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Post by x101airborne on Aug 19, 2020 7:56:26 GMT -5
For years now, my favorite "go to" daytime hog slayer has been a Remington 7400 auto in 30-06 with a 10 round magazine and a 3-9x50 Leupy. I got it out to show a friend yesterday and he noticed the barrel is cracking about half an inch in front of the receiver. I only shoot M1 Garand pressure loads with a 165 grain softpoint from Sierra or Speer; makes no difference to the rifle. The crack is large enough on one side to catch a finger nail on and a stress ring can clearly be seen on the other side of the barrel, opposite the crack. I have never heard of this happening and wonder how it could. I believe this to be a mid '80's rifle but have no firm data to back that up.
So, a couple questions for the rifle masters here.
1. Has anyone else heard of this happening?
2. How and why does it happen?
3. Is the rifle worth a new barrel (cost versus longevity of the total weapon)?
4. What gunsmiths are knowledgable and skilled enough to take this task on?
I really thought I was being soft on this rifle not leaning on the pressures too much. The rifle has always been a VERY accurate rifle despite others saying they are only capable of so so accuracy. If rebarreling it is going to cost more than the purchase of an AR-10 variant I will probably just weld the bolt shut and hang it on the wall or wait for one of Joe's buy back programs and get some money out of it.
I can take pictures but cannot post them. If anyone wants to help me out with that, I will gladly show the group what I am seeing.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Aug 19, 2020 9:19:16 GMT -5
I converted a Rem 742 into a 760 a while back so the gun was rebarreled. All the work can be done by you provided you are articulate enough and have the proper tools. You could either keep it a 7400 or convert it like I did. The company Every gun part will have both the barrelyou need or all the parts for the conversion.
Trapr
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Post by x101airborne on Aug 19, 2020 9:48:28 GMT -5
I converted a Rem 742 into a 760 a while back so the gun was rebarreled. All the work can be done by you provided you are articulate enough and have the proper tools. You could either keep it a 7400 or convert it like I did. The company Every gun part will have both the barrelyou need or all the parts for the conversion. Trapr Thank you. Me being ignorant of the differences between the models, may I ask what parts you changed and the purpose behind it? What "proper tools" would I need besides a set of headspace gauges and possibly a reamer? Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. |
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mod70
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 95
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Post by mod70 on Aug 19, 2020 10:38:46 GMT -5
Why not call Remington?
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Post by taffin on Aug 19, 2020 10:43:14 GMT -5
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Post by bigbrowndog on Aug 19, 2020 12:01:45 GMT -5
One of the issues with the Remington autos is the bolts are not held securely enough to prevent the violent back and forth slamming of the action from dislodging them from their perch. They then get slightly sideways and lock up the gun, by converting them to pump the back and forth is subdued and allows for a longer trouble free life. The conversion was a popular one in the 70-80’s up in Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin area. Depending on which configuration your 7400 is in, the Rem autos went thru several iterations, would need to be determined to find out which parts are needed for conversion. However a simple barrel swap requires only a vise and simple hand tools, the barrel is held on with a large screw and nut, that will need to be heated to release the adhesive agent. I’ve swapped barrels on several pumps and autos without any headspace issues, however a Go-No-Go Gaige would be helpful.
Trapr
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Post by x101airborne on Aug 19, 2020 13:16:38 GMT -5
Remington no longer makes parts or services these firearms. |
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Post by bigbrowndog on Aug 19, 2020 13:30:30 GMT -5
eBay has a barrel for 230.00
Trapr
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Post by taffin on Aug 19, 2020 16:56:33 GMT -5
Remington no longer makes parts or services these firearms. THEY MAY HAVE PARTS. I HAVE GOTTEN BARRELS FROM SMITH & WESSON THEY NO LONGER MADE BUT HAD ON HAND. 5" MODEL 29 AND 4" HB FOR .45 COLT. IN BOTH CASES I HAD TO SEND THE GUNS IN TO HAVE THE BARRELS FITTED. I ALSO CALLED MARLIN SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THEY DISCONTINUED THE .32 MAGNUM AND THEY FOUND ONE IN THE FACTORY. IT TOOK A LOT OF CHECKING WITH DISTRIBUTORS BUT I EVENTUALLY FOUND A NEW IN THE BOX DISCONTINUED RCBS MODEL 2000 AS A COMPANION TO THE ONE I HAVE BEEN USING FOR 20 YEARS. |
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Post by x101airborne on Aug 20, 2020 7:12:37 GMT -5
Good news!
I called a gentleman yesterday that offers accurizing services on these rifles. After a few questions he informed me that it is not a "crack" around the chamber, but where the barrel boss is pressed onto the barrel and forced against the front of the receiver. The gentleman said it is not uncommon to have a little rust or debris get in the crack and cause it to show on one side more than the other. And thank God for it too cause rebarreling through his custom shop would run around 1100.00 on my supplied rifle. WAY way more than I am willing to put into it.
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Post by bradshaw on Aug 20, 2020 9:49:59 GMT -5
I converted a Rem 742 into a 760 a while back so the gun was rebarreled. All the work can be done by you provided you are articulate enough and have the proper tools. You could either keep it a 7400 or convert it like I did. The company Every gun part will have both the barrelyou need or all the parts for the conversion. Trapr Thank you. Me being ignorant of the differences between the models, may I ask what parts you changed and the purpose behind it? What "proper tools" would I need besides a set of headspace gauges and possibly a reamer? Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. ***** Both the Remington gas operated 742 and pump 760 enjoyed wide distribution among woods hunters, with .30-06 far and away the most popular chambering, the .270 Winchester also popular. Sometime in the 1970’s, Remington reduced the recoil lug arrangement from 9 or 12 artillery-style lugs to four lugs. The Model 742 became a 7400; the Model 760 became a 7600. The move promoted as making the gun more reliable. More finely finished variants became Model 4 and Model 6, respectively: walnut with cheekpiece and actual checkering, finer polish & blue. A casehead to designate chambering imbedded in receiver in front of mag well. I had Ben “Bear Man” Kilham shorten the barrel of my M6 .308 from 22” to 16.8”, install a Ruger KC556 flash hider, Pachmayr Decelerator 1” pad, drill & tap barrel for intermediate eye relief scope----while preserving the Williams Guide rear aperture with sourdough front post. With this stick I made buy fastest shot ever on a fleeing buck and at the end of that snow-blind, all-day track would not have traded that carbine for any other. Unlike its semi-auto sibling, these pump Remingtons are hell for reliability and tenaciously retains ZERO as the barrel heats. The gas Remingtons notoriously print the first two shots tight as your fingers @ 100 yards, then take a hike all over the target. Which may not matter on pigs @ 30 yards. As stark as their difference in ZERO-holding the pump gun is even more graphic in expressing its reliability. And longevity. as Trapr alludes. As a footnote, semi-auto softens recoil over any manual action, and offers distinct advantages to those with certain handicaps. Good to hear the barrel is not cracked. I’ve never heard of such from Remington. Remington is a main instigator in broad manufacture of hammer forged barrels and has made millions. Without experiencing the conversion from auto to pump, I would jump at this chance to save a venerable, if misconceived, rifle. David Bradshaw |
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Post by x101airborne on Aug 20, 2020 14:51:17 GMT -5
For the record, I am shooting M1 Garand pressure loads to preserve the rifle. 3 shots go in under an inch at 100 yards. 5 shots open up to an inch and a half. The other 5 rounds are for mopping up wounded pigs (10 round magazine) at short ranges; which I wouldn't know a 5 inch group from a .5 inch group offhand, heart pumping, hands shaking and dont care. When the barrel cools, the next 3 shots are again under an inch at 100 yards. ANY other ammunition results in a 3 to 4 inch group at 100 yards, dont care what temperature the barrel is. But really all I count on is that first shot and this rifle delivers.
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Post by bradshaw on Aug 21, 2020 7:10:03 GMT -5
x101airborne.... sounds as though the crack is not a crack and you are back in business. When I hand loaded a 742 in .30-06, I sized with a RCBS Small Base die, which gave me better feeding. Hunted with a guy who was missing the middle three fingers of his off hand. He could not work the slide of a pump gun. Hunted with a Model 742 .30-06. Soldered a loop on the bottom his magazines to grasp between thumb and middle finger.
David Bradshaw
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Post by x101airborne on Aug 21, 2020 7:15:06 GMT -5
I could see where this rifle would work very well for disadvantaged persons.
After reading some of the other information posted in this thread I went to look what iteration I have.
It is one of the 9 lug bolts (just guessing but the lugs are in sets of 3) with high luster stock and impressed checkering.
I am guessing it is one of the earlier ones.
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Post by bradshaw on Aug 21, 2020 7:28:43 GMT -5
I could see where this rifle would work very well for disadvantaged persons. After reading some of the other information posted in this thread I went to look what iteration I have. It is one of the 9 lug bolts (just guessing but the lugs are in sets of 3) with high luster stock and impressed checkering. I am guessing it is one of the earlier ones. ***** Reckon your polished blue, pressed “checkering” walnut 742 is one of a great many produced over decades. No doubt the rifle which inspired Browning to produce the BAR----which, aside from .30-06, hasn’t the merest resemblance to a Browning Automatic Rifle, as you surely know. Two major problems encountered, shared by Remington and Browning, the guns don’t field strip easily, and many hunters put up a rifle after hunting season without cleaning it. David Bradshaw |
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