Remington 700 - How to test the trigger?

[fnslpmark112]

I don't want to get into the politics of the Remington trigger debate. I just want to know how to reliably find out if my 2001 model 700 ADL has the problem that everyone is talking about.

Can some one list the tests to try?

P.S. So far, I have tried the following: with an empty gun, I cycled the bolt and activated the safety. Then, I tried to pull the trigger (nothing happened). Next, I took the rifle off safe (nothing happened).

Anything else to try?

 

[Uncle Mike]

Send it to Remington for inspection....is the best bet, but what you did is about all you can do, there is the ol' slam/drop test you do by cocking the rifle and sharply striking the butt of the stock on the floor.

Has your trigger been adjusted or modified in any way, if not, it should be fine.

If you, or anyone else, has attempted adjustment of the trigger, you might do well to have a qualified gunsmith look at the sear engagement depth.

 

[essayons21]

The test you did replicates the supposed defect. Do it a couple times and have piece of mind. The trigger on one of my Rem700s is adjusted to 3lbs with little creep and no overtravel, and it passes this test.

Keep the trigger mechanism free of mud and rust and you will be fine.

If you are paranoid however, you can send your rifle back to Remington or take it to an Remington Authorized Service Center and they will check it for free.

EDIT: You can also try pulling the trigger while manipulating the safety halfway to fire, this supposedly can trigger the safety off-fire situation, again no luck with the 3 Rem700s I've tried it on.

 

[unwise11]

Pull it. in all manipulations. safety. bolt half down. ect.
Be safe.

 

[GunTech]

Check to make sure rifle is unloaded!!

Put the rifle on safe. Pull trigger. Put safety on fire. If the rifle fires when the safety is manipulated, you have a problem.

 

[LoonWulf]

My normal test procedures for rifles is to make sure the gun is clear. Work the bolt slowly with the saftey off, then on and flick of, then take off slowly. I then ram the bolt home and slam it down pretty much as fast as i can first with the saftey off then on. If the gun has a recoil pad then i drop it from about knee hight onto the floor, keeping control of the barrel so it dosent fall over. If the gun fails any of these test i go back and check the trigger mech again for wear or improper adjustment.

 

[amlevin]

I always wonder about the term "Safety" on a rifle. Whenever there is a round in the chamber and the rifle is cocked, relying on any device other than one's brain certainly doesn't make me feel safe. The way people point loaded rifles at others, while relying on that thing marked "Safety" boggles the mind.

My Remington doesn't have the problem but it's of no matter to me. I'll be changing the trigger assy anyway because I prefer the Timney.

 

[jim243]

Watch the CNBC 10 month investigation. There are NO safe Remington 700's with the factory trigger. (1948-2007) GET IT REPLACED TODAY.

 

[evan price]

Jim, that CNBC article is a hit piece and is intended to trap the gullible. The early models with the need to manipulate the safety to open the bolt- maybe. The rest, it's pure crap. Show me a Rem 700 trigger that failed that WASN'T adjusted by somebody to lighten it, or full of dirt/grease from poor maintenance, and then get it to repeatedly fail. Now find a dozen of them. Any product line has individual pieces with possible defects. You can't test every one. Sorry, a few isolated incidents don't a problem make. The antis are trying to smear Remington and that's about all there is.


Best test is to manipulate the (empty) rifle aggressively and see if the gun fires. If it is well cleaned, lightly lubed, and not screwed around with by somebody well-meaning but poorly trained, it is most likely fine.

 

[PedalBiker]

I'd do the tests with the rifle as cold as you'd expect to use it.

If there is any oil in the trigger mechanism as the oil gets cold it gets more viscous. There could be a point at which the oil is so thick the floating piece could stay forward after the trigger is pulled while the safety is on. At this point the rifle would fire with the safety removed.

Unfortunately it's pretty hard to really clean out the Remington trigger. My Ruger is pretty easy, if it really needs to be cleaned I can push out the pins and clean everything separately. On my Remington I just have to do my best with CRC contact cleaner or something similar and then I put a drop or two of Rem oil.

My Remington is my range rifle, so it doesn't get the abuse my Ruger does. I've never had trouble with it, though and I like to shoot in cold weather (cuts cooling time for the barrel).

My Ruger has a Timney trigger. I may go that route with my Rem, but the factory trigger settings on the Rem. are fine for my purposes.

 

[Average Joe]

I would be more worried about trying to stop my Toyota, then my Remington 700 misfiring.

 

[mes228]

Rem Safety Test

I did not see the program but know that Rem has had problems for a very long time with this test. Make sure the rifle is unloaded. Work the bolt and put on safety. Pull the trigger. Then release the safety. THE RIFLE MAY FIRE. I didn't see the program but do know that it has been a RARE problem with Model 700 Remington's for many years. THIS MAY NOT BE THE ONLY TEST. OR EVEN THE PROBLEM THE PROGRAM WAS ABOUT AS I DID NOT SEE IT.