Rem 700 trigger

[Larryjk]

I work on a lot of triggers. The new Remington 700 trigger is not very different from the old trigger. It has more safeguards against folks like me being able to work on them. The sear engagement screw is epoxied so it is pure hell to get it free. Fortunately the sear engagement very seldom needs adjustment. They have changed the housing so you can't get the weight of pull spring out by removing the screw. That causes much grief. To get a nice light trigger pull, (2 1/2 lbs.) that spring needs to be changed to a LONGER, but lighter spring. There are also some changes that need to be made to the mating surfaces of the sear and trigger bar that can only be made by removing the trigger bar and stoning both with a fine ceramic stone.
I don't recommend triggers lighter than 3 lbs. on hunting calibers and 2 1/4 lbs. on varmint rifles. If you can't shoot with triggers like that, you ought to take up knitting.

[270man]

Thanks to all for the comments on the Rem 700 trigger. I finally got a chance to look at one myself. My friend bought the Rem 700 SPS Varmint in stainless/synthetic and felt the trigger was okay but too heavy.

I checked it with my gauge and it let off consistently at 3.5 lbs. The trigger was exceptionally crisp with not a hint of takeup or drag. I agreed with my friend that 2.5 lbs would be better for varmint shooting. I examined the trigger housing and noted that the trigger weight and overtravel adjustment screws are in the same general locations as the older Rem 700s. However, the screws no longer have slotted heads but tiny hex (??) heads instead. My smallest hex wrench spun freely in the screw and my next larger one was too big. I had to use a magnifying glass to see if it really was a hex head, and I'm still not completely sure. Need more magnification.

Will check this out with a local gunsmith and get his input. Apparently, one or more of you have adjusted the trigger screws. What did you use?

270man