Need Help: Rem 700 SPS Won't Fire

T

Tangentabacus

New member
Okay, I got a problem. Remington 700 SPS chambered in .308. It's a friend's rifle and it won't fire no matter what we try. Tonight I tore apart the bolt and everything is okay and doesn't seem to be broken. There is no key.

Not sure what to do. Does anyone have any suggestions to try and fix it? Bought it at Sportsman's Warehouse, so we can't return it. Our last resort is to take it to a gunsmith, but I really think that something is just not quite right...

What would be awesome is some pictures of taken apart, or fully assembled R700 bolts. I wana try and fix this, because if I do I can buy this brand new never been fired R700 for about $400. Because my friend who has this R700 has already bought another... Yay. So, TFL... Help me fix this gun!!

I am also going to post this on the smithy forum for a little extra help.
 
Take the bolt out of the rifle and pull the cocking knob back and rotate it (the part farthest back on the bolt) to uncock the rifle, then measure the firing pin protrusion. (the firing pin should protude through the bolt head)

Im going to assume (you know what happpens when we assume things...) that it is going to be simular to the mosin nagant because it is a simularly sized cartrige. it should be about .030 to .035 inches. measure it with a feeler gauge. (thats about the same gap as most spark plugs). Im not sure if you can aadjust it, but that may be what it is.

if thats ok, then i might possiblely be a headspace issue or a chamber issue, which would require work from a smith.

PS- i have no experiance with a 700, this is just kinda off the top of my head/general rifle info. good luck. :)
 
OKAY!!

So, I have discovered what is wrong, but I haven't figured out what is causing it.

When the bolt is inside the chamber the firing pin cannot move far enough forward to strike the primer because the bolt does not rotate enough to allow this to happen. There is a groove on the side of the bolt that dictates how far down the firing pin can move. The bolt does not turn enough to let the firing pin (when fired) rest inside the deepest part of that groove, therefore the primer cannot be hit and the gun not fired.

Now, I cannot figure out what is causing the bolt to make it's fullest rotation possible to allow the firing pin to be fully engaged.
 
Same thing happened when I mounted the scope on my Model 700. You may need to use some blue loctite on the threads, since they can't really ve torqued down as much as you would like.
 
I think this problem is not as rare as it should be. The machine screws for the front scope mount base can be too long and prevent the bolt from completely closing and locking the lugs. A buddy encountered this problem a few years ago with a new 700 7mm Rem Mag. Very frustrating, but easily fixed when you figure it out. And the problem, IMHO, is not Remington - it is the screws from the scope mount base manufacturers.
 
This is why I ALWAYS cycle the action of a rifle when I install a scope base, BEFORE the rings and scope go on. Many of the screws are too long, and it's an easy fix if you find it early with everything apart.

Nice though, fixed the broken rifle and got a good price on an unfired M700! :cool:
 
I know this is more than a year old... But I'll say that I eventually closed the deal with my friend for $300 and was able to get the rifle fixed. Put a new trigger, bipod, and a nice scope and she hits golf balls at 200+ yds.
 
Be careful with the action screws if it is an adl. My action was stuck shut. I had not touch the rifle for a few weeks and had forgot about tightening the screws. I had purchased a torque wrench and went through all of my fasteners on all of my rifles and handguns. And lawnmower, weed eater, and anything else around the house that had torque specs available. DOHH. R.O. at the range asked why I left my 243 at home. After splaining what happened, he told me to check the small screw in front of the trigger guard. Sure enough, it had pulled through the stock, and held the bolt closed. I shortened the screw. Lesson learned. Still kicking around options on a new stock.
 
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