Remington Arms has thrown in the towel re: claims that their flagship Model 700 rifles are not drop safe/safe from unintentional discharges. The company has just announced (on a Friday, of course) a Voluntary Product Recall of all 700s and Model Seven’s with the X-Mark Pro triggers manufactured from May 1, 2006 to April 9, 2014. No doubt The Freedom Group announcement accompanies an agreement to settle the lawsuits filed against the company by injured parties.
Equally certain: the payout will trigger the arrival of an entire fleet of ambulance chasers. Add in the cost of this recall and man, that’s got to hurt. But not as much as getting shot by your own rifle.
Remington Announces Voluntary Product Recall
Urges Model 700TM and Model SevenTM Owners to Take Immediate Action
Madison, N.C. – Remington Arms Company, LLC (“Remington”) today announced a voluntary recall of Model 700TM and Model SevenTM rifles with X-Mark Pro® (“XMP®”) triggers, manufactured from May 1, 2006 to April 9, 2014. Senior Remington engineers determined that some Model 700 and Model Seven rifles with XMP triggers could, under certain circumstances, unintentionally discharge.
IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY, THESE PRODUCTS ARE BEING RECALLED . . .
Remington’s investigation determined that some XMP triggers might have excess bonding agent used in the assembly process, which could cause an unintentional discharge. Therefore, Remington is recalling ALL affected products to fully inspect and clean the XMP triggers with a specialized process.
Remington has advised customers to immediately cease use of recalled rifles and return them to Remington free of charge. The rifles will be inspected, specialty cleaned, tested, and returned as soon as possible. Do not attempt to diagnose or repair recalled rifles.
Remington established a dedicated website and toll-free hotline to help consumers determine whether their Model 700 or Model Seven rifle(s) are subject to recall:
• Website: http://xmprecall.remington.com
• Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-243-9700 (Prompt #3 then Prompt #1) Monday throughFriday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT.
The website and hotline provide guidance on returning recalled rifles free of charge.
“Remington takes safety extremely seriously,” said Teddy Novin, Director of Public Affairs and Communications. “While we have the utmost confidence in the design of the XMP trigger, we are undertaking this recall in the interest of customer safety, to remove any potential excess bonding agent applied in the assembly process. We have established significant safety and technical resources to determine which rifles are affected and to minimize any risks. Our goal is to have every recalled firearm inspected, specialty cleaned, tested and returned as soon as possible.”
“We’re putting our customers and their safety first by voluntarily recalling all potentially affected rifles. We also want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the Ten Commandments of Firearm Safety,” Novin concluded.
The Ten Commandments of Firearms Safety
- Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
- Firearms should be unloaded when not actually in use.
- Don’t rely on your gun’s safety.
- Be sure of your target and what’s beyond it.
- Use proper ammunition.
- If your gun fails to fire when the trigger is pulled, handle with care.
- Always wear eye and ear protection when shooting.
- Be sure the barrel is clear of obstructions before shooting.
- Don’t alter or modify your gun and have it serviced regularly.
- Learn the mechanical and handling characteristics of the firearm you are using.
Remington is informing consumers through a broad range of communications channels, including media outreach, targeted advertising and digital media.
“Your firearm IS AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL”
&^%$#%&^**(&^
yes, you, me and how many 700’s have they sold with this trigger in the past 8 years??? a lot.
big $$$ for aftermarket trigger companies. 🙂
It would seem that there are a few ‘holes’ in this recall program–According to my 700LTR’s serial number, it is ‘subject to this recall.’ I find that odd, as it doesn’t HAVE an XMP trigger, but instead has a 40-X one. I don’t think that I’ll be sending it back. . . it might return with an XMP!
Here’s a short lesson in Remington trigger recognition:
If the trigger has no visible adjustment screws when the gun is fully assembled, it’s a ‘Walker’ trigger.
If there is a hex-socket screw visible in the middle of the trigger ‘shoe’, it’s an XMP.
If there is a slotted screw visible at the front inside of the trigger guard just ahead of the bolt release tab, it’s a 40-X trigger. You want to KEEP this one.
Remington’s website has a clarification of this recall and further explains which guns are REALLY subject to it:
http://www.remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/safety-center/safety-warning-recall-notice-Remington-model700-modelseven.aspx
THIS bulletin explains that ONLY the XMP triggers are involved, and also illustrates that an XMP trigger is smooth, and the Walker/40-X triggers are ribbed–I missed the obvious.
Remmies are junk, and have been since before Freedom Group took over.
When it’s all about the bottom line and fat bonuses, you can be assured that quality will be thrown to the wind.
Remington is junk? Speak for yourself.
Myself, my father, my brothers, and most of my extended family hunts exclusively with Remington firearms (a few Ruger varmint rifles notwithstanding) and have for many many years. Between those of us who used to and still do hunt, there are easily over two dozen Remington 700 rifles dating way back to the 1960’s that have been used all over the continent in the taking of all manner of big game; well into the hundreds of big game animals killed, and thousands upon thousands of rounds fired.
Not to mention all the shotguns. Literally dozens of 870’s purchased, given to friends and family members, hunted with, shot trap and skeet with, used for home defense, etc etc. These firearms also date back several decades.
I personally own two model 700’s from the 1970’s, one from the mid 80’s, one from approximately 2008, and four 870’s with a similar age spread.
Neither I, nor any one of my family members, nor friends, nor acquaintances, has ever had a problem with a Remington firearm. Or any firearm, for that matter.
All manufacturers will have problems occasionally with their products.
Please do not make blanket statements about that which you know little.
Speaking for current reality, thanks. The 70/80s product? Sure Remmies were good guns, nobody has an argument to the contrary.
In recent memory they are about as “quality” as a Marlin firearm. Freedom Group killed something that was on it’s dying days when they took over. Ask any competent gunsmith about what comes out of anything under the FG banner.
It’s universal disdain.
So the Savage owners are reading this information about Remington. Must be a Envy thing! I will stack my Sendero against any Savage you own!
TC Alaskan,
And how much does your Sendero cost? Compared to how much for a similar Savage? I took my brand new 10 FCP to the range for the first time today and managed to consistently shoot 1.25″ groups at 200 yards with Winchester white box while breaking in the barrel. And to think. If I had bought a Remington last month. (I agonized over it), I”d be sending my rifle back to them right now. Ok. Thats not exactly the truth, since the only way to get a decent remington trigger is to replace it with a Timney or a Jewel. I was pleased as pie to find my Accutrigger adjusted down to 1.5 lbs in about 5 minutes.
Don
@Don
The closest thing Savage makes to the Sendero is their Model 12 Long Range Precision.
Which costs about the same as a Sendero.
I’d rather have the Sendero.
Don’t send your rifle in. At least 12 weeks before u MIGHT get it back. Install an aftermarket trigger instead.
Holy shit. Remington….the next Eastman Kodak.
Not enough money in the bank, or intellectual capital (patents) to make them even close to the fall of Eastman-Kodak…
Sadly true.
Most people don’t realize the breadth and scope of the IP that EK had.
A clear case of feckless and incompetent senior management.
I’m sure mine is, too. I’ll check when I get home.
Didn’t they know about this for a really long time? I remember watching this on CNBC years ago:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/39554936
Different thing entirely. The XMP trigger, subject of this recall, was intended to replace/supplement the original ‘Walker’ trigger used in the guns mentioned in this propaganda hitpiece.
funny, they don’t tell us how many rifles it is. I’d like to know….they just have a serial # lookup.
Huh. I have 2 that fall within the date range. Seems like it would be easier just to grab a couple Timneys or Jewells. Too bad as well, I’ve had no complaints with the XMP triggers, My .264 Win Mag Sendero is a tack driver and my .260 is a commemorative which I’d rather keep all original even though it’ll probably never be worth anything.
At this point, every Freedom Group product may as well ship with a factory return label in the box.
The guys who run the Professional Hunter exams in Mozambique and South Africa have been pointing this out for years for the medium bore 700’s. When I see SWAT guys setting them up on the hood of a car I just think “don’t drop that boom stick, bro.”
Like Joe meant to say, “buy a Winchester, buy a Winchester.”
Im glad I went with Tikka
This is why I bought an old 870 Wingmaster today instead of a brand new Wingmaster. It’s also why I have a Savage 110 instead of a 700.
It’s sad to see a once-proud American company shit the bed in so many ways.
I remember the first time I saw an 870 Wingmaster around around ’87 and admiring the beautiful bluing of the firearm. I’d love to have one of those classic guns.
I think I may start cussing.
You’ll be alright.
I’m just going to replace the trigger groups.
I am not losing, (for how long?), one of my favorite big bores.
Dang it.
I’ve already decided I’m doing the same thing. I don’t want to send the damn thing off for God knows how long. I thought I was in the clear of the trigger problems with 700’s by buying a newer one. I won’t be purchasing a Remington firearm again.
Actually I was thinking the same thing. Maybe I’ll put in a Winchester trigger group!
Seriously, what trigger groups are you considering?
Actually I may have spoken too soon.
Had they recalled the Walker trigger that caused the start of what we called in the military ” A Remmington Moment “. This was when a sniper would touch his 700’s bolt handle, and the rifle would fire, even on safe. This killed a little boy, when his mother was unloading her deer rifle on one side of a portable travel trailer, and her 5 year old boy was playing on the other side, out of her sight. The rifle was on safe when she opened the bolt to remove the loaded chamber. As soon as she touched the bolt handle, kaboom. The round traveled threw the trailer striking the boy center mass, killing him instantly. During the police investigation the weapons dept was able to duplicate the same safty failure multiple times. Remmingtons spokes person said,”she should have had the weapon pointed in a safe direction”. I agree, but whats a safe direction when you don’t know when, or if your weapon will discharge?? Time for them to take responsibility of something they have known about since the late 60’s.
Bingo ! This is NOT a recall on all 700s. It is very limited as you say. Two thoughts : first is that this, like what Toyota just did, is a re-action to the GM situation. Second is all the gun TV guys, bloggers and the NRA that said the 700 triggers NEVER fail. That every incident was someone on the bang switch. No names but they know who they are and why they lied.
Limited recall? Remington has indicated that this recall affects approximately 800K rifles. If you send yours in you might not get it back for almost a year (according to my local dealer who sent all 32 of his Remington’s back this past weekend). Remington’s first priority is to repair Remington’s returned by dealers (so they can be sold) with previously sold 700’s getting second priority.
I’ve owned more than 10 Remington center fire rifles in my lifetime. I’ll never own another. This trigger problem seems to be exclusive of Remington. 700’s may be fine shooting rifles, but the hassle over these trigger problems will have me buying more Browning’s.
The rifle was also in horrible condition, the safety was broken and caked in crud. The story the MSM ran was deconstructed some time ago – note they never showed her personal rifle, and they could never replicate the malfunction with any other 700 brought to the court. Can’t comment on the military one aspect, but hot on the heels of the coast guard video was a notice that marksmen were no longer permitted to modify the trigger of their rifles.
That accidental death makes me recall the previous posts about the one rule, to rule them all.
And all the arguments and negative comments as to why it was wrong.
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/04/robert-farago/kirsten-joy-weiss-exclusive-farago-said/
Indeed, gunsmiths knew about the problems with the Walker Fire Control System for years and years. It is a cardinal rule among gunsmiths that you never, ever acquiesce to a customer’s request to set the weight on a Walker trigger on a 700 to something less than 4 lbs.
Better yet, just use the opportunity of the customer wanting trigger work done to replace the whole stupid trigger group.
Reality check, the rifle should have been unloaded in the field; and had the rifle been pointed down rather into the trailer her child would still be alive. I have seen too many”ACCIDENTS” that should have never happened – the real fault, Human error.
Wow. There’s two basic things firearms manufacturers need to get right… make the gun fire when it’s supposed to, and not let it fire when it’s not. 50% is not passing.
Awwwww Man. Are you kidding me? “Your firearm is affected”
After they replaced the Walker trigger with X-Mark for this very reason???
Man, WTF. I am so not buying anymore FreedomGroup bullshit ever again.
I guess I’ll find out, but no clue from the site as to whether I need to send them just the trigger group or the entire rifle. It would be a lot easier to just ship the trigger as there’s no way in hell I’m sending them my Nikon scope.
From the email, ‘Remington will send you pre-paid shipping tags, boxes and written instructions.’
Am I getting both a 4′ box and a 4″ box? The owners manual has clear instructions for removing the trigger for cleaning, so why would they send the 4′ box?
Also, if they insist on me sending the entire rifle back do I have to use my FFL?
No, you don’t need to use an FFL (unless you are in one of those ultra gun control states perhaps) as it is legal to send back to the manufacturer for repairs and them to ship back direct to you. But, I can’t vouch for that for all states because some have overstepped their bounds and, as we know, have implemented infringements all over the place.
No. You can send a firearm to any licensed entity, and they can return it to you.
No, you should just box it up, insure it for the full purchase price and send it back to the manufacture.
Anyone can send a gun to a licensed person/business (ie, a FFL) for repair or work, without needing to go through a FFL at your end. You must use a “common carrier” (eg, UPS, FedX, DHL, etc) and you must send it directly to the FFL and the FFL can return it only to the person who sent it. Do not include ammo in the box, only your rifle, your name/address/phone number (both on the return shipping label an inside the box) and you’re good.
UPS has told me that all handguns must now go “2nd day air” in their service. Can’t speak to other common carriers.
Non-FFL holders (You) CAN use the US Postal Service ground shipping for LONG GUNS (shotguns/rifles). Handguns must go via UPS, FedEx, etc. unless you have an FFL. FFL’s can ship both long guns and handguns via USPS. I shipped my Stevens 320 shotgun back for service using USPS a couple of years ago.
But, in this case, Remington will issue you a shipping tag so that you can take it to whichever service THEY chose (UPS or FedEx) and you slap the label on it and give it to the carrier. The key is that it must go to a UPS or FedEx staffed center and not through one of their authorized shipping centers (like Kinko’s, etc.)
You’re right, you can send long arms via USPS. However… I know people who have used the USPS and had their guns go missing. When the USPS loses a gun, they balk at paying you off. They claim they’re “investigating” the missing item … for months to years.
At least with UPS and others, when you lose a gun, they pay off more promptly, and that’s because when a gun goes missing via a private-sector common carrier, they move their feet a bit more rapidly when one gets a police report or I (or some other FFL) reports the gun went missing to the BATF and the ATF agents start making some phone calls.
USPS employees? They don’t care. Neither the ATF nor the local police can intimidate a typical USPS employee.
I recommend non-USPS carriers to my customers for this reason.
They want the entire Rifle…..
WTF….mine too.
But hey, I got 40% off of a new shotgun barrel for my 870. At least that one hasn’t been recalled yet.
Ooh, that’s a good idea. I didn’t bother to follow the link because I assumed there was nothing I’d want.
Mossberg made my new 18.5″ 870 barrel. It looks like a good piece.
I would appreciate if Dyspeptic Gunsmith could weigh in on this. I’ve got a decent gunsmith just few miles down the road, and I don’t see why they couldn’t just do a little cleaning and smithing. I’ve also thoroughly function checked my 700 LTR .308 and took a deer with it last season. I’ve only got about 200 rounds with it, but I’ve had no issues whatsoever. Further, I was warned about the trigger issue and attempted to create a malfunction on the range with the rifle pointed in the safe direction. Why couldn’t a good gunsmith just give it a once over?
Checking the gun again, I still couldn’t induce a malfunction. The gun just doesn’t seem like a ticking timebomb to me.
I don’t feel like being without the gun for months, or having my Burris XTR 312 which is perfectly mounted in US Optic rings getting screwed with. I figure 1/2 – 3/4 MOA is the best she’ll do with the current scope and stock anyways, but I really don’t want to re-mount and re-level the scope.
Good call on DG weighing in.
I was paranoid as all get out when I took my .375 over seas.
I have never been able to induce a UD in any of mine.
Meanwhile a Timney trigger upgrade may not be a bad way to go.
It really isn’t. They’re good triggers. They’re not the “best” triggers, but they’re a heck of an improvement over many factory triggers.
If one has the gumption, they can be opened up, their mating surfaces honed and polished, and they become outstanding triggers.
A good ‘smith could indeed do the work. But here’s the catch:
Once a gun has a recall on it for trigger issues, many gunsmiths want nothing to do with said gun’s trigger work until the recall has been addressed by the manufacture. I wouldn’t. There’s too many sue-happy lawyers out there, and even tho you might want the trigger replaced by something better (eg, Timney or something else), when a gunsmith inserts himself into the situation where there’s an outstanding recall on the trigger (and the owner and the gunsmith know there is a recall on the gun’s trigger), short-circuiting the recall by having the gunsmith address it puts all the liability onto the gunsmith, even if he’s just replacing the entire trigger group with a new trigger group from a third party.
Ever been to court to testify? Ever sized up the average IQ of the jury pool? Those were all the people who were too dumb or too lazy to get out of jury duty. Those are the people one has to deal with when you’re trying to convince them that not sending the gun back to the manufacture for the recall had no bearing on a wholesale trigger replacement.
I have a Timney trigger that I just ordered which I’ll probably set to 3.5 or 4 pounds. I figure if there is an issue with the mechanism, I’ll just replace it. I’d actually send it to you based upon your reputation and knowledge, but I’ve not ever seen you advertise on this site.
If my local ‘smith isn’t willing to do the job, I’ll do it myself or possibly send it back to the company who screwed it up in the first place. A company that has grown progressively worse, and also managed to screw up Marlin. That really doesn’t inspire confidence. I’m also thinking that thousands of rifles need to be repaired, and I can’t imagine that the process would be done with any kind of speed or efficiency that would impress me.
Would you replace triggers, or would you still advise just sending it back in? With everything that’s happened with Remington and Freedom Group, I trust my local smith (and you) a whole lot more than them.
If you’re planning on selling the rifle, then I’d send it in for the recall, just to insulate yourself from liability.
I really just bought a new 700 two days ago, ha! How can I find out if my rifle was produced during these dates?
Nevermind, I clicked on the link. Whoops!
Looks like I’ll be shipping my new rifle out. I didn’t even get a chance to shoot it but I guess that’s a good thing. Bummer!
Freedom Group Has ruined Remmington, Bushmaster, DPMS, Ohh and lets not forget Marlin! Just the name “FREEDOM GROUP”, that’s like naming a used car lot “HONEST JOHN’s”. If you need to advertise what you stand for, chances are you don’t stand for shit! That’s why I cant stand a firearms company ran buy a bunch of non gun using bean counters. The reason why Remington didn’t recall the Walker trigger was paying a few wrongful death suits, was cheaper than recalling 10’s of thousands of rifles, which Remington claimed would bankrupt them.
Is any rifle drop-safe? My 6920’s manual says not to bump the barrel end because it could cause a discharge due to the fact that AR-15’s have free floating firing pins (which I still fail to understand how a tiny semi-auto can be totally dropsafe but a relatively much larger rifle isn’t)
I’ve seen Winchester Model 70’s, Mausers and Springfield 1903/A3’s that have been dropped off the sides of mountains – and never discharged.
That’s because the safety is on the bolt, retaining the firing pin to where, regardless of what might happen downstairs in the trigger group, the firing pin is captured and locked rearwards.
IMO, once you get into the types of trigger systems where the trigger or sear is blocked, but there’s nothing other than the sear holding back the firing pin/striker, now you start into dubious drop-proof safety.
There are powerful reasons why, after 100+ years, the folks who hunt dangerous game prefer Mauser actions or bolt actions that hew closely to the Mauser 98 design. Remington (and others) looked at the Mauser design and said “Well, we don’t need all those safety features, do we?”
Well, you don’t. Until you do, that is.
@Actually:
I can’t recall a single bolt action rifle being designed to be drop safe.
But I’ve owned and became familiar with the Mosin, the Mauser, the Lee Enfield, the Savage 110, and other designs, and I’m NOT afraid that the gun would go off if I dropped it. I am afraid of scratching the finish however.
Most gun designs are safely designed enough to not need to be drop safe. If the Russians could do it with Mosins in the middle of WW2, Remington has no excuse in my book.
You’re in luck – most Mosins come pre-scratched and nicely weathered. Just like a pair of old jeans. Any gun you own will get beat up if you shoot it and / or carry it regularly.
I have a Winchester
As do I, but I want all my guns working all the time.
My only contact with Remington was when my (700 BDL action) suffered a failure. I sent the rifle back along with a blank check as post-failure investigation revealed an overpressure cause due to neck wall swell. In due course I received a barreled action via return post, (which tells how long ago this was), the old barrel and the check ! And the “new” rifle shot better than the old one dropped into the same stock with the same accessories !
Yes I “learned my lesson” and have a couple of chamber casts of this rifle and all hand loads specs have to comply with those dimensions. But I won’t -ever- utter a nasty word about the fine folks at Ilion ! I know from years’ personal experience with an OEM Remington’s chief engineering honcho’s days are filled with resolving conflicts among engineering, production, QA/QC, marketing and the company legal advisors. Not all such compromises prove effective !
My 700 sps tac will not be sent back even tho it has the X mark pro trigger because I have had a Geoff Corn trigger job.
my recommendation is to put a jewel or Timmy trigger in it.they put in their reports that the gun discharge during dropping however I saw one go of bumping against a tree and that was in no way a hard enough for rifle the discharge.
Just picked up my new 700 today, and “Your rifle is subject to the recall.” FML.
My rifle is subject to this recall. I was thinking of picking up another 700, but I think that I will use the money for a new lever gun instead. Henry, not Marlin.
Remington: ‘Your NAME has been affected’.
Here is my suggestion to anyone on the fence about not fixing this. Take the time and get it fixed. Know what kind of weapon you have in your hand and truly dont rely on the thought that you have shoot this weapon thousand of times without issue. It only takes once. In my opinion this has been an issue for years and has been proven. In my personal opinion/experiance this weapon is not safe and I eould not have one in my collection
Here is my suggestion to anyone on the fence about not fixing this. Take the time and get it fixed. Know what kind of weapon you have in your hand and truly dont rely on the thought that you have shoot this weapon thousand of times without issue. It only takes once. In my opinion this has been an issue for years and has been proven. In my personal opinion/experiance this weapon is not safe and I would not have one in my collection. Please take this recall serious! It only takes one mis fire and your life could be changed for ever. Be safe.
Well, glad I didn’t buy one as I’ve been looking into one and became hesitant due to the stories out there.
I’m relatively new to guns and have two pistols currently and am looking into a rifle. Any recommendations for me on a rifle similar to the 700? Unfortunately I live in New Bolshevik ground zero, Chicago where the gun laws are ridiculous.
TIA
I should have got a Winchester! At least it’s not deer season.
the payout will trigger the arrival of an entire fleet of ambulance chasers.
Those “ambulance chasers” have already secured settlements and jury verdicts against Remington for more than $20 MILLION due to injuries and deaths caused by Remmy’s defective Walker trigger. And if you think that any American business pays out that kind of jack based on phony claims, you’re nuts.
The basic 700 receiver design is an industry classic. However, the fancier triggers have been killers — and not in a good way — for over 20 years. And the company did nothing to fix them.
All GM did with its defective ignition switches was to take a play from Remmy’s playbook.
It’s funny how many people are hating on the 700 now as if it’s a bad rifle. It’s a great rifle but a shotty trigger right now. It’s a hassle but hopefully they’ll fix it quickly & I’ll have a slick rifle back in my hands.
At the pinnacle of the 700’s days, it was an “OK” rifle. It was accurate, but the quality has always been well below that of nicer mass-produced rifles like the Winchester M70.
Today, there’s nothing about a 700 that is special or notable. If you want a black phosphate finish on your metal and synthetic stocks, there’s lots of other choices out there.
REALLY? Would you buy a Chevy truck because it is a great truck but just happens to have a really bad engine? Remember…..a trigger is “everything” to a firearm. A good trigger will improve accuracy. A poor trigger will not.
Ok, their “check the serial number” system is broken. I did a check to see if my rifle was effected. And it appears so… Then I said, well wait let’s check something. I changed the last part of my serial number to A instead of B. Same outcome. Then I put 123456789 and what do you know! Subject to recall. I’ve put over 1k rounds downrange with my 700 sps varmint, ranging from tula brass, hand loads, federal, and pmc and my trigger has never UD. I’ll not be sending mine out.
I can’t say that it’s broken, but it certainly isn’t omniscient–it can’t tell if your particular serial number has an XMP trigger or not, only if your gun was produced since the introduction of the XMP. I think that Remington is doing what its lawyers tell it to do, and erring on the side of extreme caution–fearing that the average owner isn’t going to know an XMP from a PDQ or a WTF, and asking that you send back ever’ blessed gun made between 2006 and today to make SURE what kind of trigger it has. I know full well that my LTR has a 40-X trigger, but its owner’s handbook says that it has an XMP, and the ‘serial checker’ says that it’s in the recall. So much for relying on a computer program, and the owner’s handbook spends most of its content telling me how not to shoot myself unless I really, truly want to do so.
I would say that if your gun does have the XMP trigger, it should be sent back–if you refuse to participate in a product recall, anything bad that happens after that is going to be difficult to pin on Remington. I’m not saying that something bad WILL happen, but if GM recalls your ignition switch and you ignore it, don’t complain when you crash into that building and the airbags don’t deploy.
I have sent Remington Safety a request to make the ‘check the serial number’ page a bit more informative, and to include some way to let you verify that, no matter if your gun is in the proper range for the recall, if it doesn’t happen to have an XMP trigger there’s no need to return it. We’ll see.
Luckily mine was made in 1975, long before TFG got their hands on a once fine company.
Yep, you and I are lucky. We bought our 700’s long before the new Remington trigger…Opps! I forgot, our Remington’s are of the Walker trigger era – even worse than the current trigger problems. Remington 700’s have been decent rifles, but have had trigger issues since Walker first designed his trigger. Put it this way….Remington has had trigger issues in excess of 50 years. Yet, we still call it one of the BEST? Not anymore. I’m buying Browning.
I just ordered my Timney from Brownell’s. By next weekend, the only Remington parts left on my 700 will be the bolt and receiver (which have both been blueprinted, so aren’t exactly stock either).
When people ask me whether it is “worth it” to turn a rack 700 into a “tack driver” rifle, I usually come down like this:
With all the gunsmith labor costs taken into account, if you’re getting a complete 700 action for $200 or less, then OK, get it blueprinted and built up into a rifle.
If you can’t get the 700 action really cheap, then just be done with the issue, buy a higher-end 700-compatible action and be done with it. You’re going to hang on a new trigger group, new barrel, new stock, new bottom metal… so there’s no point in buying a complete rifle and trying to turn a sow’s purse into a silk pig.
Quality is down for many of these major mass producers. I recently had a Savage 10 that went back twice for bolt issues. Now the 700 that replaced it has to go back. Ugh.
What better way for the Government to track you and your guns, get the mailing addresses and presto instant Data base of Gun Owners!
Another Random thought since when are dropped rifle,s with a live chambered round considered safe! sounds like some ignorant want too be who works for Bloomberg manufactured this too make money and add too gun Control
Congratulations. Anyone who read that is now measurably stupider for having done so.
What the hell are you talking about? How would a recall do what you’ve said? I agree with Matt in FL that some brain cells committed suicide when faced with your statements that make no sense.
They claim this is an issue if you “DROP YOUR WEAPON” that it may go off.. that’s an easy fix, as I was instructed years ago,, “You don’t drop your weapon” your life could depend on it..
Any weapon if you drop it has the potential of discharging, this is carelessness by the user.. and adjusting the trigger to your liking is not a fault of the manufacturer… Again its your damn fault..
Ex: I have a 12 ga Mossberg 500, it has discharged two times on me with out touching the trigger..
1st time, I tapped the butt of the stock to hard on the ground, yes it discharged.. w/o touching the trigger,
2nd time: I let it slip and bounced the stock against the ground while reaching in a briar patch to retrieve my rabbit, yeap it discharged with out touching the trigger again and left shot burns on the back of my shoulder and hat..
Does that mean its a default?? NO it was careless ness on my part.
Moral>>.. Don’t Drop your damn weapon” it could cost you ye manufacturer our life.. It ain’t the fault of the manufacture that you are careless…… The gun doesn’t kill unless a human screws up. Don’t believe me,, lay it down or stand it in a corner for the day.. see how many it kills…
A friend of mine recently had the same trouble with his M70 Win in .308.
His rifle looked like it had never been properly cleaned.
Is it possible that it’s really just operator error in most cases or just a really isolated case here and there with pretty much ALL models of rifles?
I’ve owned several M700s over the years – currently have 4 in my safe – and have NEVER experienced this problem.
????
Website has been down all day. Typical.
NEW definition of Gun Control: Buy a Remington 700!
Better you learn from the company then from an accident. They are admitting to a problem and fixing it. It is an inconvenience, but they are fixing it. I am not in any way affiliated with Remington, just happy they left NY for friendlier territory.
Meaningless for anyone like myself who put a aftermarket trigger in. I went with Timney for my 700 SPS Tach ACC.
And while I’m no fan of Freedom Group the recall is about too much loctite or whatever being used, not inferior parts. Anyone who says the 700 rem is junk obviously has no idea what they are talking about.
I submitted my serial number to their website and was told it needed to be send in. That was April 13. Now, a month later, I am still waiting for their pre-paid shipping tags, boxes and written instructions. I’ve emailed them twice and never heard back. Calling their phone make you wait forever.
It does not look to me Remington is able to deal with this recall. If it takes this long to get their return box, how long will it take for the repair.
I have been talking to Remington about the recall. Mine is on the list. They are offering a discount but it is on a separate site and is basically a bunch of BS trinkets to ensure they are not out much money. The big issue is that you have to take everything off the gun and send it in. Everything. You have to take off the scope, rings and anything else that did not come in the box when you bought it. We all spend a lot of money and time on the gear, ammo and time to get our gun the way we want them. Remington on the phone did not seem to acknowledge that. It was obvious they were reading form what the lawyers wrote for them. I am pissed and very disappointed. I will be investing in a new precision rifle that is not a Remington. Not because of the issue but because of the way they are handling it. They told me to never use it again until it is sent to them. “I was told that in no way was the rifle safe to use”. Like I told them, I am within a week of buying a new 3 gun shotgun. I was torn between the benneli and the Remington versamax competition. They just made my mind up for me. They also said there is no way they can estimate when it will be completed. She did admit it could be months because of the surge last year and the amount that they are getting in for repair. I will be replacing the trigger with an after market and sell it. No more Remington for me.
I asked Remington to get me a cash credit for my Xmark Pro trigger because I will have to replace it. I can’t wait for months to get my rifle back. Of course that was not an option.
A question I have is, if winning in small claims court in Florida against Remington, as I expect I would if either they refuse to agree or fail to respond to a certified letter demand to either repair and return the rifle within 30 days or refund purchase price, could I collect?
I’ve been down the road before of winning judgment but being unable to collect.
I realize that’s really not a firearms question, but highly relevant to this situation. As far as I’m concerned, Remington knowingly sold me a product unfit for the purpose for which it was sold, and they should have to refund or at the least repair promptly in a timeframe agreeable to the customer.
?
Thanks!
It is not about the gun but how they handled it. They told me to take everything off the gun and sent me a box toreturn it. It takes a lot of time and money to get your gun perfect. Just the way you want it. I told them i did not want to strip it diwn and asked for a refund on a trigger i will buy and eeolace myself. It was not no but hell no from the person i taled to. They were asses on the phone. Bottom line is i bought and replaced it myself with a nicer trigger. I sent them a small pink AR SQUIRTGUN in the box they privided. Kind of my F you for being an ass to talk to. Hope they found it as funny as i did.
This is a sad situation. Remington has had my rifle since 21 May 2014. They have stopped answering my emails or responding to their on-line trouble tickets. What is worse is my R700 SPS tactical shot 3/4″ groups or better at 200 yards with reloads. And I had to strip it down to return it. They don’t care and I won’t buy from them ever again. And being in the DoD, word of mouth is huge and bad publicity lasts forever.
I’m in the same boat. It took them weeks to get me the box, then another 2 weeks after I sent it for it to even come up on their online repair checker. I emailed customer service and was told it’d be at least 12 weeks before I get mine back. At this point I’m assuming it’s more than just too much loctite, and expect whatever new trigger they put in to not be as good as the one I sent.
They sent me an email congratulating themselves for their exceptional costomer service that they would have my rifle back to me in no less than 12 weeks. BS would rather return for a check to put towards a working rifle lost all trust in this one. Will never let my son use a non trustworthy weapon. Very disappointed in both product and service. Let’s do better America!
I just purchased a Remington 700 on Friday at a local major retailer, only to find out 2 days later (today) that the product has a recall. I put in my serial number in the website as instructed and was very disappointed to find out my rifle is, in fact, part of the recalled products. It’s stll in the box and the scope has not even been mounted yet. And, of course, firearms are one of the products mentioned on the stores website (Dick’s Sporting Goods) that fireams could not be returned. I have the receipt and all packaging. Waiting 12 weeks or more to get my brand new (never fired) rifle repaired or adjusted is so disappointing to me. Does anyone know if it is legal or ethical for a store to continue to sell a recall item without any marketing or literature informing a consumer of said purchase. I am brand new to hunting and was relying solely on the experience of the staff in the gun/ammo department to assist me with purchase.
I had the same problem. But in fact my rifle had already been repaired. Here’s how to find out:
1. Go to this pdf – http://xmprecall.remington.com/pdfs/xmprecall-notice.pdf
Look at picture 3 at the bottom. If your rifle has the punch mark it has already been repaired.
2. Call the hotline. Give them your serial number. If they tell you to return it, tell them you just bought it. Ask them to look up their manufacturing database and see if it has been repaired. It may have been.
The website doesn’t help with recently purchased guns. It doesn’t know if they have been repaired or not.
I’ve already fussed at Remington for having an inadequate recall system that doesn’t flag repaired guns.
The sporting goods stores apparently don’t know about the punch mark either. I bought mine from Sportsmans Warehouse and they were unaware of how to tell if a gun was repaired. But they did know that they had send a bunch back for repair, but they did not flag them in any way.
This recall system of Remington’s leave a lot to be desired.
That’s a question I’d like an answer to. I bought a 700 from sportsmans warehouse last week and found out about the recall today. My serial number is on the recall list. So why wasn’t this rifle taken off the shelf and sent back for repair before being sold? Am I supposed to buy a defective product and then go though the hassle of sending it back and losing the use of it for a month or more?
I would advise not sending in your rifle until things get sorted out, and you know what the repair time is. As others have noted, it could be a VERY long time. Having a gunsmith put in an aftermarket trigger may be a better option.
And there is a possibility it may NEVER be returned. What I mean is that this may kill Remington. People may stop buying all the Freedom Group guns, like they are staying away from the new Marlins – due to all the crap guns they sold during the Marlin plant transition (even though the latest Marlins are better). I’ve seen the same thing happen from the inside at other manufacturing companies. The 30 year-old MBAs and marketing people who don’t know squat about the product or quality control overrule the engineers, technicians, machinists, and line people, eventually killing the company. If your gun is in the pipeline then, who knows what will happen to it. People posting that they’ve been already been waiting many months to get guns fixed with other previous problems is not a good sign. If a class-action lawsuit arises, that will just make things worse.
By the way, I guess this means that Freedom Group isn’t going to recall all the defective Marlin lever guns that they made when they moved the Marlin plant and fired all the employees – because those guns aren’t a safety problem – they were just crap. Misaligned sights, bad stocks, poor fit, unfinished internals, etc.
The really bad part is, that the Marlin employees all got fired, while MBA dorks and marketers will all be making $100K/yr until the Freedom Group collapses in a heap of debt and unreturned recalled rifles.
So my rifle has the trigger and was made in 2013 well within the dates that was recalled. I have submitted it 3 times and all three times it has said your firearm is not affected by this recall. Is this happening to anyone else and does remington have multiple factories or something. Is it possible my rifle is fine or is it f#$&ed and remington is just trying to get me killed. (Being dramatic don’t be a gun safety nut and say something like you should never point the gun at yourself anyways I already know that) I’ve never had a problem with the trigger and the gun performs perfectly.
I have a friend in Colo. he purchased a Browning, and guess what it had a defected safety, he sent it back to Browning, they said it was fixed, same problem, so he sent it back again, they said it was ok, same problem, he took it to a local gunsmith, he fixed the overpriced junk. I hunt with a sportized 1903 Springfield, it shoots a group the size of a nickle at 100 yards, most commercial rifles can’t do that! I have a Remington 700 in 30’06, and it shoots very well, but I never knew about this trigger defect, Is there a list of serial numbers of the defective Mods? I will check my gun for the type trigger I have .