Remington 700 Fires without touching the trigger. Help!

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I have always been a Winchester Model 70 or Mauser guy. Also Mosin as some of y’all have seen here. A few months ago however I bought a Remington 700 in 35 Whelen on a deal I could not pass up. It is a delux model with 24 inch barrel that was made back in the 80s I believe and was unfired. Today I put a scope on it and took her out to the range. Was just some standered scope rings and a swarovski scope. I put 40 rounds of Remington ammo through it and had some scary issues. 4 times when closing the bolt it fired. 1 times when taking off the safety as well. I have never had this happen to any gun I have ever owned before. For now, its back in the safe with the bolt out of it. I called Remington but it was late in the day. I got put on hold and after 20 min I hung up.

Has anyone had this issue before? Is there something you did to fix it? Was really hoping to enjoy this rifle and today as I really only get out to shoot 1 or 2 times a year now. This really put a sour tast in my mouth for my first Remington.

Nate


 
First find out if there is a recall. The trigger has 3 adjustment, if its the factory trigger. The info is online how to adjust it.. Just google it.

If no recall, contact the local gunsmith.
 
It appears to have the original Walker trigger. Your best bet would be to install an aftermarket trigger, with Timney being my recommendation for value and ease. There are nicer options. As mentioned, a local gunsmith can help, if needed. Going through Remington may take way more time than it is worth.
 
that looks like a CDL, didn't think they offered them until relatively recently.

it sounds like either there's crap thinking up the trigger, the sear engagement is set to short, pull weight way to low, or a combination of the lot.
if you've got a decent one, I'd take a local gunsmith.
 
Nice rifle in a great caliber. It sounds as thought someone has “ adjusted the trigger “ and gave it too little sear engagement. If you are mechanically inclined at all there is a very detailed procedure for adjusting it properly. I have used the Walker style trigger for years with no problems by adjusting it by the book. As others have mentioned there are aftermarket triggers available.

I’ll take it off your hands... hehehe.
 
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It is a well known problem dating back to the 1940's. Remington has settled over 100 lawsuits and had 10's of thousands of rifles returned to the factory for the issue. All Remington bolt guns (except the 788) made from 1946-2006 had a flawed trigger design that will do this. Remington never officially recalled these rifles, but due to part of one of the more recent lawsuits has agreed to replace the trigger on any rifle returned to Remington.

In October of 2006 they started using a redesigned trigger, BUT... in 2014 it was discovered that SOME of those rifles managed to get adhesive accidentally dripped into the trigger during assembly. Remington did issue an official recall on all of those rifles. Those made after 2014 are not involved in the recall.

My advice is to replace the trigger yourself. The cost isn't that great and it is a 15 minute DIY project and there are several aftermarket triggers much better than the ones Remington installs. And you don't have to send your gun off for months to get it repaired. I put a Timney in mine.
 
I think you've posted pictures of the wrong rifle. There is something mysterious here.

There is a well documented Remington trigger issue. I think since I have installed many triggers, the choice for me would be to replace the factory trigger with a Timney, and do so immediately.
 
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JMR nailed it. This is the exact symptom of a dirty/worn/improperly adjusted Walker trigger. The X-Mark Pro trigger, which Remington will retrofit to your rifle at no cost, is a pretty nice switch, IMO. I would have them install it, and, if you dont like it, order a Timney.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure that if you take it to a Remington authorized repair dealer, it will be fixed under a recall at absolutely no charge. There is a LGS here that has been doing a lot of recall work on Remington Rifles. Customers were shipping them in from all over and at one time they had over a 100 backed up. A retired friend of mine was actually hired to do nothing but replace triggers.
 
I think you've posted pictures of the wrong rifle. There is something mysterious here.

No that is the rifle. That was right out of the box a few months back before I put the scope on a coupe days ago.

I am guessing on the date of the rifle. But it was new. It has never been fired until today. Was clean as a whistle and not even a handling mark to be found. I guess that’s why I’m so shocked. The trigger pulls in at around 3.3 lbs. on my Lyman gage.

I did some digging on the net. Seems to be known problem. Also some of the people on here and other forums it seems replace the safety with a 3 position safety like on the the Winchesters. Did not know this was an option. Has anyone here used the Pacific Tool and Guage or the New England Custom Guns safeties?

http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/remi...in-assembly-three-position-safety-shroud.html

https://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/proddetail.php?prod=6141

Being that I mostly own Winchesters and all of my Mausers have this style safety this would be a welcome and obviously worth while change.
 
No that is the rifle. That was right out of the box a few months back before I put the scope on a coupe days ago.

I am guessing on the date of the rifle. But it was new. It has never been fired until today. Was clean as a whistle and not even a handling mark to be found. I guess that’s why I’m so shocked. The trigger pulls in at around 3.3 lbs. on my Lyman gage.

I did some digging on the net. Seems to be known problem. Also some of the people on here and other forums it seems replace the safety with a 3 position safety like on the the Winchesters. Did not know this was an option. Has anyone here used the Pacific Tool and Guage or the New England Custom Guns safeties?

http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/remi...in-assembly-three-position-safety-shroud.html

https://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/proddetail.php?prod=6141

Being that I mostly own Winchesters and all of my Mausers have this style safety this would be a welcome and obviously worth while change.

On the newer ones the factory applied too much sealant to the trigger group and it causes problems. There is probably a glop of dried glue in a bad spot in the trigger group. I would still replace with a Timney.
Ive never used or really heard of a 3 pos safety for a 700. I would pass on that but opinions will vary.
 
The CDLs replaced the ADLs in 2004 so the rifle isn’t as old as you think. My guess is that someone most definitely fiddled with the trigger as it should not have come from the factory at that weight. Mine was adjusted to ~4 lbs and worked fine until I replaced it 20 years later with a Rifle Basix.

You might consider selling it with full disclosure (do so at your own risk) and then replace it with an aftermarket unit but a gunsmith of any worth should be able to correct it for you if it isn’t damaged.

The Walker got a lot of negative press despite millions of them working correctly. Cleaning with a good flushing from time to time (I used Zippo fluid on mine) will be necessary as gunk collects inside the housing.
 
You might consider selling it with full disclosure (do so at your own risk) and then replace it with an aftermarket unit but a gunsmith of any worth should be able to correct it for you if it isn’t damaged.
.

You talkin selling the rifle or the trigger? Trigger I get. But if I replace it ill just toss this one as I would not feel comfortable selling it know it has been doing this. Sell the rifle? Not a chance, I have big plans for it and I and Alaska and Montana. New stock, bottom metal, and but pad (this one is soft as a sponge)
 
Pretty much all of the old triggers were factory set somewhere over 8 pounds. Since yours sounds like it's less, chances are good it's been messed with. This is easy to do and used to be really common. Sometime about 40 years ago the company started covering the adjustment screws to discourage home trigger jobs. Take the barreled action out of the stock and take a quick look at the trigger. There are 3 adjustment screws on the body of the trigger (2 on front, one on back) which the factory covers with black shellac. They should look like paint lumps. If you can see the screws, it was adjusted by someone after it left the factory.
 
Pretty much all of the old triggers were factory set somewhere over 8 pounds. Since yours sounds like it's less, chances are good it's been messed with. This is easy to do and used to be really common. Sometime about 40 years ago the company started covering the adjustment screws to discourage home trigger jobs. Take the barreled action out of the stock and take a quick look at the trigger. There are 3 adjustment screws on the body of the trigger (2 on front, one on back) which the factory covers with black shellac. They should look like paint lumps. If you can see the screws, it was adjusted by someone after it left the factory.


I will look into this tomorrow. Did not know that. All my Winchester and Mauser builds have been from the actions up starting with a blank canvas. Never really bought a rifle I guess that was factory assembled other than my Browning SA-22s. A few handguns yeah.
 
the sear engagement is set to short
This needs adjusted. After adjustment , a thread locker should be applied to the screws.Vibration may cause the adjustment to change.
My neighbor claims the vibration from a plane ride caused his factory trigger to change. The PH has all clients test fire on arrival. Firing pin didnt stay cocked. No thread locker was reapplied after adjustment.

Trigger pull weight , if to light, will allow the firing pin to fall. The Rem 2 oz trigger on a 40x will drop the firing pin with rough handling.

I dont know the vintage of your rifles trigger, but my 70s guns work just fine when adjusted correctly.
 
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I have an X trigger than you can have that I just took off my milspec just a couple months ago on a brand new new fired rife, if you want to give it a try. I would have stopped shooting after the first accidental firing. I had a Savage 110 that did the same thing. It was adjusted poorly. Someone here helped me get the adjustment right. Never another problem after than. Anyhow the trigger offer stands for the X-Mark-Pro Trigger, just PM me.
 
I haven't personally seen a Walker trigger fail when adjusted properly. That being said, I still replace them with a 2 stage Timney.
I despise the x-mark trigger that comes on the newer Remington's. They are impossible to get under 4.5 pounds in my experience.
 
This needs adjusted. After adjustment , a thread locker should be applied to the screws.Vibration may cause the adjustment to change.
My neighbor claims the vibration from a plane ride caused his factory trigger to change. The PH has all clients test fire on arrival. Firing pin didnt stay cocked. No thread locker was reapplied after adjustment.
Something I found out the hard way. when adjusting anything that uses thread locker, take the thing apart and clean all the old thread locker, grease, etc off before reapplying. Ive had screws, on more than just guns, walk even with locktite.
 
Sounds like a "Walker" trigger that decided to "run" when it shouldn't. It's likely that the previous owner may have known about the problem and chose to sell the piece instead of correcting it.

I've installed Timney triggers in all my older Rem Model 700s and it's simple. Just call Timney direct and order one. They'll send instructions along with the trigger and pre-adjust it to whatever safe pull weight you wish. Their triggers can also be ordered through other companies, but Timney includes a Tootsie Pop with the trigger purchased directly. (Don't ask me why.) You'll need a pin punch the right size to knock the mounting pins (mostly) out to remove/install the trigger mechanisms. You can also select the trigger width/grooved or smooth-faced.

You won't believe the difference between Timney and Remington trigger pulls. I always used to like the Remington triggers, but Timneys are even better.
 
There has been many issues going back a long way with 700 triggers. Send it back to them for repair.
 
Captain, I note that you joined this community only 3 months ago and your post seems suspicious, i.e. tailor made, as evidence of a reasonable alternative design for a product liability lawsuit, e.g. evidence that other common actions last century (Mosin, Mauser, Winchester) don't have this same "defect."

In any event, there was a class action settlement regarding the Remington Action, if you are planning on suing Remington you need to get a copy of the settlement and see if you still have time to opt-out. Otherwise your claims will be barred. You might also want to check the Remington Bankruptcy and see if claims are barred. If you just want to get the trigger fixed, I'd follow the advice of the members above and sent it in for a free trigger job.
 
Like the others have said, this is a known problem. Remington should replace it for you but there are various reports about how long this would take. I have replaced all of mine with Jewell triggers. There are other good choices, some less costly and a few that are more costly. Its a pretty simple job if you have any mechanical skills what so ever.

By the way, Nice Rifle. Don't be discouraged by this, there are several simple fixes for this.
 
No that is the rifle. That was right out of the box a few months back before I put the scope on a coupe days ago.

I am guessing on the date of the rifle. But it was new. It has never been fired until today. Was clean as a whistle and not even a handling mark to be found. I guess that’s why I’m so shocked. The trigger pulls in at around 3.3 lbs. on my Lyman gage.

I did some digging on the net. Seems to be known problem. Also some of the people on here and other forums it seems replace the safety with a 3 position safety like on the the Winchesters. Did not know this was an option. Has anyone here used the Pacific Tool and Guage or the New England Custom Guns safeties?

http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/remi...in-assembly-three-position-safety-shroud.html

https://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/proddetail.php?prod=6141

Being that I mostly own Winchesters and all of my Mausers have this style safety this would be a welcome and obviously worth while change.
To me a real safety should block the firing pin from moving like Winchester. I wasn't aware of the PT & D option with the 3 position safety. That could be one of the best investments you will ever make for that Remington.
 
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