Author Topic: firing upon bolt closing (Read 1457 times)

Trav · « **on:** October 06, 2008, 06:22:40 PM »

Quick question for you experts. I just picked up a older used Rem 700 in a 243. When I picked it up today, the couple that I bought it from said that once they were using some ammo that a friend had "loaded up" for them. Upon chambering a round and closing the bolt the round went off. This was, according to them in mid 70's. The gun has not been used since. They said that they took it to a gunsmith who found nothing wrong with the gun.

My first thought was that the trigger was adjusted too light. It currently feels a little on the heavy side, and it is possible that the 'smith corrected the adjustment.

My second thought was the old "finger on the trigger when the bolt was closed" possibility. I will never know on this one.

I have closed the bolt (unloaded of course) and bumped, banged, thumped etc, and have not had the firing pin release. Is there anything else that I should check out?

Sweetwater · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2008, 06:42:20 PM »

Sounds like operator error on the part of the previous owner.
Appears you've cited and checked all the normal stuff. If it were 'sear' related, I think your bump and bang test would have found it. Also possible might be a 'high primer' on the handloaded ammunition.
My grandfather had a Husqvarna 30-06 (commercial) that went off inside his Scout. Put the bullet through the roof and scared him to death. The gunsmith fixed it replacing or repairing the sear; don't quite remember that part. Never had the problem with any of our Remingtons and I'm not totally sure if a high primer would cause such an issue. It does with some actions.
Only the Shadow knows for sure! LOL

Regards,
Sweetwater

jvs · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2008, 09:38:30 PM »

I think you should make sure by taking it to a Gunsmith and have him check it out completely. There's nothing like having a Third Party do some investigating and rendering an opinion. Sounds to me like someone had their finger on the trigger, but there is nothing like having someone else look into it.

At least that way you could conjure up a little more trust in this rifle everytime you load it. Doing it any other way and that 'surprise' would always be in the back of your head, and disaster looms if you are wrong.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 07, 2008, 12:23:28 AM »

One other thing to try is to "slam" the bolt. Run it forward as fast as you can and lock it down, dry fired of course. I have seen guns that will not go off, by thumping the gun with the heal of your hand, dropping the butt on the floor, etc.; but go off by this method.

charles p · « **Reply #4 on:** October 07, 2008, 02:31:08 PM »

Never experienced this with a Remington, but with two different Mod 70 Winchesters I have had a round fire when I moved the safety from safe to shoot. Each time it was my fault, as I had just lightened the trigger. I put a Jewel trigger in the last one for peace of mind. Watch you muzzle boys. Can't ever be too safe.

351 power · « **Reply #5 on:** October 07, 2008, 03:43:29 PM »

if it was with reloads then maybe the primers were not seated all the way. closing the bolt would crush the primer. if they still had the reloads i would look at them

LONGTOM · « **Reply #6 on:** October 07, 2008, 04:32:53 PM »

A friend had one just like yours only in 270 from the early 70s and his got to doing the same thing.
If I remember correctly the problem was cured when they stripped the bolt down and digreased it then applied a light coat of oil and reassembled it.
It never happened again.
The old grease/oil had gotten dirty or gritty from use and was causing it to fire when the bolt was closed on a live round.
Wouldn't fire on an empty chamber, don't know why.
Check it out, may be all that is wrong with yours.

LONGTOM

Brithunter · « **Reply #7 on:** October 07, 2008, 11:25:09 PM »

Remington has good after sales service ................. Yes ?

although the rifle is an old model now I wonder if contacting Remington's service people might not be a good idea................................. just a thought

Trav · « **Reply #8 on:** October 08, 2008, 04:31:32 AM »

Thank you all for the input. I shot the gun yesterday (being extra carefull where the muzzle was pointing) with no problem. That little bugger will shoot. It started off about 2 feet high at 100 yards, but after I got it on paper I shot 3 shots what were touching (using the old Weaver 4X scope that came on the rifle). I did drop it of at a 'smith last night to have him check it out, just to be on the safe side.

Trav · « **Reply #9 on:** October 08, 2008, 06:06:37 PM »

The smith called tonight and said the gun was good to go. All is well.

Brithunter · « **Reply #10 on:** October 08, 2008, 09:56:47 PM »

Glad to hear it

Oh and enjoy your new acquisition

LONGTOM · « **Reply #11 on:** October 09, 2008, 02:31:43 AM »

May have just needed some working to looseing things up a bit.
Congrats! Enjoy!

LONGTOM

Trav · « **Reply #12 on:** October 11, 2008, 06:59:02 PM »

Thought you guys might like to see what that gun looks like with my son's first big game kill. We went out on Friday and this was the result. I have never seen a happier kid. He was giggling all the rest of the day. This was his first shot from this gun (he says he really likes the new gun). A running 248 yard shot, placed perfectly behind the front shoulder. Could not have done better myself. We had several close encounters with bucks, but he had a youth doe tag, so he had to pass on all the bucks. I am a pretty proud papa.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #13 on:** October 11, 2008, 09:18:08 PM »

You've got every right to be a proud papa!! You've apparently done everything right and the proof is on your son's face!!!! Way to go both of you!!!
You both share a great memory that will live forever. There is only one first time.

and it's a Remington to boot! (I am a bit partial to Remingtons)

Regards,
Sweetwater

Brithunter · « **Reply #14 on:** October 11, 2008, 09:38:24 PM »

Thank you for the wonderful photo

and please pass on my congratualtions to Hank on a hunt well done and and excellent shot

.

Oh and well done sir

you have every right to be a Proud Papa!

sniperVLS · « **Reply #15 on:** October 13, 2008, 06:32:54 AM »

That picture is awesome and I must say, I wouldn't attempt a shot at that yardage on a running animal so he's already more skilled than I. You can't put a price on the moments shared between father and son

Trav · « **Reply #16 on:** October 14, 2008, 07:51:29 AM »

Thanks for the comments. His older sister also drew a pronghorn tag. She has been unable to go with us due to her other commitments, but I think she is a bit more fired up to go out now. They also both drew youth cow elk tags. That hunt will open next month. It sure is fun hunting with the kids. It is refreshing to see them get so worked up and excited about the adventure.

Singleshotsam · « **Reply #17 on:** October 20, 2008, 09:00:48 AM »

Tell the boy he's a natural! I've seen grown men that couldn't make a shot like that! Congrats!

surveyor47 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 29, 2008, 06:57:52 PM »

As I recall, Remington has been sued several times over this same issue and a recall was issued. I recommend a phone call to Remington.

BBF · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2008, 10:48:24 AM »

You could have just popped in a cartridge with a live primer and no powder or bullets

TLARbb · « **Reply #20 on:** December 18, 2008, 05:14:44 PM »

IIRC, the issue that Remington was sued about was that the rifle would discharge when the safety was moved from safe to fire, such as when you were ready to unload the gun at the end of a hunt. The safety locked the bolt and had to be moved to fire position to open the bolt.

It is conceivable that the issue experienced by the previous owners was caused by gummed up lubricant or more likely WD-40 gumming up the trigger/sear relationship. The Remington factory trigger was not inherently dangerous, but with improper setting of the sear engagement, certain reproduceable circumstances could be attained that would result in unexpected discharge of the firearm.

As a result of the issues in the past, I am very careful to have an adequate trigger/sear engagement set and do not try to get the trigger down into the very low pull weights. 2-1/2# is what I shoot for. I've yet to have an unexpected discharge of any of my 700's and I have 4 now and others in the past.

From what you've told us, I'm sure you are good to go. The 700 isn't the world's most popular big game rifle by chance.

EJ