Remington 742, part two of do I want one?

[GatorFarmer]

This one will cost me my old Aimpoint Comp M (ugly, works great) and 10 loaded C Products AR mags. What I figure is a dead on fair trade value wise.

The Remington is one of the older higher end models with the basket weave checkering, supposed to be in excellent shape w/ one standard cap factory mag and one metal ten round mag (Trip K? Old USA? Don't know.) that is said to work fine.

I had a 7400 for a brief time, traded it. If I remember right, this is an ealier version of the same rifle. Did the 742 have the bugs worked out? I figured that I could use it (in the ever useful .30-06 chambering) to shoot pigs or some such. (Most of my semi auto rifles are 5.56mm save for the M1 carbine.)

But part of me wonders if it won't be too hard to get parts for and too much of a problem to keep clean. I've other .30 cal (ish) centerfire rifles including some sporterized military rifles, that I could drop in a swamp and not care about (and a Carcano that looks as though that already happened to it).

I'm figuring that the Remington is worth in the 350 to 400 (max) range based on what I see them sell for at auction. I paid less for the 7400, but I got a good deal on that.

Do these still have the classic 70s look I remember from the gun mags at the barber shop when I was a kid? You know that rugged outdoors look of years past when men were pictured afield in checkered coats and smoking Marlboros and Robert Stack showed off rifles in ads...

 

[BruceM]

The 742 came out before the 7400, not after.

Personally, I'd invest a few more dollars and buy a Browning BAR. IMO, they're stronger, more reliable and more accurate.



Bruce

 

[NE450No2]

You hear a lot of bad things about the Rem 742 rifles...

But I have helped 5 or 6 buddies sight theirs in, and I was suprised at how well they shot. All were in 30/06 and any of them were accurate enough to hit a coyote at 150 yards and a deer to at least 200 yards. And I mean hit in the vitals. They all did have good scopes and mounts.

Semiautos are a lot harder on a scope than a bolt rifle, I would use a Leupold at least.

If you keep it clean, and lube it with BreakFree they seem to work OK.

 

[oldman45]

Sorry but I missed the first part of this.

I have three of these guns in various calibers. Never have had any problems with them but I will say you might need to re-consider what you are paying for it. I know I would not trade the cheapest handgun I own for one of them.

One of my hobbies is going to pawn shops and I will go to 3-5 per week. During the course of 60 days, I can pertty much make all of them in the area. I look at both handguns and rifles. These 742 rifles in decent shape have been going for $275 or so. A really nice one is going to be $400 but these also include a scope, usually a cheap scope but still a scope and the mounts.

A local attorney offered me one at the end of last years deer season for $250 with a Redfield scope, a soft case and leather sling.

As far as being upper end, that is a matter of opinion. The ADL is the basic model and the BDL has the checkering, a black tip on the forearm and a monte carlo stock. New there was less than $75 difference in price. The action is the same on both guns.

 

[butchd]

742s usually shoot great. The main thing is chamber care. Remington supplied an off-set chamber brush but sometimes the bbl would be clean and the chamber allowed to rust. The rusty chamber would increase wear on the essential, plastic dust cover. Then as more "yank" was required to clear the spent shell, chattering would occur on the cogs and lugs as the bolt rotated rearward. The guns break down easily and a home gun-smith can keep one running with CLP, steel wool, and a small file. It
s a fun shooter if nothing else.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I had a 742 carbine years ago (read back in the 70's) in 30-06. Big hunky like shooting a 4x4, but it was fun! If it works, go for it.

 

[wbraswell]

The 742 is kind of like the 94 Winchester. It's a classic American firearm, there is no shortage of critics, and it's not perfect. They can be a really good value for the money, and all the whitetails really hate them.

 

[gregintenn]

I've had a couple of them, and sot a lot of deer with them. I've never had any problems with them. they aren't benchrest competition rifles, but are plenty accurate. I like the way they look and feel.

 

[NFrameFred]

Owned 3 - they all shot great - they were beautiful rifles - and they were not made to last.

That's why the subsequent model changes took place. Most folks who still have them and love them to death bought them new and haven't shot 200 rounds through them, using them for hunting ( oddly enough, what they were designed for).

The races that the bolt rides in are flimsy and wear quickly in my experience. Remington for a while would take them back in and repair them and found the action just did not hold up, thus the re-design and new models. They just were not up to the hard use of a lot of rounds being cycled through the action.

The folks who frequent these types of forums shoot more than the average bear - the average bear buying a deer rifle, sighting in his scope with one, maybe two boxes of shells, then firing one to five rounds (maybe) during hunting season, then putting the gun away until next year when he'll fire one or two magazines to make sure the scope hasn't moved (if he even does that) and then takes it hunting to fire his one or two shots and repeats that cycle. Easy to have a rifle that will last 20 or 30 years like that and never put a hundred rounds through it. I personally know of several and I'm sure that is more common than not.

Now I'm sure we'll hear from someone who will swear they've had theirs for 30 years and fired 7000 rounds of 30'06 through it - so be it - just telling you what I've seen as a part time gunsmith some time back and what I'm familiar with though experience with the guns.

 

[stiab]

Did the 742 have the bugs worked out?

No. I have have owned two and they both failed. A friend has two leaning in a corner of his closet now, too expensive to fix and cannot sell them as is. Some people blame the owners for not properly taking care for the chambers, but the truth is the gun's poor design prevents proper care. They have the well earned nickname of "Jam-o-matic". My .30-06 failed (bolt would not open), I had it fixed, and two years later it failed again, all the while I was using the offset chamber brush.

I heard that the problem only existed with the larger bore guns, so bought a 742 in .243 at a good deal, and it failed the first deer season. When you come across a used 742, usually they are at reduced prices from other models due to the high failure rate. I would recommend that you avoid it, there are much more dependable guns out there.

 

[handejector]

Owned 3 - they all shot great - they were beautiful rifles - and they were not made to last.

That's why the subsequent model changes took place. Most folks who still have them and love them to death bought them new and haven't shot 200 rounds through them, using them for hunting ( oddly enough, what they were designed for).

The races that the bolt rides in are flimsy and wear quickly in my experience. Remington for a while would take them back in and repair them and found the action just did not hold up, thus the re-design and new models. They just were not up to the hard use of a lot of rounds being cycled through the action.

The folks who frequent these types of forums shoot more than the average bear - the average bear buying a deer rifle, sighting in his scope with one, maybe two boxes of shells, then firing one to five rounds (maybe) during hunting season, then putting the gun away until next year when he'll fire one or two magazines to make sure the scope hasn't moved (if he even does that) and then takes it hunting to fire his one or two shots and repeats that cycle. Easy to have a rifle that will last 20 or 30 years like that and never put a hundred rounds through it. I personally know of several and I'm sure that is more common than not.

Now I'm sure we'll hear from someone who will swear they've had theirs for 30 years and fired 7000 rounds of 30'06 through it - so be it - just telling you what I've seen as a part time gunsmith some time back and what I'm familiar with though experience with the guns.

Just about the perfect explanation on this gun.

I'll add a few points-
Once the guide rails are truly worn, there is no feasible way to fix the gun.
Remington quit servicing them a LONG time ago.
Many traders familiar with their faults won't take one in trade at any price.
Same for many pawn and gun shops.
I'm just guessing, but I don't believe one would last anywhere close to 1000 rounds. I have seen the rails nearly cut in two by the bolt lugs on well used specimens.

 

[BruceM]

Yep.

There was a time where the two most often seen rifle here in the deer woods was the M94 and the M742. No longer. Had three friends who had them (740 or 742). High maintenance. All guns require care but these seem especially so. Convinced me that I wouldn't own one. I used to work the late fall sight-in clinic which is the major fund raiser for my gun club every year. Must have done at least 2 days a year for 20 or so years. Anybody want to guess which rifle visits the on-site gunsmith the most? Now the 760 and the 7600 slide actions are a different story.

You might find this thread interesting: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=417628&highlight=742

That's why I own a BAR.

Bruce

 

[wlmccann]

I concur with NFramefred, stiab and Handejector.While attending gunsmithing school, there was a rumor that one of the Remington reps had stated they were only good for 600-800 rounds. After working on a number of them over the years, I think he was probably right. Receivers are thin,bolt rails wear, etc. Parts are hard to find. A complete and thorough cleaning means the barrel must be removed. It's the only way to get the bolt out. Remington at one time would offer an attractively priced replacement when a 742 was sent in for repair, but I doubt they will do so now. My recommendation would be to pass on any 742.