Remington autoloader in 270 questions.

[jneilson]

Does the 742/7400 do the 270 justice? I saw several for sale today and wondered how well it handled the 270. Thanks

[The Gamemaster]

My only question is what do you want to do with it?

Are you a serious hunter that hunts in the deep woods where quick follow up shots are more important than accuracy?

The Model 740 was a good old gun, back in the day.  To 200 yards, I would not stand in front of it because it could hit what it was aimed at.

The 7400 was ruined by Remington due to their interest in making money and not quality anymore.

A 270 Winchester is a good caliber that will take most anything you would want to hunt in the lower 48 states with the exception of dangerous game a large bears.

If you are looking for more accuracy, I would forget about a semi auto and buy a Remington Gamemaster 760.  One in decent shape will run about $350 - $450 depending on condition.

I have several of them and they are as good as any old bolt action rifle to 300 yards.  Even better than most semi automatic's.  Won't bust the bank and will last you a long time if you take care of it.

[R.W.Dale]

The 7400 was ruined by Remington due to their interest in making money and not quality anymore.

 The 7400 was a VAST improvement over the 740 I'll buy a 7400 used but you couldn't pay me to touch a 740, I've seen far too many of the older autoloaders with the bolt's locking lugs eating their way through the receiver. As far as I know remington will no longer sell parts for or services the 740.


 I agree the 7600 is a much more accurate arm. BUT to the 7400's credit, with my example anyhow. That first shot from a cold barrel would strike the same place every time. I could shoot sub 1.5" 100yd groups easily provided I allowed the barrel to cool completely between shots.

[jneilson]

Thanks for the replies. I haven't done any serious hunting in 15+ years and I'm looking at getting some property in Northeast Georgia in the near future. I'll mostly be going after deer and some coyotes, maybe hogs if their on the property too. I probably won't be taking any shots over 150 yards, but we'll see. Also, I don't care for heavy recoil and muzzle blast like I used to.

[kyelkhunter3006]

I've got a 7400 in 30-06, and it will kill any deer/game I point it at out to 250 yds.  It will shoot less than 2" with most factory loads, and under 1.5" with several different ones.  More than good enough for 99% of all hunting. 

Honestly, I hear the clap-trap about the 740  being the semi-auto gold key, and that 7400's suck all of the time.  Well, if the 740 was so good, you'd think that Remington would have just figured a way to deal with the locking lug/reciever issue instead of re-designing the gun.  Krochus is right, you couldn't pay Remington to even look at a 740, much less work on one.  It even says that on their website in the service section.

7400's have a reputation for jamming.  Well, I've had mine for 10 years.  There was an issue for a little bit, then I figured out that the magazine lips were bent out.  Got a new mag, and no problems.  Compared the new one to the old one, bent the lips to match, now it works too.  Keep the action clean (one of the spray cleaners works fine) and have a good magazine, and it will work perfectly.  Just like you have to do with every other semi-auto rifle.

I think that you'd be just fine with a 7400 in .270 for how you are going to hunt.

[30-30man]

Many people will tell you that Remington makes a great semi-auto.   Many people have hunted with them with success.  I guess you could say the same thing for just about any rifle.   I guess if a Yugo was the only car you had, you would think it was a great car and was capable of the high banks at Daytona. There are other semi-autos out there that are much better.  Remington is infamous for leaving their customers with obsolete guns that are just a few years old.  The 740, 742, Nylon/Viper 22lr are just a few examples of why not to buy a Remington semi-auto.  A Browning is so much better if you want a semi-auto.  It might cost a little bit  more but then you will get a better gun.  I believe Remington's quality control has gone down the crapper as of late.  I know many gun shops won't even take a Remington semi-auto on trade.  I know the guy who owns Remington's oldest repair center.  He has worked with Remington for over 60 years.  He said that he will no longer sell Remington's semi auto rifles , just the bolt guns excluding the 710.  He says they are all full of cheap stamped temporary parts that don't last.   I laughed when the new one came out.  Remington must have found a cheaper way to make more stamped parts out of plastic, hence the new model.  My .002 but anyway good luck in your purchase. 

[kyelkhunter3006]

It all depends on how much of a rifle nut you are, really, and what you expect out of the rifle.  If you want a rifle that will shoot 1" groups all day with any ammo you run through it, the factory 7400 isn't for you.  If telling people you have a Browning is important, you should get one.  Prestige is part of having a Browning.

Although the 7400 could be if you spent enough on it.  Accuracy Systems in South Caroline will build you a custom 7400 (7600 too)that is guaranteed to shoot less than an inch.  It costs about $1300.  If the rifle/action was such a crapper, then why in the world would a company that is renowned for the work it does on Ruger Mini-14/30's, AR-15's, and Remington 700 bolt rifles even bother to offer such a gun?

I've shot 5 Browning rifles, and yes, they are a nicer gun in all aspects.  And you pay for it too, plus the Browning in gold letters on the gun.  Not one of them was more accurate than the several 7400's I've shot.  The hundred (low end) to several hundred (high end) dollars extra you spend on the Browning could be put into a good scope or other equipment.  The Yugo analogy is like telling someone forget Chevy and buy a Cadillac instead, you'll have a better car.  Problem is, not everyone has the coin for a Caddy or a Browning.

Whether or not gun shops will trade on the 7400 is a moot point.  That is a regional thing.  You can't walk into any shop in my area and see a Browning, new or used, on a rack (except Bass Pro Shops), yet the 7400's and new 750's are all over.  When I worked for Wal-mart, I probably sold 100 or so 7400's a year, and it was a rare case to have a complaint about one.  Remington's of all makes rule the woods in this area.  In 7 years at Wally World, I never even special ordered a Browning.

I'm not a big fan of Remington, honestly, but the 7400 is as good as any other semi-auto out there.  Keep it clean, will run with anything.  I trade around quite a bit, probably 80 rifles in the last 4 years, so I've played with about everything.  The 7400 is the only Remington I own right now.

[R.W.Dale]

 Browning makes a nice rifle but my beef with them is unlike the Remington's unsurpassed feel and natural pointability, The Browning BAR and BLR have the goofiest ergonomics that make for the most ungangly feel. They may be more accurate than a 7400 offn the bench  but I shure can't hit squat with one offhanded.

[30-30man]

Who wants a gun that you have to gut and rebuild to get it to shoot?  The 7400 is a good gun but I just think they are better.  Often a Browning is not any more if you buy it used.  If I had to spend $1300 on a Remington to get it to shoot, then I would think you would be better off with the Browning anyway.  I hunt cheap, not because I have to, it just makes sense.  My current go to gun is a Marlin 336 in 30-30.  It gets the job done every year and only cost me $200 when I bought it new. I hunt in an old 79 Dodge 4wd that was a trade up from a 77 Chevy Chevette. If it's money that is an issue, I'd skip on the semi and buy a Stevens bolt gun.  Bolt guns are much cheaper and more reliable. Remington has sold tons of semis, and many have used them with success.  I don't think anyone will argue that.  Somethings wrong though,if their oldest repair center has decided to part ways because of quality control and availability of parts with their semi autos.  Guns should last a lifetime and you should be able to hand them down.  What will happen if that 7400 has problems, will someone in your family be able to get itfixed?  I don't know,but I can tell you I had a 742 that belong to my grandfather.  It was unrepairable because I could not find a bolt with good lugs.  Remington was no help and I bet they wouldn't help you either on the 7400 in a couple of years. 

[kyelkhunter3006]

Ha ha, after reading everything last night, I was going to suggest that a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington would probably be the best bet for a lower recoil short range gun.  Then I thought that someone might bust me for bringing up a lever action...LOL.

As for spending $1300 to get a Remington to shoot, there are hundred of gunsmiths and thousands of hunters who think that spending that kind of dough on a Remington is a great idea.  I'm not one of them, though.