Remington 7400 Question
- Thread starter rjk2475
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The few friends I have who own them sure like them.
Of course, lubrication and cleaning are more of an issue in order to keep them functioning correctly, but its not that big of an issue.
They all seem to be able to hit the target fairly well.
Handloading pretty much requires full length resizing if you do reload. The Remington and Brownings seem to possess about the same overall average, about an inch or so at 100 yards, although each seems to like a particular load to the exclusion of the others.
I would be leery of buying used, as there are those who will overheat the barrels, given the autoloaders ability for quick shooting.
Of course, lubrication and cleaning are more of an issue in order to keep them functioning correctly, but its not that big of an issue.
They all seem to be able to hit the target fairly well.
Handloading pretty much requires full length resizing if you do reload. The Remington and Brownings seem to possess about the same overall average, about an inch or so at 100 yards, although each seems to like a particular load to the exclusion of the others.
I would be leery of buying used, as there are those who will overheat the barrels, given the autoloaders ability for quick shooting.
BusMaster007
Member
They'll hold up if you treat them like the hunting rifle they are.
I think if you take it out and rapid fire the heck out of it, it'll break pretty soon.
I won't do that to my 7400 Carbine .30-06. I just shoot it slowly and deliberately. The caliber is potent and available.
Someone told me I should start shooting only 150-gr. bulleted ammo from now on to reduce the pounding inside the rifle.
I've shot 180 & 220 so far with no problems in a couple of hundred rounds.
Might have to get some 150 and see what it does, especially with that short 18.5" bbl.
If I had to have only one rifle, this one would do quite nicely.
I think if you take it out and rapid fire the heck out of it, it'll break pretty soon.
I won't do that to my 7400 Carbine .30-06. I just shoot it slowly and deliberately. The caliber is potent and available.
Someone told me I should start shooting only 150-gr. bulleted ammo from now on to reduce the pounding inside the rifle.
I've shot 180 & 220 so far with no problems in a couple of hundred rounds.
Might have to get some 150 and see what it does, especially with that short 18.5" bbl.
If I had to have only one rifle, this one would do quite nicely.
I once had a Remington 7400 in 30.06. Shot 180 grain bullets in it and took several deer with it. It seemed like it would hold up over time but I wanted a Browning MK II Safari real bad and sold the 7400. To me the Browning is the better of the two but does cost alot more than the Remington. I would say if you are wanting a plain affordable semi auto the Remington would be hard to beat for the price. Good luck on your decision. 
cheygriz
member
The Remington is a hunting rifle. If you use it for that it will last a lifetime.
If you use it like a military rifle, it will wear out much sooner. Think about it. There's a good reason why they make military rifles heavy and rugged.
I had a 742, which is the predecessor of the 7400. Approximayely 3,000 rounds of GI milsurp, and it had to be rebuilt by the factory.
My semi-auto hunting rifles are now used for hunting, and my military style rifles are used for large amounts of shooting.
If you use it like a military rifle, it will wear out much sooner. Think about it. There's a good reason why they make military rifles heavy and rugged.
I had a 742, which is the predecessor of the 7400. Approximayely 3,000 rounds of GI milsurp, and it had to be rebuilt by the factory.
My semi-auto hunting rifles are now used for hunting, and my military style rifles are used for large amounts of shooting.
Concerning my new Remington 7400 in 30-06:
Initially, the first 50 rounds produced jams every third round, so I went to work on it by bedding the action / stock / installing a LimbSaver Barrel De-Resonator / adjusting the trigger to 3 lbs., and dry-firing / working the action 1,000 times.
A major and very thorough cleaning of the action and chamber was performed. Did I say take your time and pay close attention to detail in cleaning the action / chamber / bolt?
Afterwards, the 7400 30-06 has not jammed in the last 200 rounds and is shooting groups that vary between 7/8" and 1 1/8" off a benchrest and 1 3/4" to 2" groups offhand - using 180-gr. Federal Solid Base rounds.
Speer Hot Core 165-gr. were slightly more accurate and shot the smaller groups, with the 180-gr.'s being the largest, but not my a large margin.
Will try some Nosler Ballistic Tips and AccuBonds next.
Initially, the first 50 rounds produced jams every third round, so I went to work on it by bedding the action / stock / installing a LimbSaver Barrel De-Resonator / adjusting the trigger to 3 lbs., and dry-firing / working the action 1,000 times.
A major and very thorough cleaning of the action and chamber was performed. Did I say take your time and pay close attention to detail in cleaning the action / chamber / bolt?
Afterwards, the 7400 30-06 has not jammed in the last 200 rounds and is shooting groups that vary between 7/8" and 1 1/8" off a benchrest and 1 3/4" to 2" groups offhand - using 180-gr. Federal Solid Base rounds.
Speer Hot Core 165-gr. were slightly more accurate and shot the smaller groups, with the 180-gr.'s being the largest, but not my a large margin.
Will try some Nosler Ballistic Tips and AccuBonds next.
rbernie
Contributing Member
One thing to keep in mind is that aftermarket (10-round) magazines are really hit-or-miss in terms of functioning, and that fast mag changes are pretty much not going to happen. Trying to 'tactical-ize' the 7400 is a significant challenge just based on these two issues.....
Howeer, as others have said - they are functional and durable under normal sporting use. I bought a WallyWorld special and sold it within four months because I didn't care for the design or build quality, but that's just me. I've ranted about the 7400 enough on this forum that any search can dig up all of the pros and cons of the rifle without rehashing it all.
Howeer, as others have said - they are functional and durable under normal sporting use. I bought a WallyWorld special and sold it within four months because I didn't care for the design or build quality, but that's just me. I've ranted about the 7400 enough on this forum that any search can dig up all of the pros and cons of the rifle without rehashing it all.
justsurvivingincalifornia
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More information of the 10 rounder mags used in a 742 Remington 30-06
I have both the see-through plastic-type and the metal body type of mag.s Both will fail often enough to make you think they worthless in combat.
As a hunting rifle I think they are great. I have had some failures, but I think it might be due to bad ammo. If you want something that is more reliable consider the PumpAction 7600 rifle series. It has the feel and controls of a the Rem 870 shotgun. I have read that some LE agency issue it to the officers because of that reason.
I have both the see-through plastic-type and the metal body type of mag.s Both will fail often enough to make you think they worthless in combat.
As a hunting rifle I think they are great. I have had some failures, but I think it might be due to bad ammo. If you want something that is more reliable consider the PumpAction 7600 rifle series. It has the feel and controls of a the Rem 870 shotgun. I have read that some LE agency issue it to the officers because of that reason.
artherd
member
I have one. I've benched it after trying to make it accurate (spent $500+ ontop of gun price), and overall failing. (2MOA at best, sigh.) It is one soft-shooting .30-06 however!
The charging 'handle' if you can call it that, is now wiggling in a way I do not like, so I have not shot the gun. It's barely worth getting it repaired at this point.
Now, I also just broke my Kel-Tec SU-16, so maybe I'm just hard on guns
The charging 'handle' if you can call it that, is now wiggling in a way I do not like, so I have not shot the gun. It's barely worth getting it repaired at this point.
Now, I also just broke my Kel-Tec SU-16, so maybe I'm just hard on guns
BargainHunter
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was going to sell it
I'll try "working the action and dry firing 1000 times" as you suggest. If that and a little more tinkering with the freaking magazines doesn't do it, I'll give this gun away with mags for $125. Works great as a Single Shot. lol. (put 1 round on top of the factory magazine, hit bolt-close button, shoot.) A pink stock Crickett .22 costs $110.
Unless you just really really really like this model, don't buy it. Get the $100 Mo-gant surplus with the plastic stock and have a field day! You might not win target matches with that, but at least the deer won't LAUGH AT YOU.
I'll try "working the action and dry firing 1000 times" as you suggest. If that and a little more tinkering with the freaking magazines doesn't do it, I'll give this gun away with mags for $125. Works great as a Single Shot. lol. (put 1 round on top of the factory magazine, hit bolt-close button, shoot.) A pink stock Crickett .22 costs $110.
Unless you just really really really like this model, don't buy it. Get the $100 Mo-gant surplus with the plastic stock and have a field day! You might not win target matches with that, but at least the deer won't LAUGH AT YOU.
BargainHunter
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I think the pump action (is it 7600?) would be fine, but the semi-auto is love-it-or-hate-it.
dmazur
Member
I had a 742 in .30-06 and I sold it largely because it wouldn't feed reliably and it was a real pain in the whatever to take the bolt out to clean it.
I never could get over the .30-06, but I now have a Garand (for informal target) and a bolt-action for hunting.
A co-worker gave up on his 740 and got a Tikka in .30-06.
On the other hand, Accuracy Systems will build an accurate (somewhat tactical looking) 7400 or 7600 for you -
http://www.remington7400.com/index.php
This would be an alternative to building an AR-10 rifle. Harder to clean, harder to service. I wouldn't recommend it.
I never could get over the .30-06, but I now have a Garand (for informal target) and a bolt-action for hunting.
A co-worker gave up on his 740 and got a Tikka in .30-06.
On the other hand, Accuracy Systems will build an accurate (somewhat tactical looking) 7400 or 7600 for you -
http://www.remington7400.com/index.php
This would be an alternative to building an AR-10 rifle. Harder to clean, harder to service. I wouldn't recommend it.
cracked butt
Member
They are ok if you plan on shooting a 1/2 box of shells through it a year to sight it in and go hunting with. For the money, a bolt action from any of the major gun manufacturers would be a much better rifle.
X-Rap
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I can say I've seen more hunts screwed up because of the Rem. 740 type auto loader than any other. This is due to jams, miss fires, failure to feed and the like. Extreme cold and wet weather plus dirt and grim tank this gun.
The pump mod is the polar opposite.
The pump mod is the polar opposite.
R.W.Dale
Member
From what I've found in researching this very subject and owning both 7600's and 7400's the main thing holding a 7400 back is long term durability. Just from the way these rifles are made the life cycle on them is supposed somewhere between 1000 to 2000 rds before their completely worn out. The 7400's don't handle heat very well causing POI to wander wildly as the bbl warms and they're very hard to detail strip for a through cleaning. Lastly these rifles can be quite ammunition sensitive.
BUT the rem 7600 suffers from none of these issues and is vastly more accurate to boot.
Look at like this
A rem 7400 is an LT1 powered 95 Impala SS
A rem 7600 is that same car that's been upgraded with a 6 speed manual
Which one sounds like more fun?
BUT the rem 7600 suffers from none of these issues and is vastly more accurate to boot.
Look at like this
A rem 7400 is an LT1 powered 95 Impala SS
A rem 7600 is that same car that's been upgraded with a 6 speed manual
Which one sounds like more fun?
twofourthree73
Member
For those rifles get a pump. I have a pump 7600 in .243 and my dad had a 760 in .308. Both were reliable as heck because of the pump action and you could fire shots almost as fast as a semi-auto with them.
I have a model 7400 in .270 caliber and it is my favorite hunting rifle. I fire Federal Vital Shok 150gr out of it and it has never had a jam and it is a very accurate rifle. I just clean it like I do all my other rifles and handguns after I finish shooting them for the day.
Heck
Member
I've had one one in .270 for about 17 years now and it has been a great gun. It is what i call 2 shot accurate though. After the barrel heats up it starts stringing vertically. Plenty accurate for hunting but if you are wanting to go to the range and shoot tight groups get a bolt gun.
rangerruck
Member
you don't have to worry as much with the 7400 as you did with the 742's; they corrected the receiver/ raceway problems. but still , it is just a hunting rifle. however, if you are not stacking up rounds downrange plinking, I think it could last a lifetime. especially with, say , a 243, or even a nice 270.
rem 7400 -in 30-06
hi. i have a few of them, i like them, iam 70 years old,and have the first one made, a lot haves to do with how you take care of them, i never could find a good 10rd mag for them, there for hunting,and thats what there made for, i was told that there were good 10rd mags out there,but try and find them is the thing. iam still looking. if any one finds any mags that work,let me know were. even at my age,i may try a few,i dont shoot any more but would still go for them if they work. you could say,iam a gun nut. email me.thanks. toni in ohio
hi. i have a few of them, i like them, iam 70 years old,and have the first one made, a lot haves to do with how you take care of them, i never could find a good 10rd mag for them, there for hunting,and thats what there made for, i was told that there were good 10rd mags out there,but try and find them is the thing. iam still looking. if any one finds any mags that work,let me know were. even at my age,i may try a few,i dont shoot any more but would still go for them if they work. you could say,iam a gun nut. email me.thanks. toni in ohio
Brad Clodfelter
Member.
The Browning Bar rifles are twice the gun than the Remington 742 and 7400 are. I used to own a browning Bar Mark II Safari 270(Boss) and I can tell you from taking it apart to clean the gun that it is pure quality. It shot better than most bolt actions on the market as well. The Remingtons are cheaper made and some had problems with them either jamming or not shooting as good as they should. I'm a big Remington fan, but the Browning Bar has the Remington semi-auto rifles beat.
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BargainHunter
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troublesome but useful
I have finally gotten this SOB to work, and now I like it better. (removed the plastic breech cover plate after it chipped. A piece was in the back of the reciever preventing cocking automatically after the first shot ejected. I polished the chamber with a drill, long brass cleaning rod and 410 shotgun brush, like you would hone a cyclinder in an engine).
Now I'm still having trouble with the magazines. The magazine catch is strong and not worn, but the magazines are poorly formed and "wiggle" even after pressing in and giving a good slap to check it. The play is causing the failure to properly feed rounds occassionally (vs every shot like when the plastic thing was clogging the works.) I am going to try drilling a narrow hole in one of the magazines where the "nub" used to be, so the mag catch can rest in the hole. I figure I can use a small rat tail file to elongate the hole if necessary till it grabs. I've also thought of brazing/welding some extra material onto the magazines and filing away till they have a good edge to grab. What do you know? [email protected]
I have finally gotten this SOB to work, and now I like it better. (removed the plastic breech cover plate after it chipped. A piece was in the back of the reciever preventing cocking automatically after the first shot ejected. I polished the chamber with a drill, long brass cleaning rod and 410 shotgun brush, like you would hone a cyclinder in an engine).
Now I'm still having trouble with the magazines. The magazine catch is strong and not worn, but the magazines are poorly formed and "wiggle" even after pressing in and giving a good slap to check it. The play is causing the failure to properly feed rounds occassionally (vs every shot like when the plastic thing was clogging the works.) I am going to try drilling a narrow hole in one of the magazines where the "nub" used to be, so the mag catch can rest in the hole. I figure I can use a small rat tail file to elongate the hole if necessary till it grabs. I've also thought of brazing/welding some extra material onto the magazines and filing away till they have a good edge to grab. What do you know? [email protected]
BargainHunter
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stop shot stringing or decrease the POI impact
I filed the forend walls down about the thickness of a quarter, and the front too, and "floated" the barrel by raising the barrel with 2 deck screws, right under the hole where the big retaining screw goes in. When they were set right, I filled in under the screws and just a little on top of them, with Cold Steel epoxy clay, then filed smooth. (don't block the track where the slide action runs inside the forend.) This helped a LOT with the problem about the POI raising up dramatically with barrel heat, and made the forend rock-solid for placing on a rifle rest. It still gets hot fast (even single shotting by dropping one .270win on the top of the mag and dropping the bolt release lever) but this helps and you can blow most crap out of this gun with compressed air.
I filed the forend walls down about the thickness of a quarter, and the front too, and "floated" the barrel by raising the barrel with 2 deck screws, right under the hole where the big retaining screw goes in. When they were set right, I filled in under the screws and just a little on top of them, with Cold Steel epoxy clay, then filed smooth. (don't block the track where the slide action runs inside the forend.) This helped a LOT with the problem about the POI raising up dramatically with barrel heat, and made the forend rock-solid for placing on a rifle rest. It still gets hot fast (even single shotting by dropping one .270win on the top of the mag and dropping the bolt release lever) but this helps and you can blow most crap out of this gun with compressed air.
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