I have a Remington model 700ML that I bought new when they first came out. The gun has had the best care. For some reason or a nother it don't want to go off at times. It almost acts like the spring in the bolt is getting soft. This week when I went hunting, I went to fire a cap before I loaded the gun & it failed to go off with the first try.I reset the bolt & used the same cap & it went off. The next 4 caps went off fine. When I got back to the truck & went to set it off the first shot just smashed the cap & the second set it off. They are all new caps & I have changed nipples many times. It's almost like they don't stay seated on the nipple. Can anyone help? I want to keep the gun it is a real tack driver.

I do not have 700ML but from what I have read [Do search on internet] there is a problem with this. Seems that the solution is to get a conversion kit and convert it to 209 ignition.

Did the 209 change the way your gun shot? I have a friend that changed his TC over & had nothing but problems.

I have owned a 700 ML for many years and have good success with it. A few years ago I converted mine to fire 209 primers, but it was always reliable with No. 11 caps too.

One question: Have you ever disassembled the bolt to clean it?

Primer and powder fouling will get into the inside of the bolt when you shoot these rifles. Over time a little moisture can cause the striker and spring to get rusty and cause problems. I think Remington had instructions for taking the bolt apart for cleaning in the manual and it is pretty easy, does not require any special tools.

Hope this helps.

Every time I take it down to clean it, I take the bolt apart. I have not taken the spring off the shaft that it is on. I am not sure if that comes apart any further? The best way I have found to take the bolt apart is, push the end that hits the cap down on a hard surface & at the same time unscrew the back of the bolt. Hope it helps someone. [One last thing] Did it change how your gun shot?

I can't say that it changed the way my 700ML fired. Like I said earlier, I had pretty good reliability even before I converted mine to 209 ignition.

I changed mine because I found one of the conversion kits for $16 at Cabela's bargain cave, and it seemed like a good deal.

From what I have read though, 209 primers provide hotter ignition than No. 11 caps and will give more reliable performance with powders and pelllets that are harder to burn.

Accuracy was really good before I converted the rifle, and still is.

Thank you for all the help! - STICK

I might make a suggestion if you do change it over to the 209 primers. Use the 209 primers made and marketed for muzzleloading. I think triple seven markets some as does Remington. I saw substantial increases in accuracy switching to them. My Encore shot 4-5 inch groups at 100yrds with regular shotshell primers, and now it is right at one inch. Too much power in the regular 209 shotshell primers can actually push your bullet off the load before the powder ignites, causing more variation.

The 209's designed for muzzleloaders also seem to be cleaner. I use sabots and was having trouble getting them seated after a couple shots, now it is more like 5 shots before it gets sticky.
By the way, I would switch to 209's in a heartbeat.

I have never read much of anything in 'performance enhancements' when switching over to the 209 primer. I personally would never do it, nor would I set one up as my recommendation for one for many reasons.

The problem I found with the Rem and Traditions and the Lymans is the Percussion cap I was using, there are (2) different caps: 1 is CCI Redish Orange inside paper and 1 is Remington Green inside paper (Both #11 Caps)

Well to make a very long stroy short about all the whitetails I missed because of the Reminngton /Geen paper caps NOT firing-- I swore up & down it was from the Muzzie, then I switched, same problem, then i tested another one same problem on my Knight even *Which is very rare*, I tried hammer and Lever and the green paper #11 caps kept failing..... I think the green ones are more susceptible to moisture and not allowing the powder behind the paper to ignite.

Once I switched over to the CCI Red paper caps- I was loving life my friend! I have shot several cans of them ( yes several cans and I never had *1* fail me)

RWS 1075 will do the trick !

-bubba