Remington 7400 semi-auto .30-06

[catman71]

I am going to buy another deer rifle and before I just get another bolt action I thought I'd consider the 7400. Any feedback? Good or bad would be great.

Thanks.

[lawdog]

I've had one for years and killed numerous deer with it both in Wisconsin and Wyoming. As long as you get the magazine seated correctly when you load it, its never jammed at all and worked perfectly in all kinds of condition. The magazine sometimes can sit in there a little funny, but just check it and wiggle it a hair to make sure when you put it in and you are good to go.

[Gofishleech]

I have one and love it, however if I was going to buy another I would get the pump. The autos will get shot out and not operate afer time. I have seen 2 older ones that are single shots, they are old ones but gun shops knowing the problem, there re-sale or trade in value is not good.

[nimrod71]

It was the first "high power" rifle I ever bought. I love that gun for that reason and won't part with it. It will not eject the spent casings, so I don't use it. I would also opt for the pump or a bolt, but if you are looking for an auto, try the Benelli R1.

[leechlake]

catman, I had one and never had a problem hunting but sometimes when practicing the bolt wouldn't seat all the way forward and when I pulled the trigger nothing. I used it a few years and then worried it would act up and cost me a deer some day so I got rid of it. I've always taken care of my guns so I don't believe it was due to lack of maintenance. I like the advise about a pump if you're set on that style gun.

[catman71]

i was looking for an auto. i assumed the benelli or browning BAR would be better but at less than half the price of either gun and the fact it would see less than 10 rounds per year I figured it would last a while and function well while it is relativley new. Is that a safe assumption? or would you just spend the cash?

[subzero]

I have had one for years and as long as it is kept clean it has never given me any problems. The important thing is to keep them clean.

[mamohr686]

I used to shoot a 7400 in a .243 caliber. I was lucky if I could get a three shot group in a pie plate at 100yrds. when the gun would cycle, it would smash the tip of the soft point bullets against the top of the reciever. It was the most innaccurate gun I ever owned. I would also suggest the BAR by browning if you want an auto.

[catman71]

thanks everybody for the advice, i don't make a move without consulting the chat boards! i might just spend the big $ and not tell the wife. a little tip that works for me, if all your guns are blue/black synthetic, she can't tell them apart or know when a new one pops up.

thanks again!

[leechlake]

catman, good idea. My dad taught me one when I was a kid, pay a big chunk of the gun in cash and then write a check for the small part that the wife will see. My dad's a good man, probably made him uncomfortable telling me how to trick someone, but he also has remained married for 52 years so he must know something.

[catman71]

that's a good one leechlake!! On the same note; a good hunting friend of mine got married and with the wedding gift money they bought a couch. A week later HE saw the couch went on sale, got 300 bucks refunded back from the store(I guess they had a price guaruntee) and bought himself a new shotgun! Never told her, she hasn't found out, and they are still married, perhaps happily.

[iffwalleyes]

I have owned one for years and had yet to get a deer with it till last year. Then I shot 4 deer with it. I had a tough time getting it to group as well. I got so mad at it that I bought a different rifle. Finally I sent in the scope got it back and that solved my accuracy issues. I will be using it again this year. It is a nice auto loader. However if I were to buy a new autoloader I would for sure give the R1 Benelli a look. If it is half as good as their super black eagle it will be awesome.

[JEV]

I use to own a Remington Model 4 which is similar to the 7400 in 30-06. Overall it was a pretty good gun. With reloads it grouped very well. My dad used it before me and we both shot numerous deer with it. But, it did have some drawbacks. For one, it only liked round nose bullets. It tended to jam spire points so we only shot 180gr round noses through it. Not the flattest shooting bullet. Also, before I traded it off, it started to not eject casings. I tore it down and found that the extractor ring was cracked. I replaced it and it worked for a while and then broke again. Traded it in for my model 700 and haven't looked back...

JEV

[Double D]

We ran into trouble one year with jamming in some freezing rain one year. Could fire but the gun stuck open and didn't feel like you could get it all the way back in. Ended up holding it over a wood stove and that fixed it.

DD

[sportfish]

I've shot a few 7400 auto jammers, I'm a good shot but keeping a 6 inch group is the best I've seen. the price is cheep, and for most people that only hunt a few days a year it fine. But I hunt hard, and need quallity.

[WB make the CUT]

Subzero hit it on the head, I had one, problematic, but I did not take real good care of it, they need a touch up everytime you use them, for me I stick to the bolt and it aways shoots and ejects!

[lawdog]

Quote:

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I've shot a few 7400 auto jammers, I'm a good shot but keeping a 6 inch group is the best I've seen. the price is cheep, and for most people that only hunt a few days a year it fine. But I hunt hard, and need quallity.

---

If you can only make a 6" group with a high powered rifle (any high powered rifle) at 100 yards, there is something seriously wrong. My 7400 has never grouped at all bad, probably about 2" average at 100 yards I'd say. You either had a bad scope, something wrong with the rings or you wrecked the barrel somehow. Don't say this is symptomatic of all 7400's because it definitely is not. I've shot deer from Wyoming to Wisconsin in ALL kinds of weather with mine and its never failed me.

[jlm]

I have a 7400 in the .06 as well and agree and disagree. It is much more accurate than 6 inch groups, no question. I agree with LD's post. However, mine is a serious jammer as well. Even after a good cleaning, it has jammed on the first shot. It is now sitting in a gun case and has been for many years. I never use it anymore and I don't want to sell an unreliable gun to someone else so there she sits! I guess I can always use it as a single shot...LOL! Question for you guys, the model 4 is very similar, what exactly are the differences between the two?

[Borch]

My sportsman 74(poorman's 7400) has jammed two times in the 18 years I've been using it. One of those times was a small trig that go wedge in behind the bolt. If you keep it relatively clean it will perform like it's supposed to which is true for any autoloader.

Also the worst 100 yd group I've had was 3 inches. Most groups are just over an inch with inexpensive factory ammo.

My only gripe with the gun is it's weight. It's not light. It's one of the reasons that I now carry a muzzleloader during rifle season. Well, that and I just like shooting deer with my smokepole.

[fishlakeman]

My Dad, Brother, and I all shoot 7400's, and have never had the thing fail. Keep it clean and it should be fine. I shoot a 1.5 in group at 100 yards. The key is to do some experimenting in ammo, as I've found the best match for this gun is Federal Premium in a Trophy Bonded 165 gr bullet. I would feel confortable shooting a deer at 250 yards with this gun. I got it paired up with a Leupold VX-III and it's a great package! I would like to get a bolt action down the road because I don't really see the need for a semi-auto, as I've only needed 1 shot in my short deer hunting career. For those of you saying to get the pump, there a good accurate gun, but man do those things kick like a mule. It can get pretty painful sighting that one in after a while.

[Bassboy1645]

10 ROUNDS A YEAR?! ARE U OTTA YOUR MIND!!!!!!!!! I practice with my gear as much as i can guns included. I take it that you dont take your deer hunting very seriously?

[catman71]

10 rounds is about right. Once I work up a load, make about 100, go to the range, check zero with 5 or 6 (if everything goes well) then shoot a deer with 1, I might not even get to 10. I might not shoot it at all if I use the 7mm or the .308 THEN there is the .223, the 22-250 the .17 and the .204 that see a few hundred a year each. I am pretty confident I can hit a doe at 50 yards in the woods (can't see much farther) without running 100 shells thru a high power.

[pacemaker45]

on your 7400 have you ever taken the forend off and cleaned the gas port. many owners don't and assume its shot out. Also, run my own sight in/ barrel break in business, the benelli r1 is not good. i have shot 6 of them in varying calibers. non of which would group.

[MikeYager - Suzuki]

I've heard the rumor for years this gun was a jam o matic. However I'll bet it's related to mainenance. I know my dad never tore his down and likely many people did not in years past. I have owned a model 1100 shotgun for years and know the importance of cleaning a gas operated weapon.

[Ferny]

I have a rattling jam-o-matic Remington 7400 in .30-06.

I was at the range this lunch hour as a matter of fact.

I have had it for about 14 years. The only problem I have had is once when out hunting is that I rode the bolt forward slowly and quietly (my mistake). It didn't close all the way resulting in a misfire. I pulled it all the way back and it fed the next shell also. I cleared both of them let it feed the next shell and shot the dumbfounded buck looking at me! I was fortunate and he was dumb.

I have NEVER had a smaller than 3" group at 100 yards. I figured it was just me! I've tried a wide gammut of Federals and Remington shells and just learned to live with it. I don't think auto's are known for their accuracy so I would get a bolt if you want better accuracy. I had 3 scope problems when I had Bushnells (Yikes) so I've put up to 3 boxes of shells per season zeroing. Since I finally bought a Leupold I have had no more scope problems. I figure I must have nearly 400 rounds through it I hope it not close to being "shot out" It's a modern firearm for darn sakes I plan on keeping it for life.

I have only shot 1 bullet per deer season so far, so for a deer rifle it has worked fine for me. I always aim for the vitals (except 1 neck shot facing me) It is a gas auto so you do need to scrape carbon off of the gas tube once in awhile. The other thing to remember is keep the fore-end screw tight.

Would I buy another one? No! But I only paid $350 for it at Fleet. I was young and dumb and thought I'd be flinging lots of lead at running deer. Now I know better

I would buy a bolt now knowing how I hunt now. You can get a pretty decent Rem or Win for less than $500.

Works good enough for me.

Good Luck,

Ferny.