Read this first caliguy on the Remington 700! http://www.fishingbuddy.com/remington_700_problems
This Rifle made the National News the other night with a safety Defect that has cost more than a Dozen Hunters or Hunters Families a death. The News showed the Rifle being bolted and with the firearm in an up position fire unintentionally. A FemalHunter in Texas accidentally dishcharged her rife in the house at her 12 year old son, She's maintained for years her finger wasn't near the trigger, Remington and others made her out to be the bad guy, until MSNBC did some action reporting, and founds thousands of accidental dishcharges by this rife, and approx a Dozen deaths contributed to this defect. Remington's Attorney was on the news also representing Remington, His statement was "The Gun should not fire without a finger on the trigger" But further went on to say that due to poor cleaning and maintenance the problem did occur. Funny the next clip on this National news story was of a Military sniper Bolting down a round in a .308 caliber, and with his arm and hand clearly out of the way, waiting a few seconds the rifle discharged automatically! I for the life of me cannot agree to poor maintenance or cleaning issues being the problem in a US Military enviroment. Right after seeing this News clip, I have family that hunt and are very fond of the Remington 700, I called my cousin, which stated in 1993, after a hunting trip, was unloading his 7mm Mag, and it accidentally discharged, Blowing a Brick out of the wall just below the roof, Luckily no one was injured, He contacted Remington immediately, and Remington asked that he box the Rifle up and send it back to them, a few weeks later, he received a Remington 700 BDL 7mm Mag and an 870 Remington Shotgun back, for his inconvienience no questions asked. Apparently This problem has plagued Remington for a while, but the story just made Headline News last week or the week before.
Just a little bit of information for you before you make the Remington 700 purchase.