Remington 700 safety

[MountainWalk]

It's prolly been ten years since I have really handled a 700. A question: Does the safety lock the bolt? I have, back in Arkansas, an older 700 in 7mm rm with a coated stainless barrel, and can't remember if the bolt locked. Do newer ones do?

[FALFire]

No.

[bearhunter99]

No.

 

[Bofire]

Old ones did lock the bolt, all you had to do was remove the stock pop the circlip and grind the arm that locks the bolt off. When I say "old ones" I mean like 25 years ago.
Carl

[MountainWalk]

Ok, thanks! The 700 I was referring to was one of the first seven rem mags that my grandfather bought long ago. It was blued action and hardware, but with a stainless barrel.  I was remembering that I thought this one locked the bolt. 

So many damn shots out of that thing that the first two shots were good, after that forget it.

[brokenvet]

My bolt locks when the safety is engage, but of course it is an older Rem 700, which I received back in 1976

[MountainWalk]

Well, thats the one I want then.

[300rum]

Mine locks the bolt.  I have to take the safety off to work the bolt.  Remington had a recall on it to fix them.  I called Remington at the time and the gave me the number to the nearest gunsmith that was eligible to do the work.  They wanted me to ship it without the scope.  I really didn't want to take the scope off as it has never moved on me and that gun is the most accurate thing I have.  I didn't want to mess with perfection!

[pianoman9701]

I learned something new from a friend last night about storing my rifle. When the gun is stored and bolt is open, it collects dust. When you close the bolt, pressure is left on the sear. To prevent this, you apply pressure to the trigger while closing the bolt and the pin isn't left cocked, so the pressure is taken off the sear and you don't wear out the spring faster. I was amazed I'd never been shown this before.

[MountainWalk]

Yes, it's called breaking over the barrels. I have carried rifles afield in that manner, chambered with pin down. Yeah, pin is barely resting on primer, but it takes A HELLUVA FORCEFUL bump to get it to go off.

[jaymark6655]

Yes, it's called breaking over the barrels. I have carried rifles afield in that manner, chambered with pin down. Yeah, pin is barely resting on primer, but it takes A HELLUVA FORCEFUL bump to get it to go off.

What would the point of carrying a rifle with in chamber and pin down?

[pianoman9701]

Yes, it's called breaking over the barrels. I have carried rifles afield in that manner, chambered with pin down. Yeah, pin is barely resting on primer, but it takes A HELLUVA FORCEFUL bump to get it to go off.

What would the point of carrying a rifle with in chamber and pin down?

 

[MountainWalk]

No safety to toggle with. Not worrying about the wing catching and flipping off. Not keeping constant all day all week tension and pressure on moving parts. It all amounts to not much, just a preference I guess.

[Blacktail Sniper]

For storage, when unloaded, makes perfect sense.  That's how I have stored my mine for years.  But to carry a loaded rifle with the pin even "barely resting" on the primer is very unsafe.   

As has been pointed out in other posts by several folks, kids and new hunters read this forum for insight and to learn, someting like this is an example of what not to be teaching.  Very unsafe practice, especially by your own admission that you know it would fire if given a "HELLUVA FORCEFUL bump."

[lokidog]

No safety to toggle with. Not worrying about the wing catching and flipping off. Not keeping constant all day all week tension and pressure on moving parts. It all amounts to not much, just a preference I guess.

I think the curiosity and question is wouldn't you have to cycle the bolt, thus ejecting your cartridge, to cock the firing pin?

I do not personally like a gun I have to take off safe to unload but have to deal with it on a feww.

[MountainWalk]

And dear Game Warden, how is it not different than a safety?  Is it possible to make a rifle fire with a safety on? Has that never happened? If the pin is under NO tension, what can it do?

[MountainWalk]

Who is teaching what?

[pianoman9701]

And dear Game Warden, how is it not different than a safety?  Is it possible to make a rifle fire with a safety on? Has that never happened? If the pin is under NO tension, what can it do?

As stated before, it can fire with a blow to the gun, such as dropping it. The pin is resting on the primer, so...

[BULLBLASTER]

I have seen at the range a person was trying to decock his gun for going home by closing the bolt while holding the trigger. It was loaded and went off. Shot a hole in the bench... I would definitely not trust a firing pin resting on a primer over a safety.... that's asking for trouble.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Not meant to offend you, just seems like if that is a real concern would be better to drop the pin on an empty chamber since the bolt has to be cycled either way.   

I guess when it comes to firearms and safety, because of the potential for severe injury and death, it seems that folks would want to do everything possible to be as safe as possible.

Not a game warden by the way, just someone who has handled firearms for decades and understands that things can happen and how fast it can happen and that you can't call the bullet back.

Again, not meant to insult you, appoligize if I did. 

[JLS]

To each their own I guess.  If I was going to have to cock the gun anyway I would just leave the chamber empty and the pin/hammer down.  Chamber a round when ready and let it fly.

I wouldn't be too excited about my hunting partner doing this, YMMV.

[pianoman9701]

My bolt locks when the safety is engage, but of course it is an older Rem 700, which I received back in 1976

Mine too. I bought my 700 Classic .30-06 in '74 or 5. Safety locks the bolt.

[jaymark6655]

Yeah, I wasn't even thinking about the safety part.  Was just wondering why carry round in the chamber if you still have to cycle bolt at least part way.

This might be of topic, but what is so great about having a firearm where the safety locks the bolt?  I know Savage does this and it never seemed to make sense to me.

[JLS]

Myi wife's Tikka has a safety that locks the bolt.  I prefer M70's with the three way safety, but it doesn't cause me any grief using the lock style when I swipe her gun.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Also, back to the original question, my 700 was made in 2010 or 2011 and the bolt will open when on safe.

[pianoman9701]

Yeah, I wasn't even thinking about the safety part.  Was just wondering why carry round in the chamber if you still have to cycle bolt at least part way.

This might be of topic, but what is so great about having a firearm where the safety locks the bolt? I know Savage does this and it never seemed to make sense to me.

I've often wondered this myself.

[Jburke]

Yeah, I wasn't even thinking about the safety part.  Was just wondering why carry round in the chamber if you still have to cycle bolt at least part way.

This might be of topic, but what is so great about having a firearm where the safety locks the bolt?  I know Savage does this and it never seemed to make sense to me.

The biggest benefit I have noticed with it is that if I am carrying my rifle over my shoulder on a sling that the bolt can catch on clothing, backpack, vest.  etc.  If the bolt locks closed it cant open up on you when dismounting the rifle from yor shoulder.  I had a gun that did not lock the bolt and it would catch on clothing once in awhile.  If the bolt turns adn you try to shoot without realizing it you'll be pretty pissed when the gun doesn't even go click. I personally like the two position safeties though.  That way I can lock it but then unload while still on safety.

[300rum]

Yes, for this reason.  I assume it was a military thing?  Clicks aren't good when you are looking down the end of another barrel.

Yeah, I wasn't even thinking about the safety part.  Was just wondering why carry round in the chamber if you still have to cycle bolt at least part way.

This might be of topic, but what is so great about having a firearm where the safety locks the bolt?  I know Savage does this and it never seemed to make sense to me.

The biggest benefit I have noticed with it is that if I am carrying my rifle over my shoulder on a sling that the bolt can catch on clothing, backpack, vest.  etc.  If the bolt locks closed it cant open up on you when dismounting the rifle from yor shoulder.  I had a gun that did not lock the bolt and it would catch on clothing once in awhile.  If the bolt turns adn you try to shoot without realizing it you'll be pretty pissed when the gun doesn't even go click. I personally like the two position safeties though.  That way I can lock it but then unload while still on safety.

[high country]

Yes, it's called breaking over the barrels. I have carried rifles afield in that manner, chambered with pin down. Yeah, pin is barely resting on primer, but it takes A HELLUVA FORCEFUL bump to get it to go off.

If you are carrying a chambered round on a decococked firing pin......STOP! You are making a great error that will some day result in an accidental discharge.

The stress on the sear is inconsequential the main spring may show some settling over time, but I have seen many a 30 year old rifles that have been stored cocked without issue.

Dont over think this non problem.

[JLS]

Dont over think this non problem.

C'mon bro, isn't that the new American way?

[Heredoggydoggy]

I think the curiosity and question is wouldn't you have to cycle the bolt, thus ejecting your cartridge, to cock the firing pin?

No.  Just raising and lowering the bolt will cock the firing pin.  New bolt guns cock on the upstroke.  A few old bolt guns were designed to cock on the downstroke,but they can be converted to cock on the upstroke.  I was told why this is preferable, but can't recall....  I've noticed a small indent in the primer when one of my ARs chambers a round, by the floating firing pin lightly striking the primer, but I've never had a slamfire.  Still, I point the muzzle in a safe direction when chambering a round.  Ya never know...  After all, a gun is just a machine!

[high country]

You must realize that the firing pin is exposed on the back of the bolt. Drop your gun on your binos, bump the pin on a rock.....any number of really simple things can make a disaster. There is no reason to risk it, the safety was placed on the gun for a reason.

[timberghost72]

Not trying to jack the thread but is there a conversion to lock the bolt when the safety is on or can a smith do this? I have a 700 BDL about 10 years old and have had the bolt catch on something multiple times either partially of fully opening it up. Most the time it catches on my clothes. It gets anoying but I love the rifle so fixing this would be sweet.