Input on a Remington 742 rifle?

[Canuck Bob]

I have an friend who recently bought a 742 in nearly new in box condition. He has no desire to sell it but was wondering about the rifle and its general value. It has a period Tasco installed and he is considering a new Weaver. It is an early 70"s and chambered in 6MM Rem. Any opinions on these rifles? The rifle likely has had 10 rounds down the tube.

[earlmck]

I bought that identical rifle as a present to the wife in 1972. She shot it twice -- handed it back to me and said "I like 22's, this kicks too much". And so I had myself a 742 in 6mm Remington. Which since I'd put a new short buttstock on for her, this became the "kid's gun" when I had one who wanted to go deer hunting.

Shot reasonably well, certainly far better than most of the young shooters who used it. Handled nice, Killed deer fine, was not a problem to reload for. What else is there?

I would have it yet but I gave it to the son when he was living in Georgia, thinking he would enjoy some hunting there. He promptly converted it to cash.

I'm pretty sure it isn't the one your friend bought because mine would be showing far more use than you describe.

[Mescalero]

Earl,
Do you remember rate of twist?

[AJMD429]

Don't know about the rifles, but 6mm Remington is one of my favorite cartridges for all-around usefulness. In the right rifles, it can go from a fast-handling whitetail cartridge, to a long-range prairie -dog buster.

[EdinCT]

Several of my friends had 742's and one still hunts a 742 in 308 every year. It shoots well for 300 yards and in shots we get. I always thought they were heavy myself. I bought a 6mm model 7 rem for my sons and they went forth and slayed a boat load of whitetails with ease. It also shoot flat enough to keep any coyotes away from my sheep! I think you will like the round and maybe the rifle also.

[vancelw]

I have an friend who recently bought a 742 in nearly new in box condition. He has no desire to sell it but was wondering about the rifle and its general value. It has a period Tasco installed and he is considering a new Weaver. It is an early 70"s and chambered in 6MM Rem. Any opinions on these rifles? The rifle likely has had 10 rounds down the tube.

I find them around here in pretty good shape for $375 to $400 USD all the time. I Don't know if the 6mm caliber makes it more desireable/valuable. Jesse Ocampaugh has one on GB for $500 right now in .35 Whelen.

[earlmck]

Earl,
Do you remember rate of twist?

I believe it was supposed to be a 9" twist, though I never tried to check it out. My vague recollection is that the 244 had a 12" twist and so didn't always stabilize the 100 grain bullet. So when Rem renamed their "244 Remington" as "6mm Remington" they also increased the rate of twist to make double extra sure it would stabilize those 100 grainers. And it does.

[Mescalero]

OK,
That is the way I remember it as well.

[Pete44ru]

.

The 742's a good hunting rifle, where allowed (like: not in PA) - but a connundrum on the US market.

While many are seen on a used gun rack for $300-$400USD, they've most likely celebrated more than a few birthdays there - since most FFL's refuse to take them in trade, much less buy one from someone wanting to divest themselves of one (BT, DT - NTS).

The 6mm Rem can be a decent deer round, provided the twist will stabilize a heavy boolit (100+ grains) - so I would recommend a permium boolit and targeting with different brands to find out what the barrel likes to eat.

I think a 6mm Model 742, rebored to it's parent round (the 7x57) would be several kinds of kewl.


.

[Ben_Rumson]

I have a well tested Tasco from that time period and it has stood up well though it is scuffed and dented somewhat, its optics are still fine. I had some binos from then too were good enough to get stolen.

[JB]

There are always exceptions, but I generally found most 742's to be pretty inaccurate rifles. A 742 used to be the primary deer rifle around my neck of the woods, but over the years the resale value has plummeted. When I was in VA, a local shop had a sign up on the wall with guns that they would not accept in trade, the 742 was one of the listed models. A Remington authorized repair center once told me that the 742 was designed as a "throw away" and not really a weapon that would stand up to major repairs. I've seen more than one that wouldn't function due to excessive internal wear.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

.

The 742's a good hunting rifle, where allowed (like: not in PA) - but a connundrum on the US market.

While many are seen on a used gun rack for $300-$400USD, they've most likely celebrated more than a few birthdays there - since most FFL's refuse to take them in trade, much less buy one from someone wanting to divest themselves of one (BT, DT - NTS).

The 6mm Rem can be a decent deer round, provided the twist will stabilize a heavy boolit (100+ grains) - so I would recommend a permium boolit and targeting with different brands to find out what the barrel likes to eat.

I think a 6mm Model 742, rebored to it's parent round (the 7x57) would be several kinds of kewl.


.

There are always exceptions, but I generally found most 742's to be pretty inaccurate rifles. A 742 used to be the primary deer rifle around my neck of the woods, but over the years the resale value has plummeted. When I was in VA, a local shop had a sign up on the wall with guns that they would not accept in trade, the 742 was one of the listed models. A Remington authorized repair center once told me that the 742 was designed as a "throw away" and not really a weapon that would stand up to major repairs. I've seen more than one that wouldn't function due to excessive internal wear.

I think FFL folks began to realize they aren't consistently accurate. I don't know enough about them to say they start out that way or as they are used they become less accurate. But, like JB the ones I've had any dealing with (various calibers) weren't very accurate.

[Pete44ru]

.


I agree, on the 742's accuracy.

Back when they were in Remingtons current product line, as range officer I used to run a "public sighting-in day" for my gunclub.

Almost every 742 shooter (there wereusually a dozen or so each year) had zeroing issues, since they couldn't get consistant hits on the target(s).

Most usually quit trying after they got two or three shots on the paper at all.


OTOH, I bought a (then) new M7400 Satin in .30-06 that was very accurate @ 100yds - usually keeping all it's groupings around 1-1/2" with 180gr factory PSP ammo.

IIRC, Remington was touting the M7400 upgrades at the time - which evidently worked.

They ALL (742/7400/Model Four/etc) are suseptible to wearing out the rails inside the receiver with extensive shooting - which isn't usually a problem with a hunting gun shot only a few times a year (zero check, game shot, etc).

IMO, they all become problematic when used often as a range gun - which (also IMO) is beyond their design parameter.


.

[hayabusa]

The 308 742 that I have has always been minute of deer accurate. With 150 gr Speer round nose I never lost a deer. One shot out to 180 yards once, 3 jumps and collapse in mid jump. 44gr of IMR 3031 and cases from military-military blanks-commericial cases of any make & cci regular primers.

About 20 or 25 years ago I started using lever rifles instead. The family & friends called that 742 the meat gun because one shot one deer except for one time two were side by side and I did not see the second deer. Two for one and thru the double lungs on both.

You fellers may think I thoroughly enjoy mine and you are right. Oh by the way keep the internals very clean or the bolt receiver grooves seem to get buggered up and there are no parts.

hayabusa

[6pt-sika]

I've seen a number of them over the past few years that were just plain worn out inside the action . My gunsmith buddy with his sometimes Holyer then Thou attitude calls them JUNK .

I however don't agree with him 100% . I think if they haven't had the heck shot outta them they are usually decent enough for a woods deer hunter that typically doesn't shoot over 150 yards . Matter of fact I wouldn't mind a carbine version that was made in the 60's in either 308 or 06 . Now with that being said the gun would have to be pretty much like new for me to shell out the schekels to pay for it .

[horsesoldier03]

I had one in .308 (carbine), it functioned reliably, but the accuracy was gone. The best it would do is about 4" at 100 yrds with the 150 grain. The 180 grains opened up to about a pie plate. My father in law has one in 30-06 (Rifle) and his is very accurate to this day, almost 1" groups at 100 yrds. Being that it is in 6mm, I would say it is a good chance that it is accurate.

IMO, the value would be approx. $500, it isn't a collector piece and there is no demand for them, most will in fact avoid them.

[Lastmohecken]

Back in the 70's they were pretty popular around here, but people eventually figured out that they usually didn't shoot very accurately and many ended up being jamomatics. I have sighted in several over the years for people and found them on average to be about the worst shooting modern rifles ever in the accuracy dept, with one exception and it was a 6mm or .243, don't remember which.

They killed a lot of deer though, as many were shot at close range anyway, often on the run. I don't like them, as they are heavy to begin with, but many old men swore by them, claiming that out of 5 shots on a running deer they usually connected somewhere on him and ended up eating venison at the end of the day. In those days, we didn't count points before lighting the barrel up, if one saw a flash of bone, that was it, and Katy bar the door if it was Doe Day.

[hosehead]

I know two people with 742s one in 6mm and the other in 280. Both get shot maybe 10 times a year and the owners have no compaints. However I don't really know how they would hold up to alot of rounds down the pipe.

[jackruff]

I still have the Model 742 in 6mm Remington I bought in 1972. It was plenty accurate for all the deer I shot with it, and the 6mm Rem is, based on my experience, an excellent deer cartridge.

[bluesman423]

I have made my living as a gunsmith for over a quarter of a century.

The 742 series is not very accurate, I would say the average 3 shot group with a decent scope mounted is from 2.5" to 3.5" at a hundred yards form the bench. If yours can do better than this you are lucky. But this is accurate enough for most people's hunting rifle.

There are a lot of them in NE Oklahoma and I would say 75% of the ones coming into the shop need an extractor. This part is a very poor design and is simply wearing out. I charge $75 labor to change the extractor. The biggest problem is finding one to purchase. There are no more extractors to be purchased new that I know of and the last used one I found was $50 plus shipping!

[t.r.]

The 742 was an upgrade to Remington's model 740. The reputation is "keep it clean" and the action will cycle properly every time. For a time, Remington offered a unique angled chamber brush.

Unfortunately, replacement parts are not available. Remington upgraded the 742 into the 7400 about 30 years ago.

TR