I think that their problems are from a number of things working against them. The Hedge fund thing with the bottom line and borrowing problems. Savage's encroachment in the market with cheap rifles. There are but a few ways to make your product cheaper other than redesigning it. You can quit polishing and bluing them. You can let your QC slip on things that really matter like bolt timing. You can go to cheaper wood like Spruce. You can go to injection molded cheap plastic stocks.
Staying in NY is probably a very bad idea. Even without Cuomo, it's still New York. When R moved to Atlanta they made some huge promises and couldn't keep them. It's pretty insane that the R&D essentially stopped decades ago. There's a lot they could've done to make the 700 much better and even competitive with customs, like a side bolt release, one piece bolt that's actually timed well and a better ejector like the mini16.
Truth is there are so many varying opinions of what people want it's hard for any manufacturer to produce something everyone will want. Years ago a decent well made Walnut stock, checkered and oil finished would've been a dream, now days not so much. Many like plastic, some laminate. many like camo or parkerized which is the bead blasted black finish (mimicked parkerizing) everybody likes to bemoan today;. Triggers! I've never seen so many things hanging off a trigger. Bolt release and safety but they worked if you don't slather them with WD40 and let it dry in there. They did make bad decisions by not fighting the fraudulent claims. once you pay you set precedent. Todays manufacturers have to make lawyer proof firearms printed with paragraphs of instructions on what not to do and still they get sued. Liberal hack Judges and stupid Golden Goose juries make matters worse.
It ain't so simple.
