Rem 700

[z7]

I've read lots of bad remarks on the rem 700, I understand the old trigger was easy to work with. . . or tamper.

Has the xmark fixed the issues or is there more I am unaware of? I tried searching but my phone didn't turn up any results, I blame the operator more than the device.

 

[mrnic3guy1989]

Since someone brought it up.

I'm glad you asked I recently received a Remington 700 BDL in 30-06 and its from the 1980's. From what I have heard from folks older and wiser than myself it's a great gun in any caliber my only concern is the safety issue. I haven't even had a chance to shoot it yet and I'm not worried about the safety issue either its just my usually shooting spots are no longer an option. So I'm gonna join a local club and try it out soon. I was wondering if you or anyone has replaced the trigger/safety assembly with a Timney trigger?

 

[jmr40]

The older 1946-2006 trigger used a connector in between the trigger and sear. The engineer who designed the gun discovered in 1946 that in certain conditions the connector could fail and allow the gun to fire without pulling the trigger. He drew up plans for a trigger without the connector at that time, but for a variety of reasons Remington management declined to make the change. The new trigger design used since 2007 does not use the connector and is not prone to fail like the older design.

Modifying the trigger pull too light, or having a dirty trigger will increase the odds of problems, but even brand new, perfectly clean guns have done this, so that is not the only issue going on.

Here is a good read on exactly what is happening.

http://www.rifflawfirm.com/areas/pdf/remington4.pdf

Replacing a pre-2007 trigger would be a good idea in my opinion. I own one of the guns that has done this. My gun is retired, and I've moved on to other brands of rifles. But I also understand that the odds of this happening are pretty rare. But it does happen. If

 

[JoePfeiffer]

I had my 700 discharge when I released the safety a few years ago (fortunately it was pointing down range as it should have been, so the closest thing to an injury was a patch of skin taken off my thumb by the safety lever). I highly recommend the XMark trigger -- which mine had been changed to before the next time it was loaded!

 

[stiab]

Some folks will never admit it, but there was indeed a potential problem with the older Model 700's, it wasn't just made up by the TV networks as some suggest. If you are buying a more modern 700, check to see if the trigger face is smooth (not ribbed), if so you are OK.

 

[Skylerbone]

You heard right but...you also heard hype. Of the several thousand reported incidents among several million rifles produced, just a small percent of those examined were determined to be faulty. Sure, damaged, dirty and defective triggers exist but the odds are long. Mine never failed in the 20 years I used it despite being filled with crud, for which I was admonished by my smith.

It's worth noting that the potential exists, it's worth examining a rifle, ANY rifle you buy or own and with regular frequency. I replaced my Walker trigger with a Rifle Basix (~$90) to achieve a lighter pull than would be safe for the OEM 700 trigger but was otherwise satisfied with its performance.

 

[z7]

I grew up using an older 700 and never had an issue. I love the guns and some of the models now like the sender sf ii or the long range appear to be excellent values for what you pay.

On a side note, I did have a .270 mauser action fire when the safety was taken off, it was operator error (12 yr old practicing trigger pull while aiming at deer) but it was pointed down range and all I did was scare myself half to death.

 

[eastbank]

i have owened quite a few remington 700,s over the last 50 years and have never had a problem with them, and i have adjusted quite a few triggers on them. i have been told about AD,s with the 700,s and have tried to ask about it with the people who had it happen to them, and alot admitted they tried to adjusted there 700,s triggers, there is a correct order to adjusting the rem.700 triggers and if its not followed you can end up with a dangerous trigger. that being said, i,m sure there is/was a problem with the original rem 700 triggers. but in the numbers reported about AD,s with the 700,s, misadjusted triggers by the owners can not be dismissed. if you don,t feel safe change the rem trigger with one you do feel safe with.eastbank

 

[Lloyd Smale]

ive used 700s since the 60s and probably own 10 of them right now and the only time its happened to me was when i was ajusting the trigger and got it out of spec. Never once have i had or have I witnessed an accidentle discharge with one that the idiot didnt have his finger on the trigger. Probably 99 pecent of the reported cases are just that. People that screwed up and wont buck up and admit it and find it easier to blame the gun. Bottom line too is that this can happen with any standard adjustable trigger design, like the weatherby, ruger or winchester when someone fools with it that doesnt know what there doing. Remington just got thrown under the bus.

 

[HexHead]

You heard right but...you also heard hype. Of the several thousand reported incidents among several million rifles produced, just a small percent of those examined were determined to be faulty. Sure, damaged, dirty and defective triggers exist but the odds are long. Mine never failed in the 20 years I used it despite being filled with crud, for which I was admonished by my smith.

You may never have been in a plane crash, but planes do crash. The odds of a trigger failure may be .001%, but when it happens to you, it's 100%.

 

[dodge]

I've had the old style triggers and never had any trouble them either. I recently bought a SPS Vaminter with the new X pro trigger in it and couldn't get it adjusted down to what I wanted. Remington claims to be able to adjust down to 1 1/2 lbs but I couldn't get it down to 3 lbs. so I replaced it with a Timney adjusted at the factory for 2 lbs. and I love it. The swap is very easy as all you do is pop out a couple of pins, adjust the bolt stop and your good to go. On a side note I was very surprised that when I opened the shipping package I found to Tootsie Roll pop in it. You don't see that everyday.

 

[Skylerbone]

You may never have been in a plane crash, but planes do crash. The odds of a trigger failure may be .001%, but when it happens to you, it's 100%.

Then your suggestion would be? Any mechanical device can fail. Your car will fail; the brake pads will wear to dangerous levels if not maintained, tires will be driven bald until they blow out. The chance of getting a "bad" Remington is smaller than either of the above happening but I'm not recommending people quit driving. Easy enough to check a rifle before taking possession and easy enough to swap parts or clean if necessary.

 

[788Ham]

Side bar here : I have a 700 BDL, and a ADL rifle, calibers not needed here. I've never had one time the safety hasn't worked, maybe I'm lucky, but haven't fooled with them either. I have a Rem. 788 rifle, the trigger was horrid on the unit, couldn't work on them, no replacements available either. Then Timney made one about 5 years ago, its now installed in this rifle, one incredible trigger ! Breaks like glass @ 32oz., smaller groups are the norm now, no problems with safety mishaps either. YMMV

 

[hentown]

Properly-adjusted "older" Remmy 700 triggers are safe. There was a problem that was corrected in the mid'80's.

I've adjusted dozens of Remmy700 triggers, with excellent results, and no unintentional firing.

 

[stiab]

the brake pads will wear to dangerous levels if not maintained, tires will be driven bald until they blow out

You are talking about wear and tear from use, the Rem 700 problem is a well documented design flaw acknowledged by the original designer. No comparison.

 

[Robert]

I have seen two, home stock perfectly clean 700s fire when the safety was disengaged. And no their finger was not on the trigger. As others have said it is not common but be aware that pre 2007 rifles may need a new trigger. Not hard to do and a decent addition to any rifle.

So, let's call this one asked and answered.