Remington model 7400, good or bad ???

[NYH1]

I'm thinking about getting a Remington model 7400. I have heard some people say they love them and have never had any trouble with them at all. And other people say they've had nothing but trouble! I would probably get the "carbine". Or try to find one in 280 Rem. and have the barrel shortened! What are you experiences with them, good or bad?

[targshooter]

I have owned two 7400 firearms, a full size .308 and the presently owned .30-06 Carbine Synthetic. Both have plastic dust covers by the bolt that cracked within the first box of ammo. Neither was replaced and both guns function fine. Both were surprisingly accurate with scopes attached. Neither had factory sights that wanted to stay on the rifle; this being of no significance as these rifles do not work at all for me with iron sights. Something in the stock configuration results in my having to crawl and hunt around the stock to get a good peep or open sight picture. Yet, with a scope, the rifles point quickly and accurately for me. The following comments apply to the Synthetic Carbine after having it for a year and shooting it on the range (about 250 rounds or so) as well as using it this year for deer hunting.
The bad:
1] The bluing or whatever finish Remington applied rusts with very little provocation in rainy weather. It is not a deep rust and after two days I rubbed the rust off with an eraser and applied gun oil, and where there was rust the gun is now wearing a regular shiny, smooth blued finish. This is especially evident on the barrel.
2] Reloads have to be tried to make sure the cases will function properly in the rifle. Even then, on occasion, one that functioned in a manual cycling test acts peculiarly during live firing. No problem with any Remington (only factory brand I've used) factory loads in the rifle.
3] I cannot dissemble my rifle as the forend screw as installed by the factory has resisted any attempts to remove it. I have a screw driver that is ground to fit this exactly and no amount of force releases the screw from its hole.
4] The trigger mechanism housing is plastic and fits loosely in the receiver.
The good:
1] This rifle is very accurate (around 1 MOA), even with its lousy trigger pull.
2] The rifle has functioned flawlessly with factory ammo.
3] The rifle points like a shotgun for me when it is scoped.
4] The rifle has pretty decent carrying properties for still hunting. I never sling a rifle in the woods, always carrying it while afield; and this rifle is balanced fairly well, has nice dimensions with the scope attached and is not too heavy. This results in it not being burdensome to carry and coming to shoulder quickly.
5] It cost $310 + tax new from the retailer.
The ugly:
This is one ugly rifle. No pride of ownership here.
Summary
a] The above good points allowed me to snap shoot a leaping doe in mid-jump at 30 feet with no problem.
b] I would not take this rifle on any hunt that was remote where an expensive hunt could get ruined by a malfunction. I simply do not see that kind of quality in the rifle that results in confidence of field service without malfunction required for such a hunt.
c] This rifle is great for the LOCAL (1 1/2 hrs from my front door) short range, heavy brush cover hunting I used it for with a 2 1/2x shotgun scope attached via Weaver rings and bases.

[victorcharlie]

Ib] I would not take this rifle on any hunt that was remote where an expensive hunt could get ruined by a malfunction. I simply do not see that kind of quality in the rifle that results in confidence of field service without malfunction required for such a hunt.
c] This rifle is great for the LOCAL (1 1/2 hrs from my front door) short range, heavy brush cover hunting I used it for with a 2 1/2x shotgun scope attached via Weaver rings and bases.

I have a 7400 in .270 win.  I've only put about 4 boxes of shell's through it and I'd have to agree with Targshooter.

Unless the barrel is allowed to cool, around 10 shots and mine starts to jam.  I've read the chamber needs to be kept clean to feed reliably.

The very best group I've gotten from mine is about 1 1/4" at 100 yards, with the average group over 2".

The trigger sucks.  I understand that there are spring kits to improve the trigger that are cheap, and I will be working to improve the trigger.

Knowing the above, for brush hunting where quick short shots are the norm, it will do nicely.  I still have questions about the reliability of this gun.  I'm not ready to give up on it yet.

[howie1968]

i have a used 7400 in 308 and this thing shoots  the trigger is acceptable and the groups average around an inch  i took my factoy sights off and mine wears a cheap tasco 3-9x40 i have not had any problems with this rifle  and have put 7 or 8 boxes through it winchestwr 150 gr power points  the previous owner shot the gun quite a bit  with no problem

[Randy_che]

I'll chime in and agree with the above posters.

High rate of fire causes shot stringing in mine.

No jams since I learned to keep the chamber clean and how to load properly.

Not the best accuracy, but 1.5 to 2 inches is about right at 100 yrds.

Trigger is very heavy to me.

Still, it works well and I have taken it hunting twice and brought home two deer with one clean shot each.

[1marty]

Of all the guns I owned over 50 years I'd say the 7400 is the biggest piece of junk. Accuracy was inconsistent-yes I changed the scope twice, the clip fell out from time to time but the worse was I carried a screw driver with me to fix the jams. I take care of my rifles cleaning and all that but after missing a 10 point buck at 50 yards I traded it in. Stick with a bolt, pump or lever depending where and what you hunt-you don't need to let loose with 4 shots in a row to kill a deer.

[Bretzky308]

Would not be a bad idea if there were no alternative.  However, given the fact the 7600 is WORLDS better in practically an identical configuration to the gun you're talking about getting, then getting a 7400 is a VERY BAD idea.

The 7400 doesn't work in Alaska, period.  It is illegal in PA.  You've got problems already.

The 7600 is waaaaay more reliable, and in the hands of an experienced shooter, is essentially as fast a repeating firearm.  Not to mention, if you get jammed in the 7400, you're skee-rewed.  If you get jammed in the 7600 pump rifle, you just work the action and get rid of it.  Sure helps when Brownie is charging from 60 yards.

[147 Grain]

....Any other opinions on the 7400 or 7600?

[760 Nut]

760/7600 is what I would go with. More reliable, fast handling, accurate, etc. But in the same breath, go with the one you feel most comfortable with. Keep us posted on your decision.

[Squeeze]

I had a 7400, in .270 Win, that cycled reliably, and was accurate(1 MOA),
with handloaded ammo.  My only concern about this rifle, was with
high volume shooting, they peen themselves into junk.  To the
"average" rifle hunter, it would take a life time or two to shoot enough
to turn this rifle into junk.  I shoot a lot, so I sold the rifle to my
brother, who does not shoot a box of ammo per year out of his
hunting rifles.  He checks the scope for zero, and puts the gun in
the case for hunting.  After the season, he cleans it, or if it rains,
he cleans it, and then it goes back in the gun safe.  Me on the other hand,
I shoot my rifles all year, and am always tinkering around with
hand loaded ammo, with different bullet weights, and styles, so
this gun was not a good fit.  I purchased a Browning BAR Stalker,
in .308 Win, and now I am a happy semi-auto shooter.  I can
shoot it often, with only fears of burning out the barrel, rather
than destroying the action.  So, given that Remington has suffered
in it's quality control, if I was on a budget, and I planned on using
the 7400 for just hunting, and a minimum of practice, I would
play the Remington lottery, of getting a good gun off their
line...Or I would save a bit more, and look for a used Browning BAR.

Squeeze

[147 Grain]

Concerning my new Remington 7400 in 30-06:

Initially, the first 50 rounds produced jams every third round, so I went to work on it by bedding the action / stock / installing a LimbSaver Barrel De-Resonator / adjusting the trigger to 3 lbs., and dry-firing / working the action 1,000 times.

A major and very thorough cleaning of the action and chamber was performed. Did I say take your time and pay close attention to detail in cleaning the action / chamber / bolt?

Afterwards, the 7400 30-06 has not jammed in the last 200 rounds and is shooting groups that vary between 7/8" and 1 1/8" off a benchrest and 1 3/4" to 2" groups offhand - using 180-gr. Federal Solid Base rounds.

Speer Hot Core 165-gr. were slightly more accurate and shot the smaller groups, with the 180-gr.'s being the largest, but not my a large margin.

Will try some Nosler Ballistic Tips and AccuBonds next.

Steve

P.S. Groups definitely opened up when the barrel's hot, but no accuracy problems in firing a quick 4-round magazine from a cold barrel, as in the worst case hunting situation.

[DeeInTejas]

My cousin has a 7400 in 270 Win that he uses for deer hunting. Since I have started going to deer camp with him and the rest of the fam damily 2 years ago, it's been 1 shot, 1 deer with it each year. His stand is not far from mine, but faces more out over a field, where mine is in some pretty thick woods.

He uses factory Winchester 140 grain ammo with the black bullet. Dont recall the name of it. Functions well through his 7400.

[147 Grain]

FYI:

Winchester loads Nosler's 140-gr. AccuBond in 270 Win and the black oxide coating is what they call Lubalux, which reduces fouling of the barrel for extended shooting sessions with less cleaning.

See my signature for a pic of the AccuBond.