Gifted a Remington 700 Sendero 7 MAG, possible firing pin issue

[troy fairweather]

Did you decock it.

 

[oblvnnwtnjhn]

pretty sticky and gunky:

 

[oblvnnwtnjhn]

Did you decock it.

doh! Forgive my slack, it's been a full weekend and thought I sneak a few moments to diagnose.
As you can see, the spring is intact but the whole assembly is sticky and gunked from old lubrication.

 

[oblvnnwtnjhn]

decocked, pin protrudes:


With my limited knowledge, appears the assembly is gunked up, needs a cleaning and lubrication.

 

[troy fairweather]

Pin looks fine. Spray it down with break cleaner.

 

[edwardware]

pretty sticky and gunky. . .

I don't think that cocking piece should be able to move that far back.

In any case, clean it. If you use BrakeClean, you need to go back with a very light oiling to prevent rust.

 

[LoonWulf]

I don't think that cocking piece should be able to move that far back.

In any case, clean it. If you use BrakeClean, you need to go back with a very light oiling to prevent rust.

not easily anyway.....don't know if I ever tried that...
but yes, if using any of the degreasers go back and oil the pin. I actually use a light coat of moly grease, but freezing isn't an issue here.

 

[shooter1niner]

Wow, looks really gunned up... What I would do is: Take all the compression off the spring. Let the firing pin move forward all the way. Doing this will allow you to brush between the coils. After you spray w/a brake clean type product (leaves no residue) hit it w/a small wire brush and then repeat at least 2 times. If it looks good then you can douse the snot out of it with REM OIL. Blow it off lightly with compressed air and reassemble. No more oil... Had a similar problem with a Win. M70 in 13* F weather... " CLICK " Yep it was a buck...

I'm pretty sure someone else said this already but the cocking piece has a slot for a coin or shim to fit up against the bolt shroud holding the spring compressed enough to disassemble/assemble the bolt.

 

[oblvnnwtnjhn]

Wow, looks really gunned up... What I would do is: Take all the compression off the spring. Let the firing pin move forward all the way. Doing this will allow you to brush between the coils. After you spray w/a brake clean type product (leaves no residue) hit it w/a small wire brush and then repeat at least 2 times. If it looks good then you can douse the snot out of it with REM OIL. Blow it off lightly with compressed air and reassemble. No more oil... Had a similar problem with a Win. M70 in 13* F weather... " CLICK " Yep it was a buck...

I'm pretty sure someone else said this already but the cocking piece has a slot for a coin or shim to fit up against the bolt shroud holding the spring compressed enough to disassemble/assemble the bolt.

Can I take pressure off the spring without a special tool? I'll order the entire tool kit after Christmas.

 

[shooter1niner]

To answer your question, not completely. Clean/degrease what you can the way it is now. Then just let the firing pin move forward with the sear/cocking piece in the slot in the bolt shroud. (reverse however you got it to the way it is now) I think you would be fine just doing that and cleaning everything real good. You will need " the tool " to disassemble the firing pin/shroud/spring assembly. Don't get your finger nipped by the cocking piece/shroud should you slip up releasing tension.

 

[oblvnnwtnjhn]

Cleaned the spring/pin, bolt assembly. Lubricated well with REM Oil. Finally fired it today while sighting my new scope. Fired all six times without issue. My dad was dumbfounded the gunsmith didn't clean the assemblies and just the barrel after reporting the misfire issue to him

 

[troy fairweather]

I would recommend you don't use that Smith anymore.

 

[oblvnnwtnjhn]

I would recommend you don't use that Smith anymore.

No lie. It took me all of 20mins. I plan to learn and do all I can myself. I have a hard time paying others to do what I can myself. My dad isn't as handy as I am, but he's a good hunter in his defense.

 

[jmorris]

Cleaned the spring/pin, bolt assembly. Lubricated well with REM Oil. Finally fired it today while sighting my new scope. Fired all six times without issue. My dad was dumbfounded the gunsmith didn't clean the assemblies and just the barrel after reporting the misfire issue to him

Well, the “gunsmith” only said he found no issue...not that he checked.

At least now you have more knowledge than your Fathers gunsmith and a working rifle. I would mark that down as a win, win.

 

[Picher]

My dad gifted me his old 700, stated that he had it recently cleaned and inspected by a gunsmith. He told the gunsmith that he suspected an issue with the firing pin as he had dry fired a few times, the gunsmith said he found no issue. My dad subsequently dry fired a few times thereafter last year missing two deer.

We tested the 700 and his T3 side by side, you can hear the 700 firing pin sounds rather weak in comparision. I spent some time researching on the web, seems the pin assembly or spring could be possible culprits. Also the bolt assembly has a lot of play.

Here's a brief video I shot for reference:

I had a similar problem with a 700 Light Varmint .223 (that I purchased as a used rifle at LL Bean), causing light firing pin strikes and cratered primers, so sent it it to Remington "Service Center" in NH, as recommended by Remington. They sent it back, un-repaired and branded it an "unsafe rifle", saying it had excessive headspace. I took it to an excellent gunsmith, along with a brand new 700 ADL that I picked up a few weeks before. Both rifles were tested with headspace gauges and both were EXACTLY THE SAME!

Since testing, Remington Parts Dept. had a special on firing pin assemblies, so I ordered one and installed it in the offending rifle. Now it's PERFECT, with quick lock time and perfect firing pin strikes, and NO cratered primers.

So, I'd recommend buying a new firing pin assembly!