doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Status of Remington today

I've got no dog in this fight, as I'm not a big game hunter, but it always amuses me that my Minnesota cousin who hunts big game all over the northwest half of North America only has a .30-06 Model 742 that has accounted for Minnesota Whitetails, Wyoming & Colorado Mule Deer and Elk, Canadian Moose and Grizzlies, etc.

Perhaps 30 years ago, the initial thought was the autoloading action tore up the receiver because the action bars were steel. But, Larry Ahlman figured out the problem was chambers that got rusty. Maybe other people figured it out as well, but, Ahlmans has returned hundreds of those guns to the field as pump rifles, which, is better than junking them.
My Dad�s 742 in 30-06 is accurate enough. It is about the only 30-06 rifle that I didn�t find unpleasant to shoot. A neighbor had a 742 in .308, the version without the basket weave checkering, that was more than accurate enough, more pleasant to shoot, and better looking, as far as I was concerned.
I�ve seen many times over the years where people have taken a handful of mixed, moldy, ammunition out to a range with their deer rifle, to �sight it in�.
They usually find they can�t hit squat with it. The autoloaders ALL, to a one, should be fed the newest, best stuff you can find for them.
Dad�s 700, in 7mm mag, literally would eat anything, and print most of it very well. First year, stainless barrel version.
Maybe the most unpleasant gun I have ever shot. You don�t want to miss, and have to shoot twice, that is for sure.

Best,
Ted

Was out to the range this week to check the zero on my 2 primary deer rifles (a model 70 and a model 700) and as I always do, I also took the 742 along for a check. All well and ready with all of them. This thread had caused me to think a bit more about my inherited 742 (30-06). It was bought new for deer hunting in Missouri and 40-60 years ago was the overwhelming choice of those there who were moving on from lever guns. It�s equipped with one of those old fixed 4x Redfield �widefield� scopes and although some years it doesn�t leave the truck it remains my favorite rifle for still hunting upwind in the timber. This year the 700 will probably get all the �exercise� as it�s chambered in 25-06 and it just seems right since its celebrating its 100th birthday as a cartridge.

Dave Petzal was asked some years ago why the 25-06 doesn�t get the love it deserves?
�My best guess is because it is old, it doesn�t kick, and it doesn�t have a black rifle chambered for it. I�ve owned and hunted with a 25-06 for 20 years and have found it to be one of the most effective cartridges ever designed.�

Me, too.

Old Davey-Boy was right on the $-- could say almost the same thing about the .257Roberts- looking at a pre-1950 M70 in that cal. never scoped, original open iron sights. I find that perhaps a tad strange, as I think of that older caliber as a varmint load- RWTF

I�m partial to .308. Don�t own one at the moment, but, a Marlin 336 with an old Redfield scope, in 30-30 with the Hornady lever revolution ammunition, comes pretty close.

And I own one of those.

Best,
Ted