Reminton 742 30-06 value?

[496 polara]

I am looking at a nice 742 with a scope,sling,and an extra mag.What would be a good price to pick this up used?
Anyone have one?Pros/cons??
TIA,
George

 

[barnetmill]

They are nice handling rifles when they are working, but remington will not support them with things like parts. They do have serious problems especailly the 30-06 chambering. I traded the one that I had in .308 off on the advice of my gunsmith. It got to the point where he refused to take them in for repair. I was in his shop once where a fellow had a brand new remington semiauto (do not know what model it was) in 30-06 come in with a struck shell. Gunsmith wanted no part of it since he has repaired these guns before. I have heard at least one other gunsmith say that he did not like them. I was wondering if it is an ammo problem since these guns use gas pressure and 30-06 ammo loadings can vary a lot in pressure curves.

The pump designs by remington work very well. I have not heard anything bad about the browning autorifle.

 

[Red Tornado]

They always seem to go for less than I think it seems like they should, because there are some issues. I've read reports, but I can't remember. I believe there's a known issue that pops up for some people, and they work great for others...just like most rifles. Do a search on here and you should be able to turn up quite a bit of info. IIRC, it seems like they normally go for <$300, but I don't know about the scope.
RT

 

[Art Eatman]

Based on some ten years of Internet discussion, plus having owned a 742K in .30-'06, it seems that spending a little bit of extra effort in keeping the chamber clean makes them good as hunting rifles. They don't allegedly do well for lots of long sessions at a shooting range; possibly because of the extraction problem.

I put maybe a hundred rounds through mine, with never a problem. About 1.5 MOA groups.

The bare rifle generally trades for $275 to $300, depending on what part of the country.

 

[Legionnaire]

Art references the long discussion on the web. I've wanted to like the 740, 7400, 742, etc., but always there seems to be concern about reliability. So, I decided on a 760 instead. Nary a problem with the pump-action platform.

 

[RonE]

I have one for sale that has a Redfield 3X9. Mine is a BDL and was built, near as I can tell, in the last production run (1978-1980). Mine is 30-06. I have never fired it and it seems to be in great condition. I got it through a charity auction (I wanted to donate and bid high, much more than the gun was worth but I would have written a check anyway.) I would like to sell but don't know what it is worth either.

 

[R.W.Dale]

The 742 had a bad habit of having the bolt locking lugs gall and begin to cut their way into the receiver at which point the rifle is only good for parts. The 7400 had a bolt redesign to fix this issue.

I personally will not buy a 74, 740 or 742 for the above reason, I've seen many examples of this receiver battering on guns I've looked at. If you cannot inspect the condition of the inside of the action in person walk away

Sorry RonE I really don't want to bash your rifle but this is why you never post "I have XXXX" for sale anywhere other than the classified section

 

[stolivar]

You also can't buy parts

for this old of a gun. there are some out there, but not many for the 742


steve

 

[RSVP2RIP]

All the problems have been adressed in the 750 model. I have a 750 Woodsmaster carbine in 30-06 and it has been a great tool though a couple hundred hunting loads so far. I'd pass on the 742 because of the galling issue (after several hundred loads though) and the weak extraction. If you only want to hunt with it and plan to shoot only about 20 rounds a year though it, then it should outlast you. It will certainly outlast some of the Lazzeroni rifles' barrels!

 

[d2wing]

+1 what Krochus said.

 

[littlelefty]

My daughter had a 742 carbine (30-06) given to her. Previous owner could not get it to group well past 50 or 75 yards. I have the same problem with it. No problem with reliability yet though.

Also, daughter killed her first deer with it last year - at 95 yards.

We'll keep it - it'll make excellent pig-in-thick-brush medicine.

 

[RonE]

Krochus wrote:..."Sorry RonE I really don't want to bash your rifle but this is why you never post "I have XXXX" for sale anywhere other than the classified section"...

Apology is not necessary, I am aware of the problem, and it stems from running a dirty rifle or excessive heating. My rifle is in great shape and there is no galling or scuffing. When properly cleaned and maintained these rifles work just fine. If you are going to shoot a deer or two a year, these are very nice rifles. If it is going to be a truck gun and not cleaned properly, perhaps not the gun for you.

 

[X-Rap]

The pumps yes, the autos, not so much.

 

[R.W.Dale]

, I am aware of the problem, and it stems from running a dirty rifle or excessive heating.

I disagree

No this problem stems from simply shooting these rifles more than 5 or 6 times a year. Ive seen some very well maintained and nice examples of these rifles with completely chewed receivers

Mine is 30-06. I have never fired it

My rifle is in great shape and there is no galling or scuffing.

HMMMMMMMMMMM! ya think

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

I can attest to the grief of a pitted chamber. The cartridge would stick.