I'm about half ticked off ... sorta....
I owned a nice PT145 which I lost faith in after someone on the boards claimed personal experience and called them junk. Since then, after I traded it away, a respected gun writer called them his favorite of that type of polymer mini-.45.
But that's not the point, that's the intro. The point is, I recently bought a very well treated scoped Remington 742 carbine in .30-06 because I wanted a good long range "sniper." Shortly thereafter, someone on the Gen. Disc. board nominated the Remington 742 as one of the worst guns ever made, characterizing it as a jamomatic.
Now, considering that we deal in life and death in our gun choices here at times, I'd like to know what the EXPERTS say about the quality of engineering of the Remington 742. I've heard from a couple other posters that they've killed so many deer with this model that they've actually worn them out and bought another. So how, short of personal experience with a lemon, can somebody justify dumping on a gun like this? Is this a place where we 'ra ra' for guns based on nothing more substantial than flag-waving for a brand or dislike for another brand? Come on...
Back to the point, my 742, which has not yet been to the range, cycles well with the right ammo as far as I can tell -- the magazines were NOT redesigned, apparently, when the 742 became the 7400 series, although the gun itself was completely re-engineered in 1980. So what's the REAL story on the 742? Please.
I want to know if I should keep and care for it as a good vintage piece that shoots all day long, or dump it at the next gun show in favor of something more reliable in case my long range gun is pressed into "serious" service.
By the way, don't worry about hurting my feelings with the facts on this, because I live in the DEPTHS of Indiana/Michigan deering hunting country, and for what I paid for this excellent piece I stand to make a couple hundred if I sell it. I just wanted a good long-range shooter with a scope, and I was tired of looking at FAL parts guns, so I settled on this rather handsome traditional model by a "name" maker. But I won't keep junk. If you tell me I won't know for sure until I take this particular example to the range, fine, that's an answer too. But if they're all great, or they're all prone to fail, I might as well find out before the next gun show on Jan. 5.
Life NRA Member
T. Jefferson: "[When doing Constitutional interpretation], let us [go] back to the time when [it] was adopted. [Rather than] invent a meaning [let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed."
But that's not the point, that's the intro. The point is, I recently bought a very well treated scoped Remington 742 carbine in .30-06 because I wanted a good long range "sniper." Shortly thereafter, someone on the Gen. Disc. board nominated the Remington 742 as one of the worst guns ever made, characterizing it as a jamomatic.
Now, considering that we deal in life and death in our gun choices here at times, I'd like to know what the EXPERTS say about the quality of engineering of the Remington 742. I've heard from a couple other posters that they've killed so many deer with this model that they've actually worn them out and bought another. So how, short of personal experience with a lemon, can somebody justify dumping on a gun like this? Is this a place where we 'ra ra' for guns based on nothing more substantial than flag-waving for a brand or dislike for another brand? Come on...
Back to the point, my 742, which has not yet been to the range, cycles well with the right ammo as far as I can tell -- the magazines were NOT redesigned, apparently, when the 742 became the 7400 series, although the gun itself was completely re-engineered in 1980. So what's the REAL story on the 742? Please.
I want to know if I should keep and care for it as a good vintage piece that shoots all day long, or dump it at the next gun show in favor of something more reliable in case my long range gun is pressed into "serious" service.
By the way, don't worry about hurting my feelings with the facts on this, because I live in the DEPTHS of Indiana/Michigan deering hunting country, and for what I paid for this excellent piece I stand to make a couple hundred if I sell it. I just wanted a good long-range shooter with a scope, and I was tired of looking at FAL parts guns, so I settled on this rather handsome traditional model by a "name" maker. But I won't keep junk. If you tell me I won't know for sure until I take this particular example to the range, fine, that's an answer too. But if they're all great, or they're all prone to fail, I might as well find out before the next gun show on Jan. 5.
Life NRA Member
T. Jefferson: "[When doing Constitutional interpretation], let us [go] back to the time when [it] was adopted. [Rather than] invent a meaning [let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed."
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Im surprised anyone called a Remington High powered Rifle junk.Maybe they dontd like the caliber?But the 30-06 is one of the top calibers in the US.Its easy to say something bad about something you dont have
Dont worry about it.If that kind of money is junk I guess I have alot of junk to.
Seasons Greetings
Rugster
Toujours Pret0 -
My understanding is that Remington makes a fine rifle. And the 30-06 is one of the most proven of all calibers. There's no substitute for some serious range time to test your gun out. I don't think you have any reason to be disappointed.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0 -
Off,
Good grief man. You have been around for a long time. You know the club. I would never let a post influence anything I do. Sure, if a pattern of 20 comes about, that might be a different story. Let's face it. No matter how many posts a guy has, it's really just a measure of how much time he spends here. I have found that this board is more of a way to meet others with similar interests. There are folks that I talk to outside of the board that I personally value - opinionwise.
There are many fine folks here but many take liberties in calling themselves "experts". I don't like that title. I guess that's why I ask many more questions than I try to answer.
cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.0 -
So far, so good. Thanks guys. (I want my whole 10, if I can get them!!)[:D]
Life NRA Member
T. Jefferson: "[When doing Constitutional interpretation], let us [go] back to the time when [it] was adopted. [Rather than] invent a meaning [let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed."0 -
I had one many (!) years ago in 30-06; its problem wasn't jamming but it was seriously accuracy-deficient, and thus went away.
I think they're gorgeous guns nevertheless, and would still have it, and probably more, if not for that one bad experience.
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Proud member of the vast right wing conspiracy0 -
Fine implement. Take good care of it and it will take good care of you.
AlleninAlaska
http://www.outdoor-o-rama.com
He who dares not offend cannot be honest.
-- Thomas Paine0 -
I have one and bought another for my son. I've had good luck with them and have had no problems with either jamming.
JW0 -
offeror i would'nt take what any one person says about any particular gun or caliber as the only word there is! i never hear much about winchester mod 70's being a great rifle but the ones i have are very very reliable and very accurate. remingtons are also very good rifles as are rugers ectectect .alot of times i notice that people think that what they got or have had good or bad experince with is the way it is. while i have a strong liking to my winny 70's i would never tell anybody, thats what they should have just because thats what i like, same applies to calibers
heck i want to own as many guns as possible in as many different cals as possible. i also got a llama pistol in 45acp as a colt clone all i ever hear is they are junk while not top quality for sure, it serves my needs for a pistol good enough never ever had it jam,misfire or anything else. if you like it thats all that counts.
doc0 -
Offeror,
Most of the time us so called "experts" give our sermons based upon one rifle. Well I'll give you my one experience.
Back around 1972 my Grandpa bought a new 742 in .243. He was never much for cleaning his guns. He ran different weights of bullets through the rifle and it NEVER jammed on him. One time it didn't fire because he had tried to ease the bolt closed, but that is the case for most semi-autos.
My advice, shoot your rifle take care of it, clean it and it will be there when you need it. Accuracy is not bad in my sample of one either.
KC0 -
Well, Sir--I guess I have to be the lone voice of dissent; but I will try to present a balanced view. The Remington 740 and 742 are well-made, classy looking rifles. If a high powered semi-auto sporter is your choice, your choice is very limited. Remington is the most economical. Here is the problem: people like them so much they shoot them to death. They have an engineering flaw as follows: The bolt is a two piece design with multiple little locking lugs on the front. When fired, the bolt retracts into a surrounding piece called the bolt carrier. Unlocking is accomplished by the fact that, as the bolt moves rearward, it is cammed by means of two zig-zag slots cut into its sides. Hardened steel pins are located in either side (called camming pins) one of which is the other end of the bolt retracting handle, and the other of which rides in a matching slot cut into the bolt carrier in the side which you can't see unless you disassemble the rifle. What happens over a long period of time, with a lot of use, is that the pins and slots begin to wear and enlarge. This, in turn, allows the bolt to turn a little farther in the carrier than it was originally intended to do. That results in contact between the front locking lugs and the top inside rear of the receiver, and the lugs begin to cut grooves into the receiver. This causes the bolt to stick to the rear in the open position. Like many problems this comes on gradually from an occassional failure to feed properly because the bolt's forward return was slowed, to an occassional jam to the rear which can be solved by smacking the retracting handle, to the eventual condition where it sticks very firmly to the rear and can only be returned forward by disassembling the rifle. O.K.--all that having been said, most purchasers of the 742 will only fire a box or two a year through their rifle, and it will still be working when they pass it along to their grandson. But, if you just love it (as so many owners seem to do) and shoot a hundred rounds a month through it at the range (or more, if you're one of those infernally ever-experimenting reloaders!) you will wear it out in a few years. I have had many come through my shop, have fixed some, trashed some; and for several years was able to send them back to Remington which acknowledged the problem, as they had a program where one could obtain a new Model 7400 at a very favorable price with a turn-in of the old 740 or 742. The 7400 is said to have solved the problem, as the front locking lugs are now 3 larger solid lugs. I've yet to have a 7400 come into the shop with jamming problems. Unfortunately, Remington discontinued the buyback program a couple of years ago. I hope that you purchased one of the 20-rounds-a-year rifles, and that it will last you a lifetime, as they are good looking and well balanced. If the bolt shows any tendency to stick to the rear take it back to the next gunshow, because you will develop the problem. Hope this answers your question. Common knowledge amongst gunsmiths. 0 -
My '06 742 is fine gun, no complaints except for the trigger. Has never jammed. You do have to let the bolt slam foward when chambering a round. I always try to stay quiet and had let the bolt down slow and easy when later I had a shot at a buck. Doh! It took me a while to figure out why it wouldn't shoot. Breech wasn't locked so it didn't fire. I've had this gun for 20+ years and would never sell it.
Them ducks is wary.0 -
My 742 has seen at least 2000 rounds. I've had one jam when I was firing old military ammo. I have also heard negative remarks about them, but as long as mine functions, I'm happy.
The NRA is on our side!0 -
offeror,I have to agree with Der Gebirgsjager.If you fire it a lot you will have trouble.
[:(]
ATF<P><br>0
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