Setting Up a New Trigger on Remington 700

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gfors

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Not a Smith and Wesson, and maybe not even a smithing question, but you guys always seem to know the answer...
In the process of installing a Timney trigger on my hunting rifle, and need avice on where to set the pull weight.
Gun: Early 70's Remington 700 BDL, chambered in .30-06
Intended use: Mule deer and elk, out to 300 yards

I love this replacement trigger already. Stock trigger group required disengaging safety, to cycle the bolt. Not so, with the Timney. I haven't reassembled the rifle yet, but this trigger seems to break like glass, although the stock trigger was not bad.

Any advice, greatly appreciated.
 
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I'm not certain what the question is.

I believe the newer Remington 700's do not have the safety lock the bolt.

If the pull on the new trigger is good, sounds like the way to go - unless you feel the need for the safety to lock the bolt.

Remember that the old Remington 700 trigger was recalled due to law-suits on the gun said to be able to fire when the safety was moved to fire position.
 
You must have a trigger pull gauge before you start adjusting pull weight. I have found, from hunting around the world that 21/2 to 3 pounds if perfect. Anything lighter than 2 pounds becomes dangerous as closing the bolt hard in a moment of excitement can set it off. If you don't know how to adjust, please, seek help from a smith near you.
 
my trigger gauge says 2# 12 oz- 14 oz, on multiple pulls. i thin i'll leave it right where it is. Thank you, elkhunter!
 
My prairie dog rifles, which are shot from the bench and not carried in the field with a loaded chamber, I set my Shilen Triggers at 2 1/2 lbs and they work well for me. All my hunting rifles have triggers set at a clean 3 1/2 to 4 lbs, since they are carried in the field with loaded chambers and subjected to more rigorous use and handling and in all different weather conditions (which may involve shooting while wearing gloves).
 
I have a 700ADL I bought when the 700 was introduced in 1963.

At the time, I was involved in competitive indoor rifle competition so I adjusted the trigger to match my 52C. I settled on 2 1/2 lbs (a bit lighter than the 52C). I’ve killed a fair number of deer and elk with it over the years.

I’ve never had a problem with the original trigger. Indeed, it hasn’t changed since I adjusted it. I periodically check. I like the original trigger very much: easily adjustable for weight and travel, breaks like glass.

My M660 has the same Remington trigger and I set it up the same way in about 1990. I’ve killed a fair number of deer and elk with it too.

I’ve never seen the trigger problem folks worry about. I suspect the lawsuits that lead the trigger recall had, at their basis, poor gun handling. I can’t duplicate it with my rifles.

P.S. I don’t oil or otherwise lubricant the trigger. Some guys just can’t resist squirting stuff into holes on guns. There are some holes in the Remington 700 trigger mechanism. Resist the urge to put anything in them.
 
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I never had a problem with the original 700 trigger. They were is a lot of rifles over a lot of years when they were deemed an unsafe design.
My preference was the 40X trigger as it was adjustable thru the bottom without removing the action from the stock. I ran one in a 40X-BR that was reworked to 10 oz by Neil Jones, later replaced by a Canjar light pull 2 ox trigger
 
I used to do gunsmithing work back in the day, and here is what I found. The Remington triggers that were oiled at some point would have that oil go "gummy" and then the problems started. I disassembled several 700 trigger assy's that a customer had a "accidental discharge" and they all had the same problem. The oil had "varnished" up over the years, and then the trigger would not reset properly. A good cleaning and adjusting W/O oil would fix the problem.
On another note, the Remington 700 trigger had set screws to adjust the trigger pull. These set screw were installed at the factory with a clear "glue" like material over the set screw. This glue had to be removed to get to the screwdriver slot to adjust the trigger. People would remove the glue, adjust the trigger, but NOT reglue with epoxy. The trigger set screw could then reset itself thru use, and then it would malfunction.
 
If you search google you should find a piece called "Remington Crisp". This is instruction on setting a stock trigger to a lighter pull. If you are not savvy in these type of adjustments, and do not have an accurate trigger pull scale, have a qualified gunsmith do the adjustment.
 
I have a custom 300 Wby Mag built on a Remington 700 action with a Jewel trigger. The trigger is set at 2-3/4 lbs; I would not want it any lighter for a hunting rifle. My opinion .... somewhere between 2-3/4 - 3.0 is perfect for a hunting rifle.
 
I haven't had a heck of a lot of luck adjusting the stock Remington trigger to the weights some of you guys do, but I don't like playing with the sear engagement much.

Put a Shilen in the groundhog gun, despite the range of pull claim, I couldn't get 3 lbs out of it, had to settle for 2 3/4 lbs. I put a Trigger Tech Special 2 stage in the other rifle, it's set for a 1 lb first stage, so I can make sure I've got the trigger and ~2 lbs for the second stage. It's got a slew of internal safety features that won't let the sear release in either stage unless the trigger is pulled.

If I get bored enough I might try taking one of the triggers apart.
 
For those M700 rifles which have the safety design which locks the bolt closed, it is very easily removed with a Dremel tool if it bothers you. It does not bother me. The M700 factory trigger is excellent as-is and it is not necessary to swap it out. It can be adjusted if need be as earlier described. I would not bother. But it is your money to waste if you want to install a Timney, etc.
 
700 ( and 40X) triggers were good enough that a lot of Benchrest gunsmiths had a cottage industry modifying them with a third lever to super light pull for Benchrest match rifles. Burns, Shilen, Hart and others. They used the ones with the solid sear not the older split sear from the earlier Remington 722 days. Wally Harts were good enough that Remington took the design for their Stock 2 Oz three lever trigger ( Of course Wally further improved it as the art Trigger ) I preferred the Canjar 3 lever light pull trigger but my shooting buddy preferred the Hart.
 
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