Remington 700 Trouble

[Ben Shepherd]

Anyone here ever run a Remington 700 in subzero weather? Yesterday I tried. No joy. About 1/3rd of the time it wouldn't cock when I closed the bolt. Trigger pull weight was all over the place, and one time it fired as I closed the bolt.

My theory is the factory lubricant is too thick/heavy. Sitting here in my front room it operates flawlessly. Almost like the sear wasn't able to move like it should. So I figure I'll tear it all down, clean and lube with a very light lubricant very sparingly on the trigger group and go with some of Berryhills gun goo on the bolt internals instead of the axle grease that Remington calls gun grease.
Yesterday, had I been on a late elk hunt instead of the target range I'd have been pissed but good.

Any of you had any cold weather mishaps like this?

 

[dakotasin]

Anyone here ever run a Remington 700 in subzero weather?

routinely.

Any of you had any cold weather mishaps like this?

nope.

i take apart my rifles when i take delivery of them, clean them out really well, kroil on the bolt internals, trigger runs bone dry, and only grease behind the lugs on the bolt.

i wouldn't put any oil on your trigger group, and use less oil/grease than you think is necessary.

 

[Boris Barowski]

never had something like that happen to me. But I cleaned out all the factory grease out and put some light oil on the parts myself. A remington doesn't need that much grease/oil/general lubrication

 

[Ben Shepherd]

OK, upon teardown:

Gads Remington, grease everywhere on the trigger group?(I don't remember it being like that when I glass bedded it, but it must have been as I'm the original owner.) And the slot where the sear runs in the back of the action? Yeah, lots of thick and dirty grease out of there.

So I got it all cleaned out, with literally one small drop of oil spread out between all the moving parts in the trigger group. The sear slot cleaned out, it's back together. You'd think it's had a trigger job.

Looking forward to retesting next weekend if temps cooperate with me.

 

[dakotasin]

i think you'll find it will serve you fine.

i'll be hunting deer tomorrow... forecast is -5° f when i head out in the morning... i'll be carrying a remington 700 w/ bushnell 3200 w/ confidence.

good luck!

 

[Uncle Mike]

Some Remingtons have spring problems in really cold temps. also.

 

[ants]

Which spring, Uncle Mike?

Firing pin return spring, magazine spring, trigger group springs, bolt release spring, etc?

I live in a warm southwest climate, so I don't anticipate cold weather problems. But it's good to know which spring(s) you experience.

 

[Horsemany]

Gads Remington, grease everywhere on the trigger group?(I don't remember it being like that when I glass bedded it, but it must have been as I'm the original owner.) And the slot where the sear runs in the back of the action? Yeah, lots of thick and dirty grease out of there.

Lube will accumulate in the trigger housing as it runs down the bolt. Make sure to lube it sparingly between uses. I clean my 700 triggers by flushing out with Rem-oil and spraying it out with compressed air. This leaves behind just enough light lube and rem-oil doesn't get gunky. It's 50% mineral spirits and dries off after a couple of days leaving behind a light teflon layer.

 

[Geno]

I have had mine out in zero degrees, with a wind-chill of -20 degrees, and blowing snow. I've never had any problems whatsoever. However, in the summers, I use grease for lubricants, and in the winters I use Gibbs. Once you get into the zero range and lower, some manufacturers (Weatherby) recommend a thorough degrease and lubricate with powder graphite. I didn't like the graphite at all.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Which spring, Uncle Mike?

Firing pin Return- There was a run of 700's that would cease operation during really cold weather, the culprit was a firing pin return spring, so the memo said.
I know we changed several because of customer complaints of such, Remington advized it was too small an inside dimension of the firing pin return spring...?

IIRC...they were all on 243's...the ones we did.

I've hunted in cold weather with my 700's and never had a problem, so, I don't know.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

The best fix for Remington 700 problems is to buy a M70 Winchester.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

When dad's Winchester outshoots my Remington, I'll consider it......

 

[McBuck]

I had this same thing happen to me several years ago.....and I live in Georgia !!
Yes it was the cold. Took it to my smith, he cleaned it all out and did a trigger job for me and from them on it shot like a dream.
But the stuff Remington goops on the insides of those guns ....it's awful.

 

[Horsemany]

But the stuff Remington goops on the insides of those guns ....it's awful.

Hear that. Especially the new xmark triggers. They're nickel plated. I've not yet flushed a new one out without having flakes of nickel come out the first time I clean them. IMO everyone with an xmark trigger should flush them out at least once using an very light oil and blown out with compressed air.

 

[Uncle Mike]

IMO everyone with an xmark trigger should flush them out at least once using an very light oil and blown out with compressed air.

Better yet...swap that X-Mark for a Timney! Use the X-Mark for a paper weight, that's really all they're good for!
Another cost cutting/price increasing Remington idea!

 

[natman]

Sounds like you have a lubricant problem. Clean out the bolt and trigger and relube with these:

http://www.triflowlubricants.com/Tri-Flow_Superior_Aerosol_Lubricant.html

http://www.shooters-choice.com/synthetic_weather_grease.html

The Triflow will be the limiting factor, it's only good down to -60F. Personally, I wimp out at -40 and stop hunting and go inside.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Personally, I wimp out at -40 and stop hunting and go inside.

 

[d2wing]

No problems with Remington in sub zero weather. I clean and test shoot before season. I only use synthetic or dry lube. No grease. The brand doesn't matter as much as the preparation when it get below 0. Wind chill doesn't matter to a gun. Below -15, you have to be very hungry to hunt. Just being able to pull the trigger is a problem.

 

[Mr. T]

I've used my Model 700 for the last few years in very cold, well below zero situations and the gun operated flawlessly. My advice is to stay away from the grease and use the Remington CLP. It's a few bucks for a can of it and it seems to be quality stuff. I haven't had it freeze up any parts on me yet, although I do wipe down my weapons regularly and I wipe away any excess that I can. You don't want oil or grease slopped all over your weapon particularly when you are going to be shooting in cold weather.

 

[mljdeckard]

In the last few days me and my dad have been out in the west desert looking for coyotes (we didn't find any) with his 700 VSSF in 22-250, we have shot it sub-freezing many times, never had a problem.

And no, we have absolutely no reason to consider replacing it with a Winche3ster.

 

[Snakum]

The best fix for Remington 700 problems is to buy a M70 Winchester.

I never thought a day would come when I'd think this was funny, and that I'd agree with it. But right now I wouldn't take another 700 made in the last five years out hunting if you gave it to me.

 

[McBuck]

That is funny. I was 4 for 4 with my 700this morning. Four shots, four deer.
For the season I am 6 of 7 on the deer and 2 for 2 on the yotes. Ranges were anywhere from 75yds to 140yds.
Must be the operator, and not the equipment.

 

[matrem]

Must be the operator, and not the equipment.

Names & model numbers on rifles really don't mean that much in hunting situations.Upkeep however (what the OP referred to),can be the difference between a good day or a bad.
As far as the operator goes.. We're ALL subject to less than stellar!