Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Light primer strikes

I've been replacing the triggers in my remington 700's with Timney #510's. The 700 mtn. rifle in .260 rem. was a big improvement.I replaced the trigger assy. in my Rem. 700 mtn. in .257 Roberts,dry fired it multiple times to get used to the pull, and went to the range.The first three shots went off as usual. The next three shots were all light primer strikes,and did not go off!Any suggestions are welcome!

It probably has nothing to do with your trigger.

First, disassemble the bolt and wash it out in case there is rust, half dried bolt grease, or a mix of oil and dust / powder residue at the forward end of the bolt either cushioning the blow or stopping the firing pin from protruding far enough.

Second, replace the firing pin spring or firing pin assembly. (GreTan makes a good one.)

I had two 700s chambered in .222 family cartridges that had weak factory firing pin springs and both eventually a primer extruded back up the firing pin hole pushing the firing pin backwards, pierced the primer, and the venting gas smashed the sear surfaces together "breaking" my trigger. Cost a few hundred bucks in repairs.

Tom

What he said. Get an "overstrength" striker spring. Make sure the striker shank (which the spring rides on) is smooth and lubed with a dry lube such as Corrosion X, Eezox, or dry graphite.

I had a 725SA fail to fire in cold weather, whereas it had functioned fine in warmer weather. Still left good primer indents, but was apparently just a bit retarded in doing so from friction/cold. Smoothed the rough striker shank (rust pitted) with fine wet/dry aloxite cloth, installed an overstrength spring, dry-lubed it, and it has functioned perfectly since to below zero weather.

Always put your firearms away with the striker spring released - i.e. - dry fired. Cocked springs will weaken over time.

Disassembled the bolt ,cleaned and inspected it. I didn't see anything that looked like it would have caused a light strike. I need to get back out to the range and test fire the gun again.Right after I get done cleaning up 30" of snow that fell in the last 24 hours!