Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: glowaski81 on October 08, 2010, 02:45:03 PM


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Title: Remington 742
Post by: glowaski81 on October 08, 2010, 02:45:03 PM
From everyone that I have talked to its a pretty uncommon rifle. So far it has been a good rifle even though its showing some age now that its 30years old. Had mostly problems with the mags. They seem to cause jams as the spring wears out. Anyone else still shoot a 742? gone through the rebuild process at all? Newer bolt actions are great but I really do enjoy this rifle and would rather not let it sit around in the safe collecting dust
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: jdb on October 08, 2010, 03:09:51 PM
I know a guy w/ one in 280 rem. and also a guy w/ one in 30/06. they both have killed deer :dunno:
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: jackelope on October 08, 2010, 03:14:27 PM
I've got 2 of them and I had a 3rd but it's gone now, both in 30-06...my grandfathers on either side of my family owned them and they were both handed down to me. Neither of them are used anymore and I've heard gunsmiths won't touch them.  :dunno:
I used to hunt with one of them but have since moved on to more accurate and reliable rifles.
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: Woodchuck on October 08, 2010, 03:17:20 PM
I am not sure which is the pump and which is the auto loader but i have the pump version in a .270 and i like it, used to have an 30/06 semi and really liked it as well, good guns but i think there are still plenty of them out there  :dunno:
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: hunterofelk on October 08, 2010, 03:18:15 PM
My first big game rifle was the semi-automatic Rem. 742 in .308 win.  I was 13 years old with a paper route and green as a kid can be.  I didn't have anyone to give me advice on what was good for hunting in Montana.  The 742 was for sale at $130.00 used at the Gamble's hardware store, but down the street at the Western Auto was a Rem. M700 ADL in 30'06 for $165.00 new.  I had already purchased a Weaver K4 for $50.00 so being the sprend thrift I am I bought the 742.  Regretted it ever since.  The 742 was heavy, didn't balance well and it would jam if I tried my reloads from a Lee Loader.  The 700 just felt so good in my hands and pointed well I can't believe I didn't pry open the wallet a little more.  After about ten years, I traded the 742 for a Parker-Hale in 7mm Rem. Mag.   I think the 742 was the gun for hunting from a blind in brushy country, not the open sage.
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: jackelope on October 08, 2010, 03:19:11 PM
742 is the autoloader.

maybe 762 is the pump?
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: Woodchuck on October 08, 2010, 03:19:51 PM
i think 740 is the pump
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: jackelope on October 08, 2010, 03:34:21 PM
any of the 74- are the auto's. I just looked online and the 76-'s are the pump guns.
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: Woodchuck on October 08, 2010, 03:39:13 PM
HMMMMM, i stand corrected
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: glowaski81 on October 08, 2010, 03:56:23 PM
Remington has removed the rifle from there catalogs the only way to buy parts for them is through other distributors that are few and far between. Tough to think that this rifle could jam at that critical moment so I still use a winchester 70, but I definately wouldn't mind making it more reliable!
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: Bows4huntn on October 08, 2010, 04:04:53 PM
I have a 742 in the 30/06 that was bought for me by my Grandparents when I was a teenager. Still use it when I can afford those out of state elk hunts. I also had problems with it jamming when trying to shoot reloads through it so I always just shoot factory. I also found it worked better when during the cleaning process I made sure to pull the stock and remove all the debris that seemed to accumulate around the spring.
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: jackelope on October 08, 2010, 04:06:19 PM
Neither of the 3 that I have had ever jammed that I can think of. I just became more interested in more accurate rifles so I went away from them. My one has killed 2 muley bucks here and several whitetails back east.
I always just shot corelokts out of it.
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: Woodchuck on October 08, 2010, 04:37:27 PM
my semi would jam if the shells werent all the way back in the clip, as long as they were seated all the way back it would shoot anything i fed it. the pump shoots everything that goes in it no sweat. the pump is actually a pretty good little shooter
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: jackelope on October 08, 2010, 04:44:20 PM
It's a damn travesty that there are no elk down there for you to shoot with it.
I'm sorry, Jim.
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: Caseyd on October 08, 2010, 04:48:34 PM
I have one in .280 that was given to me by my grandpa.

Dont really use it much these days, it just sits in the safe. Yet id never get rid of it since it was passed down to me :twocents:
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: jdb on October 08, 2010, 06:00:45 PM
my semi would jam if the shells werent all the way back in the clip, as long as they were seated all the way back it would shoot anything i fed it. the pump shoots everything that goes in it no sweat. the pump is actually a pretty good little shooter
my dad has a pump in 30/06 that will shoot right along w/ any bolt gun I have ever shot.
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: Screaminreelz on October 08, 2010, 06:40:09 PM
Ive got a pre 1968 760 pump in 30.06 and absolutely love it! smooth as can be for a gun as old as it is. shoots 150 gr and 180 no problem deer/elk you name it and it and they will hit the ground.
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: fremont on October 09, 2010, 08:46:21 AM
In the 70's when I was a teenager, the 742 was considered a pretty hot rifle.  It seemed to get more airplay than the the 760 pump.  I was never a big follower; I was too focused on the 700 BDL.  We had a friend with a BAR hunting rifle in 270 Win.  I was pretty impressed as a kid (who was carrying either a M94 30-30 or a shotgun with slugs).
Title: Re: Remington 742
Post by: Blacklab on October 09, 2010, 11:57:01 AM
I have a hand me down 742 carbine in 30-06 and carry it almost every year. Not sure how old it is but it works like a timex watch  ;)
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