Hello Ive been looking for a bit of info on a remington 741 woodmaster. I've been offered one but I dont know much about this model. The one for sale is in 30-06,carbine length and semi automatic. I havent seen it and was wondering if anybody had used one and what would it be worth if in good condition? Cheers thanks
Rem 741 woodsmaster
- Thread starter emmab
- Start date
You probably mean a 742 Woodsmaster. The model was made from 1960 til 1980 when it was redesigned to the model 7400/model 4. I have owned several and like them a lot for woods hunting. After a lot of use the locking lugs on the bolt can gall and sieze up in the mating recesses in the receiver but if you look at the bolt and interior of the action and see no signs of damage you are probably good to go. Some like to call them jamomatics but if kept clean and fed good ammo I have never had any of mine jam. Most failures to feed result from a damaged magazine in my experience. If the carbine is in really good shape and has a low round count around $450 is a fair price. Others may feel different.
One problem with these is that the multiple lugs cause chatter damage to the inside surface of the rear of the receiver. The receiver surface is deformed, and this interferes with operation. No practical way to fix it. I suspect that this is why the 7400 replaced the 742. Different locking lug arrangement.
If I were considering buying a 742, I would want to do a detailed inspection, and test fire it. Mike Webb has had success with his. Many folks do. Others report problems. Being out of production for over 30 years does not help parts availability.
If I were considering buying a 742, I would want to do a detailed inspection, and test fire it. Mike Webb has had success with his. Many folks do. Others report problems. Being out of production for over 30 years does not help parts availability.
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
Might be worth $350. Maybe.
If you get it, keep it SPOTLESS. Ive seen them jam so bad they had to go a to smith to get unjammed. The day before hunting season thats an issue.
If you get it, keep it SPOTLESS. Ive seen them jam so bad they had to go a to smith to get unjammed. The day before hunting season thats an issue.
This^^^^. This is why they are known to jam frequently.
Also, there was a discussion about the forearm screw beneath the barrel somehow adversely effecting the guns accuracy.....Don't know much about it. Do your own research. I believe most of these problems carried over to 7400 and even 750. If you get a healthy one for cheap, and you only shoot few rounds each year for hunting, go for it. I passed. Went with BAR.
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Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
742's are decent hunting rifles.
They are not designed to last super long, as the reciever wears and not much can be done about it. From new, they seem to last about 4000 rds from what I have researched, before they become completly inoperable. This will basically be a lifetime's worth for a typical hunter, but not very long for a target shooter or varmint blower-upper.
I have one in .308 and one in .30-06. I bought them in the last 3-4 years and paid about $250 each for them; both came with a spare mag and cheap scopes mounted.
I personally feel that the guys wanting $400 or so for a 742 must either be selling a mint condition rifle or they are out to lunch.
A used Browning BAR is a better rifle, period, but, assuming the 742 and the BAR are in the same condition, you're comparing a $250 rifle to a $700 rifle, so they are in totally different budget ranges.
They are not designed to last super long, as the reciever wears and not much can be done about it. From new, they seem to last about 4000 rds from what I have researched, before they become completly inoperable. This will basically be a lifetime's worth for a typical hunter, but not very long for a target shooter or varmint blower-upper.
I have one in .308 and one in .30-06. I bought them in the last 3-4 years and paid about $250 each for them; both came with a spare mag and cheap scopes mounted.
I personally feel that the guys wanting $400 or so for a 742 must either be selling a mint condition rifle or they are out to lunch.
A used Browning BAR is a better rifle, period, but, assuming the 742 and the BAR are in the same condition, you're comparing a $250 rifle to a $700 rifle, so they are in totally different budget ranges.
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The Remington 742 was designed for the deer, moose, bear hunters of North America. It isn't a target rifle(in my experience 1.5-2.0 moa is the best they will do) nor is it intended to blast away at the range all day. As far as shooting life goes the average hunter it was designed for wouldn't shoot 500 rounds through one in a lifetime. The guys who purchased 742's were hunters not shooters and for them the rifle worked just fine. They sold over a million of them, somebody liked them.
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
Mike - I wasn't slamming the 742; like I said, I have two of them. They're both good general purpose rifles; both of mine consistently hold about 1.5" @ 100 yds btw. Let's be honest to the OP however, and let him know that a 742 won't last as long as a 700, and it isn't a BAR either.
gunrunner100
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- NW Ontario
I buy them occasionally...for parts.
I have 2 of them. A 6mm and a 308 carbine. Neither see a lot of use. No problems with either one, so far, touch composite. There is no visible heavy duty wear on them. I paid $450. each at the time, quite a few yrs back. One came with Leupold bases. I now have composite stocks on them, they are both forest trail guns (Jeep/Quad/Groomer etc). Yeah, the Eagle fits and functions in both! But I don't use it 
! Would sell the factory woods stocks, if someone wanted them. No, not dirt cheap, but reasonable.
You know, there may have been a 741 I believe. I think I remember seeing a 741 in 224 Remington! The mind is getting old and alcohol saturated, but I think I'd bet a bit on it! But, not a lot though! Was there a 740, maybe?
! Would sell the factory woods stocks, if someone wanted them. No, not dirt cheap, but reasonable. You know, there may have been a 741 I believe. I think I remember seeing a 741 in 224 Remington! The mind is getting old and alcohol saturated, but I think I'd bet a bit on it! But, not a lot though! Was there a 740, maybe?
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Yup, the first Remington gas operated semi centerfire was the model 740. Made from '55 to '60, it was improved slightly and became the 742. They come up on the EE quite regularly considering they didn't make that many.
cool, did I win a case of beer? Where do I pick it up?
I guess buddy had the model number wrong which only hampered my info search. I guess there never was a 741, but I haven't seen the rifle yet and he's looking for around 400 $ for it. I'll have a look and verify the model. I borrowed a browning last year and it didnt function well but it was due to dirty gas ports but the browning was very difficult to take apart so I wasn't interested in that model at the time. The owner took it to a smith and now it works fine. Thanks for all the info much appreciated. Cheers
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In 1944 the models 740 and 741 were proposed, with different frame sizes. The 740 being large enough to accept large cartridges (.30-06 up to .300 H&H), while the 741 was scaled down for for medium sized cartridges such as the .35 Remington. Another different design was introduced in 1947, the 742. When everything was completed, and production was started, the new rifle was named the Model 740.
But no, we never saw the 741.
