I got one of these about a year ago in .243 and one 2 years before that in 30-06. The 30-06 couldn't hold a grouping to save my life. The .243 on the other hand is fairly accurate. I have always had issues grouping with either of these rifles to my standards but I could always hit a deer sized target. Anyone experience this?
Remington 742
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IIRC, the 742's always had accuracy issues, inherited from the 740 - for which Williams Gun Sight Co used to make/sell an "accuracy" block, to install under the forend.
FWIW, I was the R.O. for my club, in the 70's, and when we held our annual Public Sighting-In Day, the only shooters that almost never achieved either a good zero or satisfactory groups (before they ran out of ammo) were the ones shooting those Remington autoloaders.
Many years later, I was given a new Model 7400 Satin in .30-06 that would shoot the lights out of a gnat's eye @ 100yds with 180gr factory fodder (only).
IDK if that 7400 was a fluke, or if Remington made some changes for the better with that evolution.
.
FWIW, I was the R.O. for my club, in the 70's, and when we held our annual Public Sighting-In Day, the only shooters that almost never achieved either a good zero or satisfactory groups (before they ran out of ammo) were the ones shooting those Remington autoloaders.
Many years later, I was given a new Model 7400 Satin in .30-06 that would shoot the lights out of a gnat's eye @ 100yds with 180gr factory fodder (only).
IDK if that 7400 was a fluke, or if Remington made some changes for the better with that evolution.
.
Barber2678
New member
I would make sure the barrels/rifling didn't have residue build-up.
I to bought a used 742 woodsmaster in. 30-06 first thing I did was scrub the dog snot out of it and made sure the bore was mirror like before I quit. The gun shoots 1-1 1/2" groups at 100 yards. It might be a fluke gun also and im shooting hand loads but I know of two other woodsmasters that have taken deer via head shots out to 100 yards and under.
Barber2678
New member
Make sure it's not a problem with the optics before you change anything on the gun.
big al hunter
New member
I have a 742 in 30/06 that shoots 1 1/2" at 100 yds with rem core lokt 150 and 165 gr. My dads mid 80's 7400 shoots about the same. Try different ammo and check the sights. I have 2 hunting buddies that have 742's with consecutive serial numbers. Both their guns will print under 1" at 100yds.
The last time I had a gun that shot 12" groups the barrel was loose. Some auto loaders have a nut that holds the barrel tight to the action. I have never checked my 742 but that nut was loose on my 22 auto. Hold the butt stock and the barrel, wiggle, if its loose you should feel it move.
The last time I had a gun that shot 12" groups the barrel was loose. Some auto loaders have a nut that holds the barrel tight to the action. I have never checked my 742 but that nut was loose on my 22 auto. Hold the butt stock and the barrel, wiggle, if its loose you should feel it move.
Jack O'Conner
New member
I had a 742 in .308 for a couple years. It would shoot an honest 2 inch group at 100 yards when I did my part. Always kept the chamber clean with a little angled brush from Remington and never experienced a jam. These are well made rifles!
Jack
Jack
g.willikers
New member
It's possible that the inaccuracy might be caused by damage, however small, to the bullet, as it travels from magazine to chamber.
Try chambering rounds, one at a time from the mag, using the gun like a bolt action, and see if accuracy improves.
Try chambering rounds, one at a time from the mag, using the gun like a bolt action, and see if accuracy improves.
I had one about 25+ yrs. ago, it was there 150 yrs. anniversary model in 30-06. I loved that rifle, it harvested alot of deer for me, but unfortunately I made a bad decision and sold it. It never once jammed, and it Kept its group size at about 2.5-3" at 100 yds. Which was good enough to hunt deer in upstate N.Y. I often read people calling them jamomatics, but mine performed perfectly every time I needed it to.
I am thinking that it may not be the scope or the rifle but the questionable way the scope is being held to the action. If the screws to the rings are, in fact, stripped, this problem would be way up on the list of possible candidates for the rifle's lack of and/or inconsistent accuracy. I wouldn't change anything until I was assured that the scope has been snuggly and properly affixed to the rifle.