I don't know if I'd call them "problems" per se, but the 700 certainly has some design shortcomings, in my opinion (and others too), that canpotentially lead to problems. Specifically I'm talking about the following:

- The aforementioned brazed on bolt handle.
- A puny little spring steel extractor (this is what I've had the most problems with). A claw or Sako style extractor would be better.
- A plunger ejector instead of a fixed blade. A minor issue, but I prefer the blade type.
- The breech is not coned which can lead to feeding problems, though in all honesty I've never had a problem.
- A bolt that requires a special tool to disassemble. The model 70 bolt, for example, can be disassembled easily by hand in the field if necessary.
- It's been a while since I owned one, but don't you have to release the safety in order to open the bolt?
- And last, but most important to me, a trigger and safety assembly that doesNOT block the firing pin. It's a matter of public record than Remington 700's have been involved in numerous lawsuits involving accidental discharges.

These things are important to me, especially the issue with the safety not blocking the firing pin. It is a factthe 700 isquite popular, though, soI guess these things are not asimportant toa lot of folks and that's fine with me. I think the real reasons they're so popular is that they're relatively inexpensive, they're easily modified to perform better and parts are readily available, they can be quite accurate out of the box, the Remington name is well known and, quite frankly,I think most people just aren't savy enough about rifles to know these shortcomings exist.