Remington 700 LV SF Trigger Issue

Inspector3711 · March 28, 2008, 10:16 PM

I just picked up a LV SF chambered in .223 from my Dad's about a week ago. He bought it new 3-4 years ago and never fired it. It even came equipped with a Bushnell Elite 3200 3X9 40mm scope!

He decided he liked the .22-250 better and hasn't looked back. I scored BIG!

Anyway, after he went to bed one night I picked it up and cycled the bolt (after looking into the chamber to make sure it was clear). I pushed the safety forward and heard the firing pin snap. If there had been a live round in it there would have been a hole in the floor! I cycled the bolt again with safety on. I pushed the safety forward and heard the pin snap again... I pulled the trigger to make sure and found that the trigger acted as if it had been pulled. Indeed the pin had released! I tried it 3-4 more times with the same result. After that it quit happening and hasn't happened since (after 25-30 tries). Dad kind of acted like I was crazy when I told him the next morning, but I'm definitely not.

I've got instructions on how to adjust the trigger and have been told that if I give the sear adjustment screw 1/4 turn counterclockwise it should alleviate the problem. The hitch is that I have read all over the place that the only thing a regular guy should ever adjust on a Remington 700 trigger is the pull weight and it should never be adjusted below 3 lbs. I'm also in a financial situation where I can't afford to just go to a gunsmith or to ship the rifle anywhere. Should I make the sear adjustment? Any advice would be appreciated.

Some day I may put a different trigger on it but for now I can't afford to.

Alleykat · March 29, 2008, 11:07 AM

You can read all sorts of crap on the internet. Just be informed that, prior to ours becoming such a litigious society, Remmy included trigger adjusting instructions with their 700s. What you need to do is turn the engagement (rear) screw out at least a 1/4 turn. Might take a little more. Also, if the trigger pull weight is a little too light, you'll experience the same problem.

Believe me, this ain't rocket science, and you don't need the services of a gunsmith to adjust a Remington 700 trigger.

Inspector3711 · March 29, 2008, 11:46 AM

Well I'm fairly mechanically inclined and I've adjusted triggers before just not on a Remington. The pull will be set at 3lbs. I'm not looking for a hair trigger as I intend to hike with this rifle and I've read it's best to keep these factory triggers at 3 or above anyway. I'll give it a try later today. I'll make sure I test it afterwards. Thanks.

Harry Bonar · March 29, 2008, 02:18 PM

Sir:
Like alletcat said, a rem. trigger isn't hard tp adjust - it might have just been brown crud on that trigger assy, or as he says, too light a sear engagement - you can see what engagement you have on the left side of the trigger group, but I think it could be crud, or as ALLEYCAT says adjustment.
harry B.

Inspector3711 · March 29, 2008, 07:46 PM

Thanks for the concern and support. I followed instructions from a gunsmithing site. First I flushed the trigger group with brake cleaner and found some shavings. Then I soaked it with Ronson and cycled it a few times. After that I followed the calibration instructions. When I backed out the sear engagement screw I counted two full turns before it was flush with the housing. It was so deep I had trouble getting a screwdriver in deep enough to bite. Out to the grinder to touch up the screwdriver I went. By the time it was calibrated and functioning correctly, the screw was only about 1/2 turn deep in the housing. It would seem to me that perhaps the shavings gave someone the wrong indication that they had calibrated it correctly. I locked all the screws with nail polish and let it dry while I cleaned the bore for the first time. Plenty of shavings there too. Assembled the action to the stock and torqued the screws. I slammed the bolt 12 times, no pin drop. I drop tested it next, all was good. I'll still play it safe (I always treat them like they could discharge anyway)for the first several hundred rounds.

March 28, 2008, 10:16 PM	#1
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	Remington 700 LV SF Trigger Issue I just picked up a LV SF chambered in .223 from my Dad's about a week ago. He bought it new 3-4 years ago and never fired it. It even came equipped with a Bushnell Elite 3200 3X9 40mm scope! He decided he liked the .22-250 better and hasn't looked back. I scored BIG! Anyway, after he went to bed one night I picked it up and cycled the bolt (after looking into the chamber to make sure it was clear). I pushed the safety forward and heard the firing pin snap. If there had been a live round in it there would have been a hole in the floor! I cycled the bolt again with safety on. I pushed the safety forward and heard the pin snap again... I pulled the trigger to make sure and found that the trigger acted as if it had been pulled. Indeed the pin had released! I tried it 3-4 more times with the same result. After that it quit happening and hasn't happened since (after 25-30 tries). Dad kind of acted like I was crazy when I told him the next morning, but I'm definitely not. I've got instructions on how to adjust the trigger and have been told that if I give the sear adjustment screw 1/4 turn counterclockwise it should alleviate the problem. The hitch is that I have read all over the place that the only thing a regular guy should ever adjust on a Remington 700 trigger is the pull weight and it should never be adjusted below 3 lbs. I'm also in a financial situation where I can't afford to just go to a gunsmith or to ship the rifle anywhere. Should I make the sear adjustment? Any advice would be appreciated. Some day I may put a different trigger on it but for now I can't afford to. __________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Llama (5/15/01, The Seattle Times) "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." George Orwell

March 29, 2008, 11:46 AM	#3
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	Well I'm fairly mechanically inclined and I've adjusted triggers before just not on a Remington. The pull will be set at 3lbs. I'm not looking for a hair trigger as I intend to hike with this rifle and I've read it's best to keep these factory triggers at 3 or above anyway. I'll give it a try later today. I'll make sure I test it afterwards. Thanks. __________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Llama (5/15/01, The Seattle Times) "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." George Orwell

March 29, 2008, 02:18 PM	#4
Harry Bonar Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: In the Vincent, Ohio general area. Posts: 1,804	Rem. trigger Sir: Like alletcat said, a rem. trigger isn't hard tp adjust - it might have just been brown crud on that trigger assy, or as he says, too light a sear engagement - you can see what engagement you have on the left side of the trigger group, but I think it could be crud, or as ALLEYCAT says adjustment. harry B.

March 29, 2008, 07:46 PM	#5
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	Thanks for the concern and support. I followed instructions from a gunsmithing site. First I flushed the trigger group with brake cleaner and found some shavings. Then I soaked it with Ronson and cycled it a few times. After that I followed the calibration instructions. When I backed out the sear engagement screw I counted two full turns before it was flush with the housing. It was so deep I had trouble getting a screwdriver in deep enough to bite. Out to the grinder to touch up the screwdriver I went. By the time it was calibrated and functioning correctly, the screw was only about 1/2 turn deep in the housing. It would seem to me that perhaps the shavings gave someone the wrong indication that they had calibrated it correctly. I locked all the screws with nail polish and let it dry while I cleaned the bore for the first time. Plenty of shavings there too. Assembled the action to the stock and torqued the screws. I slammed the bolt 12 times, no pin drop. I drop tested it next, all was good. I'll still play it safe (I always treat them like they could discharge anyway)for the first several hundred rounds. __________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Llama (5/15/01, The Seattle Times) "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." George Orwell

March 29, 2008, 11:07 AM	#2
Alleykat Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2007 Posts: 3,668	You can read all sorts of crap on the internet. Just be informed that, prior to ours becoming such a litigious society, Remmy included trigger adjusting instructions with their 700s. What you need to do is turn the engagement (rear) screw out at least a 1/4 turn. Might take a little more. Also, if the trigger pull weight is a little too light, you'll experience the same problem. Believe me, this ain't rocket science, and you don't need the services of a gunsmith to adjust a Remington 700 trigger.