Remington 742

[backpacker]

The remington autoloaders I think were made for the occassional use a typical hunter puts it to.
A few practise shots and a shot of two to put the deer or moose down every year.
If you want a gun to go to the range and fire 200 shots down range every weekend you likely need to look for something else.
I can say that the remington autoloaders I owned in my life were adequate for the above noted purpose.
Just an opinion based mostly on conjecture because I have never fired thousands of shots out of a remington 7 series autoloader.
Couldn't afford it even if I was interested in proving a point.
One thing I did do was keep my rem semis meticulously cleaned and lubricated.
Not too much oil.
Just a couple of drops applied and worked into the action.

 

[mrgoat]

The remington autoloaders I think were made for the occassional use a typical hunter puts it to.
A few practise shots and a shot of two to put the deer or moose down every year.
If you want a gun to go to the range and fire 200 shots down range every weekend you likely need to look for something else.
I can say that the remington autoloaders I owned in my life were adequate for the above noted purpose.
Just an opinion based mostly on conjecture because I have never fired thousands of shots out of a remington 7 series autoloader.
Couldn't afford it even if I was interested in proving a point.
One thing I did do was keep my rem semis meticulously cleaned and lubricated.
Not too much oil.
Just a couple of drops applied and worked into the action.

This is a extremely accurate summation of a Remington 742 and many other brands and models of similar ilk.

 

[tiriaq]

I stripped the action down to basic parts and cleaned the gunk and crap out and then lightly lubed with an oil like remoil when I reassembled it.
I liked to tinker with mechanical stuff back then and learned by trial and error.
I haven't owned a remington autoloader for quite a while so the exact steps are lost in the fog of time.
I'm a lever and bolt man now with a couple of pump shotguns.

Thanks. Stripping a 742 action down to its basic parts is not for the faint of heart. After the gas system is torn down, the barrel has to come out, in order to remove the bolt assembly. Removing and replacing the fool pin that retains the cocking handle is a particular pain.

 

[backpacker]

The reason Remington went to the 7400 design was it was cheaper to manufacture. I have seen far more jamming from the newer version. They sold over one million 742 rifles, they did something right. I will keep taking mine afield even though many say it is no good.

The 7 series remington autoloaders withstood the test of time which is usually all about the numbers on the bean counters adding machine.
If they can't manufacture a gun and make a profit it won't be around long.
For example the winchester model 100 autolader which hasn't been manufactured new since 1973.
They're still making rem 750s.

 

[Mike Webb]

The 7 series remington autoloaders withstood the test of time which is usually all about the numbers on the bean counters adding machine.
If they can't manufacture a gun and make a profit it won't be around long.
For example the winchester model 100 autolader which hasn't been manufactured new since 1973.
They're still making rem 750s.

You are comparing apples and oranges. The Winchester 100 was only available in short action rounds. As far as semiautomatic hunting rifles go Winchester was never in the same league as Remington. The 742 was made from 1960 to 1981 and over a million units production. The worst thing to happen to sporting firearm production is bean counters. They are not "gun people". They are bottom line people. They have no more feel or appreciation for a fine gun than I do for needlepoint. The same bunch of A holes nearly ruined Winchester in 1964 with the massive redesign and changes in manufacturing techniques.

 

[H4831]

Since we are on the topic, does anyone know it the magazines for the Model Four will also fit the common seven numbers?

 

[Dosing]

They sold over one million 742 rifles, they did something right.

Poor logic, Ford made lots of pintos, and VD is popular too.
That said, 95% of 742 problems lie with owners, and general lack of maintenance. I love them myself, except the mags, which blow, but as mentioned here, treat them right and they run well.

 

[Camaroguy]

I've got a 742 that I inherited from my dad. Works fine and never jams, but for long as I've owned it the receiver has had chatter marks from the bolt. What causes this and how can I prevent it getting worse?

 

[mrgoat]

Ontario hunt camps are full of the main stay guns such as Remington 742's, 760's, Winchester M-100's, 88's, 94's, Browning BAR's and BLR's. Savage 99's. Without question all the auto loaders at one time or another will cause a fella problems, it is just a matter of time. The usual issue are dirty guns and mag's, commonly called clips in every camp I have ever been in. You can not keep an auto loader clean enough and just as importantly the clips and the ammo. Clips get full of crud from being in pockets and get bent lips from being dropped and this will cause feeding issues. My Winchester M-100 will jam if you feed it dry rounds. So every night I used to clean the gun and clips and wipe down the rounds and load them back in the clips ready for the next day. A old fella that had a Browning BAR taught me that trick years ago as that is how he kept his BAR running smoothly.
We have had many guys in camp with 742's and in general they worked, but when they jammed up many times it was bent lips on the clip from being dropped or dirt and crud in the clips and on the rounds. And the 742's et'al as stated are famous for sloppy worn and gouged slide rails for the bolt. Due mainly I suspect from being made from to soft a steel and then shot to much. As stated in a previous post these guns are cheaply made for the average guy to go take a crack at a deer or moose once a year and in doing so including sighting in may shoot 5=6 rounds a year if any rounds at all most years.

 

[Mike Webb]

Since we are on the topic, does anyone know it the magazines for the Model Four will also fit the common seven numbers?

Completely interchangeable.

 

[blargon]

Hey there. I am looking to trade a guy on another website for my semi shotgun worth $600 for this guys Remington 742 in 30.06 with a 100 dollar bushnell scope and one mag. It looks to be in good shape. What do you guys think?

Moose

Keep the shotgun. Thank me later.

 

[two-dogs]

Keep the shotgun. Thank me later.

naw, go for the 742!

 

[Mount Sweetness]

$600 is a bit much, I wouldn't do that trade

What make/model is your semi auto shotgun? It may be worth even more than $600

 

[H4831]

Completely interchangeable.

Thanks Mike.
Bruce

 

[backpacker]

You are comparing apples and oranges. The Winchester 100 was only available in short action rounds. As far as semiautomatic hunting rifles go Winchester was never in the same league as Remington. The 742 was made from 1960 to 1981 and over a million units production. The worst thing to happen to sporting firearm production is bean counters. They are not "gun people". They are bottom line people. They have no more feel or appreciation for a fine gun than I do for needlepoint. The same bunch of A holes nearly ruined Winchester in 1964 with the massive redesign and changes in manufacturing techniques.

True about the bean counters.
Gun making is not art any longer.
It can't be.
It's a business and it's the bottom line that determines if that business survives.

 

[backpacker]

Hey there. I am looking to trade a guy on another website for my semi shotgun worth $600 for this guys Remington 742 in 30.06 with a 100 dollar bushnell scope and one mag. It looks to be in good shape. What do you guys think?

Moose

You don't buy a used car by looking at it.
Same thing with a gun.
Check it over and see if the action is still tight and not shot loose or worn out and make sure the rifling and crown are ok.
The banner bushnell is crap.
If the rifle is solid keep the shotgun if it is truly worth $600 to you and offer him $450 max for the rifle.
If he declines forget about it.
That's the most I'd pay for a good used 742.

 

[3macs1]

The reason Remington went to the 7400 design was it was cheaper to manufacture. I have seen far more jamming from the newer version. They sold over one million 742 rifles, they did something right. I will keep taking mine afield even though many say it is no good.

Agree Mike. The biggest problem with either the 742 or the 7400 most times is the owner doesn't understand how to clean them
I have had no issues with any of mine over the years
To me when buying one check the condition of the chamber, the orifice hole, and action bar rails in the receiver. If it all looks good buy it and take proper care of it and it will outlive you without jamming
Cheers

 

[gunrunner100]

Originally Posted by Mike Webb
The reason Remington went to the 7400 design was it was cheaper to manufacture. I have seen far more jamming from the newer version. They sold over one million 742 rifles, they did something right. I will keep taking mine afield even though many say it is no good.

Agree Mike. The biggest problem with either the 742 or the 7400 most times is the owner doesn't understand how to clean them
I have had no issues with any of mine over the years
To me when buying one check the condition of the chamber, the orifice hole, and action bar rails in the receiver. If it all looks good buy it and take proper care of it and it will outlive you without jamming
Cheers

I have seen and worked on many 742 actioned rifles and can say with all honesty that when they have been used a lot, they will destroy themselves due to design.
The newer 7400 series has a nylon "bushing" that mates the bolt carrier and action bars somewhat solidly, preventing the bolt from "canting" in the action. As for the bolt head, the 742 uses an interrupted bolt head vs the 7400 series with 3 bearing surfaces that mates to the barrel extension.
I have seen many 742's that are still up and running, even though there are chatter marks inside the receiver. I have seen others that look like h3ll on the outside, yet inside they are mechanically perfect. I have bought some time for others by peening metal and polishing the rails down. I have a good supply of parts from others I have not been able to save.
As like any thing else, you will get a good one or a lemon. Take care of your stuff and it will last you a lifetime. In this case, it might be the rifle's lifetime and not yours.

 

[colonel3006]

I bought a 7400 30-06 a few years ago with leupold base and rings for $450 and it has been a great gun. Never had a jam or issue with it all and have probably fired 500 rds of various factory and reloads. $600 is a little high imo, you see lots of 742's and 7400's for $350-$500 range.