Best traditional remington semi auto

Mattj4867 · June 15, 2017, 06:38 AM

Hi all. I went through an old gun catalog and saw a bunch of remington semi autos. This includes the 742, 7400, 7600, and 740. Were there any more that i missed? Which would be the best in terms of reliability and durability?

Reloadron · June 15, 2017, 05:30 PM

The Remington 760 and 7600 were not semi-auto but rather slide or pump action. I only mention it because you have a 7600 in the above group. I also noticed you omitted rimfire so assume you only want semi-automatic center fire rifles.

Remington made a Model 4 between '82 and '87 also a Model 81 Woodsman. All of the rifles, well for the most part, came in various "flavors" for example premium wood or other selling points. The 7400 rifles get a lot of good rap, I have one and like it. The 740 and 742 guns were the predecessors to the 7400 and while I never had a problem with the few I owned some people complained about them as to reliability issues with the gas systems and feeding. My 7400 was always whit it was intended to be, a good hunting rifle. Mine is a 30-06 Springfield chambering. You make no mention of caliber or cartridge?

Ron

bamaranger · June 17, 2017, 01:41 AM

The predecessor of the Model 81( introduced 1936?) , was the Model 8, circa 1906 by Remington. FN made the rifle in Belgium for a few years prior that, labeling it the Model 1900. A Browning design, the Models 8 & 81 are recoil operated (like the A5 shotgun) but I believe largely thought of as rugged and reliable.

The 740 family were all gas operated, sleeker designs which have enjoyed alot of popularity as sporters to those who did not want the only alternative in the market in those days, the higher priced Browning BAR sporter. My only comment on the 740 series is that when well maintained, they seem to run as well as any other sporting repeater. But a lack of maintenance, particulalrly allowing the chamber to foul, then corrode and rust, will lead to problems quickly. A lot of the gas operated Remingtons of the various era's were popular in this area for deer hunting. When neglected, they burped, and then were routinely cursed and malingned my those who failed to take proper care of them.

jmr40 · June 17, 2017, 05:47 AM

The model 4 was just a fancier 7400. The stock design was slightly different, but internally all were the same.

None of the 742, 7400 series of guns were particularly reliable nor durable. I can't think of a single reason to spend my money on one Remington supposedly improved the design with the 750. It is the most recent version and only made briefly before Remington dropped production of them.

They stopped production for a good reason. If I had one that belonged to grandpa I might keep it as a wall hanger, but wouldn't spend money on one. Even if you get one that functions, there are simply better options.

Mobuck · June 17, 2017, 07:10 AM

I've owned and used several 742 in 30/06 and currently have a 30/06 and a 280. If kept CLEAN & LUBED, the 742 worked well. If left hanging in the pickup gunrack and allowed to fill with road dust grit before being used as a pretend machinegun, not so much. Just my opinion based on 40 years use.

Mattj4867 · June 17, 2017, 03:51 PM

"The predecessor of the Model 81( introduced 1936?) , was the Model 8, circa 1906 by Remington. FN made the rifle in Belgium for a few years prior that, labeling it the Model 1900. A Browning design, the Models 8 & 81 are recoil operated (like the A5 shotgun) but I believe largely thought of as rugged and reliable. "

Are the model 8/81 parts hard to find?

CarJunkieLS1 · June 17, 2017, 04:05 PM

Winchester Model 100...

TRX · June 18, 2017, 12:19 PM

> Are the model 8/81 parts hard to find?

The guys on thegreatmodel8.org could probably fix you up... but the Model 8s don't have any particular mechanical weak spots. Usually people are looking for lost or damaged bits.

I like my Model 8 a *lot*...

The only real problem is that unless you own a Model 81 in .300 Savage, ammunition is expensive and occasionally unavailable. The .25, .30, and .32 Remington have been only intermittently available for decades, and they use an odd-size case head; during times when brass is scarce, some reloaders cut down rimmed .30-30 Winchester brass to make rimless Remington brass. The .35 Remington stayed popular for a long time, both for leverguns and Contenders, but there have been shortages of that recently too.

My Model 8 is in .30 Remington, which meant tracking down brass and paying a premium for loading dies, but it's not a big deal if you reload.

disseminator · June 19, 2017, 08:08 PM

My Dad has a 740 in 308. He has Deer hunted with it since the 60's and never had a problem. It has brought home a lot of venison. He has always prized it.

.02

June 15, 2017, 06:38 AM	#1
Mattj4867 Member Join Date: January 17, 2017 Posts: 85	Best traditional remington semi auto Hi all. I went through an old gun catalog and saw a bunch of remington semi autos. This includes the 742, 7400, 7600, and 740. Were there any more that i missed? Which would be the best in terms of reliability and durability?

June 17, 2017, 01:41 AM	#3
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,312	Model 8 The predecessor of the Model 81( introduced 1936?) , was the Model 8, circa 1906 by Remington. FN made the rifle in Belgium for a few years prior that, labeling it the Model 1900. A Browning design, the Models 8 & 81 are recoil operated (like the A5 shotgun) but I believe largely thought of as rugged and reliable. The 740 family were all gas operated, sleeker designs which have enjoyed alot of popularity as sporters to those who did not want the only alternative in the market in those days, the higher priced Browning BAR sporter. My only comment on the 740 series is that when well maintained, they seem to run as well as any other sporting repeater. But a lack of maintenance, particulalrly allowing the chamber to foul, then corrode and rust, will lead to problems quickly. A lot of the gas operated Remingtons of the various era's were popular in this area for deer hunting. When neglected, they burped, and then were routinely cursed and malingned my those who failed to take proper care of them.

June 17, 2017, 05:47 AM	#4
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	The model 4 was just a fancier 7400. The stock design was slightly different, but internally all were the same. None of the 742, 7400 series of guns were particularly reliable nor durable. I can't think of a single reason to spend my money on one Remington supposedly improved the design with the 750. It is the most recent version and only made briefly before Remington dropped production of them. They stopped production for a good reason. If I had one that belonged to grandpa I might keep it as a wall hanger, but wouldn't spend money on one. Even if you get one that functions, there are simply better options. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

June 15, 2017, 05:30 PM	#2
Reloadron Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 2016 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Suburbs Posts: 1,750	The Remington 760 and 7600 were not semi-auto but rather slide or pump action. I only mention it because you have a 7600 in the above group. I also noticed you omitted rimfire so assume you only want semi-automatic center fire rifles. Remington made a Model 4 between '82 and '87 also a Model 81 Woodsman. All of the rifles, well for the most part, came in various "flavors" for example premium wood or other selling points. The 7400 rifles get a lot of good rap, I have one and like it. The 740 and 742 guns were the predecessors to the 7400 and while I never had a problem with the few I owned some people complained about them as to reliability issues with the gas systems and feeding. My 7400 was always whit it was intended to be, a good hunting rifle. Mine is a 30-06 Springfield chambering. You make no mention of caliber or cartridge? Ron

June 17, 2017, 07:10 AM	#5
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I've owned and used several 742 in 30/06 and currently have a 30/06 and a 280. If kept CLEAN & LUBED, the 742 worked well. If left hanging in the pickup gunrack and allowed to fill with road dust grit before being used as a pretend machinegun, not so much. Just my opinion based on 40 years use.

June 17, 2017, 03:51 PM	#6
Mattj4867 Member Join Date: January 17, 2017 Posts: 85	"The predecessor of the Model 81( introduced 1936?) , was the Model 8, circa 1906 by Remington. FN made the rifle in Belgium for a few years prior that, labeling it the Model 1900. A Browning design, the Models 8 & 81 are recoil operated (like the A5 shotgun) but I believe largely thought of as rugged and reliable. " Are the model 8/81 parts hard to find?

June 17, 2017, 04:05 PM	#7
CarJunkieLS1 Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2013 Posts: 686	Winchester Model 100...

June 18, 2017, 12:19 PM	#8
TRX Senior Member Join Date: September 24, 2008 Location: central Arkansas Posts: 400	> Are the model 8/81 parts hard to find? The guys on thegreatmodel8.org could probably fix you up... but the Model 8s don't have any particular mechanical weak spots. Usually people are looking for lost or damaged bits. I like my Model 8 a lot... The only real problem is that unless you own a Model 81 in .300 Savage, ammunition is expensive and occasionally unavailable. The .25, .30, and .32 Remington have been only intermittently available for decades, and they use an odd-size case head; during times when brass is scarce, some reloaders cut down rimmed .30-30 Winchester brass to make rimless Remington brass. The .35 Remington stayed popular for a long time, both for leverguns and Contenders, but there have been shortages of that recently too. My Model 8 is in .30 Remington, which meant tracking down brass and paying a premium for loading dies, but it's not a big deal if you reload.

June 19, 2017, 08:08 PM	#9
disseminator Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2016 Location: Minnesota Posts: 960	My Dad has a 740 in 308. He has Deer hunted with it since the 60's and never had a problem. It has brought home a lot of venison. He has always prized it. .02