Remington 742 questions
Hello all,
I have been in the market for an Older basketweave BDL grade 742
for quite some time now and have been told these guns are not reliable
and should be avoided at all cost due to the fact the bolt chatter ruins the receiver, I looked at the new 7400 but like the feel of the 742 better and really want one. Any thoughts on the 742? how do i pic a good one? Thanks all.....
I have been in the market for an Older basketweave BDL grade 742
for quite some time now and have been told these guns are not reliable
and should be avoided at all cost due to the fact the bolt chatter ruins the receiver, I looked at the new 7400 but like the feel of the 742 better and really want one. Any thoughts on the 742? how do i pic a good one? Thanks all.....
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I know of 2 very well used 742's that are as reliable after 25 & 30 years of hunting every year (including a coupla range sessions every few months) as any of the other guns I own. If one allows crap to build up on the bolt/receiver, I'm sure they won't run as well.
Were the voices you heard denigrating these rifles owned by "never-clean-till-it-jams" types, or were they REAL shooters?
"Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit" --OVID0 -
You cannot get a good one as it never existed. I am presently working on four of these rifles trying to make them last yet another season. I have one that is ruined to the point that I will destroy the receiver.
The 7400 is a much better built rifle and doesn't seem to "eat" itself. You will much better off to avoid the 740/742 models. If you insist on the older style rifle, get the 760 pump.0 -
Ronald J. Snow is right on target,
For what my opinion and experience is worth Ronald J. Snow is correct. A good one of these (742s ) has never been made or existed. Not one of Remington greater achievements (and that is being kind), and I am a Remington man from way back.
Not meaning to put you down, and I definitely am not trying to insult you, but of all the Remington rifles you could have picked or want, this was probably one of the worst choices you could have made. I have done with other model guns before checking out the history of the item thoroughly, what you want to do. Unfortunately for me at that time (back in the dark ages), I didn't have a great web site location like the GunBrokers forum "Ask the experts" to give me any sound advise on items before making the critical decision and error of going ahead and buying.
Save you $$ and a lot of trouble. If you like Remington model rifles, pick a different model or style Remington.0 -
If you can find a 742 that has been in a cabinet somewhere and shot very little you will be okay.
There are some around like that.
If you buy one that has a lot of use you will most likely have a lot of problems. Remington will not work on repair them anymore.
The last one or two we couldnt fix at our shop and returned to the factory ,they refused to repair.
What they do is send you a letter offering a 7400 as a replacement at about the wholesale price. Remember these havent been made in quite a few years and most of them are about worn out. Most dealers wont take one in trade unless it is quite obvious that has not been shot but very little and is cheap.0 -
I have a 742 BDL Left Handed .308 that has had probably 2,000 rounds shot through it. I bought it new in 1982 or 3 and have never had a jam or problem with the bolt wearing the receiver out because I keep it cleaned and lubed with Break Free. With my handload it still shoots as well as it did when new, and has accounted for more than 30 whitetails. I went with a bolt .280 a couple of years ago and carry the auto for backup. Hey, a dirty single shot will let you down.
Keep 'em clean!0 -
My dad has had 2 M740s. The first was stolen when it was on loan to my brother and his house was burglarized. I'm not sure of the date of manufacture of it, but I recall it had 2 problems, one was the hypersensitivity by the barrel to tightness of the forend screw. Variations in tightness caused point of impact at 100 yards to vary several inches. Secondly was that there was some problem with the ejector. When fired the case would extract, but instead of flipping clear of the gun, would lay on top the magazined cartridges or follower. It was stolen before it became significant enough to fix. The second one was coded for date of manufacture January 1956. It has had several hundred rounds through it and has had no problems. I use Lubri-plate on the points of contact so galling doesn't seem to be a problem, and I make sure the bolt face, extractor, ejector and barrel are particularly clean. After using an M14 when I was in the service, I didn't care much for the inaccessibility of the gas-port system, compared to the M-14; but for the amount of shooting that it gets, it doesn't seem to be a problem. Dad is 82 and doesn't get around asw fast as he used to, so I want the gun to work when he gets a chance- and so far it always has. 0 -
Look down the lines to another 742 owner who might like to part with an extra one. My dad had one and the only jamming was when we used regular gun oil in cold weather. Lubed with teflon lube and cured that. I'd use Break Free now. I wouldn't have believed the wear problem, either until one day I was in a local gun shop and an older gentleman came in with one that had that problem of galled reciever. I told him what I had heard and the gunsmith told him it wasn't fixable. Looked like it had been shot quite a bit. With the teflon lubes of today??? But do have it checked over before you buy. The poor guy, almost had tears in his eyes as we told him to hang it on the wall for the memories and either buy something better or newer. 0 -
I have a 742 that I bought 20+ years ago. It is now retired for some time. I never had a problem with it and havent shot it much. I dont know what a "basketweave" means. What is this gun worth. It is 30'06 and works perfect. I did add a recoil pad and a scope to it. Would like to find it a new home. 0 -
cody45,
"Basketweave" is a style of impressed "checkering" that Remington put on the stock and forearm of BDL 742's/760's around the mid to late 60's, I always liked it.
As for the 742, I've heard all the bad reports given here also, this rifle is pretty notorious for it. However the only one I've personally used is my dad's which he bought in 1969 and it has always worked perfectly, of course he only shoots a few rounds a year during deer season.0 -
If you want to consider the 760, I have one in .270, of about that vintage. Just sits in the gun cabinet. Been there for 40 years. Not much use. gwvr@bresnan.net 0 -
Sounds like you need to hook up w/TWalker.
Check out his thread.
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=125168
BW
IT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT MAKES THEM AFRAID.0
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