Remington and those suing are apparently close to reaching a massive settlement that will involve Remington replacing 7.5 million trigger units, and probably paying undisclosed sums.

Oldish news, but some interesting updates as Remington and court records recently obtained point to:

- Remington has been able to duplicate the alleged problem, both in its own tests and in research by an independent laboratory the company commissioned.

- Remington rejected multiple alternative designs for the trigger, at least in part because attorneys worried that a design change might be seen as an admission of guilt in the product liability suits they were battling.

- Remington has deftly — and legally — used court secrecy provisions to limit the spread of information about the alleged defect. But on multiple occasions, courts have sanctioned the company — including at least one contempt citation—for withholding key evidence.

BREAKING: CNBC Alleges Remington Knew of M700 Trigger Defect In 1989 - The Firearm Blog

Lawyers, Guns and Money; unfortunately, not just the title of a good song.

My 40+ year old 700 has been wonderful; of course, I've never pointed it at anyone else, or at myself, when loaded.

Bottom feeder Lawyers....Don't point a loaded gun at anything you do not wish to destroy. End of issue.

"Remington rejected multiple alternative designs for the trigger, at least in part because attorneys worried that a design change might be seen as an admission of guilt in the product liability suits they were battling."

It is public policy and the law in federal courts and every state that correcting an alleged defect is not admissible as evidence of the original defect. My Model 700 trigger is just fine. Bring on the next rumor.

Mine discharged when removing the safety back in the early 1980s. They told me I must have had my finger on the trigger. They were informed in the early eighties and evoked complete deniability to me. They know.

Mine could not be unloaded without taking the safety to off.

I found down thru the years that the condition in question was always the result of amateurs attempting to make the trigger work outside the engineered performance box. I corrected a few and always had to reseal the three screws that had been messed with by 'others' not Remington. I have probably owned and extensively shot upwards to 50 Remington rifles over the years. Never has one of my rifles exhibited the described actions, nor do they do so when taken down to a very low safe trigger pull weight. Remington has compounded their problems by trying to sweep it under the rug instead of coming out and warning all consumers "Don't Mess with the Trigger Adjustments". ........

Bud: Would you be so kind to answer a couple of questions about the history of your particular Remington 700? Perhaps your answers could help guide us to a likely scenario for these unintentional discharges.....

Was it new when you acquired it? If not, how many owners before you?

How old was the rifle when this happened and what caliber?

Did you ever adjust the trigger? Did a previous owner adjust the trigger?

Was the original Remington applied sealant on the adjusting screw intact when it discharged with you operating the bolt?

Had you ever removed the stock and thoroughly cleaned the trigger with something like brake cleaner, WD 40, bore solvent or any other cleaner?

Well sorry, a few more than a couple....... Was the trigger in contact with the stock or the floor plate in any manner or area? ......... Thanks if you will reply...........

My '94 Remington 700 in 338win mag hasn't done it yet. Do I trust a safety on any gun nope.

I bought a new 700 in 1974. The instruction manual included directions on adjusting the trigger and there was no sealant on the screws. The first time I shot it was on a hunt a day or two after buying it. When I removed the safety to unload it, it went off. No finger on trigger. Muzzle pointed up so no damage to anything but my nerves. Hasn't repeated it nor has any other Remington rifle I have owned since.

I have mounted scopes on 60 to 80 Rem 700s over the years that I took out of the shipping box. I made it a practice to take every one out of the stock and look it all over to preclude passing on a problem to the LGS's customer. I never saw one that didn't have the locking sealant on the trigger adjustment screws. I'm sure that one or a few slipped thru that process at Remington, I just never saw it. ...........

"I bought a new 700 in 1974. The instruction manual included directions on adjusting the trigger and there was no sealant on the screws. ***The first time I shot it was on a hunt a day or two*** after buying it. When I removed the safety to unload it, it went off. No finger on trigger. Muzzle pointed up so no damage to anything but my nerves. Hasn't repeated it nor has any other Remington rifle I have owned since."
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The part I put in bold tells me everything I need to know.

The telling point for the plaintiffs is that the trigger's DESIGNER informed Remington that it was inherently unsafe and asked to do a re-design. This was in the 1940's, as the trigger is basically that in the then-new M-721 and 722.

I'm bitter that Remington never fixed it and let the gun hating media make it an issue. And people HAVE BEEN HURT AND KILLED BECAUSE REMINGTON DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND ABOUT AN EXTRA NICKEL PER RIFLE BACK THEN TO FIX A BAD DESIGN.

I bought a used 700 in .270 and the first thing I did was take it to a gunsmith I know and trust and have him check the trigger to see if anyone had "bubba'd" on it. I had him lighten it to 3lbs and add locktite to the adjustment screws.

Mine's not loaded until I'm in the stand/shooting bench then unloaded before moved, muzzle downrange. At times when I'm with other hunters I even drop the bolt out and put it in my pack.

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Isaiah 41:10

These types of triggers are in a lot of bolt action rifles.

A drop and function test should follow maintaining any bolt action.

That said, those triggers suck, and mine got a Timney. The same cautions apply. It just has a much nicer pull and let off with zero overtravel.

CNBC, you don't say?

It's all old news.

Most guns available today are not made to the materials, finish, and workmanship that they used to be, as most folks aren't willing to pay extra for materials, finish, and workmanship on tools that shoot better than they ever have and are safer than they've ever been with trigger pulls that were only the realm of custom work or the aftermarket until recently.

Some manufacturers still offer their fancy guns, but you're unlikely to find one on the shelf at your local store.

The liberals would love to see gun manufacturers sued into oblivion.

"Bottom feeder lawyers"..... How is this somehow the lawyer's fault????
What about the trigger issue that Remington was able to duplicate? Just forget about it? Even observing proper muzzle discipline-a gun going off without conscious pulling the trigger can cause hearing damage, etc. and makes for a DANGEROUS firearm. Period.
I really take offense at your comment.

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