Remington 7400 owners/experiences

[superman8791]

I am looking to buy either a 7400 or a 7600 butI am afraid of the auto due to all the horror stories Ive heard regarding jamming. I know the 7600 will be more accurate due to the floated barrel and solid action but I wanted to see if any of you guys have had personal experiences with the 7400 being depedable. I know I dont NEED either, I know I dont NEED anything but a single shot. Im not here to debate or get into any of that "just dont mess up the first shot" crap. I just want REAL opinions from REAL people on the topic, not a bunch of hear-say. thanks alot guys.

I had basically decided on the 7600 but then I went to Wally World last night I seen a 7400 Auto. I handled and shouldered it and I loved it. It is also 50.00 cheaper than the pump. I decided I better do some more research on the auto and the "alledged" problems with the cycling.
I just spoke with my wife's uncle that works at Quint's Sporting Goodsin Here is Bama.He is thier premiere rifle sighter and knows ALOT about guns, ballistics, calibers, etc... He has been with them for many years and knows his stuff. He shootsmost of the rifles that come in there for sighting as well as their new sales of guns and scopes. If ever I have a concern or question about guns and such I always call him. He has shot (and shoots on a regular basis) everything from a .17 to a 470 nitro express. Yeah he has shoulder problems, especially from Oct-Jan.

Anyways, on to the useful info.

I got his HONEST opinion on the 7400. He says that EVERY 742, 740, 7400, etc... he has EVER seen has had cycling issues. The problem is with the metal they use in the chamber and the fact that is rusts out really badly. He said that even after just one hunt, if it gets the least little bit of moisture or dampness in there it can rust and start to jam. He said they come with a chamber brush to clean the chamber area but most people dont want to clean it after every hunt. Who would, I know I would...and WONT.

His opinion of the 7600 pump is as high as they come. His statement to me was " in terms of accuracy, they shoot exactly like a bolt action". I was also told that cycling and reliability are not even as issue.

So LETS HEAR IT!!!

PS I KNOW if I really want an auto to get a BAR, I CANT afford one so I dont want to hear that either.

Goodness, do a search lots and lots of posts on it.

I got one. I have had it ever since the 80's and love it. Killed more deer than you could fill up a dump truck with. One thing, you got to learn how to care for it. Never had it rust or any craziness.

Remember, 80% of the posts are from people who knew someone who knew someone.

I can't say I use it much anymore as I like to buy new guns all the time, and use em. I still use it on drives or shortrange hog hunting.

[superman8791]

Thanks for your reply...you say short range? Do you not feel it is a good long range rifle? How about accuracy with yours and what caliber is it?

[Portage]

I do not own (never have) a 7400 so please take my opinion as such. The guys I hunt deer with went from 7600s to 7400s (with the exception of me). They are all fairly knowledgable about firearms and take good care of their equipment. 2 of the guys hunt with 308 and the rest use 30-06s. The 06s have been nothing but trouble. They jam in every conceivable weather and with every load. They have been taken to gunsmiths who couldn't do anything with them. These guys are going back to their tried and true 7600s.

The 308s, on the other hand, have been trouble free.

[superman8791]

I did a search after I posted this. Sorry for the repeat guys, but I would still love to hear opinions.

Another though:I am VERY much concerned with accuracy. It sounds like I should go with the 7600 for that reason from what Ive read so far.

I reload for mine and with 54gr of IMR4350 and 130gr gamekings I get 1.5" groups very consistently at 100 yards.If I remember right, it didn'tdo so well with 130gr coreloks. Thats about all I used for it backa long time ago.

I say short range, because at longer range like 100 yards, who needs a repeater. I have taken off my scope so it is more handy in short range situations. So therefore, thats what I use it for.

I can only say it jamed once. That was like in 1997 on a 5 degree day. And I didn't take that much care of the action. Mostly what I have noticed is people load up the action with oil without take the trigger assembly apart. And it turns to gunk over the years and gets worse in cold weather. People I have heard say they have had issues, I have taken out the trigger assembly and cleaned out all the old gunk and junk and bam it works perfectly.

Other issues I have seen with them is people like to carry thier detachable mags in thier pockets and bends them and they won't feed correctly from them. I never carry around my mags in my pockets.

[mossy33oak]

ORIGINAL: superman8791

He is thier premiere rifle sighter and knows ALOT about guns, ballistics, calibers, etc... He has been with them for many years and knows his stuff.

He says that EVERY 742, 740, 7400, etc... he has EVER seen has had cycling issues.

His opinion of the 7600 pump is as high as they come. His statement to me was " in terms of accuracy, they shoot exactly like a bolt action".

Let me speak from experience. I own both a 742 in 30'06 and a 760 in 30'06. My 742 has NEVER......NEVER.....EVER jammed, had cycling issues, whatever you want to call it. Secondly, my 760 even with countless hours spent at the range working up reloads for it has NEVER......EVER shot as consistent as any one of my bolt actions. I love my 760 to death, in fact I have carried that gun more this year than any of my other 7 deer rifles, but to say its a "tack driver" or "as accurate as a bolt" would be both ignorant and just plain not true. Not to sound like an a$$ but I really hope you misunderstood your wifes uncle. Maybe you should revisit and get some clarity because a man of his background should not be telling you what you have posted here. And besides and truely honest opinion should involve the phrase "most" not all. I have seen "most guns" do this or that.

[superman8791]

Thanks for being the first (and probably not the last) to start contoversy in my thread.I knew it would happen, it always does when you have so many opinions.

Mossy, your always causing contraversy. Whats the deal? You need to take some example from peace loving Bigcountry.

[mossy33oak]

ORIGINAL: superman8791

Thanks for being the first (and probably not the last) to start contoversy in my thread.I knew it would happen, it always does when you have so many opinions.

Mossy, your always causing contraversy. Whats the deal? You need to take some example from peace loving Bigcountry.

ahhhhhh.......my work is done --------->>>>>>>>>> on to the next thread---------->