Remington 700 trigger...too light?

mr00jimbo

mr00jimbo

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My 700's trigger was set around 3.5# (down from around an abysmal 8 from the factory, some gunsmith trigger work). Recently I ordered a whole new firing pin assembly to bypass the stupid "J-lock" internal lock.
When I put the now lock-free bolt into the gun (safety checked, of course) I shouldered the gun and put my finger on the trigger, ready to dry fire. My finger just rested on the trigger and *click*. Surprised me.
Tried again, just a slight bit of pressure and absolutely zero creep (I don't even think the trigger moves rearwards at all) and it fires.
I'd say the trigger is under 1 pound of pressure.

It seemed a lot heavier with the J-lock assembly in it. Now I am worried it's too light. I put the safety on and pulled the trigger and it wouldn't fire. Then I held the trigger down as I clicked the safety onto the fire position, and once it went to fire (with my finger still on the trigger) and gun dry fired. Is this normal to expect from an R700?

This is an '04-made 700 so I don't know which trigger system it has. Should I modify it with some more weight if I plan to hunt with it or carry it around in the woods? Is it worth dropping a Timney trigger into this gun?
 
Sounds too light to me. If it's cocked and you smack the butt of the rifle against the wall (or give the trigger group a few good smacks with your hand) and it goes off, it's too light.
 
Check to see how much sear engagement you have, it sounds like you have too little. Perhaps when you changed components the engagement became too fine. If the trigger releases if you slam the bolt home briskly with the safety off ( try this several times) then the trigger is unsafe and needs to be adjusted, if you don't know how a gun smith can do this quickly and without much cost.
 
hunter5425 said:
Check to see how much sear engagement you have, it sounds like you have too little. Perhaps when you changed components the engagement became too fine. If the trigger releases if you slam the bolt home briskly with the safety off ( try this several times) then the trigger is unsafe and needs to be adjusted, if you don't know how a gun smith can do this quickly and without much cost.
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What would you suggest needs to be done? Would it require new parts to fix this, would you say?
I have the old-style 700 trigger I believe, before the X-mark pro. Any real reason to upgrade to an X-mark or a timney, or just get the poundage raised and call it a day?
 
Given what you changed, it sounds too light.

As for the dry firing of the rifle when the trigger is depressed and the safety switched off, this is the normal. The safety of a 700 pushes the sear which engages the firing pin upward, leaving the trigger shoe sear free to move forward. When the trigger is pulled and the safety removed, the trigger shoe sear is out of the way of the sear and thus is just falls allowing the firing pin to go forward.

Of the 700 triggers I have tuned, the lowest I have gone is 1.25 lb on a varmint rifle. Though this weight is not recommended for factory 700 triggers, it worked for this one rifle. When you are looking at the trigger you should be able to see the sear engagement through the little port hole in the side of the trigger. Also double check that the adjustment screws have been sealed up. Usually some kind of 'model glue' or 'nail polish' can be used. This will ensure the screws don't back out and the trigger doesn't come out of spec.

Here is a picture from Google. I just circled the sear engagement port in red. When the rifle is cocked the two sears will engage and you should be able to see the amount of engagement. If you are not sure, maybe a trip to the gunsmith might be in order.

trigger.jpg
 
Obviously you should take this rifle to an experienced smith and have it set up properly. I have not seen a factory 700 trigger that could not be worked and adjusted to a safe crisp light weight...
 
Too light for hunting. My cousin had his set in that range, thought it fine for range work. One cold November day he missed an enormous buck because his hands were cold after three hours in a treestand and his 700 fired as he was bringing the crosshairs down on the buck. He couldn't even feel his finger on the trigger. Put a round right over the deer's back. THEN he adjusted the trigger to a more sensible weight. Personally I don't think a hunting rifle should have a pull less than 2 lbs.
 
mr00jimbo said:
What would you suggest needs to be done? Would it require new parts to fix this, would you say?
I have the old-style 700 trigger I believe, before the X-mark pro. Any real reason to upgrade to an X-mark or a timney, or just get the poundage raised and call it a day?
Click to expand...

Here is a site that describes how to set the trigger, as mentioned before if your not absolutely comfortable doing this then take it to a gunsmith who can fix it properly and economically.
h ttp://quarterbore.com/library/articles/rem700trigger.html
 
Mike Webb said:
Too light for hunting. My cousin had his set in that range, thought it fine for range work. One cold November day he missed an enormous buck because his hands were cold after three hours in a treestand and his 700 fired as he was bringing the crosshairs down on the buck. He couldn't even feel his finger on the trigger. Put a round right over the deer's back. THEN he adjusted the trigger to a more sensible weight. Personally I don't think a hunting rifle should have a pull less than 2 lbs.
Click to expand...

This is why you don't touch the trigger until you are ready to shoot
 
All my hunting triggers are as close to 2½ lbs as I can get them.
Target triggers are a different story, of course, but not practical in the field.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
I tried again and it feels stouter than I originally anticipated but 0 creep. Maybe it's the sudden break. I guess it's difficult to compare handgun and rifle trigger weights because they have such a different feel.
I tried to get it to dry fire with some forceful bolt closing and smacking around, thankfully it didn't.
Either way I'm going to go get it investigated. :)
 
I tried again and it feels stouter than I originally anticipated but 0 creep. Maybe it's the sudden break. I guess it's difficult to compare handgun and rifle trigger weights because they have such a different feel.
I tried to get it to dry fire with some forceful bolt closing and smacking around, thankfully it didn't.
Either way I'm going to go get it investigated. :)
 
Changing the firing pin assembly shouldn't really change the trigger pull much, although if the mainspring is a lot lighter it might make a difference. The sear/cocking piece relationship isn't what controls the weight or crispness of the trigger pull. It is the engagement of the sear, trigger connector and trigger spring that controls the pull.
It would not be a bad idea to have an experienced smith take a look at the rifle.
 
That trigger is not too light for hunting ! If you don't walk around with one in the chamber all the time it is fine. I Hunt and hike with a jewel that is set at 2 ounce's ... But when I hike my rounds are In in my magazine ready for a quick cycle ,Not in the chamber with the safety on.

I never cycle one in the chamber unless I see game or think I am about too. I've seen safety's get knock of " especially on Rems " so often ive lost track , Before you know it your walking around with one in the chamber and your safety is off !

If you are comfortable with the trigger at that weight safety wise its fine ... if your not you shouldn't have it that light. I packed a Timney for years that was set just under a pound ...ended up getting a jewel so I could go lighter.

The one thing about the 700 trigger that may be a concern is ... The sear engagement on a 700 trigger usually cannot handle the trigger being set that low , so what happens is when you cycle the bolt the sear dose not catch and the rifle will fire ... As long as that is not the case leave it at 1 pound if your comfortable with it.

I find it far easier to make accurate shots in the heat of the moment with a light trigger... JMO

God luck and safe hunting !
 
pisces-guy said:
Hunting rifle should NEVER be less than 1.5-2 lbs.
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deerfarmer said:
As mentioned - that trigger sounds way too light for hunting. Do yourself a favour and have a gunsmith look at it.
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Mike Webb said:
Too light for hunting. My cousin had his set in that range, thought it fine for range work. One cold November day he missed an enormous buck because his hands were cold after three hours in a treestand and his 700 fired as he was bringing the crosshairs down on the buck. He couldn't even feel his finger on the trigger. Put a round right over the deer's back. THEN he adjusted the trigger to a more sensible weight. Personally I don't think a hunting rifle should have a pull less than 2 lbs.
Click to expand...

I have to agree with pilot and be contrarian to the status quo.

I don't even think about touching my trigger until I am completely on target and ready to fire. The trigger guard serves its purpose well as I lay my finger alongside it while pointing the rifle and getting into position, so a 1lb trigger is perfectly acceptable to me even in the field. If you prefer it heavier that's perfectly ok, but the idea that a hunting rifle cannot have a precise and light trigger pull is absurd. If you need a 2 or 3lb trigger to be safe then you just plain 'ol aren't safe.

That aside, way too many people are concerned with the break weight of the trigger instead of the main contributor to a crappy trigger: creep. Most people underestimate the weight of their triggers, in my experience, when they are adjusted with minimal creep. You just don't realize the pressure you are applying without the feedback. I'll take a crisp 5lb trigger over a mushy 2lb one any day.
 
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