Remington 742 - need advice

T

trainman278

Regular
Rating - 96.2%
25   1   0
Location
Muskoka, ON
So I recently picked one of these up from a guy on the EE. It's the short action .308 variant. I took it all apart and cleaned it.

Now the problem was that the main action spring was impossible to reinstall, so I had to cut it a bit and make it smaller. Will this shortened action spring affect function or safety?

My main concern is the travel of the bolt in the receiver. With a shorter weaker spring, the bolt will fly back with more force when firing, possibly damaging something.
 
Disassembling it was your first mistake. I don't think Remington ever expected those guns to come apart. You may need to send it to a company repair shop to have the right spring installed and the pieces put back together as per specification.
 
It may drive it back a bit harder, but you can upgrade the bolt head over rotation lock, with a simple fix you can find online, using #6 shot (IIRC). In truth I dont understand why you needed to cut the spring, but my bigger concern would just be cycling and lockup. Try shooting it and see what happens I guess.
 
I've had mine apart twice. It is a handful getting it back together.. If you see any signs of bolt chatter???
Expect a Jam-O- Matic..
The 7400 is a different bolt..
Did you look at the thread under gunsmithing before you bought???
 
I own this gun. It is reliable. I take exceptional care of it. These rifles do not jam if they are properly cleaned and maintained, and you use factory magazines. I have had it apart several times to clean it. I took the time to educate myself on proper disassembly and reassembly (google and you-tube are your friends). If you don't have the tools, (especially with a firearm), then don't do it, or ask for help 1st (not 2nd).

My advise is that you find a new spring. Clean the gun. Reassemble it properly, and enjoy it. It will never jam on you if you look after it. I had great talk at a gun show in Montreal last year with an Old-timer. He was Remington gunsmith back in the day. (I bought some new old stock from him). He said the 742 was a bullet-proof gun if people looked after them the way Remington advised them to. According to him, it may not be a "user friendly....maintenance free" gun, but definitely "jamming preventable" if looked after.

Mine was passed down to me from my Grandmother. Its been in the family 40-50 yrs maybe? Never a report of jamming or malfunction, and has seen a pile of use (but never abuse)
 
Don’t cut the spring, they are a ##### to get back in but check YouTube there is a method that makes it easier.
Took me several times to get it back in.
 
trainman278 said:
I think a few folks have misread my post. I've already cut the spring because it was impossible to reinstall if I didn't. Gun has already been cleaned and reassembled
Click to expand...

And we clearly gave you the advise you asked for. #1: buy a new spring. #2: install the new spring properly. #3: google and youtube are your friend. #4: it was wrong for you to cut your spring. #5: just because YOU say its imposaible, does not mean it IS impossible. #6: don't do anymore " re-engineering" of this poor rifle just because you don't understand it. #7: do not fire that thing with your modified spring.
 
josh1976 said:
And we clearly gave you the advise you asked for. #1: buy a new spring. #2: install the new spring properly. #3: google and youtube are your friend. #4: it was wrong for you to cut your spring. #5: just because YOU say its imposaible, does not mean it IS impossible. #6: don't do anymore " re-engineering" of this poor rifle just because you don't understand it. #7: do not fire that thing with your modified spring.
Click to expand...

Agree 100%.
 
Disassembled and thoroughly cleaned the 742 a few times, had no issues, performance wise far from my favorite rifle, sold it
 
I would say you should get a new spring. I've had a few of them apart, and it can be a pain in the rear end getting that spring back in there... but it's not impossible. It's almost as aggravating as changing the bellows on a mercruiser outdrive lol
 
trainman278 said:
I think a few folks have misread my post. I've already cut the spring because it was impossible to reinstall if I didn't. Gun has already been cleaned and reassembled
Click to expand...


Sorry. I can’t help but chuckle. I think this is a thread you should have started before you pulled the snips out :p

Best of luck! I’ve got a 750 I’ve never had in pieces because of threads like this ;-)
 
While they do have a reputation as jam-o-matics, when they’re taken care if, they work well and are more than adequate for hunting. One of my hunting partners has had a 742 Carbine for close to 25 years and it was 20 years used used when I picked it up for him.
I’ve kept it running all this time.
 
As was stated by a Remington Gunsmith (whom worked for Remington for a Life-time); most reports of jamming involved after-market magazine's, and/or, owners not adhering to the simple maintenance procedure outlined clearly in the owners manual. Granted they do require a higher level of care to be reliable, but it is only by lack of this care that they would malfunction. If you find it to be "jamming", then consider that you may be missing something. I've used this exact gun my entire life, and it was passed down in the family. It is known to be the go-to, and its too bad so many seem to have so many issues,. If you have an after-market mag, throw it out.
 
tikka said:
742 7400 jammomatics.
Been there done that.
Click to expand...

Other than the old rail issue on some 742 Only think wrong with both is the owners
I have never had issues with any of them but know how to take them apart and clean them properly
Even know how to get them back together as they came apart with no cutting :)
Cheers
 
I suggest you hire a 'smith' who is capable of supplying and installing the spring you "had" to cut to re install. Have him check it all over too.
 
This old gunsmith did warranty dork for Remington for years and the 740 and 742 had issues no matter how much you serviced them the design had flaws the bolt would wear the guide rail and the chatter marks would appear and that's its it the gun was finished . That is why they desighned the 7400 . At one tims Remington had a program if you brought in your 742 we would send it to Remington in the good old usa and they fouls send you s Nes 7400 that program was in the 80's to the early 90's
 
struff55 said:
This old gunsmith did warranty dork for Remington for years and the 740 and 742 had issues no matter how much you serviced them the design had flaws the bolt would wear the guide rail and the chatter marks would appear and that's its it the gun was finished . That is why they desighned the 7400 . At one tims Remington had a program if you brought in your 742 we would send it to Remington in the good old usa and they fouls send you s Nes 7400 that program was in the 80's to the early 90's
Click to expand...

Remember it well. That is how I got my 243 7400 which I still own and it works just fine
Cheers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom