Inherited Remington 740
Hello Experts!
I inherited a Remington 740 in 30-06 a couple of years ago. I know the history of this gun. It's a standard first year model, nothing fancy, has only a couple of hunting seasons under it's belt - maybe 1 blacktail deer taken, a couple of boxes of shells thru it, and it has hung on the gun rack for more than 50 years.
I finally put a couple of rounds thru it to make sure everything functioned before I sell it. The rifle functioned fine, but it's not a tack driver and I would recommend putting a recoil pad on it.
My question for the Experts is does anyone know if the "reduced recoil" ammunition made by Remington or Hornady would cycle the action of this rifle?
Thanks for your expertise! [:)]
I inherited a Remington 740 in 30-06 a couple of years ago. I know the history of this gun. It's a standard first year model, nothing fancy, has only a couple of hunting seasons under it's belt - maybe 1 blacktail deer taken, a couple of boxes of shells thru it, and it has hung on the gun rack for more than 50 years.
I finally put a couple of rounds thru it to make sure everything functioned before I sell it. The rifle functioned fine, but it's not a tack driver and I would recommend putting a recoil pad on it.
My question for the Experts is does anyone know if the "reduced recoil" ammunition made by Remington or Hornady would cycle the action of this rifle?
Thanks for your expertise! [:)]
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Don't know about the Hornady ammo, but Remington's ammo won't cycle mine. Or any of my BARs. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by m1aguy
Don't know about the Hornady ammo, but Remington's ammo won't cycle mine. Or any of my BARs.
That's too bad. Thanks for the reply.0 -
If you are going to sell it, forget about the recoil pad and ammo, let the new owner make those decisions. If you plan to keep it, buy some standard 150 grain ammo and a slip-on pad. My 740 doesn't kick too bad with factory 150's. I'd consider keeping the rifle. Its sentimental value might be greater than its re-sell value. Plus, while not a tack driver, a 740 shoots more than good enough for deer hunting. 0 -
I also have a very early one, and wonder why a seme, in walnut and steel, will bring so little on the auction side. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Bill Jordan
I also have a very early one, and wonder why a seme, in walnut and steel, will bring so little on the auction side.
Basically..because they aren't very good guns. The only reason I have one, is that I inherited it and it isn't worth anything, so I just shoot it. Whenever it breaks, I will junk it, I will not put money into it to fix it. I would never actually buy one.
BARs are much better semis.0 -
Why aren't they that good? Inaccurate?, Break? Walnut and Steel: What am I missing? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Bill Jordan
Why aren't they that good? Inaccurate?, Break? Walnut and Steel: What am I missing?
Remington 740 and 742 had a problem of the bolt wearing on and chewing up the rails that guided it inside the reciver leading to a non working rifle0 -
true but after a 1000 rounds or so, probably more. I've got 742 that works great still, They are not guns to do a lot of practice with. I probably have well over a 1000 round with no sighs of significant wear and it rarely if ever fails to feed 0 -
My 740 was bought about 1965. Still going strong after over 1,000rds through it. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by golferboy426
true but after a 1000 rounds or so, probably more. I've got 742 that works great still, They are not guns to do a lot of practice with. I probably have well over a 1000 round with no sighs of significant wear and it rarely if ever fails to feed
true i loved my 742 shot my first uck with it goodd rifle just a bad flaw0 -
I have a 740ADL 30-06 that was purchased new for my dad. It was mfg in Jan 1956, which puts it at over 50 years of age. During that time it has seen activity in spurts, primarily as a deer/elk rifle. During that time it's fired a few hundred rounds. It functions properly and once properly adjusted, the accuracy is about 2 MOA. The reason that the gun has lower value than other similar guns appears to be the result of some owners treating their gun like they do their cars- run it til it dies- as noted above.
It does not sound like your rifle has had sufficient opportunity to get the action roughed-up, so I'd recommend the following treatment;
Remove the stock and forend and any optical sights.obtain a container that will allow the gas system to be immersed in solvent. WD40 works well provided its residue is thoroughly cleaned afterword. I prefer CLP Breakfree. Soak and brush the gas system until all traces of powder residue are removed. Spray down the system with Everclear or similar non-petroleum solvent, to clean out the previous solvents, use canned air to blow-dry. Put LIGHT coating of oil on parts. Repeat the above process for the receiver and bolt, taking extra care to confirm that the extractor is clean and free to move. When satisfied that the metalwork is clean, apply Lubri-plate, STOS or similar grease to bearing parts.
Reassemble the stock and forend. One of the accuracy problems of the 740 was that the stock bolt that attached the forend to the rifle could put a pull on the barrel. Generally the balance between holding the forend securly and excessive pull on the barrel can be found only by trial and adjust. While a dirty action is most often the cause of a 740 malfunctioning, an improperly adjusted forend screw (drawn too tight) is the most common cause of inaccuracy. I suggest getting a couple boxes of 150 grain ammunition- your preferred brand, but not the premium stuff (just yet). At the range loosen the forend screw til loose. fire a round, then tighten the screw 1/4-1/2 turn; fire another round. repeat process. Continuing to fire all shots at the same target. Initially the group will resemble a tight shotshell pattern but as the screw is tightened the group will shrink, then start going down (caused by the barrel being pulled down by the screw). The best accuracy will be when the screw is just tight enough to keep things in place when the rifle fires, but not so tight that it pulls on the barrel. Later models had blocks that put a separation between the screw and the barrel, but the legacy of inaccuracy had already been started.
Contrary to popular opinion and the pricing function of the market, the 740, if not abused to the point of damage, is a quite functional gun.
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Yea, you could bother with doing all that RayB posts and still have a mediocre rifle with mediocre accuracy. Or just sell it for whatever you can get for it, and buy a used Savage bolt gun that will out shoot a 740 any day.
Or, if you like semis, add some money to it, and buy a BAR.0
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