Gunsmithing Remington 700 safety

[Alabama556]

Is there any truth to the issues cnbc brought up on the Remington 700 safety not being 100% reliable? I have a friend who says his went off after he took the safety off (but not puliing the trigger) he said if happened twice and scared him so bad he got rid of the gun. I know the media can dish out some bs but if there is even a possibility there is a real problem I want to replace the trigger.

Thanks

 

[roggom]

Re: Remington 700 safety

Most of those cases are people who have no business altering the triggers, trying to do a home smith job. I have 4 700's and have never had an unintentional discharge.

If you are getting a new 700 you should be good-to-go as it was inspected at the factory. If you purchased a used rifle, and your concerned, then have a competent smith check it out for you.

The videos and Remington's response vid are all on youtube.

 

[GasLight]

Re: Remington 700 safety

I believe there is truth in the report, and it is more than a bit strange how often this kind of issue comes up with the model 700. Of course every time there are folks who will dismiss any issue, with statements a lot like the one above... I don't know how many times I have heard things like 'I have owned xx many 700s, and never had a problem' like that small number is even close to some kind of sample group that would provide anything close to some statistical analysis

bottom line, it is a small price in the scheme of things to replace a trigger, and almost always you end up with a better trigger pull as an added benefit.

ymmv

Dave

 

[roggom]

Re: Remington 700 safety

Well, in over 5 million 700's sold since 1962, approx 24 recorded deaths and 75 lawsuits, I would say accidental discharges are rare. I am not stating that the AD's were a result of faulty triggers, but in most cases, experts on both sides of the lawsuits have never been able to reproduce the AD's. Definitely not trivializing any death, as a loss of a loved one is no joke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YFIwoZsWHk&feature=player_embedded#!


IMHO, if you own a firearm, you must have 100% confidence in the safety and condition of that firearm. If there is any doubt or speculation, then it would be best to purchase something else.

As for me, I am a Remington owner and 100% confident in the function and safety of my own rifles.

 

[Alabama556]

Re: Remington 700 safety

George at ga built my gun so I am not worried about his skills I am worried about the platform. The guy I know that it happened to has been shooting all his life. It scared him bad enough for him to sell the gun so there has to be something to it. Cnbc interviewed the guy that designed the 700 and he said there was a problem but remmy did not want to spend the money to fix.

 

[Beef82]

Re: Remington 700 safety

I am no expert I've never had this happen or met anyone that's had it happen. Any, ANY, mechanical device can fail, the more of them that are out there the more will fail, the percentage will likely remain approximately the same. Modifications, improper adjustments, and poor maintenance all increase the likely hood of mechanical failures. Would a failure be scary? Yes, but if you follow proper gunhandling rules it will not be injurious or fatal.

FWIW The alledged problems are with the "old" M700 trigger, not the new ones, I don't know the year they changed. I've read if you send your rifle in for repair or service and it has the old type Remington happily adds the cost of a new P.O.S. trigger to the bill as they consider yours is unsafe.

 

[roggom]

Re: Remington 700 safety

Did you check the link I sent you? Mr. Walker made those statements in the 1940's well before the 700 was produced. He retired in the 1970's. 40 years ago. In addition to Beefs statement, there is no sure way to say any trigger system from any manufacture will fail. We do not know how and why your friends rifle had the AD's, we dont know if he purchased them new, if he adjusted the triggers, got it from a pawn shop. Too many variables.

I guess if it bothers you that much you can have a Smith install a Timney trigger, they come set to 2.5lbs, and I will buy that GA tuned trigger off you in a heartbeat.

BTW which trigger do you have the older 700 or the X-Mark pro?

 

[Alabama556]

Re: Remington 700 safety

On my gap gun I have the older 700 trigger. On my whisper I have the x mark. Thanks for the comments.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: Remington 700 safety

There are different types of safeties.

Some actually block the firing pin, or in some way physically stop the gun from being able to fire.

Others only block the trigger shoe, sear bar, or some part which keep your finger from being able to fire the rifle by pulling the trigger. The rifle can mechanically, physically still fire. You just cant pull the trigger. More can go wrong with this type of safety.

Remingtons are safe enough. But there are safer types out there for sure.

A 3 position side swing safety might be the safest option for a 700. It physically holds back the cocking piece and firing pin rather than just blocking a part which normally holds back the cocking piece.

 

[Straight Shooter]

Re: Remington 700 safety

I am an NRA Firearm Safety Instructor and Cheif Range Safety Officer. You want to know what page of the safety manual deals with a guns safety mechanism? You will not find it as it is not a component of gun safety. The operator is the only safety. A gun mounted safety is never an excuse for poor gun handling! <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">Every one </span></span>of those accidental shootings could have been prevented by following a few basic safety rules. NO BUT's, NO EXCUSES!

<span style="color: #FF0000">
Rules to be safe.
1. <span style="font-size: 20pt"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.</span></span></span>
This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.

2. <span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot</span>.</span>
When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.


3. <span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use</span>.</span> </span>

If I had my way no gun would have a "safety" lever.

 

[Goldbeachman]

Re: Remington 700 safety

I agree with you completely about the safety but prefer this version of the rules regarding firearms safety. I copied it unabashedly from somewhere else and the commentary is not mine:


Rule # 1
Treat all guns as if they are loaded.

Unloaded guns cause the more accidents than loaded ones. Always treat all guns as if they are loaded.

Rule # 2

Never let the muzzle of a gun point at anything you do not want to destroy or kill.

This rule is especially important for those supervising novice shooters. When a child holds a rifle for example, if he hears a noise to the side, and turns his head, the weapon tends to follow. Similarly, if you make a great shot, and look back to brag to your friends, don't let the weapon follow your gaze.

Rule # 3

Keep your finger straight and off the trigger.


At all times you must keep your trigger finger straight, and off the trigger. Only once you have aimed and have your target in the sights should you permit your finger to gently rest on the trigger. This prevents accidental discharges should you stumble, trip, or be subjected to some unexpected event.

Rule # 4

Be absolutely sure
of your target, and
what is behind it.


Hitting a target even under the best conditions is a very challenging thing. If TV and movies were real, the good guys would kill far more innocent bystanders than bad guys. Bullets tends to miss, ricochet, penetrate through, and fall from the sky at velocities just as deadly as when the bullet left the barrel. If your bullet misses that deer or shoots over the top of that hill, you can't bring it back.

Dead is a forever deal. Once a bullet leaves the muzzle, you can't bring it back. You must read, and follow these rules ALWAYS!

 

[wreckyoudeuce]

Re: Remington 700 safety

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: GOLDBEACHMAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I agree with you completely about the safety but prefer this version of the rules regarding firearms safety. I copied it unabashedly from somewhere else and the commentary is not mine:


Rule # 1
Treat all guns as if they are loaded.

Unloaded guns cause the more accidents than loaded ones. Always treat all guns as if they are loaded.

Rule # 2

Never let the muzzle of a gun point at anything you do not want to destroy or kill.

This rule is especially important for those supervising novice shooters. When a child holds a rifle for example, if he hears a noise to the side, and turns his head, the weapon tends to follow. Similarly, if you make a great shot, and look back to brag to your friends, don't let the weapon follow your gaze.

Rule # 3

Keep your finger straight and off the trigger.


At all times you must keep your trigger finger straight, and off the trigger. Only once you have aimed and have your target in the sights should you permit your finger to gently rest on the trigger. This prevents accidental discharges should you stumble, trip, or be subjected to some unexpected event.

Rule # 4

Be absolutely sure
of your target, and
what is behind it.


Hitting a target even under the best conditions is a very challenging thing. If TV and movies were real, the good guys would kill far more innocent bystanders than bad guys. Bullets tends to miss, ricochet, penetrate through, and fall from the sky at velocities just as deadly as when the bullet left the barrel. If your bullet misses that deer or shoots over the top of that hill, you can't bring it back.

Dead is a forever deal. Once a bullet leaves the muzzle, you can't bring it back. You must read, and follow these rules ALWAYS!
</div></div>

just wanna +1 for rule #4 and the following dialog. Ive been hit with plenty of shot in my day from errant shotgunners and that shit HURTS. bird shot can ricochet pretty good just throwing it out there.
On the same note my father to this day still has bird shot pellets in his face that a surgeon deemed too dangerous to remove; he was roofing the first house I lived in and a 'hunter' (if you can call this fucker that) wasnt quite aware of how far the shot would go/whose property he was on/what the fuck he was really doing. My dad met him in the field still peppered with shot and let him have it.
I know this isnt the same as a rifle bullet but the people who pull this shit with a firearm are just as dangerous regardless of weapon choice.
If he had been any smarter he coulda just blamed the saftey since thats what uneducated/incompetent/dumbfucks do. Ive got a 700 and i can tune it down to unsafe levels. the first barrel stamping says it was made in the very early 90's, so its an older trigger i think. BY NO MEANS do I dare do so though. 2.5 lb trigger pull is safe enough for me and its never AD'd EVER. its now on its 3rd barrel life so its not like it never gets shot.