My 300 RUM wouldn't fire

[PAW66]

It was the last day of elk season on the east side about 10:30, I was headed back to camp when I looked up on the hill and there stood a couple of cows. Stopped the truck and got the binos out and looked around and standing behind the cows was a spike.  Got out the Remington Model 700 300 Ultra mag and waited for him to give me a shot, approx 70 yards. These elk were in no hurry, watched me and would go back to feeding. Finally the bull was broadside and feeding, now’s the time…took the safety off and squeezed the trigger, nothing not even a click (Pull 1).  Reworked the safety to make sure it is ready to fire, squeezed the trigger, nothing not even a click (Pull 2). cycled the bolt to a new shell, safety off, bull in cross hairs, squeezed the trigger, not even a click (Pull 3).   Pulled the bolt, put it back in and cycled it a few times, put in shells, safety off, bull in cross hair, squeezed the trigger, again a repeat of before nothing (Pull 4). This bull had a death wish as he and the cows stayed on the hill grazing and watching me fumbling with my gun. Re-pulled the bolt, took out the shells, put the bolt back in, and dry fired the gun, CLICK it fired…Got u now I thought to myself. Reloaded the gun, safety off, bull in the cross hair, squeezed the trigger and you guessed it nothing not even a click (Pull 5).   By this time another truck had come down the road and stopped as they saw me in my standing in the middle of the road taking my gun apart, putting it back together, pointing it up the hill and then, looking at it in discuss.  They looked at me as if I was crazy when I walked over to them and  said there was a spike on the hill and they should kill him.  He was still there when the shot rang out, easiest elk that guy ever killed.  I got back in my truck, went back to camp, packed it up and came home.  When I got home, put the gun in the safe. 
Now it’s time to try to find out what went wrong and decide if I can trust the gun again. Would anyone have an idea, other than wrapping it around a tree.

Thank you for your input…

[Huntbear]

Was the bolt cocking?  When you pushed it forward, was it catching on the sear, and pushing the firing pin into the cocked position?  I would look at the sear/trigger  and the bolt.  Take your bolt apart as well, make sure you do not have a broken firing pin spring.

That is a good start.  I am sure there are more.

[rb2506]

wow bummer, did you get any back straps

[Jamieb]

I'm betting theres a problem with that crappy fireingpin/spring Remington uses.
I bet the problem is a easy fix but if your not familiar with the rifle and parts it would probably be best to just take it to a gunsmith.

[carpsniperg2]

not sure of what it would be i would take it to a gun smith. maybe the fireing pin is sticking to much junk built up don't know have never delt with that before.

[PAW66]

Thank you for the information, will get it to a gunsmith.

Didn't stick around after the shot, so no back straps

[rb2506]

Thank you for the information, will get it to a gunsmith.

Didn't stick around after the shot, so no back straps

hope you got a THANK YOU

[Elk-aholic]

The Remington model 700's had a reputation for having the firing pin freeze up in cold temperatures if you oil them too much, I witnessed this problem first hand on a cold morning in Wisconsin when my dads Model 700 wouldn't fire because the pin was frozen. Strip down the bolt and clean off any excess oil and grease and try it again. 

[rbros]

There are a few posibilities:

Bad trigger or out of adjustment, which would cause the the cocking piece to not engage the sear correctly.  I have seen quite a few misadjusted Remmy triggers that will do this.  They work fine for awhile, then eventually fail.

If it is a J-Lock bolt, the springs in the those are so bound up that it is possible to have them brake or hang up.  They usually hang up on the J-Lock mechanism itself and "hang fire".

Broken firing pin is a possibility or alot of gunk in the bolt......rare but possible.


I have never had a Rem 700 firing pin assembly freeze up on me.   I have used them at -20 degrees and never had any problems.  Not saying that it can't happen, but I am guessing it would have to be very wet and very cold to make it happen.  I would take the bolt apart, spray it down with Brake clean to get all the gunk off of it, re assemble, and put it in the rifle and make sure it is cocking.  If not, then you have a trigger problem

[MtnMuley]

I'm thinking you experienced some very bad luck at the worst time.  I also, have fired thousands of rounds through Model 700s in every weather condition possible, and have never had a problem like yours.  Gunsmith is a good option, but this time of year with no hunting seasons for a RUM coming right up (at least I wouldn't think), I'd take off the scope/rings and base and send it back to Remington.  My friend just got his RUM back for a feeding problem that he was having, and Remington covered all costs including shipping. Just a thought.  Hope you get 'er back on the range asap.

[whacker1]

Bad trigger or out of adjustment, which would cause the the cocking piece to not engage the sear correctly.  I have seen quite a few misadjusted Remmy triggers that will do this.  They work fine for awhile, then eventually fail.

I had this one happen on me when I lightened the trigger too far.  It would fire when closing the bolt, so the firing pin was already extendended when I got the bolt closed and thus wouldn't fire again.  This was all while I was dealing with the trigger adjustment, so it was easy to rectify by making the trigger a little stiffer.  Essentially working the bolt was enought to trip the trigger or not engage the trigger at all.

[270Shooter]

I wish I could find elk that dumb...