remington 700 trigger issues?
- Thread starter OFFGRID
- Start date
- Status
Rpod86
Member
Personally I own 11 700 currently the only 1 that has ever done that is my 280 but I used I different gun smith to do a trigger job on it it was way 2 light if you smacked the side of gun with safety off it would fire. Put a new Remington trigger in it. Then had second trigger job done every thing is fine
upptick
Member
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2020
- Messages
- 281
If you google it, you'll discover that there were multiple lawsuits to include a class action against Remington alleging a faulty trigger / safety design that resulted in multiple deaths and serious injuries. I think there's even a CNBC episode detailing the history of problems with the Model 700. Remington and its defenders contended that the problems were caused by bad maintenance or careless gun handling. Ultimately, however, Remington did a recall to fix the trigger / safety mechanism but it was too little / too late and the company went bankrupt only to be resurrected by venture capital / non-gun people who had to declare bankruptcy again a short while later after sales totally collapsed amid complaints of completely shoddy products. The assets from the last bankruptcy were bought by a new company called RemArms that sells firearms under the Remington logo but refuses to honor the warranty claims for the guns produced just a few years ago under the same name. If you want a Remington 700, you should consider the Bergara line, which is a clone of the Remington 700 but without the same safety concerns and which also includes various improvements.
Last edited:
mcb
Member
This is a very loaded question. Remington has used several different triggers in the 700. More information would be needed.
Only 2.
The original trigger was designed, and 1st used in 1946. It immediately started causing problems with discharges and no trigger pull. The engineer who designed the gun, and trigger, found the problem with early guns that he pulled off the assembly line and tested. He drew up plans for a new trigger in 1946 and resubmitted them again in 1948. Remington management declined to make the change because it would add 5 cents to the cost of the rifles.
The same trigger was used from 1946 to October 2006 in every Remington bolt rifle except the 788. After over 100 lawsuits and about 2 dozen deaths Remington finally adopted the modified design.
The problem is that the original design used a floating trigger connector between the trigger and sear. The connector can freely move as the gun is handed. If it ends up in just the wrong spot the sear does not fully engage. As the gun is handled the sear releases, but the safety is holding back the firing pin. When the operator moves the safety to the "FIRE" position the gun fires with no trigger pull. That is the most common way it happens, but occasionally the sear will release as you begin to lift the bolt handle with the safety in the "FIRE" position.
The original safety on the 700, 721, 722, 725, 600 series, and 7 series of rifles locked the bolt down when on "SAFE" and required you to move the safety to the "FIRE" position in order to unchamber a round. In an effort to prevent discharges the safety was redesigned in the 1980's to allow the bolt to be opened with the safety in the "SAFE" position. This did go a long way towards reducing the issue but did not address the real problem.
Remington has never admitted a problem but did agree as part of a Class Action lawsuit about 10-12 years ago to replace the trigger on any 1946-2006 rifle at no charge if you send the rifle to them. This has never been widely advertised and I have no idea if the new ownership will still honor that. Most people simply replace the triggers themselves. It is a $100 DIY project that takes about 15 minutes.
The new trigger introduced with 2007 models also had issues. The trigger is a solid design, but during assembly adhesive somehow got into the trigger groups on some rifles made 2007-2014. That caused issues and there was a recall on those rifles. The same trigger is still in use and those made 2014-present seem to work fine.
Seedy Character
Member
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2021
- Messages
- 2,064
^^^^^^^ this
The NEW Remington does not honor warranty.
IF you feel the need, replacement triggers can be had for $100 or a bit more and are an easy replace.
A good gunsmith can TEST the trigger you have and know if it needs replacement.
I have 2 Rems and neither has been changed.
The NEW Remington does not honor warranty.
IF you feel the need, replacement triggers can be had for $100 or a bit more and are an easy replace.
A good gunsmith can TEST the trigger you have and know if it needs replacement.
I have 2 Rems and neither has been changed.
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 14,950
Yes, it is true. The info is out there far and wide. The old Remington company issued recalls for almost every Rem 700 trigger ever produced, only a few years of relatively recent production didn’t have an issue, covering at least two of their trigger models. Since Remington went bankrupt and dissolved, the new Rem Arms company is NOT the same company, and is not honoring any of those recalls any longer, so owners with the at-risk triggers are simply out of luck.
The easiest and best option is to replace any Rem 700 trigger with an aftermarket option, I highly recommend TriggerTech and Jewel, in that order. The Timney models are a great upgrade over the factory triggers, but still not as clean as the TriggerTech or Jewel.
Hugger-4641
Member
Yes, it is true. If you have a ribbed trigger on a 700, you should be fine. If you have a smooth trigger, with or without the dimple in front of it, you need to replace it.
I have recent first hand experience with this and posted about it here.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?posts/12157669/
I have recent first hand experience with this and posted about it here.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?posts/12157669/
OP
OP
OFFGRID
Member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2022
- Messages
- 379
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 14,950
In fairness, the Ribbed triggers simply weren’t part of the multiple other recalls… “ok,” as a derivation of that, when multiple other designs covering over 7 million R 700’s… eh… we all take the risks associated with our choices.
Hugger-4641
Member
It's not hard to believe. I've owned 700's for decades and didn't know about it until it happened to me and I started digging for "why .
They didn't exactly plaster recall ads on TV or send out flyers like they do with automobiles.
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 14,950
Maybe not quite this, but 60 Minutes did a special exposé and CNBC did a special report on the Rem 700 trigger issues and lawsuits…
lightman
Member
Like the others have said, its true. Lots of information is out there about this. It seems like most of the problems are caused by amateurs adjusting their triggers or lack of maintenance. (dirty trigger)
I own and have owned several Remington 700's. The ones that I no longer own now belong to Family members. Sons, Grandsons, ect.
I have had one accidental discharge due to trigger issues. I know that I absolutely did not touch the trigger. But I will accept the blame. I spent over a week hunting in Wyoming once. Walking, climbing, riding in the back of a truck, ect. Then on the way home we got caught in a snowstorm that caused us to be late getting home. I immediately headed for Deer Camp for the opening of our modern gun season. That morning when I got to my stand and closed the bolt on my rifle it discharged. I immediately returned to camp and disassembled my rifle and gave it a detailed cleaning. There was a ton of red dust in both the bolt and the trigger. The bottom line is that I was on such a compressed schedule that I failed to maintain my rifle.
That rifle and all of my other 700's have Jewell triggers now. At the time about the only choices were Jewell, Timney or Canjar. There are many other good choices now.
OP
OP
OFFGRID
Member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2022
- Messages
- 379
ok. ill see if i can find a video in disassembly of the trigger and bolt. ive never cleaned mine. i just pull the bolt and wipe it down and clean the barrel. gotta get on top of that i guess. thanks man
Seedy Character
Member
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2021
- Messages
- 2,064
I got a notice from Remington in the mail.
My gunsmith tested the trigger, called it good. I didn't return rifle to Remington.
I will probably replace trigger, with Timney, Kanjar or Trigger Tech, eventually. Before grandson gets posession.
OP
OP
OFFGRID
Member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2022
- Messages
- 379
Yes it is true and very old news. Many years ago, Look it up. Lots of lawsuits, TV coverage etetc I had one, sent it back trigger replaced, then If I recall the replacement trigger as also faulty, Sent it back again, Then sold it.
https://www.remarms.com/support/safety-center/remington-model-700-and-model-seven-notice
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/remington-model-700-trigger-recall-not-recall-apparently/
Hugger-4641
Member
Up until 2015, all the 700's I owned were purchased 2nd hand. So I never got any notices and never heard about the recall. I'm not exactly a hermit, so If I didn't know, I'm certain there are thousands more 700 owners and/or future used gun buyers who don't know. Younger folks or even older folks who've newly joined our ranks are likely to have never heard about this problem
Seedy Character
Member
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2021
- Messages
- 2,064
There were notices in magazine ads, too.
I knew nothing of the recall and BOUGHT a new 700 in 2013. For some reason, I sent the registration card in to Remington. (I never do that) Probably why I received the notice.
The notice was very obscure. I didn't realize it was the 700 being recalled. Talked with my gunsmith buddy and he told me about the trigger problem.
I agree, there are plenty out there that know nothing about the RECALL.
Lawyers doing their thing.
I knew nothing of the recall and BOUGHT a new 700 in 2013. For some reason, I sent the registration card in to Remington. (I never do that) Probably why I received the notice.
The notice was very obscure. I didn't realize it was the 700 being recalled. Talked with my gunsmith buddy and he told me about the trigger problem.
I agree, there are plenty out there that know nothing about the RECALL.
Lawyers doing their thing.
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 14,950
What a terrible choice in assumed liability your gunsmith made.
bihj
Member
As an owner of two 700's, I just installed aftermarket triggers. Not only is my mind at ease, but the adjustments are much more positive and you can count on a change with the adjustments, you could spend hours fiddling with the Remington trigger and get nowhere.
He pronounced it good because the recall has been accomplished, or the rifles are not subject to the recall? If not then the trigger is not good.
Of course, not directed to the OP or anyone in this thread or forum, if we always take care of our muzzle direction, even if there is a negligent discharge or a discharge due to defect it will not become a negligent homicide. Of which several of the Model 700 fatalities were the result of intentionally aiming a loaded rifle at a living soul.
You cannot return the rifle to Remington because Remington is no more. The owner of the IP and rights to produce those products is not Remington and did not acquire any of the former Remington companies liabilities in the purchase from bankruptcy. The last produced Model 700 rifles and those now produced by RemArms are not subject to any current recalls or bulletins.
And if anyone is not aware, there was a recall for the Ruger tang safety bolt guns a long time ago for a trigger issue.
Scout21
Member
I don't know when they finally implemented the fix, but yes, depending on when it was made and if it was ever sent in for the recall they absolutely can go off when they shouldn't. Sometimes they can go off when taking the rifle off safe(happened to a family member once long ago, and then more recently to a different family member while I was present, both with the same exact rifle purchased in the late 90's) or when manipulating the bolt handle.
There has been plenty of debate whether or not the trigger design was actually faulty. IIRC Remington even maintained that the trigger was perfectly safe even when issuing the recall. I've heard many explanations defending the trigger including that people had actually pulled the trigger and didn't realize/remember it, people didn't clean the gunk out of the trigger mechanism, and that people performed unsafe trigger work to them.
I would recommend considering every Model 700 and its variants as potentially unsafe until a new trigger is installed or it can be determined that it does not have the faulty trigger.
There has been plenty of debate whether or not the trigger design was actually faulty. IIRC Remington even maintained that the trigger was perfectly safe even when issuing the recall. I've heard many explanations defending the trigger including that people had actually pulled the trigger and didn't realize/remember it, people didn't clean the gunk out of the trigger mechanism, and that people performed unsafe trigger work to them.
I would recommend considering every Model 700 and its variants as potentially unsafe until a new trigger is installed or it can be determined that it does not have the faulty trigger.
Last edited:
theotherwaldo
Member
Curiously enough, I noticed that the Remington 510 .22 single shot that I had recently purchased also behaved like the problem guns mentioned above.
I noticed that the receiver provided a location for a sear spring and adjustment screw, components that I could not find on any of the schematics sheets or parts lists.
I quickly fabricated a spring and screw and, after a few adjustments, had a safe and adequate trigger pull on that old gun.
I noticed that the receiver provided a location for a sear spring and adjustment screw, components that I could not find on any of the schematics sheets or parts lists.
I quickly fabricated a spring and screw and, after a few adjustments, had a safe and adequate trigger pull on that old gun.
- Status
