Although the focus of Remington’s efforts during
most of its 192-year history has been in the area of field guns for
hunters, the company has also made a name for itself in circles of
competitive shooters. The 40-X series of match and benchrest rifles
is one well-known example, but they perhaps take a back seat to the
Model 1100 when you consider the widespread popularity this semi-auto
has achieved on the trap and skeet fields. Remington builds on its
presence in the competitive shotgunning scene with the Premier STS
Competition, an Italian-made over-under offered in several barrel
lengths and with an adjustable comb to meet the demands of today’s
clay-target shooters.
Top: Shooters can get the ideal gun fit by adjusting the STS Competition’s comb. The gun’s rubber recoil pad has a hard plastic insert at the heel to ensure a snag-free mount.
Bottom: Five Remington Pro-Bore choke tubes are included with the STS Competition. The over-under’s high, ventilated, 10 mm rib ends in an ivory, Bradley-style bead.
That’s right—an over-under. Big Green has never
been especially noted for its over-under shotguns, but the new Premier
line—which also fittingly includes several field guns in 12, 20 and
28 gauge—could change that. Manufactured by Sabatti in Brescia, Italy,
the Premier STS Competition has the kind of craftsmanship American
shooters have come to enjoy in Italian over-unders, combined with
the solid feel of reliability they’ve come to expect of Remington.
The low-profile, forged-steel receiver is electroless-nickel
plated to protect its surface from the grime and wear of high-volume
shooting. Panels of laser-cut, diamond-pattern engraving cover the
sides and bottom of the receiver, as well as the opening lever. The
boxlock’s false sideplates are devoid of the diamond pattern and
instead are adorned with the words “STS Competition.” While the diamond-pattern
engraving is clean and well executed, the gun’s nametag appears somewhat
grainy. In stark, but appealing, contrast to the nickel receiver
are the blued trunnions on which the barrels pivot. The STS Competition’s
action achieves lockup by a single, Purdey-style underlug, and the
ejectors are integral with the barrels. On the bottom of the receiver
is an engraved, gold-colored Remington “R” insignia, which I think
looks pretty classy.
Deeply blued and polished, the barrels have 3-inch
chambers and are overbored to .735 inch. They feature lengthened
forcing cones and are available in 30 or 32 inches on the model with
the adjustable comb. (The STS Competition is also offered with a
standard stock, and 28-inch barrels are an option on that variation.)
The gun’s mid-rib and high, top rib are both ventilated. Measuring
10 mm wide, the top rib features an ivory, Bradley-style front bead
and a steel mid-bead. Included with the STS Competition is a set
of five extended Remington Pro-Bore choke tubes. Knurling permits
changing the tubes without a wrench, and the constriction of each
tube is clearly marked by circumferential lines.
Surrounded by an enlarged trigger guard with scroll-type
engraving, the single-selective trigger has a smooth, gold-plated
shoe. Barrel selection is controlled by a sliding switch integral
with the tang-mounted safety. The curve of the barrel selector, along
with the vertical serrations on its surface, makes it easy to operate
with the thumb. In fact, the selector on the STS Competition I have
been testing is one of the most positive, trouble-free examples I’ve
seen in quite a while. Sliding the selector to the right readies
the top barrel for firing first, while pushing it to the left selects
the bottom barrel. No doubt competitive shotgunners will sing the
praises of the gun having a manual safety. It, too, is serrated,
with plenty of surface area for the thumb to grab. With the safety
slid forward to cover the engraved “S” on the tang, the trigger on
my sample requires a bit of take-up before breaking at an average
pull weight of 6 pounds, 1 ounce for the top barrel and 5 pounds,
3 ounces for the bottom.
At least part of a shotgun intended for competition is built
for show, and although the walnut on my sample STS Competition will probably
never draw a crowd at my local shooting range, it does have some
appreciable figure. The satin finish is evenly applied, and bordered
panels of laser-cut, 18-lpi checkering highlight the fore-end and
pistol grip.
Top: Diamond-pattern engraving embellishes the electroless-nickel-plated receiver of the STS Competition. The barrels pivot on trunnions, and a single, Purdey-style underlug serves to lock up the action.
Bottom: The barrel selector is integral with the gun’s tang-mounted safety. Having a wide profile and deep serrations, the manual safety and barrel selector are smooth and positive to operate.
The adjustable comb can be raised or lowered to
suit the preferences of the shooter, but the gun fit me fine as it
came from the factory with a 1 1/2-inch drop at comb and 2 3/8-inch
drop at heel. Length of pull is 14 3/8 inches. The right-hand palm
swell allowed my large paw to hold the gun in a secure, yet relaxed,
grip and should help prevent cramping during extended sessions on
the clays course. Separated from the wood by a black, plastic spacer,
the rubber recoil pad is 3/4 inch thick. Its heel is capped with
an insert of hard plastic to ensure the gun doesn’t hang up
on clothing during the mount. The wood-to-metal fit on my sample
has the characteristic tightness of Italian over-unders, with just
a touch more wood showing around the right edge of the receiver than
the left.
The Schnabel-style fore-end attaches via a sliding latch, the
finger tab of which is inset into the wood to minimize contact with the
hand should it become hot during a fast round of clays. It snaps
into place almost too solidly, as the tight latch requires a good
amount of pressure be applied to the tab in order to remove the fore-end
from the barrels. Remington sent a brand-new sample to me for testing,
however, and after a couple months worth of removing the fore-end
for cleaning, it will probably loosen up a bit.
I shot skeet, wobble trap, 5-stand and sporting
clays with the STS Competition over the course of a couple of months,
and the gun performed admirably with no malfunctions. Its 32-inch
barrels helped smooth out my swing, but with its 8-pound weight balancing
just forward of the receiver, I had little trouble with close-range,
reactive targets. Some shooters may desire a more forward balance
for longer targets, though it is hard to argue with having a gun
that handles well for a multitude of presentations.
Only time will tell if the Remington Premier STS
Competition will gain the following of competitive shooters enjoyed
by the company’s iconic Model 1100 and Model 40-X. Those are big
gun socks to fill, but serious competitors know quality when they
see it. The new over-under from Big Green has the style and features
to make it a possibility.
Remington Premier STS Competition
Manufacturer:
Sabatti S.p.A, Brescia, Italy
Importer: Remington; (800) 243-9700,
www.remington.com
Type: Over-under shotgun
Gauge: 12, 3-inch chambers
Capacity: Two
Chokes: Five Remington Pro-Bore
choke tubes supplied
Stock: Walnut
Drop at Comb: Adjustable
Drop at Heel: 2 3/8 inches
Length of Pull: 14 3/8 inches
Barrel Length: 30 or 32 inches (tested)
Overall Length: 47 1/4 or 49 1/4 inches (tested)
Sights: Ivory, Bradley-style front bead,
steel mid-bead
Weight: 7 3/4 or 8 pounds (tested)
Accessories: Lockable hard case
MSRP: $2,890
