Remington 700 Hangfire HELP

[rimfire]

Freids Rem 700...trigger is pulled, and there is a delay before the gun fires...not normal lock time, but maybe 3-4 times longer.  Only the first shot after taking off safety...follow up shots are normal with respect to lock time.

Safety seems to travel to far forward...has happened to him in the woods three times and caused misses on deer.  If he dry dires it once at the range it never happens again...obfiouslly cannot dry fire in the woods and just leave the safety off from there on.

Any thoughts before he sends it to Remington?  I have done Rem700 trigger adjustments many times and do some minor smithing when I am sure I cannot foul something up.

He cleaned and degreased it and then lightly oiled and problem will not go away.

HELP!

[sniperVLS]

I would have gotten it looked at immediately after the 2nd or 3rd time. I've never had such a problem with any firearm so I can't be of any help. Im sure others will chime in

What model 700 exactly?(not that it matters much).

Dont forget about the firing pin, something could be happening there as well.

[charles p]

I once had a 700 that failed to fire on a very cold day.  I mixed a degreaser product in about a quart of water in a plastic container, and heated it in a microwave to about 180 degrees.  I removed the container and dropped my bolt in the hot water.  Using a wooden spoon, I spun it around many times to aggitate the liquid.  I let the bolt settle in the hot water.  A few minutes later all the oil and grease in the bolt rose to the surface.  I poured it off and placed the hot bolt on paper towels so that all remaining liquid could quickly evaporate from the hot bolt.  I then lubricated the bolt with graphite.  Problem was solved. 

Did same procedure with disassembled fishing reels and shotgun trigger assemblies.  Worked like a charm.

Too much lubrication can slow down lock time.  In winter, it can stop the firing altogether.

Caution:  I am not a gunsmith.  Maybe what I have recommended is improper for your use.

[beemanbeme]

First off, I would take the action out of the stock, put it in a maintainence cradle and actuate it there where you can see what's happening.  The 700 safety lever has a small bb under it which detents in countersunk spots.  So you should feel a definite stop in the travel of the lever.  During the hangfire, if you jiggle the safety lever, does the rifle fire (or the firing pin fall)? Does it happen everytime (or very often) when you go from safe to fire?? 
In addition to a safety issue, you are talking about a confidence issue also.  If the cure to the problem didn't jump out at me, I'd be on the phone to Remington and take the rifle to a certified smith. 

[Winter Hawk]

I had the same problem several years ago on a 700 in .375 which we got from the law enforcement folks for a bear gun.  Went out to sight it in, and nothing.  Unloaded it and watched the striker as I dry fired it.  It went forward very slowly, instead of being instantaneous.  I took the bolt apart and found the firing pin/striker assembly was badly crudded up with old grease, dirt, you name it.  After a half hour or so of degreasing it and the bolt body and reassembling, dissassembling it several times I finally got it to work reliably.  Taking the bolt apart is not difficult and that may be where your friend's problems lie.

-WH-

[El Hombre]

Had a 7mm mag BDL that would go off as you flicked the safety off, if you had tried to pull the trigger when the safety was on. My results were the same as Winter Hawk, the bolt assembly was gunked up. try disassembling the bolt & cleaning the firing pin assembly. I bet that's your problem.