a stand-alone rifle or as an upgrade of an existing M24 SWS. While it is not by any means cheap—the complete rifle is in the $7,000 range and the upgrade option is about $4,000—the M24A2 offers some intriguing features. Whereas the original M24 featured a fixed box magazine, the A2 employs a detachable Accuracy Int'l box magazine. In addition, an optional sound suppressor rounds out the package and gives operators more flexibility in the field.

In regards to mounting optics, the original M24 employed conventional scope mounting through a drilled and tapped receiver. The M24A2, on the other hand, employs Remington's new Modular Accessory Rail System. The MARS is a 1913 Picatinny rail that gives a great deal more flexibility to users, allowing the mounting of a myriad of visible and infrared illumination and aiming devices as well as night-vision systems. It is made up of three pieces with a long top rail and two movable and detachable side rails.

For those who want more power and range, there is the new M24A3. The M24 SWS and M24A2 are both available in either .308 Win. or .300 Win. Mag., and the new M24A3 chambers the powerful .338 Lapua Mag. cartridge. This exceedingly capable cartridge is becoming increasingly popular as a precision rifle cartridge because it offers range and power that fits neatly in the niche between the .308 Win. and the .50 BMG. It is available with either an H&S Precision Pro-2000 stock or an optional Accuracy Int'l Chassis System stock. Both of those stocks provide adjustable length of pull as well as adjustable cheek rests. As with the M24A2, the A3 comes with the MARS mount and an OPS-INC sound suppressor in addition to a muzzle brake.

Not every product the MPD has developed involves hitting targets on the horizon. Starting with the extremely popular Model 870 platform, Remington MPD has developed the Model 870 Modular Combat Shotgun system. The MCS was created to offer the end user a complete kit that allows him to configure his shotgun as three different weapon systems—an ultra-short breaching weapon with a pistol grip and 10-inch barrel, an entry gun with a pistol-grip stock and 14-inch barrel, or a full-size combat version with a pistol-grip stock and an 18-inch barrel. The barrels and magazine-tube extensions can be swapped in minutes as with a conventional Model 870, and the Quick-Change Stock System works with the simple pull of a pin to swap out a stock for a pistol grip even faster.

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