Remington 7400

BIG RUH · Feb 4, 2015

I'm going to look at a 30.06 Remington 7400. How well does this semi auto handle the large caliber bullets?

Dean Olson · Feb 4, 2015

That's a great gun for quick shooting at relatively close ranges. 100 yards or so. Obviously the 06 cartridge is way more capable than that. I just found the the semi auto would not group nearly as well as my bolt gun. For the 1-200+ yard shot I choose my bolt gun.

Bret4207 · Feb 4, 2015

What do you mean by "large caliber bullets"? The 06 is a medium bore. The 7400 is designed for it and does fine within the capabilities of it's platform. IE- it's not a 1,000 yard bull gun. Given good ammo the rifle like, a decent sighting system and some practice by the guy behind the wheel, it's good out to 200 yards or more.

If you meant heavy for the caliber bullets, like 200+ grains, it will still work fine but it's rifling was designed for the more common 150-180 gr loads, as are most commercial 06's. It's not recoil operated, it's gas operated so bullet weight isn't critical for operation.

Gundoctor · Feb 4, 2015

The Model 7400 is no longer made. It is replace by Model 750. As for bullet weight it will handle all up to 220 grains in 30-06. The 150 to 180 grains is best.

I just sold my last supply in caliber 35 Whelen which can shoot 250 grains.

1970-1655 · Feb 4, 2015

I had one several years ago and loved it. I even took some coyotes out to 400 yards with it. I used 150 and 165 gr. bullets and never had any issues. The guy I bought it from offered my money back for it and seeing as Indiana did not have rifle season for deer, I sold it. I have always wanted one again so last week, I found one at Gander Mountain at a real good price. It looks like it has not even been shot much.

The 7400 is good if you need a quick follow up shot. Hand stays on the grip, not searching for the bolt to reload.

Keep it clean, especially the gas ports. And use Remington clips with just the 30.06 stamped on them. They make ones now with several calibers stamped on them. Rumor has it that those are not as good as the earlier ones. And the triple K aftermarket clips seem to be failure prone.

The 7400 was made from 1981 to 2004. My latest one has synthetic stock. Those were made from 1998 to 2004. Some of the earliest ones had issues with wear inside the main part of the rifle. When you look at one, open the bolt and feel the opposite side from the discharge port. If it has burrs on that rib, it is worn out and no repair for it. I have seen many over the years and never saw one like that, but a local gun shop sent one to Remington about 2010 for repairs and they gave him the bad news.

BIG RUH · Feb 4, 2015

Thanks everyone for their replies. This does answer my question.

D beatty · Feb 4, 2015

If the gun is in good shape it should work fine for you. From my Lyman reload book the 30 06 has more configurations of loads than any other caliber and will take down any large game on the north american continent.

Mel in SW Iowa · Feb 4, 2015

I sighted in a .308 7400 20+ years ago with a 4x bushnell scope on it. With factory Remington 165 grain SP's I shot a 3 shot group a little less than .75 inch center to center at 100 yds. I didn't expect it to shoot so well, and I don't know how many other 7400's will. I have since talked to a few owners and gunsmiths that have told me to stay away from ones that show a lot of wear or unusual wear.

Mel in SW Iowa · Feb 4, 2015

Keep in mind also that some 30-06's shoot 125 grain Ballistic Tip Noslers very accurately.

Lou from Wi. · Feb 4, 2015

Big Ruh,
I have one I bought a 742 in 30-06 (same as a 7400)last year from a sporting store. Paid 275 plus charges, came with scope mounts,scope,but no sling. The scope that was on it was frozen (wouldn't adjust horiz. changes) so I had another on hand and changed it over. It would shoot 5 shots in a tennis ball diameter at 100yds using 180 gr ammo. It was clean as I did a bore inspection before purchasing it, lands, grooves were bright sharp and clean. For me it is well worth it, as I am getting to old for using a bolt action and health concerns meant using a semi auto for follow up shot. The pictures below is what I got this year during hunting season with it, and the other is of the rifle itself. If you purchase it you won't be disappointed if it has been well taken care of. Just keep it clean and lubricated and it will work fine. Hope it helps with making up your mind about them.On a side note, if you want to disassemble it you might need a wrench to remove the nut under the forearm grip , we bought one,but it will help in disassembling it.

LOU

GordoSD · Feb 4, 2015

Is there abig reason you need a semi auto? Find a nice 700 BDL bolt action in a little smaller cartridge, like a .308/ Or do you need an elk/moose/bear rifle?

BIG RUH · Feb 4, 2015

Gordo Don't really need an 06, it's just that I've always wanted one. Will have to see what condition it's in and how much it'll cost. With me guns are like tractors, you can never have too many.

da.bees · Feb 5, 2015

(quoted from post at 22:19:59 02/04/15) Gordo Don't really need an 06, it's just that I've always wanted one. Will have to see what condition it's in and how much it'll cost. With me guns are like tractors, you can never have too many.

Wife gave me a new 742 which is an early version of 7400 and it has been very realiable for over 50 years. Another advantage in owning an 06 is ammo avalability. If a country gas station/convinuence store has only three calibers on the shelf one will be 06. The rotory loc bolt puts it close to bolt action head spacing and accuracy. I'm a lefty so many gas operated firearms spit powder in my eyes,not the 742. The only legitimate complaint I have is that the bolt must be pulled fully back and released,otherwise it does't lock and will not fire. Any animal within shooting range will be alearted. I hold the bolt and slowly close it then press to lock. Even that makes more noise than I like.

ASEguy · Feb 5, 2015

Mine does very well. Keep it clean. I've heard they jam if you don't keep them clean. I don't know because I always clean mine after use.

dhermesc · Feb 5, 2015

I remember when people talked about how .22 ammo was always available and cheap......

D beatty · Feb 5, 2015

I'am not famillar with that rifle but doesn't it have a safety? When I go hunting I chamber a round and then set safety. That way nothing is going to hear you chambering a round.

1130Leo · Feb 5, 2015

I have 3 742's, like them all, my only caution is stay away from the 700's, they have major safety / trigger issues, not sure if they actually fixed them yet or not, I am not willing to find out after seeing how so many of them have gone off for little or no reason. I have lots of guns, will never buy a 700 after seeing all the reports. I have hand guns that have had trigger work, and are hair triggers, but none of them have ever gone off on their own. Of course, I never have them chambered unless I am pointing at a target either.

Bret4207 · Feb 5, 2015

(quoted from post at 13:23:57 02/05/15) I have 3 742's, like them all, my only caution is stay away from the 700's, they have major safety / trigger issues, not sure if they actually fixed them yet or not, I am not willing to find out after seeing how so many of them have gone off for little or no reason. I have lots of guns, will never buy a 700 after seeing all the reports. I have hand guns that have had trigger work, and are hair triggers, but none of them have ever gone off on their own. Of course, I never have them chambered unless I am pointing at a target either.

The 700 thing is way, way overblown. Look into the actual years the ones they had problems with were produced. They were relatively recent. The 700's have been around since the 60's and this is something pretty recent and a lot of people are, as usual, over reacting.

ASEguy · Feb 6, 2015

I really like the looks of that stock. Nice gun.

T in NE · Feb 6, 2015

Remington put 3 new triggers in the one my uncle had
and propped in the corner of the bedroom it dry
fired. He bought it new in high school and graduated
prior to 77.
It's not new they just finally couldn't pay off
someone else who practiced poor gun handling.

Bret4207 · Feb 7, 2015

I've been working in gunshops, hanging around gunshops, reading every gun mag, getting all the industry mags and newsletters there were since the early 1970's. I never heard of Rem 700 trigger problems resulting in accidental discharges until the past the few years. I've never been a Rem 700 fan, but it would have been impossible to keep something like that quiet for almost 50 years. Any time we had an issue with a 700 trigger in the older ones it was because someone got in there and played with it. I have no doubt that a large majority of the problems that do exist come from people "fixing" the trigger.

Donald Lehman · Feb 9, 2015

I'm not understanding your question about handling "larger caliber bullets". All of the calibers available in the 7400 are loaded to about the same pressure levels. The caliber makes no difference as to how the design handles the pressure levels. The 7400 30/06, I believe, has a 1-10" rifling twist which is pretty much the standard for the 30/06 caliber. That will stabilize just about every bullet weight available in the 30/06 with the possible exception of the 110 grain varmint bullets.

When they are in good working order the 7400 is a decent gun. However there is no mechanical device on this Earth that is a bigger piece of junk than a clapped out Remington 742/7400 series semi-auto rifle. If the owner of the gun will not allow you to have the gun thoroughly checked out by a gunsmith who knows Remington semi-autos, move on.

Donald Lehman · Feb 9, 2015

308/30/06 ballistics are virtually identical for 150 grains bullets. In the heavier bullets (165-180 grains) the difference isn't that great either. Only once you get into the 190-220 grain bullets does the 30/06's extra case capacity show any real advantage over the 308. The two are almost ballistic twins. The 308 can be used in short action rifles which makes for a bit more compact package.

calf · Feb 11, 2015

On these semi-autos, make sure to check the barrel closely, especially the muzzle. A long time ago I was helping out at a fall sight-in event. A guy was having trouble getting his Rem autoloader to even hit the target. They moved the paper target in close and turns out the bullets were keyholing, going in sideways. Somebody had spent to much time cleaning the barrel from the muzzle end and had worn the rifling down.

Remington 7400

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