Rem Model 7 trigger

17freak

New member
Hi Folks I'm getting ready to do some critter control and have decided to use a rifle that hasn't been used in some time. When getting ready I decided to check the trigger pull and it goes off at 2 lbs. The thing is it has no creep so it's a surprise when it breaks. The trigger was adjusted many years ago by an excellent gunsmith who did many of my triggers. I'm really used to two stage triggers and am finding this distracting. Short of installing a 2 stage trigger, which no one makes for the rifle, any ideas on how to eliminate the surprise. I'm worried that I will resort to jerking the trigger which I don't want to get in then habit of doing.
Thanks
Doug
 
Originally Posted By: 17freakHi Folks I'm getting ready to do some critter control and have decided to use a rifle that hasn't been used in some time. When getting ready I decided to check the trigger pull and it goes off at 2 lbs. The thing is it has no creep so it's a surprise when it breaks. The trigger was adjusted many years ago by an excellent gunsmith who did many of my triggers. I'm really used to two stage triggers and am finding this distracting. Short of installing a 2 stage trigger, which no one makes for the rifle, any ideas on how to eliminate the surprise. I'm worried that I will resort to jerking the trigger which I don't want to get in then habit of doing.
Thanks
Doug

seriously?
 
Generally, most want zero creep but if the Rem model seven trigger is like the 700 trigger you should be able to increase sear engagement which will give it more pre-travel/creep. On a Rem 700 there is usually three adjusting screws, two in the front, one in the back. The adjusting screw in the back controls sear engagement and screwing it in will cause it to have more creep/pre-travel but even though you can make it have more creep it most likely still won't feel the same as a two stage trigger and that increased creep you add to it by adjusting the sear engagement screw may not be a smooth pull like a two stage and could actually make things worse for you.

Maybe increase the pull weight so the trigger isn't so light. It still won't have any creep, unless you adjust the sear engagement also, but at least it'll have a heavier pull before it goes off and you'll feel more in control of when it goes off.
 
Thanks for your prompt response B23. Maybe I'll shoot it some and then decide. The rifle is a 223. Loading Hornady 50SP using 26.5 grains of IMR 8208XBR. 200 yd group is 1 1/8 plenty for nutria and coyote.
Doug
 
Originally Posted By: SlickerThanSnotOriginally Posted By: 17freakHi Folks I'm getting ready to do some critter control and have decided to use a rifle that hasn't been used in some time. When getting ready I decided to check the trigger pull and it goes off at 2 lbs. The thing is it has no creep so it's a surprise when it breaks. The trigger was adjusted many years ago by an excellent gunsmith who did many of my triggers. I'm really used to two stage triggers and am finding this distracting. Short of installing a 2 stage trigger, which no one makes for the rifle, any ideas on how to eliminate the surprise. I'm worried that I will resort to jerking the trigger which I don't want to get in then habit of doing.
Thanks
Doug

seriously?

I understand your concerns, Doug. I cut my teeth on 2 stage triggers due to the vast numbers of cheap military rifles available when I was a teen. Shot the Garand, with it's 2 stage trigger for a quarter century in competition. Rules required minimum 4.5# triggers.

Had a bit of trouble adjusting to bolt guns w/single stage triggers I used for hunting, and my preference was around 4#, but no less than 3.5# in the field.

I believe the model 7 used the Walker triggers, which I think are adjustable, so you (or your smith) should be able to increase the pull on your rifle.

I've only owned one rifle w/the Walker trigger. It was a 40X match rifle and the very first round through the rifle was a "fire on release of safety". The rifle was right out of the box.
It did have a fantastic trigger (release) and was a wonderful rifle, but.....well, you might want to read:

https://riflebasix.com/blog/remington-rifle-trigger-timeline-history/

I'll probably get some flak for this, but IMHO, a 2# trigger is fine for shooting off a bench, but not on a hunting rifle. I finally got used to a 3.5# trigger on my pet predator rifle, but even that is a bit light on cold days, especially w/gloves.

Regards,
hm
 
The most important thing, if you aren't well versed in how to adjust triggers, it's best/safest for yourself and others to just take it to a gunsmith and have them do it.
 
Guys I appreciate all your responses. I have spent the last 20 years shooting silhouette and a 2 lb trigger is not a problem for me. When I hunt Elk and mule deer in CO and MT my rifles are set at 3 lbs because of gloves and cold. The gunsmith that I alluded to has passed away and I will have to find a new one. I have adjusted my triggers on various rifles but I never have experienced one without creep so I'm concerned that I might be on the edge of being unsafe. Shooting this rifle from the bench is quite a joy. I'm finding it difficult to time the trigger while shooting offhand or unsupported which is what I will be doing shooting Nutria.
Maybe I have one of those exceptional factory triggers and not lose sleep over it but killing someone inadvertently not something I want to live with. Nam still fresh in my mind everyday .
Doug
 
I think I have two, maybe three rifles with triggers over 3 pounds. Most are in the one and a half pound range except on one Sako with a Canjar set trigger. Un-set its 8 oz and set its around 4 oz. You better be ready when you touch the trigger. I hate heavy triggers. My favorite hunting rifle trigger breaks at one and a half pounds. Rule No.1 is keep your finger off the trigger until your ready to shoot.
 
Where most people go wrong, sometimes horribly wrong, is they adjust these factory triggers with to little sear engagement and it makes them dangerous because they will slam/bump fire. Some people will test theirs by bumping the buttpad on the ground to see if the trigger will trip. I use a rubber mallet and give the recoil pad a good smack, if it trips I'll increase sear engagement until it reliably won't.

Nearly all my bolt guns have aftermarket triggers that are set at 2-2.25 lbs and my AR's have CMC 3lb triggers. The only ones that are lighter than 2 lbs are my CZ 527 17 Hornets. They nearly always get shot off of a portable bench shooting sage rats and I have them tuned at right around 10 ounces but they kind of have a special purpose so it's not quite the same deal with them.
 
All my rifles get some sort of bump test and all the safeties work like they are suppose to. If they don't pass the bump test, they get readjusted until they do.
 


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