Sabotaged Remington 7400 Autoloader

[Linstrum]

Some of you who were participants of the old "All Outdoors" reloading forum may recall a series of threads about those of us who regretted owning Remington 740/742/7400 autoloader rifles.

That included me.

In 1997 I had purchased a new Remington 7400 .30-06 from Wal-Mart for $179. Using Remington factory ammo, the first shot fired jammed the bolt on top of the empty cartridge, which was on top of the cartridge in the magazine. The second and third shots did the same thing. I changed to different ammo, using 150, 165, and 180-grain factory loads, and all of them jammed. I took the rifle apart as far as I could without voiding the warranty and cleaned it and lubed everything with the lubes that they recommended in the owner's manual. It still jammed or wouldn't cycle the action. I called Remington and they said to re-lube it and be sure to use only Remington ammo. They of course warned me to never use reloads, and if that didn't solve the problem to send it to the nearest authorized Remington repair facility.

I did what they said and it still would not work, so I took it to the Remington repair facility, which fortunately was only about 15 miles from home and not half way across the United States. The next day I picked it up and went to my range and it still did the same exact thing, so I took it back to the Remington repair facility and they cleaned and lubed it up again and gave it back. Same story. I posted my problem on All Outdoors to get help, and in the true spirit of the group of folks who eventually landed here, got responses from everybody who owned any and every kind of autoloader rifle. Boy, talk about ask and thou shalt receive! Ray Boone gave me some reload data he had developed specifically for the pressure-time curve of the Remington 740/742/7400 autoloader rifles in .30-06. Using those loads the rifle would sometimes cycle the action all the way like it should, but it still would not fire four in a row without jamming. I took it back one more time to the Remington repair facility and they said everything about it was within factory specifications, but they could be temperamental and I was obviously putting the ammo clip in wrong, or holding it sideways like they show in the movies.

¡Pedazo de caca! It was a real shame because for the price that I paid for it, it was one of my more accurate rifles. It was even a bit better than my old accurized Remington 700 ADL .30-06! I said to hell with it and put it way far back in the back corner of my safe, along with the other stuff too valuable to keep in the scrap bin.

Five years later I was thinking about getting a Remington 7600 pump action and I was looking at the exploded view of one, which sure looked like a Remington 7400 with just the gas port and inertia block removed and the “trombone� grip installed. I called Remington asking how hard it was to change a 7400 to a 7600 and the guy asked what was wrong with the 7400 to make me want to change it a 7600. I abbreviated my sad story and he said that it sounded like the gas system was really messed up big time! So he sent me the factory 7400 tune-up bulletin used by the Remington repair guys. He also included the latest Remington custom shop “hot-rodding� specs for the .30-06 gas system that are used to make it responsive to the slightly wider range of bullet weights and powder charges that may be encountered in more modern factory loads. He gave me an “off-the-record� hint that it would make the rifle better suited for reloads, including cast bullets between 110 grains and 220 grains! When I dismantled the rifle all the way I found the source of the cycling problem. Someone had taken a hammer and deliberately smashed the gas-metering orifice in the gas piston where it fits into the inertia block. I used a microscope to inspect the damage and found thirteen points of impact from different angles and directions, none of which could have been caused by any means other than sabotage! In the Remington 7400 gas system, the piston is stationary and the cylinder is what slides back and forth to operate the bolt. The piston is silver soldered onto the underside of the barrel, so my only option was to repair the piston in place, which turned out to be quite easy. After rebuilding the piston, I followed the “hot-rodding� instructions and carefully drilled the hole very slightly deeper into the cylinder block.

It “digests� darn near any ammo now, but I use mainly reload specs meant for the Garand. In many, many rounds fired since I repaired it, it has never jammed. I am glad that I finally found out what was wrong because as I said before, it is pretty accurate and I would have hated losing it. I told Remington about the sabotage and they said it was an “unfortunate but isolated incident�. I doubt that, so if you know of a 7400 that won't cycle, look a little deeper.

[C1PNR]

Very interesting story, Linstrum, and one I'll file in the back of my mind.

Just hope it lodges there and doesn't just flop out the huge hole SWMBO tells me is back there, at least when she gives me directions!

[45nut]

A Remington 742 was one of the shortest owned rifles in my gun-owning history. I think it lasted all of one week before it was down the road.
That rifle introduced me to the practice of bringing a range rod to knock the empties out of the chamber,which was required with every shot.
I also tried several brands and weights of ammo,every effort to get that rifle to act as a repeater was fruitless and a source of endless cursing and to this day makes me tremble in anger at Remington's dumping such a piece of garbage on us shooters.
My .02

[fatnhappy]

A Remington 742 was one of the shortest owned rifles in my gun-owning history. I think it lasted all of one week before it was down the road.
That rifle introduced me to the practice of bringing a range rod to knock the empties out of the chamber,which was required with every shot.
I also tried several brands and weights of ammo,every effort to get that rifle to act as a repeater was fruitless and a source of endless cursing and to this day makes me tremble in anger at Remington's dumping such a piece of garbage on us shooters.
My .02
Amen.
I had a 7400 in .308 that would have been better used as a boat anchor. I stuck some moron with it, and turned a profit if memory serves. What a POS.

[shooter2]

Your story reminds me of something that happened to me in 1964. I had just purchased a new 1964 Mercury and was in the service bay with a mechanic who was repairing some minor problems. The next bay over was another mechanic who was removing a door rattle on a new Lincoln. He pulled the door panel off and discovered the source of the rattle... an empty fifth of bourbon. Makes one wonder doesn't it...

[7400 problems]

I have the 7400 in .270w. It ejects beautifully, but doesn't feed the next rounds reliably. It has done this since I got it second hand.

I filed the stock away from the barrel and bedded it under the gas block with screws covered in jb weld. Works good.

It seems with any loads (even heavy grain Core Lokt,) that it has trouble blowing the slide back far enough. Can I modify the gas nozzle or that block under the barrel, or remove the small bb to let more gas push on the slide?

http://www.remington.com/support/parts/model_7400.asp

[7400 problems]

One mans junk is another mans treasure I guess.

Amen.
I had a 7400 in .308 that would have been better used as a boat anchor. I stuck some moron with it, and turned a profit if memory serves. What a POS.

[bullshot]

I had a coke bottle in the right rear quarter on my then new 1965 Mustang.

[singleshotbuff]

I worked at a gunshop/gunsmith in Missouri in the early 90s.

Every year, a month or so before rifle deer season opened, we took in more Remington 742/7400s for repair than all other centerfire rifles COMBINED. In fact, we once took in 17 IN ONE DAY.

That experience sorta soured me on Remington rifles in general, and Remington autos in particular.

Of course, my uncle has a 742 in 30/06 that he has hunted with most of my life (and killed 37 deer with) that has never failed him.

Hit and miss I guess.

SSB

[10-x]

Back in the 70's I had a 742 carbine in 30.06, no feed, eject or jamming problems. Like most firearms it was more accurate than the shooter......but the MUZZLE BLAST-FLASH was just too much.
In the fall I would take it out under a tree that would not drop its leaves, a few rounds later , no leaves were on the tree. It either blasted or burned them off!!!

I traded it for a NIB(blue box) S&W mdl 36 and most of a AN-MG42.........traded the parts off and made a killing.:-P

[Three44s]

I have owned two 742's over the years ..... both '06s

Neither gave me any grief.

The first was fired little.

The second was about worn out in the top inside of the receiver. But it cycled fine.

I don't brag on the series due to that wear problem however.

Now the Pumps are grand!!

Three 44s

[725]

I had a Model 4, .308 (fancy version of the 7400) back in the '80's and it functioned perfectly. I was getting into accurate bolt guns at the time so I confidently sold it to a friend of mine. He loves it. Still has it. As a matter of fact, I wish I had it back. If it hadn't been good, I would never have sold it to a friend, or to a stranger without full disclosure.

[mstarling]

I have an old 7400 in .308 that worked for a couple of years. Was a great beater rifle. It experienced a case head failure and hasn't extracted and ejected properly since. No obvious damage to anything. About every two years I ask the question:

What should I try do to do to this POS to make it work?

Damn shame as it is handy in the woods and hold an MOA with core-lokts which are adequate for deer.

I have cleaned the gas port and made it the right size ... which I don't remember at the moment. The port was dirty and needed a cleaning. The extractor has been replaced. The chamber has been polished out.

Any ideas? Thanks!

[hornsurgeon]

i can't beleive no one has asked this yet, but just what are the specs that remington gave you to repair your rifle? also, what about the reload info they gave you? of have i missed that in the original post?

[Boerrancher]

For years the US shooting team used the Rem 760. I have never owned a 7400, 760 or any of those types of Remington's, but I have shot a lot of them and they are most of the time pretty good shooters.

[Beaverhunter2]

I have a couple friends with 740s and 742s. Never heard them having trouble. Mine is a 760 .30-06. I love that rifle. I killed my first buck with it at 13. One year, however, I failed to fully seat the magazine and clicked on an empty chamber on the biggest buck I'd seen to date. My fault- not the guns. Since that day, I've hand-fed the first round.

Last year I killed a bigger buck with that rifle- the biggest I've ever killed- a nice 8pt. Not huge by a lot of people's standards, but big for Northern Michigan pubic land and the biggest killed by anyone in my family. I own 5 "deer rifles" and five or so more that could be used on deer (e.g., Enfield No.4 MK1, Mosin Nagant 7.62x54R, M1A, etc. ). I'm so glad I used the rifle my Dad bought me to start deer hunting with! The icing on the cake was that my 12 year old daughter was with me. I must have been doing some things right for the Lord to smile on me like that.

John

[Linstrum]

My goodness, this thread that I wrote back in 2005 sure woke up suddenly!

Unfortunately both my Remington 7400 rifle and the specs that Remington sent me are locked up in my safe 906 miles from here at my home in New Mexico, so for the moment I can't post anything about the Remington 7400 tune-up specs until I get back. I have to be back on May 19, so that is as soon as I can help out.

The tune-up specs that Remington sent me have been incorporated in all rifles built after about 2002 (but don't quote me on that), so if your particular rifle is fairly new it may already have the new gas cylinder depth and diameter dimensions.

I am simply amazed at the number of complaints about this model rifle, whoever was doing the sabotaging at the factory was quite active for a very long time since it covers three versions of the 74xx autoloader rifle.

Like some others here have said, when they work they work well, after fixing the sabotaged gas system, my rifle shoots better than 1-inch at 100 yards with some ammo, and better than 3-inches all day long with quite a variety of handloads and commercial ammo.

The basically same 760/7600 pump model is also a fantastic rifle, a 760 .30-06 rifle was the favorite deer rifle of one of my close buddies back 40-some years ago when I got out of high school. It was propped up in easy reach but out of sight in the corner beside his front door along with his 10 ga side-by-side, their well-worn scabbards hanging on pegs next to them by his telephone stand. He was Old School and I learned a lot from him, he would be 95 years old this September 19 if he were still with us.

[Three44s]

I had not known previous to this resurrected thread that there were any issues to Remie's gas systems on their autos.

But awhile back my gunsmith put me wise to a different weakness in them.

The issue pertains to wear inside the top of the receiver where the bolt runs. After a good amount of shooting ...... chatter marks or divots develop with in the receiver.

Another local gunsmith .... retired ..... welds up the receiver and machines it smooth.

If you are having any issues with the Remy autos, I would recommend drawing the bolt back with the magazine removed and under a good light check for these wear marks.

And if you are considering buying one and find these ....... walk on.

Regards

Three 44s

[Leadforbrains]

My first deer rifle was a 742 BDL in 30/06. I got it for Christmas when I was thirteen. It had a Redfield 3x9 widefield scope. It was one of my happiest memories. My father also had a 742 standard grade or ADL. We have killed alot of deer over the years with these rifles. Yes there was some issues with these rifles and my father found a local gunsmith that specialized in making this particular make and model rifle more reliable. That being said and if everything else is good the magazines and the ammo are some of the weakest links to the 742. My rifle and my fathers rifle like to be zeroed from a cool barrel. When the barrel got hot groups opened up and shifted all over. It did not take many rounds for the barrel to get heated up enough to shift the round on paper. We had to have alot of patience while at the range to make sure everything was dead on. All of our shots at deer were from a cold barrel anyway.
I liked reloading for my dads rifle. I was able to get some pretty good groups using IMR4064 and RL12. Both rifles don't get out much anymore and are pretty much safe queens now.
I believe 742s and their clones are ok rifles, but there are so many better rifles out there.

[crowbeaner]

I LOVE my 742 in 30/06. I bought it used for $175 and asked the dealer what was wrong with it. He said it needed cleaning. I figured what the heck and bought it. It had a rough spot where the gas port is, and I polished it with Flitz on a patch until smooth. It has never failed to feed or eject, and I make sure the magazine is locked into place. I forward assist the bolt on the first round to get all 5 to hit the same spot. It easily shoots 1 inch with almost anything I stuff in it. I've killed 8 deer with 8 shots (handloads) since 2000. I use MEDIUM burn rate powders, and shoot 150,165, and 180s in it with the 180s reserved for bears. My brother in law shoots my loads in his 760, and has had similar results. My mum has a 742 in .308, and hers has been flawless as well. ?????????

[Blackwater]

Remington autos suffer from a pretty common malady - the folks who own them typically aren't the most savy gun owners/shooters, and by far the biggest problems with them are indeed, as one poster noted he was told by his gunsmith, they just don't get cleaned well (or sometimes at all), and this is NOT good for any gun, but particularly any type of auto. Secondly, a lot of folks wind up bending or damaging a magazine, which of course leads to jams or poor feeding at best.

However, I've actually been amazed by some of the guns I've seen - amazed that they worked at ALL!

Now it's ALSO true that I've seen some that lacked good QC inspection at the factory. It's hard to get good help these days, but that goes for ANYTHING that's manufactured. C'est la' vie.

I've never owned a Rem. or any other brand of auto, except some .22's, but given one to hunt with, I'd make sure the chamber's smooth, oiled and then dried, and I'd make sure the magazine was in good shape. Then I'd run some rounds through to check the cycling, and I don't think I'd have any real reason if I missed a deer. I'm a bolt gun fan, or maybe a single shot, but there's a reason the Germans didn't like our Garands much in WWII, and the same application applies to many types and locales for hunting as well. I may LIKE the bolts and singles better, but there's just no denying the sometimes superior tactical advantages of a self loader, especially for some folks who are just "average" shots.

Treat them right, maintain them well, and they'll serve you well 99 44/100% f the time, and that really ain't a bad thing a'tall. Nothing manufactured by man is immune to sabotage, and I've seen a few guns in my time that I suspected were victims of it, but any gun type can be sabotaged - not just the autos, so that's no reason to downplay the autos. They're heavier, don't balance well in my hands, and the stocks don't fit me well. Other than that, they'll do to ride the river with if we do our part.

[7400 problems]

I still have this POS. I can't sell it in good conscience except as a mechanic's special. I think I'll keep it to try a radical solution, and hopefully get a couple seasons out of it, then I'm scrapping it to sell the reciever etc to 7400.com fanatics. I hate the right hand grip on the stock, I hate the factory design of the forend before my mod, I hate the barrel sights, and I hate the high rate of defective rifles even after several redesigns. POS.

I could rather use a .40 Keltec semi-auto or a HIpoint better than this thing since it F's up WAY too often and if I can actually get a few rounds in it, it gets HOT and shoots wild.
I'm going to try polishing the chamber till its freeking shiny, buying a new magazine, then doing this mod:

Removing the "nipple" from the gas block and replacing it with a small piece of copper tubing press fit into the same hole (or barely enlarged to work), then drilling the inertia block to match. That ought to give it quite an appetite for all the ammo I'd like to try in it.

If that doesn't work I will probably destroy it so I don't have to dick with it anymore.

I wondered why anybody still used 30.06, but Guns and Ammo said it, that there are tons of military surplus for them, lots of load data, and even Walmarto has lots of it.

[7400 problems]

I wish I had bought the Garand! I saw one for less than I bought POS for. The stock looked like hell but the rest was ok. Stocks are cheap enough now with those plastic ones in the catalogues.

[Down South]

I had a 742 30-06 around 1970 or so. I don't remember any cycle problems with it. It wouldn't group well. I sold it and bought a 700 BDL in 25-06. Now that was a sweet rifle.

[xoxoTA]

Years ago, maybe 1979'ish, a friend had a Remington autoloader in 30-'06. He borrowed my Lyman 310 loading tools, which he knew well how to use. The first time he shot one of his reloads, the rifle made a terrific boom, with huge muzzle flash, scared him silly. We had to beat the bolt open with a 2x4 to get the fired case out of the chamber.
Investigating what had happened, we discovered that he had loaded 30-some ( can't remember anymore) grains of Red-Dot shotgun powder in his loads.....
Gave me a whole new respect for the strength of this action, since he continued to use the rifle for years.

[jawsesq]

I have had two model 742's in .308, used them and abused them for years hunting wild hogs in some rugged country--n ever failed me--never a problem. I have models 740, 742, and 7400 all in 30.06 and looking for the "right" 750 in .06 to complete the set. I have heard lots of bad about these rifles, but can only sing the praises of those I have owned, and, as I said used ever-so successfully :Fire:

[Castboolitpreacher]

I once owned an old 740 in 30-06 (the first issue of the series) The stock was slender, as was the forearm, and it handled like a dream. Shot everything I could load into it without a hitch, 311291's and any j-boolit. Would shift POI after it heated up, so I made an accuracy block for it. Found the dimensions in Dunlaps book, I think, not sure. after that it would shoot 1 1/4" 5 shot groups at 100 yds with 150 Sie***s, and 1 1/2" to 2" with the 311291. Using an old AO K8 Weaver, and shooting out the window of my pickup (Hey, it was C-O-L-D!! that day).
Recently A friend of mine had me tear down and clean his 742, in 30-06 because it was hard to cock and would not completely feed or extract sometimes. I found the bolt carrier guides in the receiver to be galled. The locking lugs had been cutting into the milder steel of the receiver on the front and back of the guide ribs. I had heard this was a problem with that series, but this was the first time I had seen it. My friend has shot lots of military ammo through this rifle. Hmmm? Anyhoo, I CAREFULLY filed the galled places down even with the ribs (small triangular safe file) finishing up with an Arkansas stone. Cleaned & Lubed everything up and reassembled. It still was still slightly rough on cocking, but shot great.
Another shooting crony of mine had a 742 in .308 that would shoot 1 1/4" 3 shot groups on demand. Worked flawlessly, but kicked worse than any .308 or 30-06 I had ever shot. Just my rant on this subject. De Preacher ps. Have you ever put an extractor in one of these??? Whooooeeeee! You have to have a special cut punch, and 3 hands (four are better), to seat and flatten the rivet.

[Linstrum]

The following is for .30-06 chambered rifles only, if yours is a .260, .270, or .308 Win IT MAY NOT APPLY. The tune-up specs sent to me did not say if they applied to others than the .30-06.

The gist of the Remington tune-up and improved performance specifications sent to me were mainly two things, one was to test the bolt return spring strength, and the other was to increase the depth of the gas cylinder bore. These improvements were also made to all standard 7400s in .30-06 after a certain date and yours may or may not have these improvements depending on what caliber it is and when it was made. I can’t find the letter that Remington sent to me but I took measurements from my own 7400, except for spring tension because I don’t have an accurate tension scale to measure it with.

For checking the parts measurements and cylinder bore depth, you will need a good high quality vernier or digital caliper that is accurate to 0.001”. The measurements taken from my particular model 7400 .30-06 rifle are as follows:

0.205” gas cylinder bore inside diameter
0.662” gas cylinder bore depth
0.190” gas piston outside diameter


If the rifle is a .30-06 and the piston diameter is the same as above but the cylinder bore depth is not close to the measurement given above, then take the rifle to a gunsmith and have the cylinder bore drilled out the to the above listed depth. The hole is not flat bottomed, it is conical with the angle being the standard 118° included angle that all jobber’s drills are sharpened to.


rl444