NEED HELP! Remington 742 Auto 30-6...Worth $300?

[abibe2]

I am not a gun expert but am interested in getting this 30-6 but don't know if I'm getting ripped off. It looks in great shape. He also has a Savage 110E Bolt Action 30-6 for $300 too.

I don't know what's a good deal and wanted your all's advice!:confused:

[wkyoutdoorsman]

Does the remington have a scope on it? If so, what kind? Same question for the Savage. I used to own a Remington 742 30-06 with a standard Busnell scope on it and I absolutely loved that gun. Not long after I purchased the rifle, I had a couple of people tell me horror stories of how the 742 jammed on them. But, in the 8 years I owned that rifle it never jammed on me once. I did like my dad taught me, I wiped down and cleaned it before and after every rifle season. And I was quite suprised at how accurate that rifle was as well. I only missed one deer with that rifle in the 8 years I owned and she was running and about 100 yards from me. I've also heard good things about the Savagae as well. I would say pick the one that feels best to you and overall looks to be in the best shape. Good luck with the choice.

[abibe2]

The Remington does not come with a scope but the Savage 110E comes with a Simmons 30.9X50. I am curious how good of a scope that is.

[wkyoutdoorsman]

Not real sure. But my dad and granddad both have Simmons scopes on their deer rifles and love them. I would think it would be alright. But $300 even if it isn't what you're looking for in a scope you can find some good scopes for under $150 and have a good deer rifle and scope for less than $450 which is still a good deal. I say go with the one that feels best to you and spend some time at the range. Get to know the rifle and it will pay off come November.

[grouseguy]

Not long after I purchased the rifle, I had a couple of people tell me horror stories of how the 742 jammed on them. But, in the 8 years I owned that rifle it never jammed on me once.

Consider yourself lucky. Obviously, not every 742 will break down, but for the VAST majority of 742's ... they either already ARE a single shot rifle ... or they will be a single shot rifle at some point.

I or my family or friends have probably owned a half dozen or so, and ALL worked just fine ... until they didn't. You may shoot it several hundred rounds, or just a few, but sooner or later, MOST will start not cycling properly. Soon after that, they won't cycle a new cartridge into the chamber without manually working the action.

Most gun shops will no longer even trade on a 742 because of this problem. Sorry, but 742's were just a poorly designed rifle that won't hold up over time. Clearly, there will be exceptions, but given the track record of the 742, I wouldn't spend hard earned $$$ trying to find the exception to the rule.

[dbd870]

I would pass on the Remington as well. Nothing wrong with the 110E but you can find newer rifles on the used market with the accu-trigger (which I really like - there are those that don't) for the same price. I know of a few people with the Simmons and they have been servicable, however were it mine I would upgrade the glass. Plenty of personal opinion in the rifle world like everything else.

[Salty]

+1 to Grouseguy's comments. The 742 frame is an alloy and the bolt will eventually chew it up to the point it fails...............When I worked in a gunshop, avoided them like a plague.

[jeffb]

I have never had or shot a 742, so I won't give an opinion. I do have 2 of the savages one in 270 and one in 25-06 and have been very happy with both. The 25-06 has the accutrigger and I very much prefer it to the old style trigger on the 270. If the scope is the simmons 8 point that came as a package deal with the rifle its not much. I would take a look at the auction sites to gauge value.

[duckslayer870]

The shop I worked in spent a lot of time servicing 742 jammomatics for turning into single shot rifles. we wouldnt even trade for them unless they were real willing to take a beating. We even had one in 308 that would put 3 shots into a paper plate at 100 yrd no matter what you feed it. The savage is good rifle but as someone said earlier I would look for one with the accu trigger. They are better bult firearms that were redesigned after some management changes.

[stalkingbear]

Actually the receiver on Remington 742s is steel. I've reblued some when making a "run" with the hot tanks. They DO have a famous reputation for malfunctioning but can be fixed. The 2 areas most likely to go sour is the flimsy extractor that's made of spring steel & rivited in. The main area is usually solved by simple DETAIL cleaning. The gas port & piston gets crud from fouling and just don't cycle. I've fixed 740/742/7400 literally numbering in the dozens. That don't mean I like them-quite the contrary.

The older Savage 110e were ugly rifles (stock) but decent rifles for the money. The main area of them I've had to fix involved the cast safety that broke off quite often. Also the triggers left something to be desired.

For 300$ you can buy a brand new economy rifle every bit as good as the Savage. The Stevens model 200 is virtually the same as the Savage, but without the Accu-Trigger. My personal pick of economy rifles is the Marlin XL-7/XS-7. They shoot VERY accurate, feature triggers quite similar to the accu-trigger, and sell for 300$ new.



+1 to Grouseguy's comments. The 742 frame is an alloy and the bolt will eventually chew it up to the point it fails...............When I worked in a gunshop, avoided them like a plague.

[Auk1124]

I loves me some Savage 110s, used to buy and play with a bunch of them when they were cheap on the used market. That said, imo...

300 is too high for the Savage 110e. The scope is basically worthless as far as resale value is concerned - I wouldn't give him a dime for it, either make him take it off and keep it or throw it in for free. If the bore is clean and there isn't much rust on it or rust in the chamber, the rifle is worth 225 - 250. I'd offer 200 and go up as high as 250 only if it was in real good shape and I wanted it bad.

My opinion only. Others may disagree.

Oh yeah, edited to add that if you buy this rifle you might wanna factor in the cost of a decent recoil pad because I promise you a Savage 110e in 30-06 will kick the ever-lovin' bejeezus out of you. They are great rifles but they will just wreck your shoulder if you shoot them a lot.

[Kcoyboy]

Ive got a 308 7400 that I love!! I believe it has less locking lugs than the 742. Ive owned my 7400 for 15 years and have shot thousands of reloads in it with no malfunction except for some aftermarket 10 round clips. I keep the gun pretty clean and blow out the action every now and then with a air hoze and lube with rem oil. after about 600 rounds I I remove the trigger assy and really clean it out with the air hoze along with the inside of the receiver. Ive only had the barrel off once to clean the gas port but it didnt need it. It is accurate too with the right load. less than an inch at 100 yds. and I love blasting with aftermarket 10 round clips. Now the firing pin wasnt strong enough for military surplus ammo. lots of misfires there.

[kingtutt]

go to budsgunshop.com. looks to me like $300 might be a steal for the remington. those guns have gone sky high.

[steelslinger]

oh yeah, edited to add that if you buy this rifle you might wanna factor in the cost of a decent recoil pad because i promise you a savage 110e in 30-06 will kick the ever-lovin' bejeezus out of you. They are great rifles but they will just wreck your shoulder if you shoot them a lot.

amen!!!!!!!!!!!