When it comes to replacing the trigger in your firearm, there’s a pretty wide gulf in “DIY-ness.” On the one hand are the complete, literally drop-in AR-15-style triggers like the Timney I reviewed last week, where all that’s needed, once you remove the old trigger, is to properly position the new unit, put the pins back in, tighten setscrews and you’re done.
On the other hand are, well, I’d say revolver or 1911 trigger jobs that really are best left to the professionals. Glock- and M&P-style triggers, along with Remington 700, fall somewhere in-between.
Until now, though. CMC Triggers rolled out its drop-in Remington 700 trigger earlier this year at SHOT Show, and I’ve had a chance to install it and check it out a little more thoroughly. It displaced the Timney Calvin Elite trigger in my Remington 700 in .300 Win. Mag., as that’s my only Rem. 700, and the process is just about as simple as that for an AR-15.
Remove the old trigger (obviously, the factory unit is removed in the same manner as the Timney, if you’re replacing the original trigger), and the CMC unit drops into place. The bolt stop is pinned into place with the trigger unit itself, so once the old trigger is out, the entire unit can be placed where it needs to go. Literally the only thing you need to worry about are not mixing up the pins that hold the trigger unit in place.
Once in place, the CMC trigger functions beautifully. It ships, pre-set, at 2.5 pounds which doesn’t really do it justice—it’s 2.5 pounds with no creep or grit whatsoever. This isn’t just a trigger that’s easy to install, it’s a significant upgrade over the factory. The safety lever moves smoothly, providing a faster, quieter (for the hunters) mechanism for engaging the safety.
The bolt-release lever is equally smooth, and all controls are located in the same place as on the factory trigger unit. Trigger pull weight can be adjusted from 0.5 to 3.5 pounds, without needing to remove the unit from the rifle. As it comes from the factory, though, should be more than adequate for the vast majority of uses.
MSRP on the trigger is $210, and two models are currently available. In addition to the flat-face trigger shown above, a more traditional curved variant is also available. My preference is for the flat-face version, as I feel it lends itself more to a uniform press on the trigger.
Since this is a long-range rig intended to clang steel plates out to 1,000 yards or more, I want every advantage I can get. CMC is long-known for its replacement AR-15 triggers, with this Remington 700 variant the company is expanding its line to a wider audience.
