Rem 700 Help

[30-06 lover]

My Remington 700's bolt release is sticking for some reason. When I push up on the bolt release, the bolt release button says up, rather than popping back down to the original position, which results in me having to manually pull the bolt release button down before the bolt will lock back into place. I tried cleaning the hell out of it today, but with little success of getting it to work right. What can I do to fix it? The gun works fine and the bolt stays in place, I just have to manually make sure the bolt release locks into place. I want to avoid the smith unless absolutely necessary. Any ideas, suggestions, and advise will be a great help. Thanks!!!
-Mike

 

[hoghunting]

Has the release been sticky all along or did it just start happening? It could be the spring for the release or it could be a rough spot or grit in the opening where the release button is pushed.

 

[dakotasin]

i concur.

pull the action out of the stock, and really check closely. sometimes something (like a primer, or dirt) will get in there and cause it to hang up. this shouldn't require a visit to the 'smith to clear up.

 

[30-06 lover]

The problem has only started in the last month or so. When I bought the rifle new, it work perfectly, only now is it sticky. My only guess can be the spring, because I have cleaned and lightly oiled the release and all it's parts after I noticed the problem. How would I go about changing the spring??? I see that it is a "restricted" part. Thanks!!!
-Mike

 

[rustymaggot]

i had that problem on a old 721. it was a loose pin. the bolt release button wasnt pinned in right and my bolt kept falling in the dirt till i fixed it.

 

[Picher]

I'd also check the stock clearance. Sometimes the bolt release mechanism drags on the side of the inletting. This is particularly true of glassbedded rifles.

If it operates well when removed from the stock, look for rub marks on the inside of the stock at that location.

Picher

 

[30-06 lover]

I took the bolt release almost completely apart today, and found that there was a small bur on the bolt release slide which had collected some dirt causing the sticking. I cleaned the part, Ground off the bur, cleaned again, and now it works perfectly. Thank you all for the help!!!
-Mike

 

[gila_dog]

Rem 700

Glad you fixed your rifle. I have one like it. I've killed 6 mule deer, 3 elk, and numerous jack rabbits and coyotes with it over the years. How I got mine is a bit unusual. I was serving in the Navy on the aircraft carrier USS Ranger off the coast of North Vietnam in 1970. Word came around that some guys were starting a gun club on the ship. Well that seemed a bit odd, so I looked into it. What they were doing was getting together enough guys to make a mass buy of guns from Ruger, Winchester and Remington. The guns would be shipped directly from the factory to the armory on the ship. The price of a new Rem 700 ADL 30-06 was $75. I handed over the cash and several months later I got a call from a Gunner's Mate in the ship's armory. I went down there and hot-damn if there wasn't a green box with a beautiful new rifle in it for me. I fondled and drooled on it for a while and then handed it back. When we got back to the States I took it out of the armory, caught a cab to the Oakland airport, checked the rifle into TWA as luggage and flew home with it. She and I have had some great hunts over the years. Its original Bushnell 2.5-8 scope finally crapped out so I put a new Leupold Rifleman 2-7x33mm scope on it last year. I have cooked up some reloads (Hornady 180 gr. Interbond, 58gr IMR4831) that shoot about a 1.25" group @ 100yds. I used it to kill a nice 5x5 bull elk this past winter. I don't know if I'll have it thrown in the hole and covered up with dirt along with me when I die , or if I'll pass it on to my nephew. We'll see if he deserves it when the time comes.