Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Old 700 ADL replacement trigger?

Unfortunately, I’ll be getting my Dads Remington 700 ADL in 7mm much sooner than I’d like. This was his main hunting rifle, and the first rifle I hunted with in High School….. The trigger has been replaced by Remington and now the bolt doesn’t lock when on “Safe.” The original trigger actually discharged twice over the years, and a I’ve heard rumors the replacement trigger have issues as well. I’d like to replace the whole damn thing so that’s not always in the back of my mind, and I’d like the bolt to lock when on safe. Does anyone make a drop in replacement trigger that does that, and if so, who makes the best one? TIA.

Skip the lock and put in a triggertech.

Without the lock you can cycle the bolt without take it the trigger off safe, it makes loading and unloading a little safer.

Optics planet has a TriggerTech independence for $124.
I bought a couple last year and may grab another

Remington replaced the 1946 Walker trigger in new rifles starting in 2007 with their new trigger. That DESIGN solved the problem of unintentional discharges. The problem is that a handful of guns made 2007-2014 somehow got adhesive inside the trigger housing during assembly that led to a handful of unintentional discharges. Remington did a recall on those guns to inspect them and replace any with adhesive in the trigger group.

If your dad's rifle was returned it has the new design and should be safe to use. I have no personal experience with the new trigger, but by all accounts, it isn't as smooth and light as the original nor most of the aftermarket triggers. If you're worried about the gun discharging on its own that shouldn't be a problem. If you want a better trigger, then I'd go after market.

FWIW Remington changed the safety so that it could be opened with the safety in the "SAFE" position in the early 80's. That was their response to the multiple lawsuits from guns discharging. MOST of them would discharge as the safety was moved to the "Fire" position. Routine handling of guns with those triggers could lead to the sear disengaging. When that happened the guns safety was the only thing holding the firing pin back. When shooters moved the safety to the "Fire" position to unload their rifles the firing pin would fall with no trigger pull.

Changing the safety so that it no longer locked the bolt down did greatly reduce incidents. You could open the action to unload with the safety in the 'SAFE" position. But it didn't really solve the problem. My 1974 production 700 locked the bolt down. Mine also dropped the firing pin on 2 occasions. Fortunately for me it was on an empty chamber both times. In my case I pulled my rifle out of the safe and as always, I'd open the action to verify it was unloaded. Each time I heard the firing pin fall as soon as I touched the safety. It was pretty rare. Only twice in 40 years of ownership. The 1st time I thought it was a fluke. I even questioned if I'd somehow hit the trigger by mistake. But after the 2nd time I bought a Timeny.

To my knowledge none of the aftermarket triggers will allow you to keep the bolt locked down. You'd have to go back to the 1946-2006 design.

Put in a three position one!

I have never seen a 700 trigger that came from the factory discharge accidentally with a factory setting. It is when individuals start messing with the trigger and no knowledge of that trigger that things take place.

The original trigger was 110% from the factory. My dad bought it brand new and he wasn’t one to tinker with guns. Me on the other hand, I can’t stand a 100% factory rifle. 🤣

That is another option, as I love my Kimber and M-70 three position safeties. However, I’m still gun-shy about the gun even with the new Remington trigger. One of the discharges occurred when I was closing the bolt with my hand nowhere near the trigger. The gun hasn’t been hunted with since, but I’d like to use it now that my dad is sick and it’s mine.

Try and re-set the trigger, sounds like too light or not enough sear engagement

Remington paid to have one of their authorized smiths put a new trigger in it back in the mid early to mid 2000’s, but the gun hasn't been shot since. I will say the new trigger definitely has the lawyer trigger in it, and it hasn’t been touched either. Im still leery of it though. My dad has late stage dementia and I want to hunt with the gun now that it’s mine, that’s why I was thinking new trigger. With a new trigger it won’t ever be on the back of my mind, and the TriggerTech Primary might be a great option.

Great Scott, just buy a Timney trigger for $106.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1026242441?pid=344480

Or a Timney, either will work great for you. But the bolt will not be locked.

I much prefer the Shilen trigger.

I'd be tempted to track down a Geissele Super 700 2 stage trigger for it.

Thanks for all the replies. I’ve read great reviews about the trigger tech, so that’s what I’m going to go with.

Good choice you will be happy with it.