handloading for the Remington Model 742 in 30-06

[jackson1]

Got a call from a distressed deer hunter the day before yesterday. Just had his rifle repaired by a local smith and needed my help to sight it in. The kicker was that it had to be done in 4 shots, as he only had 8 total rounds. Much to my surprise, he hit the bullseye on the 4th shot and was quite happy. The fellow is my step grand daughter's father. Riley and I have been through a lot over the past few years, so having a good relationship with her father is important to me. She goes fishing and target shooting with her redneck grandpa and I highly value the time spent with her. Sadly, I told him that ammo shortages could be the new normal for the next couple of years and we could together load some rounds to keep him going. My plan is to get a small base sizing die and 50 new cases. Have not reloaded for the 30-06 in over 40 years, but still have a couple hundred 30 caliber bullets in 180 grains and 150 grains. My thoughts were to use IMR 4895 or IMR 4064 as I have both powders. Planning to use M1 data as a starting point. Just would like to make an accurate lower pressure load as my thoughts are that these rifles are the Ford Pinto or Chevy Vega of rifles. Any thoughts or input on my plan would be appreciated.

 

[Adam in WI]

I think you're on the right track using M1 data. I would check to see just how easily a case chambers with the standard FL die since some factory rifles obviously have generous chambers. And make sure the chamber is clean lol. I've seen more than one 742 with a case in the chamber and the rim ripped off.

 

[jackson1]

Thanks Adam, as you know being from Wisconsin, these rifles are very common in the deer woods. Have a few pieces of 06 brass fired in a bolt gun, but with the constraints of the day was hesitant to try them. All of the 4 shots were minute of deer. I did school him on loading the chamber from the magazine and not letting the bolt slam shut on an empty chamber. After he just had the extractor replaced. Just a little trip back to my teenage years.

 

[Adam in WI]

I've done a couple full, barrel off-bolt/carrier out cleanings on these. Not super difficult, but a guy really should have a special wrench for the barrel nut.

Nothing really wrong with the rifles, I just never could get one to shoot worth a darn. Keep us posted on your results!

 

[jackson1]

Pretty much my impression, but they taken a lot of deer. Hopefully the smith gave it a good cleaning and do not believe many shots will be taken with this rifle. My guess would be 10 shots per year. The rifle have the classic see through scope mounts and what looks to me like a package scope. Was worried about scope tracking during the limited sight in process. I adjusted it after the second shot and he fired, about 4" off the bull (3rd shot). Told him to fire again, hoping the scope's backlash would catch up with the recoil. It did and the shot landed in the bullseye. He was quite happy. I felt like the blind pig and a nut.

 

[Uncle Ed]

When I got out of the military in 1973 I bought a Remington 30-06 760 pump action.

I used standard 30-06 dies and never had a problem chambering or extraction in over 25 years of use.

I would not buy a small base die if a standard die works. But chambers and dies vary in size and nothing is written in stone.

The resized case body should be .003 to .005 smaller in diameter than its fired diameter. This will allow the case to spring back from the chamber walls and extract reliably. And a standard full length die should reduce the case body enough.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Make sure you use lots of neck tension and a crimp in a cannelure will help if possible. The 4895 load and a 150gr bullet will be awesome. Ive had one since i was a young lad and work on them a lot since thats what 75% of the hunters in arkansas use. A new crown, properly polished chamber, clean gas ports and most importantly a not broken dust cover on the bolt and theyre a deer killing machine that doesnt jam near as much as theyre given credit for. A properly tightened barrel nut is very important to accuracy

 

[2506]

48 grs of IMR 4895 with a 150 gr bullet ought to get you what you are looking for. Trouble with the 742 is there are no new parts available. He was VERY LUCKY to have found a extractor and I would guess that the smith had one in his old stock. KEEP IT CLEAN. I have seen a bunch come into my gunsmith friends gun shop over the years with stuck cases in the chamber or the rifle would just not function all because of not properly cleaning them. Just a little pitting in the chamber and it is toast. Some will clean the bore but they do not clean the gas system and workings and they will rust and ruin. For a woods rifle the 742 was a very popular rifle. I had a friend that has a 742 carbine in 30-06. It is lighter and handles well with the short barrel but the muzzle blast is something to behold. He has killed more deer with it than most have seen in a life time though. Oh, mostly you don't need a small base die for them.

 

[Intheshop]

150g RN Hornady here. With slightly reduced loads of H4895.

Just gave a 1st year issue 740 to my oldest. With a Luepold 1-4 on it and a box of 50 rounds of the above. Beer can groups @100 but,he knows it's quirks. He's a bow hunting nut,just dosen't need much more than the old 740. 50 rounds will last him 10 years?

Good luck with your project.

 

[Tommie]

Make sure you use lots of neck tension and a crimp in a cannelure will help if possible. The 4895 load and a 150gr bullet will be awesome. Ive had one since i was a young lad and work on them a lot since thats what 75% of the hunters in arkansas use. A new crown, properly polished chamber, clean gas ports and most importantly a not broken dust cover on the bolt and theyre a deer killing machine that doesnt jam near as much as theyre given credit for. A properly tightened barrel nut is very important to accuracy

Right. Those rifles aren’t a Ferrari but Vega/Pinto?!

 

[wwbrown]

The rifle have the classic see through scope mounts and what looks to me like a package scope. Was worried about scope tracking during the limited sight in process.

I think these are required in Wisconsin so if you get a close shot and all you see in scope is hair, this is the reason my dad had me put them on his 742 in 30-06. Of course he would never adjust the power on his 3-9 power Widefield Redfield below 9 power to get a wider field of view nor adjust the point of aim as he did not want to wear the scope out. My dad would sight his rifle in every year so he knew how he had to adjust his shots instead of adjusting his scope. Suprisingly, he shot more deer than most and I can't remember him losing one due to a poor shot.

I still have this "Wisconsin Special" deer rifle is someone from WI is interested in the ultimate deer rifle for Wisconsin, I make no claims that the gun would work for non-Cheeseheads.

 

[Adam in WI]

The proper scope, and a willingness to use it; negates any need for those silly see thru mounts.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I think these are required in Wisconsin so if you get a close shot and all you see in scope is hair, this is the reason my dad had me put them on his 742 in 30-06. Of course he would never adjust the power on his 3-9 power Widefield Redfield below 9 power to get a wider field of view nor adjust the point of aim as he did not want to wear the scope out. My dad would sight his rifle in every year so he knew how he had to adjust his shots instead of adjusting his scope. Suprisingly, he shot more deer than most and I can't remember him losing one due to a poor shot.

I still have this "Wisconsin Special" deer rifle is someone from WI is interested in the ultimate deer rifle for Wisconsin, I make no claims that the gun would work for non-Cheeseheads.

Theres a lot of states besides wisconsin that require one of those. Arkansas is one

 

[PDS]

Get a flexible chamber cleaning rod and some .45 cal nylon brushes. Keeping the chamber clean and rust free will help a lot with the reliability of these rifles.

 

[Joe Maisto]

The proper scope, and a willingness to use it; negates any need for those silly see thru mounts.

For sure Adam. My first rifle was a .760 in '06, and I was still in the "Corps" sending $10.00 a month to " Smittys" , a local sporting goods store here in WI. Picked it up when I mustered out. Put a Redfield receiver sight on it and never needed anything else . Later on, had it rebarreled to the 1st. .35 Whelen in a .760, by "Boots" Obermeiyer. here in Racine. This was in early 60's. Reloader 11 was my go to load. 3031 did well too, but the course cut of the powder in my Belding & Mull measure was a turn off.

 

[Joe Maisto]

Theres a lot of states besides wisconsin that require one of those. Arkansas is one

Been here 87 years. Never heard of any such a thing as a scope requirement for a rifle...I quit hunting at 60.

 

[Adam in WI]

Been here 87 years. Never heard of any such a thing as a scope requirement for a rifle...I quit hunting at 60.

Tongue in cheek, Joe...

 

[David Milisock]

For sure Adam. My first rifle was a .760 in '06, and I was still in the "Corps" sending $10.00 a month to " Smittys" , a local sporting goods store here in WI. Picked it up when I mustered out. Put a Redfield receiver sight on it and never needed anything else . Later on, had it rebarreled to the 1st. .35 Whelen in a .760, by "Boots" Obermeiyer. here in Racine. This was in early 60's. Reloader 11 was my go to load. 3031 did well too, but the course cut of the powder in my Belding & Mull measure was a turn off.

My brother has a 760 that looks like it was used as a boat oar. Killed more game then any 20 other rifles I know of combined.

 

[Ringostar]

My first center fire was a 742 in 30-06. And yes, from Wi. I had to have my dad sign for it, when I bought it. $50 Bushnell scope and over under mounts. I never once would remember to look under the scope, when a deer came running through the woods. After about 10 years, I struggled to get it sighted in. I thought my scope went south. I bought low Weaver mounts and a better low power scope. I couldn’t get that sighted either. Then learned about a loose barrel nut. I took a lot of deer with it in 20 years of use. I finally sold it after buying a Weatherby Mark V.

 

[ebb]

the best thing you can do to a 742/7400 is to trade it in on a Browning BAR.