The Remington XP-100 (short for eXperimental Pistol number 100) is an American bolt-action competition pistol.
History[]
The XP-100 was developed alongside the .221 Remington Fireball cartridge. The weapon was based on an earlier design, the Model 40X bolt-action rifle. The XP-100 was originally introduced with a 10¾" barrel set into a nylon "stock", along with an oddly-shaped center-mounted grip. Early prototypes used the .222 Remington cartridge, and had shorter barrels with significantly more muzzle flash and noise. This was changed in the finalized production version of the XP-100, where the case was shortened to suit a pistol more, culminating in the .221 Fireball cartridge. This cartridge went on to become one of the most accurate cartridges made.
In 1991, the XP-100R was introduced, with the "R" standing for "Repeater". The most noticeable difference between the original XP-100 and the XP-100R is the presence of a four-round internal magazine on the latter.
At the time of its discontinuation, the XP-100 line had faced considerable competition between other bolt-action pistols, such as the Savage Striker, as well as the very versatile break-action Thompson Contender.
The gun was noted for its accuracy, and is still considered a competitive weapon in handgun varmint hunting, which it had helped to create.
Design Details[]
The weapon is a bolt-action pistol based on the action used by the Remington Model 600. The XP-100R featured a four-round internal magazine.
Ammunition[]
The XP-100 is chambered in a large variety of calibers.
Production timeline[]
- XP-100 (1963 – 1985)
- XP-100 Varmint Special (1986 – 1992)
- XP-100 Silhouette (1980 – 1997)
- XP-100 Hunter (1993 – 1994)
- XP-100 Custom (1986 – 1997)
- XP-100R (1991 – 1997)
Legacy[]
Although the XP-100 may not be in Remington's catalogs today, its cartridge, the .221 Remington Fireball, and its bolt-action mechanism still live on. The Remington Model 700 has been produced in .221 Remington Fireball, and while it may not have the velocity attainable with the .223 Remington round which is vastly more popular, it still does the job somewhat well with most of the performance, with far less noise and less flash. The XP-100's action has been used as the basis of a single-shot rifle made by Remington, the XR-100, which began production in 2005. The legacy of the XP-100 also lives on in the sport of handgun varminting, where it still remains competitive in it, 50 years after its creation.
Trivia[]
- The XP-100 and Remington Model 600 were both recalled at one point in 1979 due to a safety issue; when either gun was on safe, the bolt was fully locked, disallowing any unloading of the weapon. Remington made a free modification to the action where the bolt could be opened while the weapon was on safe.