Whats wrong with me, now I want a Rem 740/742

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

As I don't want to hijack the other thread, but today I learned about a model of mid-20th century sporting rifle of the semi-auto variety, the Remington 740.
Overall I dont have a thing for sporting weapons (or do I?) but I kinda dig this thing. Its very aesthetically 1950s, and another 30-06 I can add that's not another bolt gun.
I know they suck, but I like to overcome problems in guns I get (as long as its NOT something valuable)

I searched online briefly tonight and noticed they are charging $600+ for one online. I'd pay $500 if it came with a good scope.
Whats the best way to get one? And is there any other semi-auto sporting rifles from the time that are much better built but similarly priced?

 

[LoonWulf]

If you LIKE the 740/742s, then Id buy a 7400 or 750. Aesthetically the same, but as far as I know not prone to the receiver chewing issue....Magazines are still problematic, and you gotta keep em clean, but at least they dont self destruct as much.....

The BAR is another semi sporting rifle, and besides being heavier is an altogether better gun.

There were also the Winchester 100s, which had some safety concerns I believe, as well as the H&R Ultras which I know next to nothing about....

Those are the ones I can remember right now, and there may be others I'm not aware of.

 

[Atavar]

+1 on the BAR

 

[jmr40]

The 750 is the newest version and supposedly the better option. But Remington dropped the guns due to lack of sales shortly after the 750 was introduced. The 7400 is a newer version of the 742. They also made a model 4, which is simply a deluxe version of the 7400 with some minor cosmetic changes.

If I simply had to have a 30-06 sporting rifle, I'd choose the Browning over the Remington.

 

[dh1633pm]

Mental defect like the rest of us. I would suggest you go with it. One, who cares what people think, and two, it’s an excellent choice. I know someone who has one. Picky on ammo, but if you find the stuff it likes, reliable.

 

[Catpop]

The 742 had 9 small locking lugs, 7400 or 4 upgrade (not sure of model number) changed to 3 large locking lugs which weren’t as prone to rail marring. But even then, the chamber pitting due to lack of owner maintenance and fast cycling issue remained.

 

[25-20 WCF]

…One, who cares what people think, and two, it’s an excellent choice. I know someone who has one. Picky on ammo, but if you find the stuff it likes, reliable.

One, the OP knows “they suck” so he’s aware of the terrible reliability record of that model - unreliable function, short lifespan, magazine issues and no support to name a few. Two, I’ve had a couple of hunting partners who owned M740s; one was so terrible the owner couldn’t fire more than two shots without a jam. The other would group around 6” at 100 yards. Both were sold off quickly.

That said the OP wants one, loves the retro look and is willing to put up with the rifle’s faults. One advantage is their low cost compared to similar rifles - he’s not likely to find a decent BAR for $500. I hope he gets a good M740/742 and has fun shooting it. Idiosyncratic guns have an attraction all their own.




.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Yep.

The best way to overcome the problems of the 740/742 is to buy a 7400, 750, or BAR.

 

[lightman]

To each his own, if you want one you want one. I've had a 740, a BAR and a Winchester 100. The Winchester shot the best followed by the Browning and then the 740 last. Most hunters won't shoot a 740 enough to wear it out. If I wanted one I would watch Gunbroker.

A friend cut the barrel off on his 742, mounted a front sight from a Nylon 66 and a Williams peep sight on the rear and it made a sweet handling Deer rifle.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

On the subject of old semiauto sporters, I keep thinking a .351 Winchester 1907 would look nice in my safe.



Unfortunately, the guy that owns my favorite local gunshop also likes them, and he gets first dibs on the bargains!

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Whats the best way to get one? And is there any other semi-auto sporting rifles from the time that are much better built but similarly priced?

Try following Simpson's Ltd. -- they do lots of estate consignments and usually have one or two in stock. At the moment, this is what's available: https://simpsonltd.com/remington-740-woodsmaster-z49043/

 

[Chevelle SS]

I'd try to find a BAR, I just snagged a nice one today for $530 in 30.06. There are deals out there.

 

[Patocazador]

I had two 742s. One in .30-06 and one in .280. I still have the .280 because I like that cartridge. I killed my biggest mule deer with it.

Believe it or not, I traded the .30-06 for a boat. I think we both came out on the losing end.

 

[Mike J]

I honestly don't know much about them. Back in the mid-90's I was in a hunting club down in Meriwether County. Several of the members there used 742's. My old hunting partner used the Browning. They all seemed to like them though I seem to remember someone having problems with a 742. Of course, when we were in camp the guns stayed put away. My old hunting partner really liked his Browning.

 

[DM~]

Over the years, we've had several of them, 740 and 742's.

Only one wasn't at least decent in the accuracy department, and none of them were jam a matics. If used for hunting, you'd never wear one out.

I still have a delux 742, it shoots pretty good and it doesn't jam...

DM

 

[SwampWolf]

I killed my first deer with a Winchester Model 100, chambered in .308. There was a recall involving the firing pin but there was a fix for it. Mine was fairly accurate, wholly reliable and, in my totally subjective opinion, is the most handsome sporting auto-rifle ever made. Won't brag on the trigger, though.

 

[entropy]

Try following Simpson's Ltd. -- they do lots of estate consignments and usually have one or two in stock. At the moment, this is what's available: https://simpsonltd.com/remington-740-woodsmaster-z49043/

Dang, Dave you must lurk there more than I do!

Hier Kommt Die Sonne: Eins, Das Gewehr 742 ist Schrott. Zwei, Das Gewehr 742 ist Schrott. Drei, Das Gewehr 742 ist das am schlechtesten konstruirte Gewehr aller Gewehr.......

When you buy one:
1. Inspect the lugs. any damage, run, do not walk, away.
2. Same for the roof of the receiver, particularly the slot. Damage there is your Jam-O-Matic prima facie. Again, run away.
3. Inspect for signs of maintenance neglect. If possible, pull the forend off (BTW, the gun needs to be re-zeroed every time you do so) and look for pitting, etc. It might look like my friends' 750 which sat in an eggshell foam case for almost a year:



That's after I cleaned it up!
If it's anywhere near that, runaway!

Good luck in your search for a good one!

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Dang, Dave you must lurk there more than I do!

Not luck -- I check their 'What's New' list a couple times a day.

Which is also an indication what my social life is like ...

 

[Skylerbone]

Idiosyncratic is one thing, but polishing a turd on lunch break is sure to leave you with dirty hands and a foul taste in your mouth. Love yourself a little more and chose something else.

 

[jmorris]

I had a 742 (in 30-06) for more than a decade before I sold it. It functioned perfectly and was more than accurate enough for the job it was for. It did seem to have an unreasonable amount of felt recoil for a semiauto. It had more felt recoil than the 300WM BAR that replaced it. The BAR also has a much better trigger.

 

[mgmorden]

My dad hunted with a 742 for a long time (like 25 years) before switching to a bolt action. It was accurate enough for hunting without issue and he killed a lot of deer with it, but it certainly had its flaws.

1. The magazine basically stopped working. Not sure what the issue was and by the time I got older and could potentially examine it, it had long been lost (I've since bought him a replacement magazine for the gun though he no longer uses it). So he was shooting it as a single shot without a magazine. Still killed a lot of deer but it just seems a waste to have a "semi-auto" that you're dropping a single round into the chamber every time.

2. It is rather prone to cases sticking in the chamber. A lot of times the gun would fire, the extractor would rip the edge of the rim off the cartridge but the cartridge would stay in the chamber. This required prying the empty out of the chamber with a knife, or if it was really stuck hard using a cleaning rod from the muzzle to tap it out.

Honestly the pump action versions of these guns (the 760/762) have a better reputation.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

but it just seems a waste to have a "semi-auto" that you're dropping a single round into the chamber every time.

If they were still going for Trump-era prices, 200$ ~ is still a good price compared to any bolt action in sight being over 400$ right now.

A lot of times the gun would fire, the extractor would rip the edge of the rim off the cartridge but the cartridge would stay in the chamber.

This is not good at all. But i'm pretty sure the most determined of brass collectors would find a 740 rifle laying out there, pick it up and get the casing out and just dump the rifle back on the ground.

Winchester Model 100, chambered in .308.

Those look like a grown up 10/22. They look pretty cool

 

[redneck2]

On the subject of old semiauto sporters, I keep thinking a .351 Winchester 1907 would look nice in my safe

I know a guy that was trying to sell one of those along with four boxes of factory ammo. I listed it here for $800 for everything and never got any interest

The ammo goes for $100 a box, or so he said. I have no idea

I had a 7400 and n .35 Whelen. I put maybe ten rounds through it. Probably 1 1/2” rifle. It was in absolutely brand new condition when I sold it. Never hunted anything that needed that much killin’

 

[d2wing]

As I don't want to hijack the other thread, but today I learned about a model of mid-20th century sporting rifle of the semi-auto variety, the Remington 740.
Overall I dont have a thing for sporting weapons (or do I?) but I kinda dig this thing. Its very aesthetically 1950s, and another 30-06 I can add that's not another bolt gun.
I know they suck, but I like to overcome problems in guns I get (as long as its NOT something valuable)

I searched online briefly tonight and noticed they are charging $600+ for one online. I'd pay $500 if it came with a good scope.
Whats the best way to get one? And is there any other semi-auto sporting rifles from the time that are much better built but similarly priced?

Funny but I was looking for one a while back for a friend. 7400's still bring high prices. He finally settled for a bolt action.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

He finally settled for a bolt action

For reloading enthusaists, bolt actions are the way to go because they're safer and more forgiving to errors., Even that Lee Roy guy who was posted earlier mentioned it in the article about the 740.
Im not sure if i have small base dies for the 30-06 or not, they are vintage dies though. From Lyman i believe. My reloading test hound for the caliber is my Savage Axis.
Maybe if I do get a Garand, a 740/742 would be a nice semi-auto test hound for 30-06. (wouldn't be a point if it jams anyway though)