School me on Remmy 742's..........

Remington 742 (with many improvements) replaced the faulty 740. Most popular chambering is 30-06.

Eventually, Remington felt that a 270 auto-loader should be offered. So they enlarged the locking bolt and made a couple other small changes related to the clip magazine. New model was named 7400 in 1981.

The 742 and 7400 don't get much press, but they've been good sellers for Remington. Keep 'em clean and they're fool proof. But neglect cleaning and plan for disappointments.

Recoil is dampend by the auto-loader mechanism. But muzzle lift can be eliminated by MagnaPort of Michigan. Years ago, I had a rifle MagnaPorted and felt recoil dropped considerably.

I have no input for rechambering & reboring an existing rifle.

TR

Other than a free one, I wouldn't have one. Too many firsthand accounts of jams from hunting buddies over the years. I think that if you cleaned it well after every outing and kept it away from shooting over a box of ammo per year, it would probably be be ok....But it will have to ok for somebody else. I just won't take the chance. Their pump 760/7600 is a different story. I have wanted a 760 Carbine for some time.

The bolt WILL lock up on you in time.....and its a pain to fix..if it can be fixed.....get a BAR instead

http://www.wisnersinc.com/additional_info/Remington_7407427400.htm

If this does not take you direct, go to Wisners gun parts, click on “additional info and Part Identification”, find the article on Remington 740’s.

The 742 has an issue with damaging the receiver above the bolt. It's had to see, as to get the bolt out you have to remove the barrel. The damage shows up as a gun that jams. There are a very few outfits that will repair this, most will not. A new receiver is unobtainium, and a good used receiver is very rare.
I agree, get the Browning.

They are hunting guns not battle rifles. They were not designed to fire millions of rounds or fire at belt fed machine gun rates of fire. You must keep them well lubricated. They do not have chrome lined bores or chambers. You must clean and lube the bore and chamber before putting them away and remember to run a patch down the bore before shooting.

Much of the bad reputation was earned by the 740 and carried over to the 742 even though many of the issues causing problems in the 740 were addressed in the 742.

They are accurate, bolt action rifle accurate.

The one I inherited from dad, which he bought back in the late 70s, would have seen action in the Texas deer woods this year, some 30+ years later, had it not been claimed by the Great Bastrop County Labor Day Conflagration of 2011.

Maintain it properly, use it for its intended use and you too will be able to pass it on to your son. Try to make it into a battle rifle or let even a tiny amount of rust form in the chamber and you will cuss it until your dying day.

I have a 7400 in .270 and i have gotten sub MOA with plain old core lokts. I bought it new for $400 off gun broker last year. It runs great, never had a jam. As far as re barreling, forget it it isnt going to be worth it and these guns dont hold their value very well. I see them at the gun shows all the time for $300 used. I am not so sure I would buy a used one without a return policy because you might be getting someone elses problem. Remington shipped these with a special chamber brush and a rem oil for a reason, they do foul up from the gas porting. I always wanted a BAR, not sure it will shoot any better and they are a step up in price. You can get the BAR for $699 from CDNN. The only knock I have on the 742/7400 design is the bolt release built into the magazine. Seems like a cheap shortcut.

I had a 742 wood master and it eat it self up in 3 years .....hunting. mayby 500 rounds maybe.....the bolt ate the receiver up it was cleaned and oiled.....just a bad gun...get a BAR if u want a good auto loading rifle

Autoloaders don't last with just oil. They need light lithium grease on the contact and wear points. If they have been maintained, they're way cool rifles. If not maintained, they are a PIA

A PIA they can be. When I was younger I let a close relative keep one at his house. Upon returning I found out that the brass would not eject. The chamber was pitted from rust. So if you choose to buy a used 742 then methodically inspect at least the chamber.

Have three 7400s and two 742s-no problems. All are '06s (of course). I keep one instantly available with two extra mags very close by. As for the BAR, a bud has one that has given her lots of trouble. She has it in the shop right now. Also it will not fire reloads--they jam up and have to be punched out. Do not know if this is a common problem but would check it out before buying one for sure. I tried to get her to let me load a few to test fire but the answer was NO. Also those BARs are several pounds heavier than 74s. One got terribly rusty and I had trouble cleaning it up-works fine now and I hunt with it occasionally.

BAR,S are heavier But the 742 is not in the same ball park as a BAR.....there's a reason they don't make them anymore and there's a reason they still make BAR,S

newfalguy101 said:

Thanks for all the replies.

I was rather hesitant to bid on one on Gunbroker without laying hands on one first.

I think I have decided to take a pass on a 742, based on the replies here

Click to expand...

Too bad, post #7 was right on, and fit right in with what we have experienced with 742's since they first came out. I still have one, and it's a great HUNTING rifle.

I would only buy one that i could try with factory ammo to see if it jammed (read wore out) and return if it did.

DM

Unless you contact the seller ahead of time and he assures you it's a good gun with a 3 day live fire return policy.

DM

really.......whys take a chance on a gun with a serious design flaw....

don't fire too fast...

I've had the 742 for about 10 years now. The gun is the most accurate gun I've ever fired!! It's incredible. Downsides...its dang heavy and can kick like a mule (though that might just be because I weigh only 135 lbs).
The biggest downside is potential jamming. I have the semi-auto, and a few times when I've had to fire several rounds quickly, the gun has jammed. But, that can be remedied if you keep the gun cleaned and lubed.

Great gun though!

Helped my hunting pardner develop a load for his 742 in .308 this gun is now scarey accurate more so than his BAR in 30-06. I'd own it any day he wanted to sell it but that aint likely to happen. Guess that's what I get for finding a good load should have told him it was a POS and taken it off his hands but I didnt have the heart. While I agree I'd want to shoot one first buying one wouldnt bother me at all. I do own a 760 in 30-06 that is a fine rifle and very accurate as well.
T

I had a 742 in .308 and was told that it was the best looking receiver the gunsmith had ever seen. It was in to him because things were falling apart and would not fire. He said that it was only a matter of time before the receiver self destructed and I would be left without replacement parts.

I sold it and bought a 7400 .243 that I still have 20 years later.

It's a decent gun if you don't shoot rapid strings with it. If it jams, it is a pain to fix. Don't ever try to take it down either...if that spring in the fore end comes out, you need some cardboard and 3 extra hands to get it back in.

Handloads are ok in them but not hot handloads. I have a 742 since new 30 years ago and a 7400, but I did buy a used one that was ruined once. As others have posted they can be great but don't buy used unless you can test it, and inspect it closely. They do make new revised versions of both the 742 and BAR.

I've owned and hunted with a 742 carbine in .308 Win.for 40 years,killed 60 plus deer with it.The 742's do eat up receivers in .270 & 30-06,but don't seem to happen in the .243's and .308's.My carbine will only shoot 2 1/2 inches at 100 yds on a good day,but that's good enough for heavy woods hunting.I also own a 7600 in 30-06 that's accurate and a great shooter, biker