Remington 700 picks and choses when to fire

[shortgrass]

Just change the barrel in my rifle from 7 mag to a 7x300. The firing pin seems to hit too hard making a deeper depression in the primer. I don't know the reason for this! Any suggestion?

What else was changed? The firing pin spring, the entire firing pin assembly, a change in the brand of primers you are using? Headspace on those 2 belted mags is the same, front of the belt to the bolt face. Can you measure firing pin protrusion?

 

[Lee7588]

Just change the barrel in my rifle from 7 mag to a 7x300. The firing pin seems to hit too hard making a deeper depression in the primer. I don't know the reason for this! Any suggestion?

Are you running handloads? If so they may be a little hot and pushing the primer back into the firing pin.

 

[sendero72]

What else was changed? The firing pin spring, the entire firing pin assembly, a change in the brand of primers you are using? Headspace on those 2 belted mags is the same, front of the belt to the bolt face. Can you measure firing pin protrusion?

Nothing was changed in the bolt to my knowledge. I'll ask the smith after Christmas.

 

[sendero72]

Are you running handloads? If so they may be a little hot and pushing the primer back into the firing pin.

I'll check. Just started the reloading process by checking for max pressure loads. 73 grs to 77 grs of H-1000 with a 180 gr ELDM. No signs at 77 grs. Is anyone running the 7x300 win mag?

 

[spladi]

check headspace.

 

[Harry Knutz]

Just change the barrel in my rifle from 7 mag to a 7x300. The firing pin seems to hit too hard making a deeper depression in the primer. I don't know the reason for this! Any suggestion?

If the bolt face was "TRUED" prior to barrel work and headspacing, The firing pin will stick out further. I only remove less than 0.001 most of the time, But I have seen some "Hack" jobs that removed way too much. Check firing pin protrusion.

 

[CCAguns]

I have a Remington 700 308. Has about 5000 rounds on the action. Just recently about every 50 rounds it will fail to fire. I will eject the round and there will be a firing pin imprint on the primer that seems the same as all of the other fired rounds. I'll put the round back in the gun and it will fire. Could this be a firing pin issue or a spring issue? Or both? Thank I'm advance for your knowledge.

Merry Christmas

As most have said, bolt probably needs cleaning. Don't use lube. A little light oil on the spring and wiped off well does the job. My 1982 vintage 700 has worked for years with bolt stripping every 3 or so years. Spring replacement is easy and rather inexpensive if you determine the need. Despite all the negativity, the Walker trigger provided by Rem is excellent when properly set and I've never swapped it out. But then I never point the rifle at that I don't wish to shoot. I never pull hard on the trigger with the safety on. And I usually ease the safety forward without slamming it. No malfunctions for thus old trigger.

 

[Tommy T]

I would say try the factory loads and if they shoot good then try the hand loads and if it happens with your hand loads that would tell you where your problem is . I have new custom build rifles that I hand load for and ever now and then I will have one that don't fire so I no it's in the primer or I just didn't have something perfect with that one primer. But it's always good to keep it clean

 

[Mike D Texas]

Also store your firearms muzzle down. If you store them on the butt and muzzle up all the oil / cleaning solutions will eventually collect on the bolt face and into the firing pin hole.

That is assuming you oil your guns. All of mine are stainless so I just put a little grease on the back of the locking lugs.

If you are fry patching after cleaning the bore then cleaning solution shouldn't be a problem. I've never stored muzzles down.

 

[rblum]

SPRING/FIRING PIN LUBRICATION
There has been a fair amount of discussion on firing pin/spring lubrication. Also mentioned was the effect of cold weather on failure to fire incidents.
Kenny Jarrett suggests using nothing other than lighter fluid to lubricate trigger assemblies. BTW, I follow Jarrett's advice on using lighter fluid to lubricate trigger assemblies and it works just fine. Has anyone taken that suggestion a step further and tried lubricating a spring/pin with lighter fluid? My view is that it would work, preventing rust, lubricating and preventing gunk/weather misfires, but I don't know. Has anyone tried it on pins/springs? Any opinions?

 

[Starbuck]

Are you running handloads? If so they may be a little hot and pushing the primer back into the firing pin.

You'd have to post up a pic of what the primers look like. If it appears that they're pushing back into the firing pin opening around the firing pin, you might need to have your bolt bushed. Many falsely interpret this as a sign of overpressure, but it's not. At least it's not conclusively.

 

[brian11]

Just change the barrel in my rifle from 7 mag to a 7x300. The firing pin seems to hit too hard making a deeper depression in the primer. I don't know the reason for this! Any suggestion?

You could try what is a suspected weaker spring that was replaced by OP, me, or others on this thread, although it shouldn't be necessary.
Is the bolt stock factory, never been fiddled with? You can buy firing pins with a smaller tip; perhaps someone swapped out some parts in yours?
I'm assuming you're firing factory loads; if not, a deeper impression could be due to a hot load.

 

[VinceMule]

Get a can of cigarette lighter fluid, take the bolt of of the gun, drench the lighter fluid down through the trigger group, flood it. Put a cloth of wad paper towels in the trigger guard to catch the fluid.

This problem is common and worse where the trigger locks up.

People put various oils in their barrel, they stand the gun up in the gun save, then the oil runs down into the trigger group. WD40 is the worst lube a guy could ever put in his barrel.

 

[shortgrass]

You could try what is a suspected weaker spring that was replaced by OP, me, or others on this thread, although it shouldn't be necessary.
Is the bolt stock factory, never been fiddled with? You can buy firing pins with a smaller tip; perhaps someone swapped out some parts in yours?
I'm assuming you're firing factory loads; if not, a deeper impression could be due to a hot load.

I don't believe there is such a thing as 7mm/300 factory cartridge. Maybe there is, and I'm just that far behind the times.