Rem 742- 30.06

[dwo357]

What have I done !!! I bought a 742 .06 from Cabelas and checked out some reviews on this gun. some good and some not so good. Sounds like you need to keep this gun super clean or it might jam and I heard horror stories about the action being eaten up by the bolt. Any info on this will help.

 

[saturno_v]

As long as the receiver rails are in good shape and you did not pay more than $200 (for a tip-top shape specimen) you are fine....

 

[wow6599]

My grandpa gave me his 742 Woodsmaster in .30-'06 a couple of years ago. He still had the original box of cartridges (missing 4 or 5) that he got when he bought it in 1968.

I had heard the stories about the 740, 742 and 7400. I took it to my 'smith who told me a little story. HE said that 99% of the problems with them chewing up the receiver and rails can be prevented by removing burrs off the rails, and using a good oil or grease of course. I use plain white lithium grease.

He broke it down (PITA, I watched - need a tool that I didn't have) and cleaned the rails up, as well as the entire gun. I have now ran a couple of boxes through it and it never misses a beat. I think if you maintain it you should get a couple thousand rds out of it.

YMMV

 

[Kliegl]

The one I got as part of an estate is horrible and the rails are all chewed up.

I hope you either didn't pay much or can return it. Gander Mtn will not buy them except as parts guns for 50 bucks max.

If yours is in good shape, and you grease the heck out of it, it may work for a good while, just know that it is a hunting gun, not a target practice gun (read: 20 rounds per year max.)

 

[Abel]

If yours is in good shape, and you grease the heck out of it, it may work for a good while, just know that it is a hunting gun, not a target practice gun (read: 20 rounds per year max.)

+1

Sight her in and shoot at game only. Clean and lube.

 

[retDAC]

If you ever have any major questions or problems beyond your local 'smith, talk to this man at
http://www.parts4guns.com/

 

[dprice3844444]

wow,find an amsoil dealer and get a tube of the synthetic heavy duty waterproof axle grease.stickier tham the lithium,won't dry up.good to below zero

 

[Kilo Charlie]

Big thing to prevent jams is to get a chamber brush, and use it assiduously. Don't overlube and keep the action clean, especially the chamber. I know hunters who have been using those rifles trouble-free for 40 years. I prefer the 7400 myself, but hey...tomato, tomatto.

 

[GooseGestapo]

What others have said....
I saw many, many of these in my 25yr career in conservation enforcement.
Most of the jams were attributable to failure to ever clean the things, not to mention improper cleaning.

I can remember from the Remington literature that accompanied the rifles when sold new in the '60's that recommended taking them "annually" to a gunsmith to have them "cleaned and serviced". This meant dissassembly of the forend and gas system for thorough cleaning.

I saw many of them that were so dirty that the fired cases would be stuck in the chamber and the case head was ripped through at the extractor. A dirty gun also "sped up" the gas system casusing the hard slam at the back of the reciever which "peened" the damage into the action rails that are machined into the reciever.

The 7400 was an attempt to correct some of these problems, but didn't entirely address the rail peening issue.

If you have one that is still in decent operating condition, you have a nice rifle. I had one and enjoyed it after somewhat mitigating the reciever peening and doing a trigger job. An aquaintance who "liked" the Semi-auto's talked me out of it.....

Do shoot it sparingly. Do clean it religiously, with annual tear-downs to gas system. Do shoot American made, SAAMI spec ammo. These guns don't react well to high pressure "bolt-action" safe loads. Especially, don't shoot surplus or foreign made ammo that may be corrosive. I had a friend "ruin" his Mod742 in a single weekend back in 1970 with some corrosive primed surplus Korean war vintage .30/06 ammo. He failed to clean the gun with a complete teardown and cleaning with bore-solvent formulated for corrosive ammo. Three months later, the gun was locked up so tight, a gunsmith sent it back to Remington. Remington gave him a "coupon" for partial value of the rifle.
He hasn't owned a Remington, or semi-auto since........

 

[dprice3844444]

tomato,tomatoe

 

[stevo27]

Hello,I also have one of these and was wondering if anyone knew where I could find a brake down tutorial or something on how to clean these? Mainly this gas system thing?

Thanks .

 

[wow6599]

Hello,I also have one of these and was wondering if anyone knew where I could find a brake down tutorial or something on how to clean these? Mainly this gas system thing?

Find a gunsmith in your area. I have never had a problem breaking firearms down until I tried to on the 742. I then witnessed a pretty good (not my normal guy) 'smith have a very difficult time with it. I don't remember the exact problem he had, but it took him a couple of hours. Spend the money and let someone do it for you. Or not.

YMMV

 

[PreMod70]

The 740 is not that big a deal to keep operating, they just need a little oil in the right places from time to time. Although it is not a Garand it will surprise you how many rounds it will eat before it needs attention. Most hunters buy the 740 and never give it it's proper attention and suffer until they sell it with probably less the a hundred rounds through it, they are one of the best deals going on the used market.

 

[Ultravox]

I have a 740 in .30-06 that belonged to my Grandfather. I take it out and shoot it and it works fine. I also tore it down all the way and cleaned it - I don't think it had ever been taken down.

It wasn't difficult to take apart. There is some information on the internet about them.

http://www.wisnersinc.com/additional_info/Remington_7407427400.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/remington_740_rifle.htm

You can download a copy of the owners manual here:

http://remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/downloads/owners-manuals.aspx

 

[ants]

Assembly / Disassembly

Go to Amazon.com and do a search "Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly Disassembly" . It comes in several books.

Look for the specific book Part IV Centerfire Rifles. Currently $15.99 new.

It has a chapter on complete tear down of the 742, which also covers the Model Four, 74 Sportsman, 740, and 7400 series.

With pictures and text. And tips on reassembly.



I inherited my dear father's 7400 we bought in 1988. He cleaned it and lubed it well. Runs perfectly. Probably just short of 500 rounds, maybe less, still like new. Not a match grade rifle, but I've shot deer running full tilt downhill into the aspen groves. It'll hit a deer, both dad and I testify to that. I still miss hunting with you, Dad.

The plastic cover that goes over the ejection port may break or come loose. Remington considers it an expendable part, you simply buy a new one for $7 and replace it.

If you handload, the gas circuit is made for full loads. Doesn't run well on starting loads, or pansy powder puff loads. Start low and work up, but only load 2 or 3 rounds at a time. Test them to see if they cycle the action before you load too many.

 

[saturno_v]

My 740 never misses a beat...but I clean it religiously and I put lithium grease on the rails....it works wonderfully even with the extended magazines (10 and 12 rounds), it was my cheap high capacity semi-auto .30 cal rifle before I got a FAL....

I built some sort of rudimental chamber cleaning tool bending an extra cleaning rod I had at the right angle and attaching it to a shotgun barrel brush....it is perfect for the purpose.

Accuracy is not exactly top notch but more than sufficient for hunting or to have a day of fun at the range...

I may get a 7400 or a 750 in the future if the price is right....I love the look of these rifles, sleek, slender, timeless in my opinion.....

 

[dwo357]

Lots of info

Thanks for all the info. So many different ideas. I guess it is time to experiment. I shot my new 742 (1981) 6 shots and no jams. But the necks on the shells had a nick on them. The ammo was Federal 165 gr. TrophyBonded Bear Claw rounds. I think they were to hot for this gun. I might have to hand load some tamer 150 rounds. What do you think.

 

[dwo357]

Hey there dprice. are you from Florida? If so why do you need axle grease for below zero temps? Just curious.