700 stopped firing and it's not a broken pin!?!

[elkaholic1]

Got my rem 700 all cleaned up last night, backed the trigger pull screw out about half turn, put it back together. Went to the range this morning to test some different loads. Gun was shooting tight groups and I was re-zeroeing it to 200 yards. On about the 27th shot (I was there awhile) I pulled the trigger, heard the pin drop,...then nothing. Okay, bad primer...try another load. Same thing. Tried a factory load same thing. Checked the cartridges and not a scratch on the primers....crap broken firing pin. Take home, dissasembly and clean bolt (not dirty)) and firing pin is fine. Any idea whats going on? I got a hunt in two weeks

 

[indoorsoccerfrea]

Did you reassemble it correctly?

 

[Antihero47]

I hope this is not a larger problem.

I purchased a R700 SPS Tactical in .308, took it to the range and "CLICK"...

I took the round out and inspected it to see if it was a bad primer... No dent. I then put in some factory ammo, "CLICK" no dent...

Check the firing pin. Its all there. Take it to the place I bought it and they stick a cleaning rod down into the barrel and onto the bolt... pull trigger and rod goes up about 3-4 inches. They say its fine.

I demanded a replacement, but we settled on them sending it to Remington and paying all the fee's. I called the repair center, they have my rifle...

Turnaround Time.. 3-4 weeks.

 

[elkaholic1]

I did reassembly it correctly as I got of almost 28 shots before the problem happened. I have not shot it since I took the bolt apart to inspect the firing pin.


Antihero47 - I don't think we have the same problem, my rifle is almost 30yrs old and has had at least a 1000 rnds through it.

 

[ants]

Well, first I would go back to the trigger group and whatever else I disassembled, and return everything back to its original state. This is true when I have a problem after I mess with something on a car, a gun, a boat engine, or my wife.


I have the Rem factory Field Service Manual. In the 'Malfunctions' chart under the heading Misfires:

Cause:
1. Short Firing Pin (or damaged)
2. Firing Pin binds
3. Short Firing Pin protrusion
4. Firing Control out of adjustment
5. Faulty ammunition

Correction:
1. Replace
2. Free up or replace
3. Change firing pin or bolt
4. Return the firearm to the factory
5. Replace ammunition

So let's assume Cause #4. Firing Control is the trigger assembly. Rather than 'Return the firearm to factory' you should do your best to return all settings to original state and try shooting the gun again. Now, stop what you're about to say: I only adjusted the trigger spring, how could that possible affect the firing pin?

 

[Funderb]

maybe there was something in the bolt you didn't notice. i dunno.
maybe a brass shaving or burr or rock.

who knows, I wish I were more familiar with the assembly.

 

[Chawbaccer]

Have you checked firing pin protrusion? I imagine it can be let off while the bolt is removed from gun.

 

[Jim K]

Have you had any "pierced" primers?

Jim

 

[elkaholic1]

No pierced primers. I haven't figured out a way to check firing pin protrution but it sounds like the only method is to stick a rob in the barrel and pull the trigger to see if the rod jumps.

I could try turning the screw back in a half turn but here's what's bugging me on that: why wasn't it a problem the first 26 or 27 shots? A half turn only turned an 7lb trigger to probably a 6lb trigger, it's not like it's super light. When you pull the trigger it release the firing pin fairly hard.

I like the idea of a piece of brass or something. I did notice some white polymer shavings from the Nosler Accubond, maybe a piece of that was holding up the works. I'll try firing it again tomorrow now that it's super clean. If that doesn't work I'm going to order the whole firing pin/spring/ shroud assembly from midway as I've always wanted to try the Callahan units...

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=440881

 

[rcmodel]

You can check firing pin protrusion by un-cocking the striker with the bolt removed from the rifle. You need to allow the bolt shroud and striker assembly to turn until the cocking piece drops to the bottom of the cocking cam.

At that point, the tip of the firing pin should be sticking out of the bolt face.

rc

 

[elkaholic1]

rcmodel - Thanks, got it. The firing pin is just sticking out of the hole maybe the width of a penny. That can't be right? How far should it stick out in the fired position? Could something have broke inside the bolt?

 

[rcmodel]

The thickness of a penny is probably more then I would have expected.
It should be plenty fine.

There is nothing you can do, or no way you can do it wrong when you put the bolt together and still have any firing pin protrusion at all.

I think it has to have something to do with you messing with the trigger adjustments somehow.

It may be releasing the striker, then catching it again somehow.

I'd start looking there.

I'd also remove the striker assembly again and make absolutely positively sure there is no dirt, dried oil, or primer shavings floating around inside the bolt.

rc

 

[elkaholic1]

Thanks rc. I may just put the bolt in the ultrasonic cleaner ot make sure everything is out of there, adjust the trigger back and see if that works.

 

[Toten Kopf]

Did you re-seal the adjustment screw after making your adjustment? If you didn't, the adjustment screw could have moved during firing and is not allowing the firing pin to release fully.

 

[elkaholic1]

I did not reseal it as I wasn't sure if I would like the pull or not. It was pretty stiff so I figured it wouldn't move, but that was probably a bad assumption. I'm going to try following these instructions to the T, if that doesn't work a Rifle Basix trigger may be in my future. God, I wish this town had a decent 'smith!

http://www.quarterbore.com/library/articles/rem700trigger.html