Model 700 trigger troubles

**Uncle Alvah** · November 23rd, 2010, 04:13 PM

I'm trying to fix a "No overtravel" problem on a used Model 700 ADL, an older model.
I have adjusted any number of Model 700 triggers before, but this has me stumped.
The rifle will cock, and fire with a very light trigger, but there is NO, and I mean NO overtravel at all. You really can't even feel the trigger itself move when the gun "fires". You just apply a little pressure, and "click", no perceptible movement in the trigger.
All adjustment screws had the sealant on them, so I don't think anyone was messing with it, but thats hard to believe.
I have the overtravel screw backed out almost to the point of falling out, and the pull weight backed out a couple turns. The sear adjustment screw will turn freely about 1/4 turn, in or out, but thats about all I can get without getting too aggressive on that small screw head.

It's almost like the trigger is "frozen solid".

Thoughts/opinions MUCH appreciated!

**Hawki72** · November 23rd, 2010, 06:57 PM

Maybe they were a little over zealous with the sealant and gunked up the back side of the OT adjustment so that the mechanism can't move any farther?

(diagram from http://www.gunsmiths.com/articledetail.php?id=87 )

**Tomcat088** · November 23rd, 2010, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by Uncle Alvah

I'm trying to fix a "No overtravel" problem on a used Model 700 ADL, an older model.
I have adjusted any number of Model 700 triggers before, but this has me stumped.
The rifle will cock, and fire with a very light trigger, but there is NO, and I mean NO overtravel at all. You really can't even feel the trigger itself move when the gun "fires". You just apply a little pressure, and "click", no perceptible movement in the trigger.
All adjustment screws had the sealant on them, so I don't think anyone was messing with it, but thats hard to believe.
I have the overtravel screw backed out almost to the point of falling out, and the pull weight backed out a couple turns. The sear adjustment screw will turn freely about 1/4 turn, in or out, but thats about all I can get without getting too aggressive on that small screw head.

It's almost like the trigger is "frozen solid".

Thoughts/opinions MUCH appreciated!

The first thing that I want to mention is please do NOT assume that the trigger hasn't been adjusted simply because the adjustment screws have sealant on them. It sounds like you suspect the trigger has been adjusted and I would too. Triggers from the factory don't come the way that you explain. Just keep in mind that lots of us will do a trigger job, get it how we like, and then reseal it. Since you said you've adjusted lots of Remington 700 triggers, you're probably familiar with this. The other thing that I wonder about a bit is debris in the trigger. Have you tried to clean the internals of the trigger to verify this? Most people do it with lighter fluid or a solvent similar to this. I'd get some lighter fluid and "rinse out" the trigger, just to verify that there isn't a build up of dirt, carbon, or even small pieces of shaved brass in the trigger. Give this a shot, and see if anything changes. It's what I'd do before I got into anything else more dedicated.

**Uncle Alvah** · November 24th, 2010, 01:09 PM

I blasted the trigger out with Gun Scrubber, the trigger now moves freely, BUT the rifle won't cock. Both the pull weight and overtravel screws are turning freely, in or out, but the sear engagement screw, that needs to be backed out IIRC to increase engagement is bound. I have a small screwdriver that fits the screw slot perfectly, but it's hard to get much "piutoeus" on a screwdriver that small. At the moment, the action is standing upside down with a couple drops of Break-Free atop the screw.
I'm a patient man........