Author Topic: 742 woodsmaster (Read 3464 times)

whiskeyspill · « **on:** November 16, 2009, 05:06:54 PM »

hello semi auto fans. i recently bought a late 70s, 742 in a 243 cal. i have been reading much about them and it doesn't look good. always something about jamming. when i bought mine , it was really dirty. i took all the wood off, and pulled the trigger out. everyone can laugh but i used brake cleaner and just went stupid. it cleaned everything perfect. no, none of the blueing came off. i gave it a little squirt of gun oil and it seems to work fine. it has only jammed twice in 45 rounds when it puts a new shell in. its not really that accurate. when cold fired, it will shoot low, then slowly pulls left and high. its in such nice shape i will use it till i cant.

skarke · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2009, 05:39:41 PM »

Welcome Whiskeyspill, as I'm sure that you know, brake cleaner is fine for most all actions, just remember to manage for rust, and keep it away from polymers and stock finishes. I've never even seen that auto, how about a pic?

skarke · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2009, 05:44:35 PM »

Ah, yes, now I remember. I was a little discombobulated, thinking Winchester for some odd reason.

Here's an interesting link about its history.

http://www.remington.com/library/history/firearm_models/centerfire/model_742.asp

mannyrock · « **Reply #3 on:** November 17, 2009, 03:31:11 AM »

It "only" jammed twice in 45 rounds?? That's almost a 5% failure rate!

Mannyrock

federali · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2009, 01:34:00 AM »

I've heard persistent rumors that Remington designed 742 with a useful life of about 1000 rounds, figuring that most such guns would live most of their lives cased up and stored. A friend learned this when the action rails of his 742 wore out and Remington offered him a trade-in allowance for a new gun.

One of the problems with the 742 is those multi-locking lugs. Remington simplified this with their newer Model 4, going to conventional lugs. However, remember that semi-autos don't jam. Instead, they suffer a failure to feed, failure to chamber, failure to fire, failure to extract or failure to eject. Try using a different magazine and only with factory loads. I seem to recall that reloading for the 742 requires a small base sizer.

BBF · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2009, 01:40:28 PM »

I must have a well behaving 742. It never jammed, failed to chamber, refused to fire or forgot to eject even with reduced loads. I bought it second hand years ago and I don't know why the previous owner(s) parted with that rifle.

It is picky on what it likes as far as shooting good groups. Recently I had the barrel cut back to 18 1/2 inch and the gunsmith polished the chamber and checked out for marks made by the multi lugs on the action. The trigger is fine with just a bit of take up needed to break the sear. The stock has nice wood.

charles p · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2009, 04:08:41 PM »

I've had one since 1967. Haven't fired it in 10 years but I bet I can shoot we over 45 rounds and it will not fail. Small base dies, mid range loads, and trimmed brass are the secrets - or you can just use factory ammo. I lube mine with a teflon oil. The less, the better.

guntech59 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2009, 12:03:12 PM »

Mine.....6mm Rem made in 1963. Very nice rifle that jammed alot when I first got it. Disassembled, cleaned and lubed. Now it shoots the way it is supposed to. No problems in the last...........50 (?) rounds fired. I don't shoot it alot because it is a pain to clean and I want it to last. I just check the POI before deer season.

2" at 100 yards....not great but, the longest shot I've taken (at game) with it has been 40 yards, in the woods.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2009, 01:05:15 PM »

What little i shoot my 742, i just shoot factory ammo in it. It does NOT jam in any way, and is more than accurate enough for hunting...

DM

Elijah Gunn · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2009, 05:17:03 PM »

My 742 .308 does not jam. Shot groups do get bigger as the barrel warms up. Would having the barrel cryogenically treated fix this problem?

Redtail1949 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 14, 2010, 03:58:28 PM »

had one since about 1972 or so in 30.06 very accurate and never had a problem with it. i did change the barrel out cause i left it ouside in a blizzard and chamber rusted. that was my fault not the guns. stick with factory rounds or if you hand load find a load not too hot so it will cycle correctly (pressure curve like with garand) and always resize with small base dies. i use imr 4350 IMR and H 4895 and IMR 4064 and have no problems with this gun and it has killed its share of deer bear and elk. Cold weather and very little lube or wipe clean or it will freeze up.

rong · « **Reply #11 on:** May 06, 2010, 11:46:11 AM »

I bought my rem 742 (308)
in 1973. I don't worry bout
using a chronograph or the groups
it makes at 200 yrds, I clean it
very little.When I first got it
I sighted it in for +1 at 100yds
and I just go out every year
and shoot deer.My brother
borrowed it and sent a moose
to heaven a few yrs ago.
My Uncle has the original model
whatever (308) with the weird bolt angle,
never cleaned it other than a wipe down
he says and killed deer after deer.
He did change to a BAR .308 tho

BBF · « **Reply #12 on:** May 06, 2010, 11:57:21 AM »

Having just parted with a bunch of firearms I am now looking at a 742 and a Ruger 77 as my mainstay. Both of them work just fine.

Daman · « **Reply #13 on:** May 07, 2010, 10:32:10 AM »

My grandfather has one he got for an anniversary gift from my grandmother in '75. It is a 30-06 carbine and he has never cleaned the internals. He wipes it down with oil after every hunting season and puts it in the gun cabinet. He says it has only failed to feed once since he has had it. It does about 1.5" at 100. Tasco World Class 3-9x40mm on top.

Daman

Hammerdown · « **Reply #14 on:** May 17, 2010, 10:47:04 PM »

Hello
I Picked one up this Past weekend at a Gun show and Traded for it. It appeared to have been shot very little. It is in 30-06 Caliber and I spoke with my Gun smith on it yesterday. He Informed me, the reason they Break the bolt face and extractors is that the chamber tends to be rough in finish and that leads up to Breaking the extractors or worse yet the Bolt face. He said to use a Tooth Brush and some Tooth Paste or Polishing compound in the chamber throat, feed ramp and the Bolt groove rings to cut the chances of Breakage from Jamming. I cleaned mine well with Hoppes and wiped it down with soft cotton towels, then Oiled it with Corrosion-X which is a synthetic Gun Oil and has worked very well for me in the past. I Picked up a Box of Remington Express Cor-Lokt Bullets of 165 Grain yesterday and will be firing it today on my range. I hope it shoots well and Prints decent groups, more later... Hammerdown

Ranger J · « **Reply #15 on:** May 18, 2010, 05:06:09 AM »

My first center-fire gun was one in 30-06 that I picked up used about twenty-some years ago The only time it has 'jammed' was when I was loading some 150 gr loads with 2400 for my young daughter to shoot. The load just didn't have enough ump to work the action. Other than that it has worked flawlessly.

RJ

BBF · « **Reply #16 on:** May 18, 2010, 10:04:55 AM »

According to the website given above, mine is at least 32 years old WOW, it looks good and shoots good as well

RMulhern · « **Reply #17 on:** May 18, 2010, 11:15:18 AM »

Yep! They make really good BOAT ANCHOR MATERIAL!

BBF · « **Reply #18 on:** May 19, 2010, 08:42:06 AM »

Anchor material??

Nope, I got both and they don't interchange IMO

If I have any beef with them it would be the PITA in cleaning them but so are any number of other rifles that can't be cleaned from the breech.

chefjeff · « **Reply #19 on:** May 19, 2010, 12:20:57 PM »

742"s have and do kill lots of game.That being said,I would rather have the BAR by a longshot. If you fancy a pump,the 760 is a great rifle,too.If I"m holding a 742;it is for sale or trade.

Hammerdown · « **Reply #20 on:** May 20, 2010, 02:05:29 AM »

Quote from: BBF on May 19, 2010, 08:42:06 AM

Anchor material??

Nope, I got both and they don't interchange IMO

If I have any beef with them it would be the PITA in cleaning them but so are any number of other rifles that can't be cleaned from the breech.

Hello
I think you Hit the Nail square on the head here. Most that Bitch about them have NOT cleaned theirs or Taken good care of them. From what I have learned and heard in the past, They do require a good cleaning and occasional Lubrication and you can't be Lazy and enjoy one Long Term as they will self destruct if not cleaned and Oiled properly. Mine shot Great the other day on the range. It grouped a Three Hole Clover leaf cluster at the 100 Yard line once I got the scope dialed in. It fed and extracted fine but before shooting it, I cleaned it and Polished the Grooves, bolt, and slide assembly with 600 Then 1000 grit sand Paper and flushed the complete action. What I Observed as a rough Machining job of the Internal action Parts, so I felt smoothing things up would improve it's cycle and durability, and the fruits of my Labor paid off as it Operated fine and as soon as I got home I cleaned and flushed the action again so it would be ready next time I wanted to fire it. My Preference is a Bolt action rifle but I sure do Like the reduced recoil that these provide so if I have to clean it a little to provide me with a trouble free durable weapon, so be it... Hammerdown

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #21 on:** May 20, 2010, 05:29:44 AM »

When I bought mine my uncle told me it was the finest single shot rifle remington ever made.

I have had zero problems with mine though.

BBF · « **Reply #22 on:** May 20, 2010, 05:38:31 AM »

You can always use it as a straight pull bolt action if you don't like the self loading feature.

mannyrock · « **Reply #23 on:** May 20, 2010, 06:03:22 AM »

As for the original posted question.

Um, 2 jams out of 45 rounds is more than a 4% failure rate!

Would you have bought this rifle if the sale tag had said: "NOTICE: this rifle jams more than 4% of the time." ??

Sorry, I couldn't live with that.

Mannyrock

john keyes · « **Reply #24 on:** May 20, 2010, 05:33:57 PM »

Quote from: mannyrock on November 17, 2009, 03:31:11 AM

It "only" jammed twice in 45 rounds?? That's almost a 5% failure rate!

Mannyrock

Quote from: mannyrock on May 20, 2010, 06:03:22 AM

Um, 2 jams out of 45 rounds is more than a 4% failure rate!

Would you have bought this rifle if the sale tag had said: "NOTICE: this rifle jams more than 4% of the time." ??

Sorry, I couldn't live with that.

Mannyrock

yes but the failure rate is steadily going down!

mannyrock · « **Reply #25 on:** May 25, 2010, 01:57:37 PM »

You are right John!

I'll send you a bill. :-)

Mannyrock