Author Topic: remington 742 won't behave (Read 2317 times)

bubba.50 · « **on:** December 18, 2009, 04:17:32 PM »

have heard that 742's are mighty finicky eaters and as mine shoots "patterns" instead of groups with 2 different scopes and 3 factory and 2 handloads i believe it. if you have 1 that is accurate, what do you feed it? know it's not a match rifle but would like to think i could hit bambi at 75-100 yds with the beast. thanks for listenin' and merry christmas, bubba.

diggler1833 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2009, 04:31:22 PM »

How many scope mounts/sets of rings have you tried yet? Might also take a few (unfortunately quite a few) loads before you find one, play with seating depths as much as you can.

Hopefully somebody who has owned one with the same issues as yours will be able to chime in and give you some real help.

Merry Christmas, and you better fix that rifle before you end up a vegetarian.

bubba.50 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2009, 06:40:37 PM »

tried a 6x tasco euro-class 30mm and a bushnell straight tube 2.5 or 3x don't have the boxes handy but used 150gr and 2 different 165gr remington brand factory loads plus about 50 rounds handloads at 2800fps and as i said-patterns not groups. thought someone here could at least get me on the right page. thanks for listenin' and for trying to help. merry christmas to you friend, bubba.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #3 on:** December 18, 2009, 07:22:07 PM »

My 742 doesn't have this problem. It gets cycling issues if I let the action get dirty. I believe a rifle that patterns with factory ammo can be traced to a stock issue. My first thought is checking the screws wich hold the action into the stock. A loose screw can really spoil your fun. Hope others have some input for you. That's all I can offer. Merry Christmas!

Regards,
Sweetwater

diggler1833 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2009, 02:21:06 AM »

Those are two other good points brought up, rifle could be dirty, or there could be some loose action screws.

What I was eluding to was that occasionally a person might find that the scope base and or rings have loosened up and started causing impacts to shift, although not always in a shotgun pattern. You would normally notice this if after a couple of rounds you have to adjust your scope, then again every round or two (possibly more) because the recoil of the rifle is shifting the scope.

Hell I've even seen it where after a scope/ring/base change a normally very accurate rifle went south with a load that it liked. Changed back to a scope that we knew worked and the patterning didn't change. Finally, it turned out that one of the new screws that held the front of the scope base on was a bit long, and putting some pressure on the barrel shroud. I don't know how possible something like that could be on a 742 though.

Hopefully it's just dirty or has a loose action screw for you.

bubba.50 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2009, 03:37:15 AM »

no loose stock or scope mount/base/ring screws. not dirty. just won't group. guy i got it from has killed a ton of deer w/it but not able to get it touch w/him at this time. have heard and read from several sources that they are ammo sensitive but can't remember what ammo was used to make it happy. thanks to all for trying to help and if anyone has had this problem and can remember what ammo cured it please let me know. thanks for listenin' and merry christmas to you all, bubba.

zacharoo · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2009, 04:56:12 AM »

Try to see if the barrel retaining nut is loose. Also there is a ball bearing in the gas port tube undrer the forearm. there is a set screw there . See if the the ball bearing ifs free,Also the forearm screw where the sling swivel is at.Keep it at a tight snug fit .Always the same tention or you will have flyers almost every shot.

Zacharoo

Sweetwater · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2009, 07:59:12 AM »

Sorry you are having such a time with this rifle. Mine doesn't appear to be finicky for factory ammo. It likes the Winchester and the Remington 150gr just fine. With handloads, I just have to remember it's an autoloader and need to maintain the proper pressure levels, as I tend to play with lighter loadings in my other rifles.

Zach brought up a couple other things that could prove to be the culprit.

Merry Christmas anyhow,
Sweetwater

bubba.50 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2009, 09:36:44 AM »

people are misunderestimatin' my question. nothing wrong with the gun/mounts/rings/stock and the two scopes have worked very well on other guns. just need to know what other people who have these picky eaters switched to to get a 3in pattern @50yds down to at least that at 100yds. i know i read somewhere that some people have solved this problem by changin' ammo but can't remember where i read it or what they switched to. thanks to all who have tried to help and merry christmas to you all, bubba.

mechanic · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2009, 10:01:40 AM »

My brother's will only shoot well with the White Box stuff from Wally World in factory loads. We have a couple of hand loads that work, and it seems to like heavier bullets. His is probably 2" at a hundred at it's best. Certainly not a bench gun, but good enough for what he has used it for. He once shot 4 deer with it within 2 minutes, as they kept circling back on him. For that it was fine.

charles p · « **Reply #10 on:** December 19, 2009, 10:12:29 AM »

I've had a 742 since 1967. For 30 years it behaved well with a 4X Weaver and the 1X4 Leupold it now wears. I haven't used it in 10+ years to my knowledge, but I have faith that it will work flawlessly. I can shoot a 2" group with it.

I shoot 150 grain factory and handloads in mine. Nothing wrong with ordinary CoreLokts. I resize my cases with a small base die and I trim frequently. My 742 works very well using this system. If you reload, pick a charge in the mid range for velocity and pressure. No whitetail or you will ever know the difference, but your 742 will.

zacharoo · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2009, 10:16:06 AM »

I have a 308 , 30-06 and a 280 in the rem. auto's they are not tack drivers but if chambers and trigger groups are kept clean they are freezer fillers. Most people here in Louisiana use them in front of dogs. They are fast shooters and MEAT GRINDERS (Killers That is). They may not be brench rest rifles but they get the job done. I only know of one 742 wood master that jammed contionouly. IT had a pit in the chamber. Other wise the dirty ones did jam ocationally. As far as stringing the rounds out the advise you got so far all seams causes, If the front forearm screw is loose it will act like a shotgun with buckshot . Close but not on the money. Good luck. Tra little more and i think you will love the rifle. By the way what caliber is it. The forearm on a short action will give trouble on a long action. That is a .243 or .308 will not work well on a 30-06 or say .280rem. just trying to help a remington is a good rifle no mater what anybody says.

Zacharoo

bubba.50 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2009, 11:42:28 AM »

thanks mechanic and charlesp. your answers are kinda what i was in my bumblin' way askin'. will try to find some wally-world white box and some 150gr core-lokt. if either work, then i can try to duplicate then with hand-loads. thanks to all who responded and merry christmas, bubba.

scott cudworth · « **Reply #13 on:** December 19, 2009, 12:08:45 PM »

You might want to check the muzzle crown.......

bubba.50 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 19, 2009, 12:19:25 PM »

checked that too. sharp rifling to the end. thanks friend and merry christmas to you, bubba.

radar · « **Reply #15 on:** December 23, 2009, 12:20:45 PM »

My 742 in 243 likes Remington Express 100 gr corelokt in the yellow and green box. About 2"-2 1/2" groups at 100 yds. Jammed up with the Federal ammo and I never tried any white box Winchester.

Radar

hunter13 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 23, 2009, 01:04:31 PM »

maybe a cracked forarm freind of mine had a 7400 that shot like that and it had a hair line crack in the forarm might not be it but thought i would throw that out to yea

merry christmas all

hunter13

justsaymoe · « **Reply #17 on:** December 23, 2009, 02:35:08 PM »

My 742 30-06 shot patterns with 150grain, but switching to 180grains it shoots MOA....no kidding.

zacharoo · « **Reply #18 on:** December 23, 2009, 03:49:00 PM »

Just had a talk with my old uncle he is 84 . Been shooting remingtons since the old model 14 pump and model 8 automatic. He said had a friend that had the trouble you have. Said to check and see if the bullet tips are getting bent on going into the chamber. If so he said his old friend used core lock bullets not pointed cor locks. Might be worth a try. If your shots are not long the blunt nosed bullet might just do the trick. Hope it works. Blessings and have a merry Christmas!!!

Zacharoo

bubba.50 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 23, 2009, 06:04:01 PM »

some have understood my rambly, incoherent question. some have not. to the ones who misunderstood but tried to help anyway-thanks from the bottom of my heart. to the ones who understood and recommended ammo to try-mechanic, charles p, radar, and justsaymoe-thanks, i will try your suggestions. to zacharoo-thank old uncle for me. will check his possibility out too. again, thanks to all and merry christmas to you friends, bubba.

zacharoo · « **Reply #20 on:** December 24, 2009, 03:16:50 AM »

Merry Christmas. He will be happy you said that.

the_spotdoctor · « **Reply #21 on:** January 08, 2010, 05:09:57 AM »

Bubba,
Try This.How to accurize a remington auto, has worked great on 8-10 i have done. Here is what I did, hope it is not to confusing.The first thing to do is take the wooden forearm off, but before doing that , take the bolt out of the front of forearm and look and see where the wood touches metal , mainly in front of the receiver close to where the chamber is . Get a small drill or dremmel tool and take enough of the wood off all the way around so it does not touch the metal any where here. Now look going down the barrel toward the end of muzzle and do the same with the wood, make it where there is no wood touching the barrel the best that you can see anywhere. Where the barrel starts touching the forearm right past the bolt where the sling attaches take out this wood also where the end cap attaches. Ok after doing all of this wood removal , get a small piece of the insulation material that goes around doors. the spongy kind and cut a piece , say 1/3 inch by 1/3 inch and glue it on wood . you will see what i am talking about after you remove forearm. The last step is find about 3 small rubber o rings about the size of a dime but maybe a little smaller. Put one of the on the spot where the bolt attaches to barrel, the other ones on each side of the small barrel where it meets the bolt head. Now when tightning bolt , snug it only enough to hold it secure , not really tight at all , you can rock wooden forearm back and forth a little.Now you are ready to go. You will be surprised in group improvements. Also, here are two great hand loads that have worked in several 742's 51 grains of IMR 4064 over a 150 grain soft point or 57.5 grains of imr 4350 over same bullet. Good Luck.

smong2000 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 08, 2010, 01:34:33 PM »

I have a 30+ year old 742 carbine in 308 that shoots an inch +/- at 100yds with Hornady Amax 155 grain and 46 gr Varget. I could barely get 4-6" with all the factory 150-180 gr that I tried. Took a long time and many trys before I worked out that load. Love that little rifle now that I can count on it. I also had problems with dirty bore and the loose barrel retaining nut along the way. It's fussy about copper fouling and I keep it clean.

bearmgc · « **Reply #23 on:** January 08, 2010, 06:29:18 PM »

I never had a 742, but one 7400 shot patterns like yours. It went down the road. The 7400 I have now is MOA with Rem Core-lockts and HSM 150gr sp's. Rumor I heard is that if someone had fired them Rambo sryle, rapid fire, it would warp the barrel. Another rumor, when the barrel goes IT GOES. Don't know if these are true. But I'm glad I got my newest 7400 for $325 OTD. Its a real decent 30-06 that shoots well. Sounds though like yours may need tweeking with handloads.

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #24 on:** January 08, 2010, 06:47:47 PM »

I know we tend to want to shoot the middle of the road bullets around 150-165 grns for deer. Be it rifles, muzzleloaders,etc. if I have problems with groups I tend to go to the upper or lower ends of the spectrum. Get some 125grn and/or 180grn and run them through it. They'll both still kill deer deader than heck and you may find the sweet spot.

bubba.50 · « **Reply #25 on:** January 09, 2010, 06:18:46 AM »

thanks to all who have responded, 'specially ones who offered ammo advice as that is mostly what i was lookin' for. bearmgc-ordinarily i would agree about just sending it "down the road" but, as it was given to me by the same feller who's given me about a ton of deer meat over the last cuppla years that ain't really an option. we do think a lot alike though on that subject. again, thanks to all and enjoy this nice "global warming" we still have layin' on the ground from the foot and half that fell on dec. 18, bubba.