The Remington 700 rifle series is one of the most popular rifles used by sportsmen and law enforcement. Some U.S. military snipers use modified versions of the Remington 700 as well. As with all mechanical devices, problems will arise from time to time. Several problems with the Remington 700 are well noted by many Remington owners. Sadly, some of these problems have caused deadly consequences.
Trigger
The Remington trigger has been the cause of numerous complaints, 75 lawsuits and at least 24 accidental deaths and over 100 injuries, according to a documentary report by CNBC. The trigger mechanism, pre-2007, includes a trigger connector that is a loose-fitting piece of metal inside the mechanism. When dirt, debris or dust get into the mechanism, this causes the trigger to be misaligned. When this problems occurs, the weapon can be fired simply by closing the bolt, operating the safety or if the weapon is jolted. Always keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction. If you experience an accidental discharge, send the weapon back to Remington for maintenance.
Extractor
Feeding problems are common occurrences with many short-mag weapons. The Remington 700 has its share of extractor problems, generally caused by poor maintenance of the rifle. Generally, if you notice any feed or extraction problems, the bolt will be tough to close on a loaded chamber, and may not eject the spent brass after firing. If you notice this problem, disassemble the rifle completely and thoroughly clean it. Try cycling ammunition back through the weapon and test-firing. If the problem persists, contact Remington for maintenance.
Bolt Operation
The most common problem associated with the Remington 700 is poor bolt operation. Since the 700 is mass-produced in such large quantities, some weapons may have undetected burring inside the bolt mechanism from machine production. This can cause the bolt to be hard to open and close, and to generally be rough in operation. This problem is easily fixed by removing any burring on the bolt carrier group and receiver. This process can be performed by any competent gunsmith, or by taking the rifle to Remington for service.
700 Muzzleloader
The Remington ML700 is Remington's 700 series muzzleloading rifle. As with the traditional 700 rifle series, common problems can be found. Though muzzleloaders generally incur more problems than cartridge-firing rifles, the most common problem associated with the ML700 is the firing pin not striking the cap hard enough, resulting in misfire. When this problem occurs, thoroughly clean the rifle and then inspect the nipple. If the nipple has indentations, it needs to be changed. Changing the nipple can be performed at home with little difficulty, or take it to a Remington dealer for maintenance.
