Accuracy issues with Remington Model 742

It may be luck of the draw on 742s. I had a 308 in the late 70s and never could get it to group under 2 1/2 inches at 100 yards with any loads/bullets I tried. A buddy had one that would shoot around an inch. I went back to 700s after that.
Over the years, I've heard of good and bad ones and I don't know if there is a way to correct a "bad" one. I'd be interested to know too.

If it walks with barrel temperature, it may be the shank is poorly fit to the receiver and the barrel's bending as it warms. What happens if you give it 20min between shots (prefouled, of course)?

Had a couple. One a minty carbine bought used (should have been a hint).
First shot was 1" high at 100 yards. Next 3 would go into less than a 1" group........7 or 8" below the first cold bore shot (directly down).
Repeatable.

Beater reg 742, was 1.5" w factory 150's, no group shift. Hot or cold bbl.

My guess is that before the disease "Mini 14 itis" was discovered, it was known as "742 itis".
Gas block welded to underside of bbl, warp when heated.

Not noticed iron sights, as the muzzle (with front sight being used) follows the warp.
But when you scope it...........that's when you see it (since aiming system doesn't track w bbl warp).

The risk of getting one with rail chew, and or bbl warp.............makes 742's a roll of the dice IMHO.
Maybe if a non .30-06 (other cartridges supposedly didn't chew rails- the '06 ones did, esp when using 180gr or heavier bullets).

I'd be tempted on a .308 742, for a good price.
Still a risky deal due to bbl warp at heat up.

So........having owned three 742, and only one with bbl warp...............yeah, I'm looking for a 7400. Sucked that the minty 742 carbine I got had such group shift. Was good looking/feeling rifle.

Moot point for a hunting gun. As long as the first couple of rounds went where I wanted them I wouldn't worry about it. I had a 742 when I was in my teens. A five shot group was all over the place. We are talking 5-6" groups (Patterns would be a better description). Another thing that I noticed while trying different ammo was the fact that there might be 6" difference in the POI. Didn't matter. I stuck 180 gr Winchester Power Points in it and killed deer .. Never needed over 2 shots.

There is a reason Remington no longer makes them. Even if you get a good one, which is less than 50/50 odds, it won't be as good as a bolt gun costing 1/2 as much, with a better trigger, much better reliability, and weighing less. The need for rapid repeat shots is way over rated.

Charlie Martinez said:

If this problem is so common does Remington offer any type of relief or assistance? Did they ever recall these rifles? What does one do with one of these guns, throw it in the garbage?

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The vast majority of these rifles I've seen here in the NY woods are used with the iron sights and shots are usually 100yds or less. So I don't think it effects those hunters. jmo

Dad's 742 in .30-06 was a deer slayer that never wandered...But then, he never fired many rounds, and never more than enough to verify scope zero or take an animal...Still going strong in my BIL's hands...

My 7400 Carbine in 06 is a tack driver with the right loads, and has never wandered either...

Charlie Martinez said:

If this problem is so common does Remington offer any type of relief or assistance? Did they ever recall these rifles? What does one do with one of these guns, throw it in the garbage?

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The same thing Chevy would do for you if you asked them to fix your 1973 impala. They haven’t been made since the early 80’s.

These guns were really popular here in the days of deer drives. They are a fixture of the used shelves all over the state. I’ve seen a few personally that shot quite well, but heard of many that didn’t. Let’s face it, most midwest hunters of that era didn’t shoot more than half a box of ammo a year, and most wouldn’t have known if it were a 1 moa or 5 moa rifle. It also wouldn’t have mattered much because most people here are shooting deer under 50 yards. The same is still true today of a large percentage of hunters.

I never used my 742 as a range toy as it seemed to have brutal recoil. I wouldn’t have thought a semiauto 30-06 would feel harsher than an turn bolt. Once I got a BAR in 300 WM and even it had less felt recoil, I sold it.

That said the first shot is the one that counts, if your killing stuff and it would do that.

jmorris said:

I never used my 742 as a range toy as it seemed to have brutal recoil. I wouldn’t have thought a semiauto 30-06 would feel harsher than an turn bolt. Once I got a BAR in 300 WM and even it had less felt recoil, I sold it.

That said the first shot is the one that counts, if your killing stuff and it would do that.

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Your not kidding, the first centerfire rifle I ever shot at age 14 or so was my friends grandfathers 742 in 30-06. We shot 3” steel 12 gauge all day, but that 742 kicked the snot out of me!

Beware some Remington service centers are not maned by seasoned gray haired real gunsmiths. I had trouble with 2 different service centers. I sent he new model 572 -22 pump to REmM at Ilion, NY and it came back repaired after months dinking around at the Rem service centers!!

Bull

I thought they quit fixing them decades ago. I have a 742 BDL I bought new around 1980 when they closed them out and it always shot well. About 1.5 inches at 100 yards. I avoid rapid fire and hot loads in it. I last shot a deer with it about 4 yrs ago and retired it. I have had feed issues with some magazines. I still have a 7400 But prefer a Tikka bolt action. There used to be a gun shop that converted them to pumps in Morristown Minnesota.

Charlie Martinez said:

I just heard back from Remington & they said they would recommend a Remington service center if I was interested in "repairing: the rifle. I didn't expect much but if the defect is a factory issue how can there be a repair? If my rifle is one of those in the bad side of the 50/50's is a repair possible?

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Remington will not touch a 742 anymore. My advice is to get rid of it while it still shoots.

Charlie Martinez said:

I'd like to very much but not at the expense of an unsuspecting buyer. If I can't fix it I would like to sell it to someone that could, not just pass my problem on to an unsuspecting buyer. That would be dishonest & frankly pretty ****ty.

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I was in no way implying that you pass your problems onto an unsuspecting buyer. These guns are endless money pits if you can find someone to work on them & get parts. Maybe a gunsmith would buy it from you just for the parts.

The fist thing I can think off is that as the barrel heats up the bar that holds the action arms doesn't and pulls the barrel down somehow. This is just a wild guess, Another thought is that the bolt doesn't fully seat or the action bars bind. They like to be very clean and well lubed. Rapid fire is the enemy of these rifles. They also like round noses for better feeding. Just thoughts. Good luck.

If you're going to buy a used 742, buy a scratchy up one that comes with a well used sling and a scope. That one used to be a trusted hunting rifle and belonged to a guy who has no use for it now. It'll shoot.

Worn but without bolt rail chew.

As for recoil................I thought my carbine w 150's (.30-06) was a piece of cake.
Now that brass coming out and bouncing off my spotting scope, rolling up against my arm.................

I find the 760's to be comfy in .30-06. Butt plate, pump. Lighter.
I dunno.
Buddy has one and says it beats on him. About same size and build.

Ahlmans is the place that converts 742's to pump. That's to get around bolt rail chew.

As for gunsmith parts.............most won't even look at a 742.
I suppose one could try a barrel swap. If they found a known good one (like bbl good, receiver smoked by rail chew).
Remington reportedly has declared the 742 obsolete.

If so, your repair center aint gonna be of much help.