Project - Quite possibly the worst rifle ever made.

The 742 is so far from worst gun ever it's not even funny. Yes they can be very finicky with reloads and the one I had wouldn't feed em even when using RCBS "small base" dies but it would run like a clock on any factory fodder I put in it. Accuracy? 2" at 100 yards with factory stuff and half that with the reloads I worked up for it. It would of been a keeper for me if it would of fed my reloads.

In other words, if you're fine shooting factory ammo they are dang good guns.

As for the Remington issue........ Only a moron would say that Remington hasn't made some dang fine guns over the years and as a whole they are well above average even if you include the awful 710/770 series of bolt guns. And that comes from a Savage fan. You may have other preferences but to say they are horrible is beyond reason. I've seen good guns get bad reputations but horriable guns don't get the reputation for quality that Remington has.

BTW, the Remington pump rifles were dang good too and didn't have a problem with handloads.

LK
 
It has been my experience that the 742 has been a great hunting rifle. I've shot 2 different ones both in .30-06, and they have functioned flawlessly. Keep them clean and lubed, that's all. 150gr Sierra Spitzer reloads, Winchester 150gr Supreme's, 165gr Hornady GMX reloads, and 170gr Winchester Super-X all shot flawlessly. I wouldn't give this model the "Worst Gun" tag at all :).
 
Clarification

OK, I was trying to convey a tongue in cheek sort of slam on all the bad things I have read online about the Remington 742. I figure the bad press is one of the reasons why these and the 760s are so darn cheap on the used market. I know going in it's not a battle rifle, even if I attempt to dress it up like one. :) This thread also was not started to bash Remington products, but to have a little fun at my expense about my choice of a build and the direction I am going to take it. So far this rifle digested a box of factory ammo flawlessly, My neck sized reloads did not work well, and we all know the reasons why, I just figured I would try them to see. As far as accuracy, with the iron sights I had no problems hitting a paper plate 9 out of ten times at 50 yards even with my old eyes that can barely see the sights.

OH, I almost forgot, I modified a flash suppressor to fit on the rifle. :)
 

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I know going in it's not a battle rifle, even if I attempt to dress it up like one.
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It is way to lightly constructed to be even considered as a battle rifle. The amount of heat it generates with full power rounds quickly make it too hot to handle and perhaps dangerous to shoot as often as is required in combat.
 
I know remington makes GOOD guns, but they dont make the BEST guns. If someone can think of a rifle, rimfire, pistol, shotgun, ect, I can think of a better one. I'm just saying I haven't had much luck with them. Especially with the 700 and 870. I've always had accuracy problems with 700, all in .270 and .308. I went to the winchester 70 and A-bolt, both in .270 short mag and not a hitch. This is with the same scope. As for the 870, growing up in eastern arkansas, as soon as it would see any water or a touch of mud, it was a sure fire gum up. I know its a best seller but its a lower priced gun. A mossberg 500 was always used for back up for the rare ocassion when you dropped, lost or ran out of shells on your benelli. These are all my opinion of course, of which we are all entitled too. The 870 does make a good boat paddle if you run out of gas

1hogfan83
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This is kind of funny because the guns I've had problems with getting to shoot were the A-bolt and Model 70. It took alot of work to get a handload to get around 1" at 100 with both. Factory ammo was well over 2" at 100. And my Ruger 77 Mk II all-weather .300 Win Mag and now my Remington 700 SPS Buckmasters .270 Win BOTH shoot well under an inch at 100 with any factory ammo I feed it. So I think there are good and bad with every product made and we each found the opposite in those brands! :D
 
The local prison used these as "tower guns" for years before they sold them as surplus. There are a lot of them around here, and I was wrong for not buying one when the shop I used to work for brokered the sale.

If you keep the chamber clean they work fine. You can't be lazy with maintenence. Every one I have seen in the gunshop for repair was maintenence related.
 
This is my newest hog gun......742 carbine in 30-06.....180 grain corelocks.....1 inch groups at 100 yrds.....10 rd mags....lightweight stock....1.5x5 scope...soft pad.....This is a hunting gun not a gun for firing multiple times at the range.....
 
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