Gunsmithing 3 Position Safety for Remington 700

[5Redman8]

My wife had a discharge of her Rem 700 when moving safety to Fire.....<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #FF0000">Rifle Basix....may be a Timney will have to check tomorrow</span></span> trigger and safety. The gun was built by a smith on here but I cannot remember if he did the trigger install or not(does not matter). Read on.

We both originally thought her gloved hand caused it. Everything is okay....as she is always conscious of where her rifle is pointed.

After working the action(empty chamber) and trigger on/off, I was able to get it to fire when taking the safety off two times.

With all this said, even if the Rifle Basix can be adjusted/fixed, I think the trust in the safety is irreparable.

Has anyone used the Gentry 3 Position safety?

Any other suggestions for 3 position safeties?

 

[RemingtonSPS]

Re: 3 Position Safety for Remington 700

I had the same problem with the Rifle Basix. I don't know if it was wear causing it or what but i would adjust it and it would be fine and then over time it would start to slam fire. I tossed it and went with a Jewell never had a problem since. Shillen, or Timney would be better IMO than the Rifle Basix.

 

[5Redman8]

Re: 3 Position Safety for Remington 700

Mule Deer,

I am thinking the same thing happened here. It has been fine for 3-4 years and then all of the sudden this happened.

She was very shaken up and I want the fix FIXED!

I love my Winchester safety so thought it might be a good opportunity to go with one like it.

 

[excaliber]

Re: 3 Position Safety for Remington 700

What is the poundage of the trigger pull? If the trigger went off when the safety was put in the fire position, then the trigger was not adjusted right. Sounds like to me the trigger poundage is to light, or sear engagement is wrong. Have you cleaned the trigger assembly, too much oil, grit,dirt? Rifle basix offers several different models, which one did you have?

 

[5Redman8]

Re: 3 Position Safety for Remington 700

excaliber,

Trying to figure out which trigger and what the poundage is. Just got home from hunting and I am wasted.

Will get more info tomorrow. Poundage....I think is 2.5lbs but not sure.

Never oiled the trigger, last time I cleaned it was this Summer sometime....light rinsing with lighter fluid. Could be dirty but I have not begun cleaning and inspecting since we got home.

No matter the cause, I am wanting to replace with a 3 position safety.

 

[bigwheeler]

Re: 3 Position Safety for Remington 700

I'm not following on this one. If the trigger is the problem, why change the safety?
I haven't seen a rifle basic trigger but is the safety somehow pushing on the sear?
I assume it's not the same design as the 700 trigger with the problem.

 

[5Redman8]

Re: 3 Position Safety for Remington 700

bigwheeler

On a Winchester safety, you can open the bolt with the safety on.

I will begin working on anything obvious tomorrow but I am not fixing this one myself. It will go to a professional smith.

 

[Austan]

Re: 3 Position Safety for Remington 700

The safety functioned correctly. There is not enough sear engagement. Most times when this happens over time it's because the adjustment screws were not glued in place after the initial adjustment. I use my wife's finger nail polish (silver, sort of manly as apposed to pink). I've seen a few of these and this has always been the culprit.

 

[bigwheeler]

Re: 3 Position Safety for Remington 700

I see what you are saying now. No win. bolts in the house.

 

[excaliber]

Re: 3 Position Safety for Remington 700

you can open Rem bolt with the sfety on safe, but there are some older rem that you have to cut the tab off the safety, which locks the bolt.

 

[Austan]

Re: 3 Position Safety for Remington 700

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 5Redman8</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

On a Winchester safety, you can open the bolt with the safety on.


</div></div>

You can open the bolt on the 700 with the safety on as well unless you have the really old style version. They have an arm on the safety lever that keeps the bolt from opening. If this is the case, I'd gladly trade you safety levers for a newer one. I'm looking for an old one like that.

 

[LRI]

Re: 3 Position Safety for Remington 700

To answer your question. I've installed the Gentry. Its not a bad piece but there is some fiddlin to do to get it working right.

I had to remake the plunger for the bolt lock. It wouldn't extend enough to reliably lock up the bolt. Also fitting the cam on the striker/cocking piece for the lever is a chore if your not experienced with this stuff. Fortunatley I learned the tricks while working for dakota arms.

The detent to prevent out of battery rotation of the shroud is a joke though. That portion appears as an afterthought.

Overlook a few little things and its not a bad piece.

Be glad to help although the real issue is the trigger in your wifes rifle. I personally would fix that first.

Good luck regardless

C.

 

[RemingtonSPS]

Re: 3 Position Safety for Remington 700

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: C. Dixon</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Be glad to help although the real issue is the trigger in your wifes rifle. I personally would fix that first.</div></div>

^^^ This. Seriously its a sear engagement problem. I adjusted my Rifle Basix twice and had the same progressive problem develope. With a mill a competent gunsmith can fix the sear engagement problem in the trigger and your problem will go away. If you install a 3 position safety and you still do not have enough sear engagement when you push it forward to fire it could still go bang. Take it to a smith.