I am looking at buying a Remington 7400 in 30.06. The owner took it in on a trade so he is the second owner. He doesn't no when it was made. Should I ask him for the serial number oh how does that work. Also wondering what y'all think of the estimated value of this gun. It looks in very good condition.
Remington 7400
- Thread starter moose1987
- Start date
Is it an older model, or a newer one? Most of them seem to sell for around 4 to 500 bucks for the older ones in decent shape. I have often heard the gun referred to as a jam-o-matic, although some people have had good luck with them. My buddy just bought an older on in 30-06, jammed permanently after the forth shot. Apparently, the metal on the bolt carrier is not as good as it can be. Some people think the guns are only good for 3 to 400 shots.
I bought a 1970's 760 in 30-06 off of EE here. It's basically the same gun, but pump action. That has proven to be a very good gun.
I bought a 1970's 760 in 30-06 off of EE here. It's basically the same gun, but pump action. That has proven to be a very good gun.
nomad 68
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
In good shape, $400-450. I just sold one scoped for $500 but I gave him a bit of a deal. In the right hands, 7400's are good guns. Mine was 28yrs old and never an issue. Keep it clean and easy on the oil which should be light action oil.
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gunrunner100
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- NW Ontario
7400 is not your grandfather's jam-o-matic of the 60s and 70s. Different bolt. Generally more reliable than the 740 and 742s unless you can find a good one.
7400s are decent rifles. Keep them clean and watch for wear on the locking lug of the mag. A poorly seated mag is the most common problem when it comes to jamming or not feeding correctly. To date the rifle you need the numbers off the left side of the barrel directly in front of the receiver, not the serial number.
Value about 4-500 depending entirely on condition.
Value about 4-500 depending entirely on condition.
RememberTheSomme
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
The 7400 is a good deer/moose rifle. As already stated the 7400 corrected most of the deficiencies of the 740/742 early guns. I've had two, zero issues in reliability. Still have the '06, its 30 years old, I bought my .243 in 1983.
They were in big demand 30 years ago, a lot of eastern hunters wanted one. Decent accuracy, not overly heavy, and reliable and as anyone who's ever fired one down through a hardwood at a fleeing buck, they know you can't get 5 rounds squeezed of at the correct intervals with ease like you can from a 7400Remington.. I was told by a local smith who worked on many a 740/742/7400 over the years in this part of the country, a lot of problem guns had not seen any attention to the rails and port and the chambers were horribly dirty or even pitted or heavily rusted from neglect.
I just took the barrel off mine to give her a good chamber polish with drill and bronze brush. No stoppages here!
Two things to remember when using a 7400, always load your chamber from the magazine. Pull rearward fully and let her fly home to ensure complete lock up and then top up mag with four rounds if desired. You do this to ensure the rifle will fire when needed it won't if you ride the bolt home and it's slightly out of battery, or your gun is not operating as designed nad it fires while slightly out of battery and we don't want this, I never heard of it though with the 7400.
.Never put a round in a chamber first and then let the bolt fly home on it, especially on the older 740/742, a slam fire can occur. I did this many times on my first 7400, no slam fire but would never do it now, never.
And secondly,...once you've prepared your rifle for the hunt lubrication where needed for function and protection, and have secured the forearm bolt securely(I nail polish for a mild lock-tite), don't fiddle with that again till the season is over, as you can change your zero vertically tremendously if that bolt unwinds or if you tighten more without checking your zero. I find the guns will start stringing vertically on the range in hot weather with correct tension, but then again these are not 80 rounds to a range session in mid-July rifles are they, you get a free floated heavy barrel, bolt gun for this type wok,..the 7400's are one to three rounds in the fall hunting rifles and it's usually over for that session.
I tried to find a carbine length barrel for mine on the EE, but just gave up and bought a Marlin carbine for stalking work this year. I miss my BLR in Timber or hardwood when stalking.
I believe my .243Win was the second or third year the 7400's were made, so 1981 or '82 maybe the first year. If you know the serial number, just go on Remington's website and see how the serial numbers show year and month of manufacturer.
They were in big demand 30 years ago, a lot of eastern hunters wanted one. Decent accuracy, not overly heavy, and reliable and as anyone who's ever fired one down through a hardwood at a fleeing buck, they know you can't get 5 rounds squeezed of at the correct intervals with ease like you can from a 7400Remington.. I was told by a local smith who worked on many a 740/742/7400 over the years in this part of the country, a lot of problem guns had not seen any attention to the rails and port and the chambers were horribly dirty or even pitted or heavily rusted from neglect.
I just took the barrel off mine to give her a good chamber polish with drill and bronze brush. No stoppages here!
Two things to remember when using a 7400, always load your chamber from the magazine. Pull rearward fully and let her fly home to ensure complete lock up and then top up mag with four rounds if desired. You do this to ensure the rifle will fire when needed it won't if you ride the bolt home and it's slightly out of battery, or your gun is not operating as designed nad it fires while slightly out of battery and we don't want this, I never heard of it though with the 7400.
.Never put a round in a chamber first and then let the bolt fly home on it, especially on the older 740/742, a slam fire can occur. I did this many times on my first 7400, no slam fire but would never do it now, never.
And secondly,...once you've prepared your rifle for the hunt lubrication where needed for function and protection, and have secured the forearm bolt securely(I nail polish for a mild lock-tite), don't fiddle with that again till the season is over, as you can change your zero vertically tremendously if that bolt unwinds or if you tighten more without checking your zero. I find the guns will start stringing vertically on the range in hot weather with correct tension, but then again these are not 80 rounds to a range session in mid-July rifles are they, you get a free floated heavy barrel, bolt gun for this type wok,..the 7400's are one to three rounds in the fall hunting rifles and it's usually over for that session.
I tried to find a carbine length barrel for mine on the EE, but just gave up and bought a Marlin carbine for stalking work this year. I miss my BLR in Timber or hardwood when stalking.
I believe my .243Win was the second or third year the 7400's were made, so 1981 or '82 maybe the first year. If you know the serial number, just go on Remington's website and see how the serial numbers show year and month of manufacturer.
I have shot a few deer with mine in 308 as well. Never had q problem as long as it was clean..I got one from a fellow out west in 6 mm. And it would jam ever other shot .The rails were very badly worn and would chatter when cycling. Always inspect the rails the bolt slides on for chatter marks. Other then that thy are a great bush gun. .Dutch
gunrunner100
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- NW Ontario
I don't believe the 7400 was chambered in 6mm only 243. Are you sure that the one you had wasn't a 742? You refer to the "rails and chatter". This makes me suspect it was the original series of semi auto from Remington.
