Remington 7400

jon lynn · #1 08-23-2008, 04:59 PM

Found an old one in a pawn shop in .30-06, stock looks a bit beat up, and barrel seems worn on the end. He wants $225 for it.

I know nothing about 7400"s, is this a gyp-bargan-no sale?

wrenchman · #2 08-23-2008, 08:04 PM

I have one have yoused it for 20 years this fall if you keep the action clean they will do well.
The wife bought it for me when we were dateing.

YoungBuck14 · #3 08-25-2008, 12:13 AM

I don't have any personal experience with one but from what i've heard in talk is that they aren't reliable unless you keep them very well cleaned and oiled. and when they are functioning they aren't real accurate. I can't remember exactly what the price on a new one is but can prolly find out. is the one your looking at in pretty good condition. Is it all sythetic or wood stock (idk if they made them in both or not)? come with a scope?

Aim to maim · #4 08-25-2008, 11:21 AM

Like many semi-auto sporters, 7400's are susceptible to chambers becoming pitted from lack of maintenance, hunting in rain, etc. Once that happens, the firearm is no longer reliable. Due to the way they are designed, it's very difficult to visually inspect the chamber before buying.

If the "stock looks a bit beat up" and the muzzle and crown are "worn on the end," that's probably a good indication that the former owner didn't take care of the inside of the firearm either. Bottom line is, unless there were return/refund assurances or similar guarantees, there's no way I'd pay more than scrapped parts value for any centerfire semi-auto at a pawn shop.

Incidentally, I own and occasionally hunt with a used 7400 in .308, and have had good service from it. I purchased it from a gun shop where I did regular business and knew the seller would stand behind it. That was about 1990, and even then I paid more than $225 for it. It's still working just fine. You get what you pay for.

Dom · #5 08-25-2008, 12:13 PM

I've got a 7400 Carbine in 30-06, bought it new though, and it works reliably. I use it on drive hunts, and can switch a holo-sight with a scope depending on stand location. I haven't done much to it, but had the trigger worked and worked on loads to get about 1 1/2" - 2" at 100 meters. I have had it jam at the range, don't know if it was the load or the magazine, but for the past couple years it isn't giving any problems. That said, I'd be kinda leary of that price for that condition, unless you could take it to a range and test fire a few rounds through it. No sense in paying that on blind luck that it will shoot and feed good, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

buckhunter · #6 08-25-2008, 04:54 PM

The price is right however based on what you said it sounds a little beat up. If the chamber is good and the crown isn't bad it may be worth it. If possible pull the fore end and check out the works. If its rusted the choice is easy. If it dirty that OK, just clean it up.

Have had a few over the years and the secret is to keep it clean and lightly oiled. When shooting dry out the chamber. Most of the problems I have seen with it and its clones is a dirty or pitted chamber.

Most of the ones I have owned would shoot 1 to 1 1/2 with handloads. If you handload make sure you use a small base die.
Try to stay close to factory balistics and you probably wouldn't have a problem. Use factory magizines which can be a problem if they get dinged around.

skeet · #7 08-25-2008, 05:47 PM

Darn thing can't be too old as the previous model name was 742 and they didn't change names for the model till late 80's or the 90's. If beat up a bit it was just owned by a guy that used it and didn't worry about it. As stated..clean her up and try it out. Not too much you can do to hurt them. They are not bad shooters. Now one word of caution...DO NOT TAKE APART. They are a booger to put back together. Oh and try to beat the shop owner for the gun by telling him you'll take out the door at that price. He eats the tax and you save a little. He might do it

Catfish · #8 08-25-2008, 07:17 PM

Blue Book on the 7400 is $230 for 80% and $210 for 70%. They are not known as tack drivers, but even one that shoots on the poor side are a good deer gun to 150 yrds. and maybe alittle farther. If your looking for a fast handling gun for shorter ranges it might be worth a second look, but look it over good befor you buy.

jon lynn · #9 08-26-2008, 05:51 PM

Well to be frank, I am not in to semi's, I perfer a bolt action any day of the week, but the price is what caught my eye.

Since then I decided to see if the guy will let me run a patch down the barrel, and check it out with a flashlight. BUT I have an obligation 120 miles away this weekend, and am sure it will be gone by the time I get back.

But we will see, maybe I will find a bolt action for a good price, at least I can check them by my self.

Thanks for all the advice!

Jon

dakotah · #10 09-08-2008, 08:40 AM

I have had several 742's in 30-06. The 7400 was a design improvement over the 742's in my opinion (I like how the barrel hangs better now than before for instance) . I have sold all of my 742's as I like bolts better. My nephew shoots antelope with the 30-06 742 I sold him. He seems to shot as many times as there ends up antelope on the ground with that 30-06. So far one shot kills - all of them.

Remington's pumps and autos point very well and they are easy to shoot in the filed. On the previous models I wouldn't spend a lot of time on the bench though. If I got a load that shot 1 inch groups, I would be happy.