Adjusting the Remington 700 Trigger

In the last year or so, I’ve answered so many emails and phone calls to the "Tech Hotline" about making adjustments to Model 700 rifle triggers that my ears are weary of listening and my fingers are sore from punching computer keys. So here’s the straight skinny on adjusting Remington 700 triggers in one fell swoop. I trust you’ll tear this out and file it under Remington triggers to keep for all time. Except for the Model 788, all Remington bolt-action trigger housings wear three screws. Two are in front.

One is in the rear. The original and basic design of the Remington rifle trigger is largely responsible for Remington’s reputation as "best out of the box." The trigger remained unchanged until after World War II, when a newer one was introduced on the Models 721, 722, 700, and their close relatives. When this trigger is pulled, it moves the connector forward, leaving the sear unsupported against the cocked firing pin.

Without support, the sear cams down under pressure exerted by the spring-loaded firing pin to release the pin and impact the primer. In the hands of a hunter who maintains the rifle properly, the older firing system presents no problems. But in careless hands, especially in cold weather and with the safety "on," impacted dirt or lube that had turned gummy within the housing can and does interfere with free movement of the trigger.

If this fouling is severe and the trigger is inadvertently pulled, it can rotate forward and stick there. The gun won’t fire because the safety is still blocking the sear. When the safety is placed in the "fire" position, however, the safety moves from under the sear which then moves downward, releasing the firing pin to discharge the gun. This, of course, was inno way satisfactory to Remington, and a redesign was called for.

The newer version of the Remington trigger features a safety pivot link that automatically pushes the safety under the sear. This prevents the sear from disengaging the firing pin until the trigger is pulled. When the trigger is released, the safety link returns to its support position, blocking both the sear and trigger. Though the new trigger does resemble the old one externally, the new system is called the X-Mark Pro. Extremely close tolerances have been held with its internal components.

These parts wear a mir- Right top: This close up of a trigger assembly from the Model 700 schematic shows the configuration of the firing system that helped earn Remington rifles the reputation of "best out of the box." Right bottom: The new Remington X-Mark Pro is a redesign of the classic Model 700 trigger.

It features a safety pivot link that automatically returns to position, blocking both the sear and trigger after the trigger is pulled. ror-like finish, are corrosion resistant, allow for lower factory trigger-pull settings, and the X-Mark is, indeed, adjustable. In the latter respect, there’s been no change. Two screws in front, one in back. Years ago, we’re told, every Model 700 came with instructions for making trigger adjustments with those three screws.

But too many unskilled adjustment attempts and too many legal concerns caused the instructions A C

Above left and Two screws in front and one in back of the housing adjust pull, travel, and sear engagement respectively. to be eliminated, and all trigger work was restricted to the factory or an authorized service center. It still is. But things got worse. The factory pullweight and sear-engagement settings were heavied up sufficiently to eliminate any possibility of an accidental discharge. In fact, pulls became so heavy they caused problems with trigger control.

Moreover, seals made of a proprietary compound were added to the screw heads to instantly signal any unauthorized tampering on a rifle returned for service by Remington technicians. The seal on the rear screw that controls sear engagement remains in Right and far In the photo on the right, it is disengaged. Note the slicker interior finish in the new trigger assembly, which provides a higher degree of smoothness and a crisper break. place on the X-Mark Pro I received from Remington.

It resembles transparent red nail polish. If you break it, at least try to replace it with one of the same color. Also, check the factory trigger for weight of pull, travel, and sear engagement before making any changes, and keep a record of your readings. If the rifle ever has to be returned to the manufacturer, make certain it gets shipped with a trigger that duplicates the characteristics you measured.

Fail to do so and the work that you did’and your customers’ money’will be wasted, because neither of you will ever see the adjusted trigger again. What you’ll get is a X- Mark Pro readjusted to factory standards. So, forging ahead, the two front screws control weight of pull and travel. (Remember: the one in back controls sear engagement.) Let’s call the upper front screw "A," the lower front "B," and the rear screw "C." Keep track of counter-clockwise and clockwise turns.

If you rotate screw A counter-clockwise, pull can be reduced from a factory-set 4-1/2 pounds down to 2 pounds. Adjust travel by turning B clockwise until there’s no release of the firing pin when the trigger is pulled. Hold the trigger back and turn Bcounter-clockwise until the sear releases the firing pin. Sear engagement is reset by first backing out C, say, three or four turns. Cock the action, don’t touch the trigger, and screw Cback in until the sear releases.

Recock the action and back out Cenough, perhaps as little as a smidgen, so the (continued on page 21)

sear doesn’t release while your finger’s off the trigger. After you’ve adjusted the pull, if the gun fails to "fire" on closing, you have to turn in C, this time maybe half a smidgen to reset the trigger. If the guns fails to "fire" with the chosen pull weight, either turn in Cto gain sear contact or increase the pull with Binder Ad (p/u from page 18, AGM-August 06) A. But don’t rush things. It can take considerable back and forth tweeking with A and Cto secure a light, but safe, creep-free trigger.

You simply have to keep at it until you’ve got it right. It’s worth mentioning that the X- Mark Pro can be retrofitted to all Model 700 rifles currently wearing Remington triggers. It’s also important to mention, I the Model