Do any of you own a Remington Woodsmaster 742?

I’ve had one for over 10 years it’s one of the only 2 rifles my grandpa left me. I’ve never shot it because I heard it’s notorious for jamming up if not taken care of. I’ve had it locked up in a safe and oil about once every 6 months. Next season I’m thinking about shooting it and possibly hunting with it. Just curious if anyone else hunts with one?

I have one my father in law left me. I hunt with it a couple of times every year. It only jammed once but since then with regular cleaning it's never been an issue. I like it!

Oil is the enemy. Keep it clean and dry, it'll never let you down.

One of the first rifles I ever used, my daddy got it about 40 years ago and I hunted with it for several years and it only jammed once on me. I’ve heard lots of stories about them though, the one daddy has feels like it weighs 20 lbs and I’ve seen others that were pretty light, I may have to break it out again and kill something with it

got 2 in 30-06. haven't ever shot either.

I have one in 06. I don't use that thing, I need to sell it....

My brother had one that would shoot 1" groups all day long at 100 yards

I had one that I had the bbl cut to 16 1/2", BIG front white bead and BIG peep sight on the back. It was helll on running deer in a clearcut. Not terribly accurate at 2" at 100 but some of that was the huge front bead.

Well I’m never going to sell mine simply for the sentimental value. That’s why I’ve decided I need to start hunting with it.

I have one I killed a bunch of deer with in 30-06.
Would never get rid of it.

I have one in 30-06. My first rifle. I wanted that versus a class ring my senior year, 25 years ago. Still a good decision. Killed a lot of deer with it. My brother killed a lot of deer with it. Knock on wood, it has never jammed and I was in a club 20 years ago that ran dogs, so it wasn't always a one shot deal. I haven't used it in 10 years or so, but when it was my only option, ole girl never failed me. It still looks new-ish.

That’s a picture of it. It has an old Bushnell Scope. I believe my Grandpa got this in 1970. I know he told me he killed more deer with this rifle than he did any other gun. Of course back then they’d shoot 15-25 deer a year and not think anything of it.

The only issue I've had is related to spring in the magazine

I got one I use the metal 10 round mags in in . It'll burn through 10 rounds in a hurry. Will shoot better than 1 inch groups at a hundred .

I Have Hunted With One For years. Use 150gr shells. Don't treat it like an ar15. It will shoot fast but it's not made to be shooting fast all the time. I shot a deer at 375yds with mine this year, shot one 425yds three years ago, no problem hitting a 300yds target every time, they are accurate. Mine has never jammed. Keep it clean, shoot 150gr shells, don't shoot it fast just because it will. I bad thing I have noticed, the barrel gets hot fast, it is not accurate when the barrel is hot.

Mine has no sentimental value, so i wouldn't have an issue selling it...

My father has one and I remember that years ago he had an issue with the trigger not getting reset but it seems like the cartridges would eject most of the time. He told guy at gun store about it and the guy sold him a spring for $3. Told him how to get to it and to measure his versus the new one and if old spring was compressed 3/4”, that would fix his problem. He tore into it and sure enough it was exactly 3/4” shorter. After that hasn’t had any issues with it that I know of.

Thanks for all the replies I probably won’t get around to shooting it until September or October and I may have to revisit this thread.




How much do you think you could get for it ?

I have a couple and have never had any issues with jamming.

My first rifle , 30 06 carbine. It was a tack driver but jammed on me one too many times. Killed my first deer with it and my first good buck but I had a love -hate relationship with it . Traded it at Larry's Pistol and Pawn in Huntsville and the first thing out of his mouth was : how many times has it jammed with you ?

I have one, with a little work on them they will shoot 1 inch m.o.a or less with reloads.Mine is 30 06.

First deer rifle I got- 742 auto in 30.06. My dad bought it at Otasco and gave to me for my 16th birthday. Killed a deer and hog with it last year. Never had a problem with it. Shoot core lokt 150 gr.bullet. Will have had it 39 years in October this year.I have loaned it to a lot of hunters getting into deer hunting, but wouldn't sell.

My gunsmith buddy told me to shoot remigton core-locks and clean it once a year and it will shoot till the bolt slide starts to get wear, he said they straighten slide issue out on the 7400's

Been shooting one for 43 years now. 30-06 and it's killed a few.....

Have a GOOD reliable gunsmith check it. Then use it for what it was made for!

What would I need them to check? Just to make sure it fires?

TRUE STORY about my Woodmaster

I bought one in 1970,30-06.
My dad bought it for me for HS graduation $114 for it new. I kept it all these years.
Decided to hunt with it 5 years ago again. . I took the old 4x weaver off and mounted a decent scope on it.

I was in Ky. 3rd day of hunting. BAM 201" Gross Boone and Crocket, non-typical. Officially scored and in the book.
Never seen a deer so big dead or alive in 50 plus yrs of hunting. It was grunting like crazy right at first light and chasing a really big buck. No trail cams no high dollar lease just 400 acre mtn land

What a feeling.........i sat in that ladder stand looking down at that monster for awhile overcome with emotions of the deer, my dad, the places I had taken that gun and the many decisions over the years to keep it.
LUCK!!! Right place right time.....

Not a 742 but I’ve shot a 7400 for years with no issues.

BTW nice rifle MC21.

Safetybelt Great Story !
Right place at the right time is priceless!

I had one 20 years ago and it jammed often. I never thought about trying different ammo to see if it would run better. Sometimes I wish I still had it.

They are known as a jam-o-matic for a reason. Bought my son one years ago, it would jam and cost you a kill. Sold it to a guy I didn't like

I guess he was planning on killing the deer with the second shot? I would say poor shooting cost you the kill, the gun cost you your mulligan.

Where da pic?

My uncle bought one in the late 50's that has the bear engraving on it in 30-06. Beautiful gun that has shot too many deer to count. I shot one with it in the 90's. My cousin has used it since my uncle's death. The gun did jam 1 time but was thoroughly cleaned and hasn't failed since. So, in 60+ years only 1 jam. My 760 jammed once because it was filled with dirt and dust after riding on a 4 wheeler for a couple days during a drought. I wouldn't claim it isn't trustworthy due to my poor cleaning that season. So, my knowledge of the 742 wouldn't stop me from using one. My uncle's gun still can shoot their eyes out at 50 yards. At least it did a couple years ago.

I got it. Haven't a clue how to upload

Yes, because some morons don't know how to take of a gun properly.

My first deer rifle was a 742 in 308 back in 1979. Can not remember what I did with it.

I have two (handed down from dad) in 30-06. Haven't hunted with, or even shot, either of them in 25 years probably. I do remember them "smoke-stacking" shells though, notorious jammers.

Got one I use every year with Leupold 50mm scope ,and it's never jammed up,killed many deer with it ,and in all types of weather.Im very happy with mine ,and would never be able to sell it.

My brother has one in .243. It kept jamming on him one weekend and after closer inspection the magazine had a small crack in it. Replaced the mag and never had another issue with it.

I have one in 30-06 as well. Have had it jam several times. I quit using it and bought a 308 couple years back. Was my 1st hunting rifle and it will stay in my safe til im gone.

Well when you decide you want to, let me know. My dad had one years ago that some low life stole when our home was broken into. I'd be interested if the price was right.

I bought my wife a 742 carbine 308.in 1976. She hunted with it a few years,then I took it over. It is great for close places. Always use 150 core -locks. It has a tasco 40 wide angle scope and I still hunt with it once in a while.

One of these is actually a 7400, is that same thing? Cleaner than I remember it being

I'd love to have one in 243. My shoulder is getting to where it don't like the 30 06 any more.

Hand raised. I've got one too. 30-06 I got from my Dad when I was a teen, I think 1976. Came from Woolworth dept store with a Redfield scope, and see through mounts. Haven't hunted with it in probably 25 years. I don't remember it ever jamming, but it was never extremely accurate. More sentimental value than anything else.

Dad has one in .308
It will be mine one day, but hopefully that will be a long time.

I have my grandads in 30.06.

Last deer I killed with a rifle was with this gun right after he died.

He gave me his first deer rifle, a Marlin 30-30, when I was about 10 but I never killed a deer with it. I missed the first one I shot at with it then the neighbors kids stole all of our guns.

Sure wish I had that one back. Learned to shoot with it.

I had my dad's from the 70'2 or early 80's when you couldn't deer hunt without a semi-auto. No idea why that was a fad but it was. It cost me a big deer one morning too. The problem wasn't that they would jam, it was that they take a lot of recoil to close the port all the way. Trying to do it quietly by hand won't get it done. I learned the hard way.

I’ve got one. It was dirty and jammed, broke the extractor. Had it fixed and learned to clean a gun. No issues since.

I think 7400 is just later and better version of 742.
I used to have a 7400 and regret selling it.
Great deer killing machine.

Got a 742 in 30-06. First rifle I ever bought. As some said, keeping it clean is imperative to proper cycling. Heavy oiling is a no no for a 742. I do specifically remember that mine would not cycle federal premium ammo and would jam every second or third shot with it. I ended up shooting 150 gr Rem Core Lokt in it and didnt really have any problems. Accurate gun for an autoloader. Killed a pile of deer with that old rifle on dog drives. It's in the safe and I havent shot it in probably 25 years.

My dad bought me a 243 and him a 30-06 for my 13th birthday, that was 1980 and i still have both guns the 243 broke something in the bolt and i never could find a gun smith to repair it. Killed many deer with that pair of guns.