Remington 750 in .308 yea or nay?

[Orion6]

Looking to pick up a new deer rifle. I hunt in mixed hardwoods and pines so I'd like a quick repeater.

My Dad has always had a 742 that has never given him any trouble. I like semi-autos but am somewhat leery of the mixed reviews of the 74 series.

Any thoughts on the latest models?

[Abel]

I loath the entire Remington auto line from the 740 on through the 750! Jam-o-matics!

I would stick with their pumps, the 760 or 7600. Those are ultra-reliable.

[upstate81]

Yep 7600 gamemaster is my favorite rifle. Mine is an older one with some nice wood not one of the new synthetic ones.

[JerryNY]

I had a Remington 7400 in .270 for several years, it never jammed with the factory mag, but did jam several times with aftermarket mags. It did however damage the ejected brass to the point where I didn't bother reloading them.
I recently traded it for a Winchester model 100 .308 in even better shape. Its a handy little gun, short, light and great for a "brush gun". No issues yet after 300 or so rounds. Mine shoots 1 1/2" at 100 yds with factory ammo, not bad for an old semi-auto and better than my 7400 ever did. I'd consider one, they're in the same range as 7400's.

[Mobuck]

Unless you're dead set on a .308, it's a free ride to step up to the 30/06. The action/magazine is set up for the longer cartridge so the length is wasted when using the little brother.

[Fleet]

If you're hunting thick woods (and it sounds like you are), I'd do a .30-30 and never look back.

[Bamashooter]

The 750 from my experience is a solid rifle. I would also get a 30-06 but thats just me.

[Fullboar]

Originally Posted by Fleet

If you're hunting thick woods (and it sounds like you are), I'd do a .30-30 and never look back.

I would also look at the Ruger Gunsite Scout (not a Semi-Auto like the OP wanted but a great little quick handling Bolt Action rifle that's good for wooded type country).
http://www.ruger.com/products/gunsit...fle/index.html

Or a Remington 7600 Pump Action
http://www.remington.com/product-fam...odel-7600.aspx

Or if you really want a Semi-Auto have a look at the Browning BAR (you could probably get a couple of inches chopped off the 20" lightweight models barrel if it's to long for you).
http://www.browning.com/products/cat...1&tid=008&bg=x
http://www.browning.com/products/cat...p?f1=002B&bg=x
And all the above come in .308. My choice would be the Ruger Scout, IMHO it's a great rifle allround.

[Fullboar]

Originally Posted by Bamashooter

I would also get a 30-06 but thats just me.

If it was open country I would probably go for the 30-06 as well but being wooded country I think you would be better off with the 308. Less recoil = quicker follow up shoots (good for wooded country).

[Keg]

I think the 308 is a great choice....... I have a 760 in 308..... Used to have a 742..wish I had it back.......These are great woods guns.....

[Orion6]

I've used both, .308 actually seems to be a better performer on live game at the typical ranges (almost always inside 100 yds) I shoot.

I have always been a fan of the .308 for deer but admit the 30/06 is a little more versatile.

[Abel]

I've used both, .308 actually seems to be a better performer on live game at the typical ranges (almost always inside 100 yds) I shoot.

I have always been a fan of the .308 for deer but admit the 30/06 is a little more versatile.

This has not been my experience. Any difference that you notice may be attributed to bullet selection?

[warbirdlover]

I've never heard of a Remington 742 jamming. At least one that hasn't had alot of ammo through it where the parts are all worn out.

And the ones I sighted in for two friends shot as good as most bolt actions. I think the premier autos out now though are the Browning BAR and the Benelli R1. But those are considerably higher priced then the Remington 750.

And the .30-06 is a much better choice on deer then the .308 from my experience shooting them.

[MOshooter65202]

I had a Remington 742 Woodmaster I purchased new in the mid seventies just for deer hunting,it developed a problem with the bolt locking lugs to the point the bolt wouldn't lock up manually.I bought a Remington 7400 in the late eighties which I still have and don't shoot much but it has never jammed on me,both rifles in the 30-06.
I primarily hunt with a bolt action since the early nineties large crop fields,creek bottoms,and woods where I hunt with a 7mm rem mag.,I also bought a "brush gun" 7 years ago and ended up going with the .308 in a semi auto DPMS carbine I really like the .308 round for low recoil and a quick follow up shot if needed in the brushy creek bottoms still hunting.

IMHO I believe the Rem. model 750 in a .308 would make a very good semi auto whitetail woods rifle.

[harshmancw]

I shoot an R1 and love it but I doubt you would be disappointed with the 750 rem in the 308. The R1's don't come in that caliber anymore so if you're set on the 308 that puts the R1 out of the discussion I guess.

[oneoldsap]

Those Browning BAR Short-Tracs look pretty sweet ! I'm a pump guy , I've worked on too many 742/7400s to trust them .

[Orion6]

Quote:
I've used both, .308 actually seems to be a better performer on live game at the typical ranges (almost always inside 100 yds) I shoot.

I have always been a fan of the .308 for deer but admit the 30/06 is a little more versatile.
This has not been my experience. Any difference that you notice may be attributed to bullet selection?

When I hunted with a .308 I used Core-Lokt 150s. I shot 3 deer with that combo and all dropped within 20 yds, two dropped on the spot. When hunting with a 30.06, I was using Federal 150's. Two deer with good shot placement and both went further (albeit not far) but in neither case was the death instantaneous. Again, all were rested, calm shots and placement was good behind the shoulder.

Now, I realize this is not a scientific sample, but you can read various posts on different forums where folks attest to the effectiveness of the .308 on deer (and it's "father" the 300 Savage). I realize the .30/06 is the most popular sporting cartridge and it is likely as or more effective when it's all evened out.

[Big Pard]

The 750 looks and feels good but I'm alittle gun shy(pun) of Remington automatic rifles since many have a history of jamming. And if/when they jam its always when shooting a nice deer it seems. For pure reliability and accuracy I'd go with a 760 or 7600 and not think twice.

[warbirdlover]

When I hunted with a .308 I used Core-Lokt 150s. I shot 3 deer with that combo and all dropped within 20 yds, two dropped on the spot. When hunting with a 30.06, I was using Federal 150's. Two deer with good shot placement and both went further (albeit not far) but in neither case was the death instantaneous. Again, all were rested, calm shots and placement was good behind the shoulder.

Now, I realize this is not a scientific sample, but you can read various posts on different forums where folks attest to the effectiveness of the .308 on deer (and it's "father" the 300 Savage). I realize the .30/06 is the most popular sporting cartridge and it is likely as or more effective when it's all evened out.

I've had almost the exact opposite occur under the same identical situations. I think it's almost impossible to pick one over the other as they are so similar.

[Keg]

I have owned both 308 and 30-06 in the 742....I never experienced a jam in either.....I liked the 308 better.....I think with the shorter throw with the 308 would be less likely to jam.....If kept clean and shoot it like a hunting gun it will give many years of good service......They don't have the long range accuracy of a bolt action but are plenty accurate......

[gofast1320]

Buy the one you want. Personally I like the 30 cal aspect of the .308 with its almost 1/3 less recoil than the 30-06.
18 pound free recoil vs 26 pounds with the 30-06

[warbirdlover]

18 pound free recoil vs 26 pounds with the 30-06

Not the numbers I've seen. In Chuck Hawks table (below) 15.8 is about right for the .308 but the .30-06 is very close at 17.6. You don't get to 26 lbs. until you're shooting a .300 Weatherby Mag. which is 24.6. My .300 Win Mag is about 23.5. (This is foot lbs. of energy).

Also FYI a .270 is 16.5 and a .243 is 8.8. A 7mm Rem mag is only 19.3.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

And FYI shooting 3-1/3" magnum 12 ga. shells out of a pump shotgun is the same recoil as shooting a .458 Win Mag with the heaviest load... 62 lbs. of energy!! This is why I sold my Mossberg 835 and gave up goose hunting.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/shotgun_recoil_table.htm

[Keg]

Not too sure how good this info is....http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm...... The 30-06 rifle is heavier than the 308....Hmmm..more recoil from a heavier rifle....What if they were the same weight? There are all different weights to these rifles and are they bolt actions?...cause a semi auto will have less recoil....