Problems Woodmaster 742

[colbysdad]

We just got a Remington Woodmaster 742 30-06. Numbers on the receiver side is R-L, I believe it was made in Nov. of 1964. It's in great shape ,my neighbor told me her husband only used it a few times. It hasn't been shot in years..so I took it all apart and cleaned it from one end to the other..my question is: the bolt won't stay locked back with the clip in? Do I buy a new clip ? Is there a history with these clips ? After fifty years I wanted to put this rifle back hunting this year but without problems. Thanks for your help:banghead:

 

[Fremmer]

Are you Sure you're fully seating that mag when you insert it?

 

[wyohome]

The mag for these rifles and the 760 sometimes need a little rocking motion to completely seat.

 

[30Remington]

Are you sure you have the correct mag? The mags for the pump actions, 760-7600 will fit and work but don't have the lock open mechanism.

 

[colbysdad]

Not sure if it's the right mag or not...all it say's on the side is 30-06. Think I'll order a new one from Midway tomorrow. By the way what value would you place on this rifle,I keep hearing prices from $3oo.oo up to $5oo.oo for the age I would rate this as 90%.
Thanks again

 

[ColtPythonElite]

$350.....They are a money maker for gunsmiths.

 

[stiab]

A few things: The value would be relatively low to a knowledgable buyer, probaby less than $300 around here. They have a well deserved reputation as the "jamomatic", you can google that word and see more results than you would probably care to read. Remington will no longer repair them due to systemic failures, so you can't send one back to them.

I have owned two, both failed, and failed again after being repaired. Some will tell you the failures can be avoided by keeping the chambers clean, but actually it is a design flaw that cannot be corrected with more maintenance.

The way you tell the difference between the 760 (pump) mag and the 742 (semi-auto) is the 742 will have a small lever near the bottom to depress the magazine follower, allowing the bolt to close.

And yes, the magazines historically have been troublesome. They are made of sheet metal, and after a few years tend to bend and flex out of original shape. Sometimes they shorten, or the front lip wears, and they will not stay in the rifle when fired.

Sorry for the bad news, but google will explain it pretty well.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

they don't call them the Jam Master for nothing

 

[Bexar]

The receiver rails which the bolt rides on during ejection get peened little by little until they are so badly peened the rails chip or break. There are several gunsmith that will convert the 742s to 760 type pump action. Mine shows the peening and I eventually plan to have it converted.

 

[Miata Mike]

If it has not been shot much and the price was really right, you are ok. Shoot only as needed to sight in and kill your deer, and probably use lighter bullet loads.

I had bought a .308 that I took about 5 shots before dragging it in to a gunsmith. He said I had the nicest receiver he has ever saw on a 742, but to get rid of it.

Bought a .243 Remington 7400 after selling the 742.

 

[toiville2feathers]

But fellas, for a rifle to get at that state of dis repair it takes a lot of shooting.
Under normal hunting use and a few sight in shots they do work ok. The jamming part, I have found, is partially cured with using round nosed bullets.

 

[d2wing]

As others said the hold open mags have a lever on the left side. I had shot lots of deer with a 742 in the 40 years I have had it. But I also bought a used one that failed. Yours will probably be great as long as you keep it clean, don't fire hot hand loads in it, or rip off lots of rounds at a time. I agree that round nose bullets feed better if you mag is dirty or bent. If you magazine doesn't have a lever on it buy a new one.

 

[DM~]

But fellas, for a rifle to get at that state of dis repair it takes a lot of shooting.
Under normal hunting use and a few sight in shots they do work ok.

Agreed!

We have had 4 or 5 of them since the 60's and they aren't all that bad if used as a "hunting" rifle, instead of an AR!

The one I have now, and have had for many years, does NOT jam and shoots pretty good...

DM

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Dad got one from the early 1960s and it still works great, But it had less than 2 box's of 150 cor-locks shot through it in the past 50 years. It has a old early 70s Savage scope and Dad killed over 20 deer with it.

As for the mags you need to insert it firmly and seat it with a firm wack with the palm of your hand

 

[d2wing]

Also be sure the action bars are clean and lubed and the bolt.

 

[twofifty]

I sold a very reliable 1970s Woodsmaster to a young fellow.
I'd put maybe 8 boxes 308 through it since new. Great metal, great wood, 2 mags.
With very clean unmarred action rails and bolt lugs.

Before closing the deal I asked him if he'd researched them online.
Yes, he knew about the problems but took my word that mine had never jammed. I asked him if he'd noticed the repair to the stock - he had.

A couple weeks later we ran into each other in town. He told me that he loved
the rifle, had fired over 400 rds through it without fail. Great rifle! I reminded him that it's much more a seasonal hunting rifle than a SKS.

It will be interesting to see how long it takes for the action to peen up.

 

[fishshocker]

My advice, sell it before an action bar or extractor break and the value drops more. I sold mine and it is the only gun I don't regret selling.

 

[powder]

I've had one since '82, killed many deer with it, no jamming.

Every few years push the puns out of the trigger group, pull it out and clean it up. Clean up around the inside with a little solvent on Q-tips, let dry, and put some light oil in there. Reassemble.

What you can see of the locking lugs in the bolt, clean em out, lightly oil.

It's a little machine: they have to be cleaned and oiled like anything else.

If you can grab it for less than $300, snag it up...

 

[d2wing]

I have never heard of problems with action bars or extractors. It makes me wonder just what happened. Those rifles are not made for hot loads which could cause those types of issues. Keep hand loads at or below saami specs and keep chamber clean to avoid stuck cases. Semi autos are made to operate within a range of specs that are more critical than a bolt action.

 

[Grumulkin]

I had a 742 in 308 Winchester. It never jammed for me and was very accurate. Unfortunately for me, the bolt rails failed. Fortunately for me, Remington fixed it under warranty after which I sold it.