Model 7 Gre-Tan Firing Pin Assembly (stiff bolt) **Solved**

archie_james_c

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Hello there, I recently received a Model 7 SS with a Gre-Tan pin assembly. Upon handling the rifle I noticed the bolt was VERY hard to close. I know all the standard things it could be (action screws too long, scope mount screws, etc.). But I have isolated the stiff bolt to the firing pin, and cocking piece.

Before you guys tell me to check the action screws and what not *again*, I took my friends standard issue non-j lock Model 7 bolt out of his .308 SS and put it in mine and it chambers smooth and silky like a Remington is meant to.

Does anyone have any tricks for smoothing this beast out or am I stuck with it like this?






EDIT- Solution***

I took 1.5 coils off the cut end of the spring. This gal now closes like a Model 7/700 aught too :)
 
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I have had a few gretan's, one in a M7, and all worked flawlessly. What does the previous owner say about it?

If you contact Greg Tannel @ gre-tan I'm sure he would offer a solution. One of the best places I've ever done business with.
 
I have had a few gretan's, one in a M7, and all worked flawlessly. What does the previous owner say about it?

If you contact Greg Tannel @ gre-tan I'm sure he would offer a solution. One of the best places I've ever done business with.

X2! Sounds like a good first step.
 
Sounds like the thread may be galled or plugged up with junk. Could also be debris inside the bolt itself causing the problem....if it's ever pierced a primer these little pieces can sometimes end up inside the bolt. Remove the firing pin assembly from the bolt and check things out,...
 
I have seen Gre-Tan firing pins assemblies that didn't work. The cause that I saw when the Gre-Tan assembly was used with the Remington Factory Shroud. Frequently the Firing Pin Shroud and cocking piece (the round portion of the firing pin assembly that you can see at the back of the bolt shroud) were out of spec and did not move freely. The only solution that I could see was to sand out or remove material within the shroud and re-finish the shroud. I just stopped ordering the Gre-Tan Firing pin assembly without the shroud to prevent this from having to deal with this.
 
Sounds like the thread may be galled or plugged up with junk. Could also be debris inside the bolt itself causing the problem....if it's ever pierced a primer these little pieces can sometimes end up inside the bolt. Remove the firing pin assembly from the bolt and check things out,...

I took the bolt assembly apart but everything is fine in there...its just a rediculously heavy/stiff spring in there. I think that isnt helping it at all as far as closing the bolt is concerned.

I have seen Gre-Tan firing pins assemblies that didn't work. The cause that I saw when the Gre-Tan assembly was used with the Remington Factory Shroud. Frequently the Firing Pin Shroud and cocking piece (the round portion of the firing pin assembly that you can see at the back of the bolt shroud) were out of spec and did not move freely. The only solution that I could see was to sand out or remove material within the shroud and re-finish the shroud. I just stopped ordering the Gre-Tan Firing pin assembly without the shroud to prevent this from having to deal with this.

This seems to be a 100% complete Gre Tan assembly.


It really, to me atleast looks like the problem is

1) Very heavy/stiff spring
2) The "key" that sits in the bolt notch when the bolt it in the open and cocked position is shaped perfectly to the bolt notch. On the Model 7/700
s I've owned and inspected they do not fit perfectly to that notch. The key has a slight taper to the edge's that seems to help the bolt close smoother.

Anyone know what I mean with that? I can make a video or take pics if it helps.

And yes I'm gonna call GreTan directly as soon as the damn woman of the house gets off the phone :rolleyes:
 
The way to tell for sure if you got a GRE-TAN full assembly and not just the "drop-in" firing pin portion is if you pop the cocking piece out of the shroud - the shroud should be made of aluminum (lightweight) if it feels heavy you have the factory steel one from Remington or some other mfg. To tell if you have a GRE-TAN cocking piece the portion that catches the sear on the cocking piece is very sharply cut and not rounded like the Remington mfg - frequently the firing pin is fluted but I have seen them where are just made of a ligher material. As well, the cocking pieces are frequently a Carbon colour whereas the Factory ones are a stainless finish (assuming they are rusted - many Remingtons have a little bit of rust on the factory cocking piece). I have had over 4 of these babies and trust me when they are complete from GRE-TAN they are the cat's meow. I only tried the firing pin assembly once and I ended up having to use the Rem Cocking piece with the new firing pin as the GRE-TAN one didn't work. It still worked fine and increased lock time but it did irk me that I couldn't use all the parts I bought.

The spring is supposed to be heavy, the only other thing that I would troubleshoot is to ensure that the firing pin retaining pin - that little pin that holds the firing pin and spring assembly to the cocking piece may not be flush - this portion should be perfectly flush before you release the spring and allow tension onto the cocking piece. If it is sticking out a little bit it would start to bind - a way to tell is to look in the shroud and see if you see a scratch in line with the retaining pin. If this doesn't help I don't know what else to offer as I can't see the assembly.

Hope this helps.
 
The spring is supposed to be heavy, the only other thing that I would troubleshoot is to ensure that the firing pin retaining pin - that little pin that holds the firing pin and spring assembly to the cocking piece may not be flush - this portion should be perfectly flush before you release the spring and allow tension onto the cocking piece. If it is sticking out a little bit it would start to bind - a way to tell is to look in the shroud and see if you see a scratch in line with the retaining pin. If this doesn't help I don't know what else to offer as I can't see the assembly.

Hope this helps.

I talked to Greg at Gre Tan and he agreed that while yes, the spring should be heavy, having it too heavy will cause the problem I am having. I just uploaded a YouTube video for you guys to better understand my problem. It's a little blurry because of my crappy camera, but you should understand.

Also Glock, the through-pin that holds the cocking piece to the firing pin is fine...it's not gouging the shroud :).

Here's the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDwU3bbIou0
 
Problem solved guys. I took 1.5 coils off the firing pin spring as Greg recommended I try first. This lovely lady now closes as smooth as a Model 700/7 is supposed to :).

I'll take it to the range and see if I get any light primer strikes...I doubt it will though.

:cheers:
 
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