Rifle questions

[Paul L Mohr]

Well I usually don't have any problems giving my 2 cents (ends up being about a $1.50 by the time I am done, I like to type) but now I think I would like a few donations.

I am considering selling a few toys and getting a centerfire, a .243 to be more precise. I went to the gun store today and was looking around. The last time I was in there I thought I saw Remington auto loader in wood for around 400 bucks. I didn't see it today, either they sold it or I was mistaken (been known to happen). I did find a Remington 7400 in synthetic for $489 new in .243. However I know nothing about them.

Are they alright guns, or would I be better off getting a Mossberg or Stevens bolt action in the same caliber for $289. They are all equally ugly to me with synthetic stocks. Saw a Howa for around that as well, I forget the exact amount, but it was less than the Remington 7400. Had some Remingtons with Dale Jr's signature on them as well. Not that big of fan though to be honest.

And on a side note, I see they quit making the 7400 and replaced it with the 750. What are the differences and how much better is it, if any than the 7400 for almost half the money?

I want the gun mainly for woodchucks and other small stuff. Possibly some coyotes and a slight chance I might go to upper Michigan and use it on a deer. Can't deer hunt with it where I live though. I would probably never shoot more than 200 yards.

I don't "need" a semi auto by any means, just thought it would be cool to have one is all. Might come in handy on the coyote from what I understand. I mostly have bolt action or single shot guns though. I currently don't any centerfire rifles. I have in the past, but not for a while.

I'm thinking of selling or trading my A-5 Stalker Light to finance it.

Any opinions or experience would be greatly appreciated.

I saw a really nice used Browning A-bolt with synthetic stock, stainless barrel and the Boss system. It was 5 something. 7mm mag though, I don't really need that much gun for woodchucks.

Paul

[bigbulls]

If I were in your shoes the last gun of those listed I would buy would be the 7400. Not exactly the most reliable auto loader out there. And if you want it for shooting wood chucks and the such they aren't exactly the most accurate rifles to be had either.

I would definetly look at a bolt gun and of those you listed the Howa would definetly be my first choice.

[RugerMike]

Hey Paul,
I have a beautiful deluxe wood Remington 742 w/Weaver K-8 scope and mounts all in 95%+ condition forsale if interested in 308. There are many different loads availible to hunt groundhogs to Elk with a 308. e-mail me if you have interest at mikem@tls.net
$400 shipped and would consider your A-5 in trade?

[stubblejumper]

I would never buy a 7400,or any remington semi auto for that matter.I have fired several,and have been asked to help out a few people when thier guns started jamming.My experience with the 7400,740,and 742 has been that accuracy is on average far below what I have seen from bolt actions,and reliability has been very questionable.

[Paul L Mohr]

Wow, that helps my decision a little. For what the remignton would cost I could probably get a little nicer looking savage as well.

Keep the opinions coming, even if they are bad.

Paul

[statjunk]

The 7400 is a POS. Stay away.

As for my feelings on remington. Not all that great. Unfortunetly I do have experience with the 7400 and it is to be avoided.

Tom

[oldelkhunter]

95% of the Remington 742/7400 rifles would have better use as a tomato stake. Of course everytime I make a statement like this someone tells me how great their Remington 742/7400 is.A year ago at a Friends house and he trots out a 742 that he purchased 20 years ago when he graduated high school..this was chambered in 30-06 and he never had a problem with it . Looking over this gun that appeared factory new(fired maybe 100x as per him)I made the comment " that if ever a gun was designed to jam while sitting in a gunsafe that the remington autoloader would be that gun".I have owned 3 (2 30-06 and 1 270) and I wish I knew then what I know now about them.

[ShatoDavis]

Don't buy a 7400!
You would be much better of with a savage, like this one:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=85613593

Same money you're talking about, but twice the weapon!

[Paul L Mohr]

Well I went back and looked and the Howa was from what could tell a basic 1500 with the green stock. I know nothing about them, but the action looked like it was very well machined and the stock was sort of soft. Felt kind of weird, but I could get used to it.

It wasn't a .243 though, it was a .22-250. I could live with that, I was originally considering that caliber to begin with.

The local shop wanted $490 for it new.

So is it that much better of a gun that it is worth almost twice as much as a Stevens or one of the new mossberg bolt actions?

Paul

[heeze gutshot shortee]

paul..go with a bolt and use the change toward good optics