TriggerTech is thrilled to be unveiling the Diamond Rem 700 Trigger at the 2017 GAP Grind - the largest Precision Rifle Series event of the season which is being held at the K&M Precision Rifle Training Shooting Complex in Finger, Tennessee on October 6-8, 2017. The TriggerTech Diamond Rem 700 Trigger was designed to meet the requirements of leading competitive shooters. It features our crispest break yet, a pull weight adjustment range from below 4 oz to 32 oz, our new Variable Rate Adjustment Technology and the new Pro Curved trigger lever. We hope you like it!
TriggerTech Rem 700 Development History
TriggerTech introduced the Primary Rem 700 Trigger at the 2015 SHOT Show. We had three working prototype triggers, one PGW Defense Rem 700 clone action and a backpack. It was exciting times as it was the first time anyone in the gun industry had seen a trigger that operated on the principle of true rolling friction. While people could not see the internals, they were wowed by the zero creep 1.5 lb break and the clicking, externally accessible, pull weight adjustment screw. Every single person who tried the trigger was impressed. It was clear - we had a better mousetrap.
An early Primary Rem 700 Trigger
A PVD Black Special Trigger |
TriggerTech engineers set out to develop a Rem 700 Trigger that could safely and reliably operate at a lower pull weight without relying on static sliding friction. The variables available to them were engagement surface geometry and pressure. After many months of designing, testing and trials the team had a breakthrough with geometry and we had out first dependable 1.0lb trigger.However being able to manufacture them proved just as challenging. Initial production yields were horrific. The odd triggers that would pass our hand testing process were placed into a green bin labeled “Special” as they seemed to defy the odds. These were sold against the open purchase order and to select custom builders in limited quantities.After several more months of designing, testing and trials the engineering team had another breakthrough with tolerances. We developed a process that enabled us to perfectly match three critical components and eliminate stack up tolerance issues. This breakthrough enabled us to scale production to the point that we released the Special Rem 700 Trigger to the public in November 2016. |
The Difference a ½ lb can make
Developing the Special took far more resources and time that we could have ever predicted. In the end, we managed to shave 1/2lb from the pull weight and that left us all questioning - would it be enough to make a difference?
The custom builders were right. The ½ lb was a big difference - from the Special’s perspective the Primary is 50% heavier at the low end. Some customers would also report that TriggerTech’s set at 1.0lb would feel like their other triggers set around 8 – 10 oz. These customers were describing how their triggers felt vs. the measured pull weight. Our triggers feel lighter because they have zero creep and require significantly less energy to operate. This is because the force is applied over much less distance.
By this point, the Primary Trigger had become widely adopted by many hunting oriented OEMs and the Specials were becoming a favourite for many custom builders and R700 Clone Action manufactures. The reliability of our triggers in dusty environments had caught the attention of the K&M Shooting Team. They trialed the Special Rem 700 Triggers and liked everything about the triggers except the 1.0lb pull weight. They wanted ounces not pounds.
Developing the Diamond
We did it with the Specials. Could we do it again? How low could we go? At the time, we could not answer these questions but we wanted to find out.
TriggerTech engineers now set out to develop a Rem 700 Trigger that could safely and reliably operate in the low ounces. This time the team knew where to look and after three months of designing, testing and trials the team had another geometry breakthrough and we had our first trigger capable of operating below a 4 oz pull weight.
Again, the lower pull weight gave rise to more tolerance issues. The engineers expanded on the process used for the Special Rem 700 triggers and expanded it to include a total of five matched components (exponentially more complicated).
TriggerTech Co-founder Mats Lipowski taking the first shots with the Diamond Rem 700 Trigger on a rainy day in April 2017 (Note the milled-out stock which enables rapid testing of multiple prototypes).
The low pull weight also gave rise to another issue – the trade-off between pull weight adjustment increments and overall pull weight range. TriggerTech’s engineers wanted to continue to offer shooters the clicking, externally accessible, pull weight adjustment screw. However, with such a low starting weight TriggerTech was faced with having to choose between either a narrow pull weight range with fine adjustment steps or a wide adjustment range with coarse steps. Neither of these choices were acceptable. This is what drove the development of Variable Rate Adjustment Technology.
Variable Rate Adjustment Technology
Variable Rate Adjustment Technology™ (“VRA Technology™”) enables the user to make finer pull weight adjustments at the low end of the range and coarser adjustments at the higher end of the range. VRA Technology™ enables the Diamond to be adjustable from below 4oz – 32oz with TriggerTech’s patented CLKR Technology™. The externally accessible set screw enables an adjustment range that begins at ~0.2 oz/click from below 4 oz to ~9 oz and the changes to ~1 oz/click from ~9oz to ~32 oz. 
A Note on Pull Weights
As TriggerTech Rem 700 Triggers operate on true rolling friction they do have some differences from traditional friction based triggers. One major difference is that the pull weight of TriggerTech Rem 700 Trigger is a function of these 3 factors:
The engagement surface geometry is fixed by TriggerTech and is not user adjustable. The pull weight adjustment spring force is easily adjusted by the user from the externally accessible set screw. The firing pin spring force is not controlled by TriggerTech. If the firing pin spring force differs from a factory Rem 700 action it will have a slight and material impact on your TriggerTech’s pull weight range. Traditional friction based triggers are not as sensitive to firing pin spring force.
Free length comparison of Factory Rem 700 firing pin spring (top) and TriggerTech’s pull weight adjustment spring (bottom) with axial detent.
Controlling a Diamond
The trigger lever is where you connect with your firearm. We believe the bond should be perfect. The Traditional Curved lever was designed with the right amount of bend and vertical grooves to keep your finger in place. It is ideal for hunting, target shooting and everyday use. Our Flat Straight lever offers a different feel and striking appearance. An operator can comfortably adjust trigger pull weight by moving their finger up or down on the lever. The edges are neither round nor sharp enabling control without discomfort. The locator nub is large enough to be noticed yet minimalist enough that it is possible to effectively operate even with your finger over this point.
We thought that these two options had us fully covered until some shooters from Team Surgeon told us that if our Traditional Curved lever and Flat Straight lever reproduced the offspring would be perfect for competition.
The Traditional Curved (left), Pro Curved (Center) and Flat Straight (Right) in the PVD Black Finish.
The Pro Curved lever is the result of listening to feedback from Team Surgeon. This lever features the same curved profile as the Traditional Curved lever but offers a flat face to provide the operator with clearer feedback to help ensure that trigger pulls are straight back. The difference in feel is surprisingly dramatic. The Pro Curved lever is available on the Diamond and Special triggers.
Team Surgeon Captain Matthew Brousseau provided the feedback that led to the development of the Pro Curved lever. |
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Testing a Diamond
The Diamond prototype was introduced at the NRA Show in April 2017 and we received very positive feedback.
The Diamond paying dividends for the K&M Team at the CORE Shooting Solutions Fall Classic.
Reliability at matches was a big concern for the K&M Team – they all had personal stories of high consequence sliding friction trigger failures. At TriggerTech our mission is focused on enhancing our customers’ success without compromising on reliability or safety. Contamination testing is a big part of that. We are happy to report that the Diamond offers the same resilience to harsh environments. a feature that all our triggers are known for. In the dust test, where the Diamond is intentionally contaminated with lab-grade Arizona Dust, it continues to operate with virtually no change to Trigger pull characteristics. 
The Dvorak Trigger scan supports what Brian says he feels. The first scan shows the pull weight and displacement in our Rem 700 Trigger Lineup and highlights how the Diamond really does offer a new level of performance over our Primary and Special Triggers. While all our triggers offer exceptionally crisp breaks this scan highlights the performance gains that were achieved through geometry enhancements and the matching of critical components (three in the Special and five in the Diamond) - the Diamond’s break occurs at less 0.0025”. The second scan has a different scale and shows how the TriggerTech Special compares to some of the competition with factory settings (the length of a gradual or flat peak denotes the amount of creep in a trigger).
Clones Only (Fo Now)
In addition to our testing with the K&M Team we have also tested the Diamonds with many the R700 clone action manufactures. Go ahead - ask them what they think.
For now, the Diamond is only available for Clone Rem 700s with action-mounted bolt release - this is because the Diamond will only operate reliably on actions that are properly timed (in a properly timed action, the firing pin assembly only engages with the trigger sear after the bolt throw once the bolt begins to close. In an untimed action, the firing pin assembly will contact the trigger sear during the bolt throw).
