Hey I haved owned I bought a 742 a couple years ago not knowing that they had a problem ejecting the shell. And boy was i pissed. The gun Was in awesome shape. It looked good. They still seem to hold there value. So I went to the gun shop to trade it in and the guy would not take it. He said they could not get parts anymore for the gun.
Can anyone tell me what went wrong with remington when they made this gun.
I think they stopped making it in the early 80's.
Does anyone have a story on the 742?

I can tell you that NOT all of them had problems!! We've had 3 or 4 of them through the years (all 30-06's), and all of them were good. The one i now own shoots very good, and does NOT JAM!!!

We've also owned several Browning auto's too (300 win mag, 270, and 30-06's) , and althrough they also are good, they required more cleaning than the Rem.s i've owned.

Drilling Man

I just know some people who have had problems with them. Why did remington stop making them?

remington

bobs


Here are a couple of links to find parts for 742's.

Your gunshop owner just didnt want to deal on the gun. my buddy can't keep them on the shelf. in south arkansas they seem to be hot sellers. i have thought about selling mine that i have had now for some 24 years. just because i never hunt with it or shoot it.
oh and by the way mine has never jammed on me or let me down.

the first thing I would do if you haven't is to scrub the chamber. after a gun sits a while the solvents and oils used to clean them turn into a junk. It might solve your problem or not but wont hurt.

A local gunshop has a sign up with certain guns they refuse to take in on trade. One of them is the Remington 742. When I was in the gun business, I wouldn't take one either unless I could get it just dirt cheap.

I have a 742 that my mom bought for my dad years ago when they were new. I have never seen this gun jam. I do not hunt with it anymore but I do keep it sigthed in and ready to go as a back up. Dad was always meticulous about keeping that rifle clean. Maybe that is why it has been problem free over the years.

I think they replaced/updated the 742 with the 7400.

I HAD a couple Rem 742's in 30-06.They were just so so. I really never shot them much and I made sure I kept them clean. I would never buy another one . Remington I found after they discontinue a model get rid of the parts in a timely manor.Remington will send you a list of dealers who MIGHT have the parts you need.The 742 replaced the Rem 740. The 7400 replaced the 742. If you want a reliable semi auto spend the money and get a BAR.
Ruger Redhawk

Some are good and some are bad, depending on how the tolerances of the parts fit together on a particular rifle. Gunshops don't want to buy them- the ones that people bring in are usually problematic and they are pretty much disposable rifles to start with.

I've had a 742 (.30-06) since the 70s and never had a problem with it. I always cleaned it after using it. A good friend I elk hunt with has had one about as long. Guess we've been lucky.