So I had the M700 out to wipe it down, and when I dropped the striker to put it back into the safe (I never store my rifles c-o-c-ked, and yes, I did double check to ensure it was not loaded... safety first ) I couldn't help but think that the trigger felt a little TOO light for a hunting rifle.

Unfortunately, I don't have a trigger pull weight tester, or a fishing scale, so how is a guy to check and set the pull weight without said items? SODA BOTTLE!

My wife buys the 6 packs of Diet Pepsi 24 ounce bottles for me to take to work because it's much cheaper than buying it in a c-store, and I'm completely addicted to Diet Pepsi. Anyway, 24 fluid ounces = 24 dry ounces, plus the weight of the bottle which might be another ounce or 2, equals roughly 1.5 pounds, or what I consider to be the perfect compromise for a hunting trigger. Took the action out of the stock, tied some string around the bottle's flange, with a loop to go over the trigger. On my first test, the bottles weight easily released the sear. So I rec-o-c-ked (did anybody tell the idiots that programmed the ****ing profanity filter, that the word c-o-c-k has at least two perfectly legitimate, non-vulgar definitions in the ****ing English language!) the action, turned in the trigger pull weight screw, and rehung the bottle. Nothing. Then slowly turned out the screw until the trigger broke. Reset and retest, and it gives a consistent release as soon as the full weight of the bottle in on the trigger. Put the rifle back together, and tried the trigger and it feels just right. Light, crisp break, but not so light that I'd have trouble controlling the trigger with cold and/or gloved fingers.

This little ghetto gunsmithing tip brought to you by me and Diet Pepsi.

Too bad I don't have the guts to try floating the barrel and glass bedding the action. The stock is just too pretty for me to garf it up.

Mike