I'm in the market for a Rem. 7400 in 30.06 and though I would get some input from any of you that have or had owned one. Good or Bad...

I've got a remington 742 that i have had for 22 years. i bought it when i was 15 y/o. it's kind of retired cause my tast in guns has changed. but i know it would kill a deer in a heartbeat. the gun looks like it just came out of the box.thats rare with 742's.
it has put a lot of deer on the table and i couldnt part with it.
i hope to give it to one of my kids someday. the 742 and 7400 are almost exactly alike. the difference is the locking lugs. the 742 had more lugs but the 7400 had beefier ones.
i cant say anything bad about mine. the key to them functioning right is keep them clean.

I've haad several of them (all .30/06) and they all worked fine. I prefer bolt or SS actions but if I see a deal on one at a gun show I'll buy it just to trade to something else. The key thing is maintainance clean it and a VERY light coat of oil, to much oil will cause it gum up. The last one I had would shoot just as tight of a group as my bolt action (shooting off hand; standing)

I too have a 742 I bought back about 1970 it kills deer every year..Mainly one shot but its good if you need a quick second shot. Main thing is keep it clean.

There is a reason it got the name "WAMMER-JAMMER".

You want an auto rifle buy a BAR!!!

Quality has relly dropped off, take elsie's advice if you need an auto get the browning.

I have had several semi's. I love them for East Coast huntin. The 270 is the hardest to get to shoot and cycle well as I found out while trying to work up a load for. There is a small window of operation for 270 Win with like IMR4064 powder to get reliable cycling and accuracy. But Corlokts, even though I hate their accuracy, never has ever jammed.

But with all the 30-06's, from the BAR's I have had to the 7400's, I have never had a problem. 80% of all the jammers, I have seen, have been operator error. The other 15% was reloaders trying to use slow powders for velocity. And one I saw where someone bent the metal bar that works the spring. I bet 5 people have told me they had jam problems, I took the whole action apart, they had too much oil, with too much filth, or not enough oil with too much filth. So as with the any semi auto, cleanliness it next to godliness. Not too much oil but just a coating. And then wipe it out with a clean dry rag. I also take the action apart every time I shoot. Good consistent, and I stress consistent, cleaning, will cure almost all your problems. I have put over 20 deer on the table with my 7400. The one time it did jam, I didn't know how to properly clean a semi-auto, and used to think the more oil, the better and in combination with 5 degree morning, it jammed.

Also, I worked up a load with 47.0g of IMR 4064 loaded to 3.285" COL, 130g Sierra that shoots subMOA groups all day. It took however a dozen tries to find this load/COL combo to work this year.

I've had a rem Sportsman 74(Poor man's 7400)for 16 years now. Came to me with a briken ejector. Got that fixed and have had very few jams(had a twig that got caught in the action as I walked through brush and it jammed).

I shoot .75-1.25" groups at a 100 yards with cheap factory ammo. I prefer a bolt but haven't been able to get myself to get rid of it as it shoots so well.

One big problem with autos jamming is dirty chambers,you need to use a brass chamber brush in them,also if you reload ammo,the caseings have to be sized in a full lenght die..

Over the years I've owned two Rem.742 in 30-06.They were alright but not worth writing home about.I have since sold both of them and have graduated up to a BAR.A much better rifle. I have to agree that Remington's quality has slipped over the last several years.Hopefully they will get their act back together.Ruger Redhawk