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Remington 742 Accuracy - part 2

redpeteredpete Member Posts: 154 ✭✭✭
edited October 2010 in Ask the Experts
Thanks for all the information on my first 742 thread.

Here is some more information:

The screw that holds the forend in was loose, so I did tighten it. The screw has a wide shallow slot that is hard to get real tight.I think I will have a buddy of mine with a machine shop mill a deeper slot for me. If that screw is loose, how is accuracy impacted?

I checked the barrel and it seems tight. I tried to tighten the bolt under the barrel, but the size is something between _ and 13/16 and I did not have the proper wrench, so I did not try to turn it. What size is that nut?

I would like to take the barrel off and give the rifle a real good cleaning. Where can I find directions on how to do it? Or, is this something I should have a gunsmith do?

I have never had any failure to feeds, but sometimes the magazine falls out when I shoot. I purchased a new magazine and I have not had that problem with the new magazine.

The previous owner was an old neighbor, who unfortunately passed away about a month ago. His daughter has no idea what loads he shot in it.

When I got the rifle, it had an old scope with a tip off mount. I replaced these with a Leupold scope, base and rings.

Thanks for all your advice.

Comments

  • redpeteredpete Member Posts: 154 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for all the information on my first 742 thread.

    Here is some more information:

    The screw that holds the forend in was loose, so I did tighten it. The screw has a wide shallow slot that is hard to get real tight.I think I will have a buddy of mine with a machine shop mill a deeper slot for me. If that screw is loose, how is accuracy impacted?

    I checked the barrel and it seems tight. I tried to tighten the bolt under the barrel, but the size is something between _ and 13/16 and I did not have the proper wrench, so I did not try to turn it. What size is that nut?

    I would like to take the barrel off and give the rifle a real good cleaning. Where can I find directions on how to do it? Or, is this something I should have a gunsmith do?

    I have never had any failure to feeds, but sometimes the magazine falls out when I shoot. I purchased a new magazine and I have not had that problem with the new magazine.

    The previous owner was an old neighbor, who unfortunately passed away about a month ago. His daughter has no idea what loads he shot in it.

    When I got the rifle, it had an old scope with a tip off mount. I replaced these with a Leupold scope, base and rings.

    Thanks for all your advice.
  • wpagewpage Member Posts: 10,201 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The for-end is typically loose on the 742. It has no effect on accuracy. Careful you do not damage the for-end stock torquing it.
    The loads shot by previous owner have no bearing. Pick a grain you like and stay with it. 150grain is popular and consistant with that gun. Unless you plan special hunts.
    Its a good platform and round you should have a excellent time with the rifle. Good luck!
  • 260260 Member Posts: 1,133
    edited November -1
    the forend screw does need to be tight. that is why it is made to be tightened hence the word screw. this has very much to do with the harmonics of the barrel and firearm when fired. if you follow the advice given, you should have no problem. 260 quote:Originally posted by wpage
    The for-end is typically loose on the 742. It has no effect on accuracy. Careful you do not damage the for-end stock torquing it.
    The loads shot by previous owner have no bearing. Pick a grain you like and stay with it. 150grain is popular and consistant with that gun. Unless you plan special hunts.
    Its a good platform and round you should have a excellent time with the rifle. Good luck!
  • buddybbuddyb Member Posts: 5,359 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you are handy and have pretty good instructions,take the 742 apart and clean it.If not pay a gunsmith to do it.It has some delicate parts,like the gas tube,that are very easy to damage beyond repair.There is a small pin in the bolt that has even smaller flutes(hard for old eyes to see) that come out and go back in in a certain position.I have not worked on one in a long time so there are probably other details I cant remember.If you can find a rifle take down book with the 742 in it by J.B. Woods,it will tell you all you need to know.Good Luck.
  • 41 nut41 nut Member Posts: 3,016
    edited November -1
    The magazie that will not stay in when the rifle is fired has the slot for the mag catch worn out. They will wear enough that the magazine will not even stay in the rifle at all when loaded with ctgs. Throw it away before you lose it full of ammo.

    Wrench size for the barrel nut is 25/32. Be careful not to bend out the slide arms when removing or installing the barrel nut.
  • tsr1965tsr1965 Member Posts: 8,682 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:the forend screw does need to be tight. that is why it is made to be tightened hence the word screw. this has very much to do with the harmonics of the barrel and firearm when fired. if you follow the advice given, you should have no problem. 260


    The forearm on a 740,742, 7400, and Model Four, are never tight, by design. You can take it and wiggle it back and fro, side to side at any time you wish. It is not like a bolt action with a one piece stock.

    That said the forend screw for the above mentioned rifles has a two thread design(two different threads), which is designed to clamp the front of the forend down to the gas block. Being that your rifle is an older one, the first thing I would do is clean the barrel very good with a copper solvent. Actually it might be a good idea to take the rifle to a good gunsmith to have it taken down and cleaned. You cannot take the barrel off yourself without special tools and gauges to reinstall it. It could be that this rifle has been shot out, using some corrosive military ammo, or just plain shot out, by getting it super hot. These were not MOA or better guns to start with, and 2 MOA is about average. It is an extreme rarity that you get one that shoots better than 1 MOA. If that is the kind of accuracy you are looking for, then you need to get a good bolt gun, or an AR platform.

    Best
  • deerhntrdeerhntr Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    invest the 30 bucks and get this tool to remove the barrel nut, dont try to use a common wrench on it you could damage the action bars....all it takes is a little preasure on them in the right spot and the action will bind. the rifle comes apart pretty easy just folowing a simple take down guide, just go easy.


    l_590012742_1.jpg
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