Remington 700 Trigger question

[oliverstacy]

OK first of all I'm no gunsmith.  Second I read everything through before I do something.  Third is it to light?

Okay what the heck am I asking!  Well I got a Rem. 700 Classic in 300 Savage and it's trigger was bad.  Really bad.  Printed directions off the internet and went at it myself.  I turned the front bottom screw out a turn and adjusted the back screw in a touch.  Still heavy, turned the front bottom screw out another turn and adjusted the back screw again.  Still heavy.  All said and done, I turned the front bottom screw out at least 3 to 3-1/2 turns.  Then I did as it stated and turned the back screw in until the trigger released.  I turned the back screw out 1/2 turn and ran the bolt.  Nice trigger break with no creep.  I slammed the bolt home at least a dozen times with the safety on and off each and had no firing pin releases.

Is it possible to turn the front screw out too much?  What is the lowest possible lbs pull I can get on the factory trigger.  Did I lighten it up too much?  Do I need to put something over the screws like from the factory or am I okay?

Just a little bit concerned.

Thanks,

Josh

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

IIRC----you should only mess with one screw.

Make sure to loc-tite it when your done.

[oliverstacy]

IIRC----you should only mess with one screw.

I have seen at least 2 sites and I believe it may have been three that stated to turn the rear screw in to take the travel out of the trigger once you lighten(turn out) the front bottom screw on the trigger.  I did notice that once I got the trigger finally lighten up that the rearward travel was excessive.  Once I adjusted the rear screw I was able to get a nice crisp break and very little travel.  

Josh

[Questor]

I understand the procedure you went through.  The conventional wisdom seems to be that if you want to go below about 1.5 pounds, then you need an after-market trigger.  Other than that, I haven't seen any other problems related to that adjustment.  The only other warning I've seen related to the adjustments has been regarding the adjustment of the rear screw, but you did the right test procedure after the adjustment, so I don't think you have a problem there.

By the way, I found it useful to hose the trigger assembly with gun scrubber, then re-lubricate it in the four positions noted in the manual.  It solved an intermittent creep problem for me.

[Iowegan]

Adjusting a Remington 700 trigger is not brain surgery. There are limits than can cause serious safety issues so follow the factory procedure. The factory trigger assembly is not intended to be a target grade trigger, however the trigger pull can be greatly improved from the typical factory settings. Reducing the trigger pull does not reduce gritty feel, in fact it can make the trigger feel more gritty.

The top screw adjusts over travel. The bottom front screw adjusts sear tension. The back screw adjusts sear engagement.

The procedure is simple. Start with the back screw and adjust it so the sear overlaps by .030". You can look into the inspection hole while releasing and resetting the bolt. Usually the factory setting will be just fine. Less sear engagement is very unsafe.

Next, adjust the top screw so the trigger pull will release the sear completely and have a few thousandths of over travel. Cock the bolt and dry fire while watching sear travel in the inspection hole. Again, the factory setting is usually right on.

Last, adjust the lower front screw for trigger tension. Here's where the factory setting will be tighter than it needs to be. There is a fairly strong coil spring under the adjustment screw. If you back the screw out too far, there won't be enough tension to safely hold the sear. I've found 3.5 to 4 lbs is the lowest safe trigger pull you can get without changing springs or polishing internal parts. Actually, a 4 lb pull feels pretty good compared to the factory pull of 6~8 lbs. Make sure you capture the screws with finger nail polish or model airplane cement if you disturb the factory glue.

If 4 lbs isn't good enough, you should have a gunsmith take the assembly apart and polish all the friction points, then replace the sear tension spring. A better option for do-it-yourselfers is to install a Timeny trigger assembly. They come pre-polished, have lighter springs, and are safely adjustable from 1.5 to 4 lbs with little or no creep. (Brownell's P/N 883-400-270). Of course they aren't cheap, about $100, but a gunsmith would probably charge you that much to rework the factory trigger. Timeny includes a good set of instructions for installation and adjustment.

[oliverstacy]

Well I need to take the stock back off and put some sort of glue in the screw holes.  I might use wife's fingernail polish or some sub.  Reading all the replys I have one question.  When I did get a lighter pull on the trigger there was a lot of creep/travel in the trigger(I mean a bunch, no way I could live with that much).  I only adjusted the rear screw on the direction of the instructions I had.  Could I have adjusted too much?  I will be going to a gunsmith tonight to ask some questions.  

Thanks for all the help.  It just seems so much better now. :?

Josh

[Iowegan]

Your experience is typical. When the trigger pull is harsher, you really don't feel the creep very much. As you lighten the pull, creep will be way more noticable.  The only fix for eliminating the creep is to have the trigger friction points buffed.
 
First, try readjusting using the instructions in my previous post. If you only adjusted the rear screw, no doubt it is not adjusted properly.

I would recommend going the Timeny route. They are unbelievably smooth and adjust over a range of target-to-field needs. Timeny triggers install in a few minutes and only require a small hammer and a pin punch for tools.

See:  http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=17044&title=REMINGTON+TRIGGER&s=31691#31691

[Graybeard]

No one and I do mean NO ONE should break the seal on that back screw unless they really are absolutely positive they know what they are doing and have plenty of experience at it. That's what causes the dangerous trigger pulls folks sue Remington about.

There is no real need to move it anyway. You can get all the improvement that it is safe for a non gunsmith to get without moving it. Just use the front two. One to lower the pounds of pull and the other to remove over travel. If that doesn't fix it you need to let a gunsmith or the factory take care of it OR replace it with an after market trigger.

It should go down to about 3 pounds with darn little creep or over travel using front screws only IF there isn't a glitch in it that needs gunsmith help.

[oliverstacy]

If you only adjusted the rear screw, no doubt it is not adjusted properly.

I did adjust both.  First the front bottom and then the back screw, in that order.  It seems very nice no, no/minimal creep and lighter pull.

Josh

p.s.  I am going to a gunsmith tonight and explaining to him what I did and will see what he has to say.

[oliverstacy]

I just wanted to say thanks for all the help on this, I have two little ones now and don't want to chance anything, or my friends/family for that matter.  No rifle is worth that.  

Thanks,

Josh

[oliverstacy]

Well I went to the Gander Mountain in Novi, MI and talked to the gunsmith.  He kind of smiled as he took the gun. He looked the trigger over and stated the following.

"Plenty" of engagement/creep left for safe operation, everything looks fine. Made me feel much better.  :grin:

I did ask him to check what the trigger pull was.  3.75 pounds!

Now, I will stick to easy, none safety issues for my guns.  I try to be as safe as possible so trigger jobs are going to be left to the pro's in the future.  

Thanks for the help and the concern.

[bea175]

Leave the sear ajustment alone, which is the screw by itself. The two screw together is the overtravel and weight of pull. The bottom is for weight ajustment. Some Rem trigger will ajust down very easy and some won't. If the factory weight ajustment will not go down without a slamfire , replace the spring with one of Darrell Hollands spring kits. The Remington Trigger is one of the best factory trigger made. It doesn't take a lot of work to get one to 3 lbs and be safe. A hunting trigger doesn't need to be much lighter than 3 lbs.