Author Topic: 30-06 Rem 7400 or 7600? (Read 2121 times)

handirifle · « **on:** January 12, 2005, 07:25:46 PM »

I'm strongly considering trading off a pistol and a Savage bolt rifle, for a Remington rifle, either the 7400 or 7600 synthetic.

I like the auto loader idea, but wonder how well it holds up to hand loads using heavier bullets. 180gr and up pushed to high limits on the loads. Am also concerned with jamming.

I like, too, the idea of the pump working just like my shotgun, to me, much faster to reload and on target faster than the bolt action. I read online that if the 7600 is cycled with a live round it will eject it. Is there some kind of catch tp prevent this like on pump shotguns? I have to push a button near the trigger guard to eject a live round on my pump shotgun.

What about reliability issues? Is one more dependable than the other?

I will probably be getting the rifle version, not the carbine. My local gun shop owner convinced me it is worth it for the extra fps with heavy bullets for elk. It will be a deer, bear, hog, and elk gun. With the animals hunted most often in that order.

Feedback please.

High Brass · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2005, 02:08:07 AM »

handirifle,

The M7600 has a slide release in the same location as the M870. Once the rifle has been cocked, the slide locks when placed into battery(ie chambering a live round). Then to remove the live round, you simply depress the slide release next to the trigger guard. I have a M760 which preceeded the M7600 and love it. Very accurate, cycles fast for repeat shots(if needed) and swings/balances great. I personally prefer the pumps to autoloaders.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2005, 02:08:51 AM »

I have a 7400 in .270 winchester. It's a fine looking fast handling rifle, but I've been somewhat disappointed in it's performance. The trigger has some creep, it's not that accurate with the best 100 yard group being 1 1/4" with most groups in the 2" range. It has jammed when the rifle was hot.

That said, I've only had the rifle 6 months or so and only shot 80 rounds through it. I'm not ready to get rid of it yet, but the 7400 has not impressed me with it's accuracy or reliability so far.

I've not owned a 7600, but have read good things about them.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2005, 04:48:09 AM »

Triggers on either can be a little mushy. I have a 7600 and love it. I had the 760 High Brass now has. Both are great shooters. The one advantage of the pump is light mag ammo is ok and if you reload you can use any powder suitable for the cartridge they are chambered for. The self loaders are ammo sensitive.

handirifle · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2005, 04:57:38 AM »

Highbrass
Thanks, I was wondering about that when I read the review. The writer said he was working his way through brush while still hunting and took his right hand off the pistol grip and held the rifle in his left hand to move brush and the action opend on its own It didn't seem right, so that was why I asked you guys.

victorcharlie,
I've read some other reviews that echo your concerns. They also mentioned the reloaded ammo sometimes fails to chamber, and they claim you need "small base" dies for resizing. No chambering problems were experienced with factory ammo, UNTIL they had fired maybe 10 fairly quick shots. At that point, several mentioned they had feeding problems.

DaveinWV
Good, that is what I've been hearing. So you have no chambering issues with reloads?

My wife's grandmother used to live in Beckley. When she was alive we would go back to visit about every other year. Beautiful country there.

High Brass · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2005, 01:37:57 AM »

Handirifle,

"Dave in WV" used to have my M760 and used standard full length resizing dies for handloading. I bought small based dies but will freely admit that in reflection they probably were(are) unneccesary. I don't shoot max loads but rather about 1.5-2 full grains under max and have had no problems in cycling/chambering/extraction, etc. Good luck.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #6 on:** January 14, 2005, 03:18:21 AM »

handirifle, I never did with the 760. I'm going to start reloading for my 7600 soon. I used standard resizing dies for the 30- 06 and will use them for my 7mm-08. Thanks for the nice comment about WV.

High Brass · « **Reply #7 on:** January 14, 2005, 04:24:54 AM »

Handirifle,

What probably happened to the guy that had his action open up on him were one of two things:

a) he had his hand/finger/etc. on the trigger guard and inadvertantly depressed the slide release

b) brush or limbs hit the slide release and the position of muzzle up allowed the slide to come back out of battery.

I hunt in some very thick areas of eastern NC and haven't had that happen to me. It can, in theory, I suppose but haven't seen it. I do keep my hand cupped over the trigger guard as to not allow brush/limbs/etc. to get inside the trigger guard and touch the trigger. Oh, and yes I do keep the safety on but feel more comfortable knowing my trigger is covered up when in the tight brush.

rebAL · « **Reply #8 on:** January 14, 2005, 10:44:26 AM »

I've had the 760 carbine for 30+ years and only 2 prooblems I had was due to my using wd-40 and gumming up the ation; And breaking 1 of the slide rails which was replaced under warranty. It's perfect for my style of still hunting in heavy timber.
My son has 7400 & I would never carry a rifle that heavy for this type of hunting.
You may also want to consider the warning issued by Hornady referring to use of their light magnum ammo. in semi-autos causing the action to cycle faster than designed.

handirifle · « **Reply #9 on:** January 14, 2005, 11:16:38 AM »

OK it looks like the 7400 is out, too many little issues that I'm not prepared to deal with.

Has anyone had any chambering problems with the 760 or 7600 with reloads? Should I assume the 7600 is OK with the Hornady light mags?

Where is the safety on the 7600? Is it the cross bolt in front of the trigger guard?

Dave in WV · « **Reply #10 on:** January 14, 2005, 01:33:40 PM »

The safety is a cross bolt at the rear of the trigger guard. The 760/7600 & 742/7400 rifles use triger assembly parts common to 870 & 1100 shotguns. The rifle receivers are made from 410 size actions milled to be rifles instead.

mossy33oak · « **Reply #11 on:** January 14, 2005, 06:02:21 PM »

Quote from: High Brass

Handirifle,

"Dave in WV" used to have my M760 and used standard full length resizing dies for handloading. I bought small based dies but will freely admit that in reflection they probably were(are) unneccesary. I don't shoot max loads but rather about 1.5-2 full grains under max and have had no problems in cycling/chambering/extraction, etc. Good luck.

Hello guys,
new to the site, but not new to reloading/hunting. Thought I would add my .02 worth on this one, having experienced alot of the issues brought up here. #1 It is highly recommended to use the Short base dies when reloading for an auto loader. I think High Brass got lucky that he didnt experience any problems, but after talking with RCBS the tech told me that the full length dies do not size tight enough for the autoloaders to cycle properly. #2 For victorcharlie who was having problems with his .270 7400 not grouping satifactory, I have seen some of the 7400 have a problem with the way the foregrip acts with the barrel, meaning some have swapped forgrips and gone from 2" groups to almost an inch. Also I have seen spacers added to change this relationship. #3 with the cylcling problems alot of times the gas ports need to be cleaned with a pipecleaner or q-tip. Hope I helped some, didnt wanna "stir the pot" on my first post, just wanted to help.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #12 on:** January 15, 2005, 03:56:06 AM »

mossy33oak, I think you misunderstood High Brass. He uses a small base resizing die and when I had the 30-06 I used a standard full length resizing die. Also the 760/7600 rifles are pumps not self loaders. I know several 760/7600 owners that shoot reloads and don't use small base dies.

mossy33oak · « **Reply #13 on:** January 16, 2005, 02:27:45 PM »

Quote from: Dave in WV

Also the 760/7600 rifles are pumps not self loaders. I know several 760/7600 owners that shoot reloads and don't use small base dies.

Dave, I do know the difference between a 760 and a 742 since I own both, I guess my error was that I confused his post with another :oops:

Dave in WV · « **Reply #14 on:** January 16, 2005, 03:30:51 PM »

mossy33oak, no problem. You have good info in your post. It seemed you got a little confused. BTW, welcome to the forum.

jmckinley · « **Reply #15 on:** March 07, 2005, 03:23:05 AM »

Hello Gentlemen,
I just picked up my 7600 in 270 and it's as accurate as any bolt I have ever pulled a trigger on. After I got it on target, 1st group was 3/4 of an inch. 5 groups none over 1 1/4 inches. Sure sound like minute of Elk to me. I like the pump because I shoot pumps at upland game. Yet, I just picked up a 742 in 06 its grouping between 1 1/4 to 2 inches with factory 180's. I'll use this rifle for my heavy timber Elk rifle. I'm just getting into reloading and your comments will help. I know one thing for sure these Remingtons are often over looked and bad mouthed. The shop I bought my rifles from said their junk. It was amusing to see their faces when I showed them the targets from my rifles. In fact my next toy will be a 7600 in 243 for yodle pups here in NM.
Jess D

760 Nut · « **Reply #16 on:** March 07, 2005, 01:43:34 PM »

All,

I am no expert on the 740, 742, or 7400, I concentrate my collecting on the 760's. The following I do know about the Rem. autoloaders. (correct me if I am wrong)..

Accuracy: Very dependant on the forend adjustment. The fore-end must free float a minimum of .020" (.026" being optimum)

Jamming: Usually a source of the gas system. Keep the system clean and free of corrosion and it should cause you no problems. The older models liked to eject the shells towards the bottom of the ejection port. This problem was addressed by increasing the width of the ejection port.

I own 13 different variations of the 760 and have never had a single issue with any I hunt with. Several have never been fired, only there to "ooh" and "aah" at though. Still trying to convince my wife I need them all and several others but she aint' buying it.

Brian

High Brass · « **Reply #17 on:** March 08, 2005, 02:04:01 AM »

I have heard very few negative comments about Remington 760/7600s but signifficantly more on the autoloaders. Most folks that rag on pumps never shot one/hunted with one anyway. IMHO, it's a rifle that you have to hunt with to fully appreciate.

Bretzky308 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 18, 2005, 11:29:41 PM »

7600. (1) 7400s don't work up here in Alaska, period. And I think most guys should make it a point to hunt Alaska at least once in their lifetime. (2) 7400s are illegal at least in PA and possible elsewhere, so if you ever have reason to go deer hunting there, you'll be using a different rifle.

harvester · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2005, 01:44:09 AM »

why don't 7400's work in alaska, and why are they illegal in PA?

Thanks

Dave in WV · « **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2005, 02:54:43 AM »

semi-autos are illegal to hunt with in PA. It's been the hunting law for years.

while99 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 28, 2005, 07:54:24 AM »

I first started loading for a 760 about 30 years ago when my late father bought one in .30/06. I bought a set of RCBS small base dies and have used them ever since, both for the pump and for my bolt actions. I've never had a problem with either a 760 or a 7600 malfunctioning. I have no experience with the 740/742/7400 series of rifles.