Remington 742 semi 30.06 advice

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fljp2002

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A few years back my dad gave me his rem 742 semi 30.06 carbine.

I used it a couple of times on deer hunt but sadly it’s a safe queen. I got hooked on PRS style shooting with .22 and now thinking of going with something in 6.5 creed or .308 in bolt action.

I have no clue what the value of these old semis are and should I just keep it,or sell it.
 
They are generally worth between $400 and $500 in this area depending on condition , maybe more now that so many semis have hit the ban list . If your father gave it to you , you would be wise to hang onto it . If you sold it , you would probably regret it later .
 
$500 sounds reasonable. I would keep it and use it to hunt every now and then. If it's a gun your dad used and loved I think you would regret selling it in the future.
 
cam1936 said:
$500 sounds reasonable. I would keep it and use it to hunt every now and then. If it's a gun your dad used and loved I think you would regret selling it in the future.
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Over the years I have received/inherited some of my Dad's guns and now at the later stage of life I have no use for them. I have already given or promised some to my son but there are those that he just has no use for and they would just be a responsibility that he does not want. As a result I have sold the odd one but in all cases I think they went to a good home.
 
I have the same rifle and inherited from my father in law. Ive seen them listed for $400-500. I wouldnt buy one at that price. Nice guns but not great guns and parts are scarce. Id suggest keeping it as it was your fathers and sellers remorse lasts a long long time. Mine finds use as a fair weather deer hunter.
 
$400-$450 but if you sell it its GONE. For the $450 you may get on a sale I would keep your father's hunting rifle. Use it every now and again who knows you just might bag the biggest buck of your life with it.
 
No disrespect, like Remingtons, the 742’s I owned were a jam waiting to happen, keep for sentimental value or sell for $450-$550
 
billbmcleod said:
Over the years I have received/inherited some of my Dad's guns and now at the later stage of life I have no use for them. I have already given or promised some to my son but there are those that he just has no use for and they would just be a responsibility that he does not want. As a result I have sold the odd one but in all cases I think they went to a good home.
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Every situation is different. If Dad had one or two guns he used for decades and cherished... best to keep them and pass them down. Dad had a whole collection, some of which weren't overly important to him, let alone you... keep a couple to pass down and sell the rest.
 
As a rifle, worth little unless it’s in good, usable condition, free of the issues these rifles are known for. Parts aren’t as scarce as some believe.
As a sentimental piece, it may be priceless to someone who appreciates who it belonged to.
 
The 742 is a junk rifle,I've seen a lot of them jam and cycle issues ,the 7400 is a much better gun.the one you have being a carbine with the more sought after shorter barrel will be around $400 -$500 .i don't know anyone that likes a 742,but there is always someone who had great luck with certain odels that others have not.
 
I have owned three 742's and all have been reliable guns. The bad rap that the 742 acquired is mostly due to second hand opinions passed down by people who have never owned one. I would take a 742 over the later 7400/model 4 any day. They made over million 742 rifles, if they were junk production would have ceased long before Remington got to 1,000,000 units.
 
Mike Webb said:
I have owned three 742's and all have been reliable guns. The bad rap that the 742 acquired is mostly due to second hand opinions passed down by people who have never owned one. I would take a 742 over the later 7400/model 4 any day. They made over million 742 rifles, if they were junk production would have ceased long before Remington got to 1,000,000 units.
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I've seen too many that were done before their time.
 
The 30-06 will do whatever is asked. Easy resale and recoil is ok. I have one that I don’t use ( Browning 78) , only because it fits with the others. My big game rifle in chambered in 280. Any cartridge in the “middle” class will do. Good luck
 
chamber fouling is a big problem with these guns. Carbon builds up on the shoulder part of the chamber because the chambering is very roughly machined on the shoulder. Keep it clean and they work.
 
Slam-O-Jamic, or something similar, is the nickname they earned. Maybe needs specific maintenance? I have never owned one, although have hunted with a buddy who had one is 308 Win. I think his attraction to it was mostly the detachable box magazine, and his was the carbine version. My brother bought one in 308 Win also, thinking 7.62 milsurp was cheap enough - tore the thing apart in the first magazine full. So, big thing for me is that it was your Dad's rifle. My brother has our Dad's one and only deer rifle, my grandson has the father-in-law's - both are sporter conversions of M1917. Does not concern us what they are "worth" - they were what the old fella's in the family used, and they have forever homes now...
 
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buckbrush said:
chamber fouling is a big problem with these guns. Carbon builds up on the shoulder part of the chamber because the chambering is very roughly machined on the shoulder. Keep it clean and they work.
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Correct. If the rifle is clean, it will never miss a beat. 742's only became "jamomatics" when the "once a year, (or 2) hunter", put it away fouled, and grabbed it 2 years later for a moose trip. After the 1st "sight-in" shot, it would sometimes not feed a 2nd round. This was resolved by cleaning. In the words of a 30 year Remington gunsmith, the 742 was a fantastic rifle, and a great success. It could be fully relied upon if properly taken care of and maintained. He also states there were very few warranty issues with the 742 inspite of all the bad things you hear. Mostly from people who have never owned one, and repeat what their grandfather mumbled. Many old timers absolutly reused to accept the semi-automatic as a hunting rifle. The term "FUD" was born during that time in history. They went out of there way to pizz on the 742, and ridicule anyone who owned one. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the rifle, and it simply needs proper cleaning.
 
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