Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters What makes a Rem KS a KS?

So I am not up to speed on the history of the custom shop KS rifle? What makes a KS model a KS? Are they almost all built on the same recipe? Would it be a factory possibility for magnaporting, from Remington? Are these guns all light, or do they make them in all weights? How can you tell one on the rack?

I have a Remington Custom KS Mountain Rifle in .280 Rem. It's blued (although I had the metal coated) and has what seems to be a Brown Precision stock. It has a 24 inch barrel and weighs a bit under 6.5 lbs. It's very accurate and I doubt that I'll never get rid of it. These rifles were made in Remington's custom shop, supposedly to more precise standards. Based on the way mine shoots, I would believe that. I think the KS might have been for kevlar stock although I don't know if the stock on mine has kevlar in it.

The first thing to check is the barrel stamping. A KS will have the caliber on the left side near the receiver, a two character date code, and some proof marks on the right side. There is no other barrel stamping. The barrel won't say Remington Arms etc.

The 4 KS’s that my dad, myself and a buddy have ( and all that I’ve seen) all have a matte blue finish over the entire rifle including the bolt. They supposedly had a “custom” barrel taper and ours all have the greenish colored stocks that I too suspect are from Brown. The butt pad says Remington on it. I believe the stainless ones had a black colored stock but I can’t remember for sure. I’ve seen a few advertised as KS’s that were std blued finish. I doubted that were true custom KS’s but didn’t want to call the guys out as I was not 100% sure I was correct. Ours are 2 in 338win, 7 mag and 300wby and all four are easily sub Moa rifles.

Good to know. So the main features are weight reduction, premium barrels and a kevlar stock of its own shape. I think I am going to pick one up this weekend.

This sounds like a good description of my .280. As I recall, when I took the action out of the stock, the inside of the stock was marked Brown Precision.

Summed up well above. I had one in 375 H&H. It was Magna-ported however I bought it used in 1996. When I disassembled it I found a crack in the stock at the recoil lug bearing surface. I called Remington and they sent me a shipper. A few weeks later the rifle arrived bedded in a McM KS stock. I had the barrel cut to remove the porting. It was extremely accurate and I took two elk with it using the 260 Partition. I sold it years ago but still have the stock that my 338-06 rides in.

I had an early KS that was gloss blue. It was new in the box so I know it was original. The matte finish and stainless showed up a few years later.

I thought it stood for Kill [bleep] . . .

The texture of the stock will tell if it's a McMillan or Brown, both made "greenish colored stocks".

I have owned several KS rifles with a satin blue finish and jeweled bolt; these were the early iterations of the KS and to me, the finest.

Nice rifles for sure.

Note the texture/pattern on the stock at the link, it's a Brown Precision stock.

The McMillan stocks have a different texture/pattern. I prefer the Brown.

Funny you posted that. That is the exact gun I was going to purchase. I have spoken with them on the phone and it is unfired, I have it put away for me in the back, I will pick it up on Sunday if it passes inspection. Seems that is about the going rate for them. I am not sure it is really unfired. The first guy I spoke with didnt say that, he said it was in nice shape for sure. The second I spoke with to put it away for me said it was infired. Looks like the bolt has been worked a bit, for it being unfired.

Having come from the custom shop the bolt could have been worked and lapped. I have an unfired 30-06 thats bolt looks the same as you describe, like lapping the lugs.

I have a M700 KS chambered in 338 Winchester magnum and I love it. Bought it in 1997. Brown Precision stock and stainless steel and will print 225 gr Accubonds into small clusters.

I should be bringing it home on Sunday. Rings and scope are already sitting on the gun bench, Nice to have spares.

A friend of mine has a very early LH KS in 280 Remington with the nice satin blue and jeweled bolt.

I've owned two LH KS guns but both mine were matte blued and not jeweled bolts. Sold both on the classifieds here.......

Should be a McMillan unless someone swapped it.
Sounds like a good one!

Oakster: I have several Remington "KS" Rifles.
They are all the 40X Model.
I understood (when shopping for them and buying them) that the "KS" stood/stands for "Kevlar Stock".
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I had two of them.One was an Alaskan Wilderness Rifle in 338 Win.Mag.Mcmtllan stock stainless action and barrel with some type of black coating.The other was a stainless 7Rem Mag with a gray McMillan stock.Both were probably the most accurate out of the box rifles I ever owned.I guess the only thing I did not like was their ADL configuration.Both weighed under 8 pounds ready to rock.

It may be a mcmillan. I was told it was a Brown but the person may have been wrong.

Fantastic stock. I would love to have a few more.

AU338MAG,
I inferred you bought it new in ‘97. My mistake. If it was used the seller could be correct. Best I have been able to tell, the transition from Brown to McMillan took place right around the time of the introduction of the stainless KS (first cataloged ‘92).
By ‘93 the transition was definitely complete as they had introduced the safari ks which was a McMillan only product. I’ve got a ss ks which dates to late ‘92 and is in a McMillan. I’ve not seen a ss ks in person in anything other than a McMillan, but I’ve seen add copy from the introduction of the stainless ks which appears to show them in a Brown. Knowing Remington, it’s likely there are a few out there in Browns as the transition to the McMillan seems to have occurred over quite some time - likely as they used up inventory. I’m not sure how many ks left the custom shop in 1992, but it likely wasn’t a huge number. I’d love to know just for S&G.

If you care to post or pm a pic, I can likely tell you which it is.

if you like the ks stock just buy a brown precision stock....they are one in the same and what remington used on the early KS modles

I was just going to post about the 92 Catalog. That's the first catalog mention I could find of the 700 KS. Not surprising because they were made in the custom shop. And doesn't necessarily mean that was the beginning of KS existence. From the catalog;
"Model 700 KS Mountain Rifle
A synthetic stock reinforced with DuPont Kevlar, makes this the lightest, toughest Model 700 rifle available. Kevlar makes the stock dimensionally stable and the dull finish makes it virtually invisible to game in open country. For 1992 the Model 700 KS is offered in a wide selection of calibers in right and left-handed versions. We've also added right-hand stainless barrelled actions, and the option of matte gray or simulated wood grain finish on stocks. Available from the Remington Custom Shop through your local Remington dealer."

What's interesting to me is that Kevlar as a stock material option is also mentioned in the 40X and the Model 700 Safari. Both also available from the Remington Custom shop. But Kevlar is also mentioned in the 700 VS (not custom shop). I do remember seeing the gray kevlar stocked 40-XC's showing up on the range. I'd only known McMillan to be producing the Kevlar stocks for Remington and conversations with McMillan at that time reinforced this. But my knowledge probably doesn't go far back enough to encompass Brown Precision's production. H-S Precision was also providing stocks to Remington during this era (the Aluminum bedding blocked rifles) and I had a Police stock, VS and VSSF pass through my hands and they were clearly H-S Produced. If I had to guess, Remington standard stocks were sourced from H-S and Custom Shop stocks came from McMillan during that early 90's era.

Yep. Brown calls it the classic.

My favorite stock of all-time.

I am surprised at how most of the KS rifles people have discussed in this thread are large, heavy recoiling rifles. I would have suspected more standard cartridges....

Today is pick up day. Heading out in 30 min!

Details please !

Mine’s a 24” Stainless in 280 Rem. Great shooter. Not sure if it’s Brown or McM .
Best of the Best Mountain Rifle types from Remington

Bought imy KS with the intention of re-chambering to 280 Improved,
Now I need another to re-barrel to a 6.5-280 AI based cat

Ok Oakster, Time for an update on your 7mm

I have a KS .280 I bought new in 1992, IMHO the KS was the best rifle Remington ever built as a pure hunting rig. Mine just sits in the back of the gun safe but it would be a tough one to let go of.

Same.

I have a matte blue (parkerized, I think) version in 35 Whelen and a SS in .280.
Both were spared in a recent purge for similar reasons.

Not a lot you couldn't do with a pair of KS rifles like that!

Since its winter and not much going on we should get a KS picture thread going showing everyones favorite KS and what vintage. Guessing there are some good ones with several campfire members, might also be helpful for those looking for a KS.

Ditto. Guessing about that same year. I was stationed in AK and I wanted a one rifle to do it all. So, I bought a stainless one in 300 Wby.
At the time, I sent it off to a place called Answer and had the bolt hollowed, the receiver slabbed and a ground shaking muzzle break installed (a billion tiny holes). The recoil actually isn’t bad but it’s loud as F * C Kkkkk! Sadly I shoot left-handed. This gun is right handed. Regardless, it will never go anywhere.

Best non-full custom rifle I've ever owned.

The stock is just a perfect fit & feel for me, perfect trigger & the gun shoots bugholes with just about any decent loading. The only 2 stocks close are a Keith Stegall built pre-64 & a Dakota 76, but neither is light enough to be as enjoyable to carry for all day hikes as the KS, not even close.

The KS will never leave the family ownership.

MM

270 Win with skeletonized bolt handle & cerrokote stock finish. 7 lb 2 oz as shown

Its in very good shape. The rifle came mounted with a rail, which I doubt I use. I doubt it is unfired, there are definate brass swirls on the bolt face, but it hasnt been shot much at all. The rifle, as many have said, balances well, and is definately lighter than a standard 700. Its not as light as a Tikka T3 but it would be a joy to carry. Not a mark on the stock, or the bottom metal. Not a mark on the barrel. No rub marks on the barrel from a rack or safe. The blueing is even complete on the end of the barrel. I am looking forward to trying it out. I really like the rifle

Cabelas Gun Library has another KS listed online.... if anyone is looking. Anyone know how to find the date of manufacture etc on these?

That is a nice looking combo right there.

Just need to see the barrel stamp and that will tell you the year.

It should look something like this:

The Cabela’s 7 mag is a January ‘87 date code.
Brown precision stock.

That’s a sleeper.
It’s actually a stainless gun.
Should be, and appears to be, a McMillan.
Date code is unreadable but will be ‘92 or later.

Edit - strike that, the above refers to th current GI 338. I don’t see another Cabela’s listing.
Also, the seller has the above details in his description, so it really isn’t a sleeper.

Thank you.

What years were Brown Precision stocks used? I did think the earlier ones had the Brown. Ooops the 97 was McMillan.
Sorry, was thinking 87.

I’ve posted this pair before. They’re a correctly handed KS pair to hunt the world. 300 H&H and 375 H&H. Both factory.

Here you go AKWolverine.


Yes, it was used when I purchased an August of 97, but not sure of the year manufactured.

Great looking rifle.
The date code is just in front of the SN and will tell you roughly when it was assembled (second letter will be M -92, N - 93, O- 94, P -95, Q - 96, or R-97.)
I need to see the other side to tell you 100%; but 99% sure that’s a McMillan.

Thanks AK. I will check the date code but it is probably a 95 model. My father had purchased the same gun around that time. I borrowed it for a couple of hunts in 96 and loved the fit and how it handled.

So one August morning I was in my office when he called and said the LGS had the same gun on the rack that morning. Went and picked it up at lunch. 😁 It wore a 1.75x6 leupold for many years and a couple others until I mounted the 2x12 VX6 on it now.

Lots of good conversation and nice rifles on this thread. Its been enjoyable. I hope there is a show your KS thread.

So what is your new KS chambered for?
The link is disabled.

Had Remington KS mountain rifle in 8mm rem mag. Little under 7 pounds. Vicious to shoot but very very accurate. Sold it here years ago I think.

It is the 7mm Rem Mag. Really nice condition.

Sweet.