Remington 700P fires when the safety selector is switched to fire...

S

srfisher3

Inactive
So recently during a routine cleaning of my Remington 700p, I had a disturbing interaction with the safety mechanism. The firing pin would shoot forward when I placed the weapon from safe to fire...thankfully the rifle was unloaded. I was able to repeat the process several times. Every time I went from safe to fire, the firing pin would fire...Thoughts, Suggestions?
 
x2 on what Mike38 said. Don't use it until the issue is resolved. It is a known problem for some 700 rifles....seems to be more than enough forums threads about it. Some will say it is not a problem because their 700 doesn't do it. What ever.....

Good luck...and please be safe! ;)
 
The only ones I've seen do this were "tinkered with". On the other hand, I've seen more that would fire when the safety was released IF the trigger had been pulled while the safety was still on. I've also seen Savage 110 rifles fire when subjected to the "pull trigger, release safety" scenario. It's not just Remingtons that exhibit this unsafe action after having unauthorized adjustments.
 
Sounds like either the trigger group is worn or has been lightened too much. I love the R700, and have seen this before. Usually it is from the latter of the two issues. I have owned quite a few 700's and never had one misfire unless it was modified. If it is stock, contact Remington, they will fix it. If it has been lightened, they will charge you for another trigger. I would have a gunsmith look at it ASAP. Like everyone else said, DO NOT USE IT UNTIL IT IS FIXED.
 
the way I see it is that you have 2 options.
1, the correct method: return it to the factory, that is not normal and is a serious safety risk that must be dealt with.

2. do what I was always taught to do with my 700 growing up and a habit that has carried over to all of my other bolt actions. you carry with the bolt hand up as to fully disengage the firing pin. it will be impossible to fire negligently but it will not solve the underlying problem and can be potentially deadly if you ever lend it to someone that is accustomed to relying on manual safeties on their rifles.
 
Either:
a- Ship the rifle to an authorized Remington service center (list of service centers is on the Remington website)
OR
b- Replace the trigger with an aftermarket trigger such as a Timney (have a gunsmith install it if you don't already know how).
 
do what I was always taught to do with my 700 growing up and a habit that has carried over to all of my other bolt actions. you carry with the bolt hand up as to fully disengage the firing pin. it will be impossible to fire negligently but it will not solve the underlying problem and can be potentially deadly if you ever lend it to someone that is accustomed to relying on manual safeties on their rifles.
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The only problem with this is that if you have one of the "problem" guns it will fire as soon as you close the bolt. The problem is not a defective safety. Remingtons safety works as good as any, the problem is a poorly designed trigger that in very rare cases allows the gun to do this.

I have an older 1974 gun that has done exactly the same. Mine was unloaded at the time as well. The problem was addressed in 2007 with a new trigger design. If it were mine I'd just take it to a smith and have an aftermarket trigger installed. Sending it back to Remington will get you another Remington trigger. I would feel much better with aftermarket.
 
I have owned and used Rem 700 rifles for 40 years. I have carried them in every way imaginable(some not really safety conscious) way. I have NEVER had a 700 fire w/o moving the trigger. A relative bought a used 700 that would snap about 50% of the time when the bolt was slammed closed and nearly 100% when the trigger was pulled w/safety on and then the safety released. The sear contact was set too fine and had a slight bit of wear causing this malfunction. A slight adjustment for more sear contact solved the problem for the short term.
Some people shouldn't have guns and many more shouldn't have guns and screwdrivers at the same time. Anyone can screw up anything given enough time and foolishness.
 
VERY well said, Mobuck
Best Regards, Rod

Some people shouldn't have guns and many more shouldn't have guns and screwdrivers at the same time. Anyone can screw up anything given enough time and foolishness.
Click to expand...
 
Mobuck is exactly right. Just be warned that if you send it to Remington and the trigger has been "adjusted" they will replace the trigger group and charge you for it. A guy in my area did this, and complained about it. He had let his brother-in-law "set the trigger like one of them Sniper rifles"...
 
I have an old M700 and another just a few years old. My guns don't do anything strange. I had a gunsmith do a trigger job on the 700P, but it only goes off whn the safety is off and I pull the trigger.
 
The OP hasn't responded back with any further details so it's hard to say....

I will say though that I've had a similar situation, but with a modified rifle. My 700 SPS has a Jewell trigger and now, a B&C A5 Medalist. When I first installed the B&C, there wasn't enough clearance for the safety arm on the trigger assembly for the safety to fully engage. The thumb lever "looked" right, but the arm was hanging on the stock. I had to relieve the stock a little with a dremel for proper clearances.

Prior to this trimming, the rifle would:
a) Not fully engage the sear. Firing pin would fall on bolt closure
b) If the sear did catch, the trigger could partially break with the partial safety engagement (which wasn't really engaged... just looked engaged)
c) If the trigger/sear had been pulled with partial safety engagement, the rifle would fire when the safety was pushed forward for fire. (just in testing.. I never did this with a loaded rifle... Lord no.)

So that being said, if the rifle has an aftermarket stock, aftermarket trigger, etc... double check all the internal clearances. Once I fixed this, the rifle can be beat, kicked, dropped and not fire unless I break the trigger as it should.
 
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Remington makes a good trigger, easy to adjust when you know what your doing, if not . Put it in the hands of someone who does. Very easy adjustment as long as the sear hasen't been ground down . Sears are very strong. Safety first
 
The usual causes are:

1. Gunk in the trigger mechanism, causing the trigger to not move forward when cocked. Squirt some lighter fluid in the mechanism (outdoors) to clean things out. Work the trigger until it works smoothly again and the return spring pushes it forward reliably.

2. Someone set the fore-travel too close and the mechanism wore a bit, so it won't stay cocked. If that's the case, back the screw in the rear of the trigger out a half-turn and see if it fixes the problem.
 
I would like to hear more info from the OP. Maybe he (or they) are just trying to stir up a hornet's nest. I've had about enough of this Remington trigger BS.
 
"The only ones I've seen do this were "tinkered with". On the other hand, I've seen more that would fire when the safety was released IF the trigger had been pulled while the safety was still on. I've also seen Savage 110 rifles fire when subjected to the "pull trigger, release safety" scenario. It's not just Remingtons that exhibit this unsafe action after having unauthorized adjustments. "

Exactly, that's one thing we always teach in Hunter Safety training. It's especially true for rifles that have been tinkered with.
 
Recently an acquaintance brought me a fairly new Remington 700 rifle that fired when the safety was put in the fire position. His friend had "adjusted " the trigger. i refused to touch the gun: Told him to contact Remington or a gunsmith.

There are 19 Remington model 721, 722 and model 700 rifles in my safes. None have ever gone boom without someone pulling the trigger.
 
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