Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Life after the Remington 742

After putting up with a very quirky Remington 742 30-06 for over twenty years, I have finally decided to pull it from the rotation and retire it. That leaves a hole in the rack.

Here are my choices for my next deer rifle:

Ruger Deerfield in 44 Magnum

Marlin 336 in 35 Rem.

Browning BLR in 358 WIN

Remington 7400 or 7600 in 30-06

I have always appreciated the '06, and I've got a lot of history with it, but I have a nice bolt gun in '06. I also have a Marlin 336 in 30-30 and really like the 336. If I get another 336, the 30-30 will go to one of my sons. I liked the 742 for its easy recoil.

Originally Mooseboy was going to get the 742 this year, but with its demise, he's decided to try the M1 Garand for deer. I have some light 165 grain loads over H4895 that wil probably work well.

I just feel like it is time for a change.

Any comments from you guys would be appreciated.

If you liked the 742 you will like the 7400 even better. It is a great gun and deserves more credit than it gets. If you kept you 742 for 20 years you will have no problem with the 7400. Keep it clean and shoot away.

tzone

My vote would be for a Remington 7600. I have the 760 in 30-06 and love it.

I'm with High Brass, personally I feel every auto out there will be quirky sooner or later...

MD

if the 742 was a carbine i think you'd like the ruger. i also like the 35, in fact looking for one now. i picked up a lever action 44 the other day. put a bushnell post and dot scope on it, but i can't get it to shoot consistant. actually, a cousin of mine just put it in my truck and said enjoy, so the price was right, now if i can get it to shoot.....

I'de go with the 7600 06 with a 1.5x5 or 2x7 power scope.

Do the BLR. The 358 Winchester is a neat round. Big slow calibers really slap whitetails down.
Bart

My vote is the 7600 in .30-06. I don't currently own one, but many friends & family members used them while growing up in PA. I think Remington is already offering a centennial model, so that might be worth a look.

-Lou

If you want something different from your sadly deceased Remington auto, maybe the Browning BLR in .358 Win would make you happy. But if you want to fill the void left by the departure of your old friend, go with the 7400. (You could even get it in another caliber than .30-06 if you wanted to mix it up while keeping it the same.)

I don't know about that. I shot a small doe last year with my muzzleloader at 70 yards and she ran 60 yards before falling. I was happy with that, but I wouldn't exactly call that "slapping them down"

Assuming you hunt in Kentucky (???) I'd suggest either the deerfield or the 35 rem. I have owned and shot both--I really liked the deerfield-I could hit shilloutee's out to 200 meters with the open sights and it was a fun gun to shoot. The 35 rem in a marlin is pretty much a classic and should be able to do any job you need it to as well--and cheaper as you should be able to find a used 35 rem for around $250. But that little deerfield is an easy carry accurate little buggar!!

Never really been a fan of blr's or remmingtons myself...

As I figured, I'm just going to have to buy them all.

About the only choice I'm not going to consider is the 742. If you've been following my recent thread over on Gunsmithing, you may have an idea of the emotional baggage that comes with my 742.

It's funny, but the deeper I get into the process of burying the 742 for good, the more I understand the way our cave ancestors felt when the bound the dead tightly to keep them from rising out of the grave. Once dead, you really don't want them coming back.

Get the Rem. 7600.

The Marlin 336 is sweet, but you've got one and it just ain't got the power of the '06.

Same for the Ruger. Not to mention most of those Ruger .44 that I have handle or been around are rather worthless in terms of accuracy. Not all, likely, but I haven't been impressed by 'em.

Personally can't stand the BLR. Heavy, awkward, ugly...yuk. If I had to have a .358, it'd be a Savage 99.

That leaves the 7400 and the 7600. Of the two, the 7600 is the better firearm. Never liked the 7400, and autos can get pissy quick.

The 7600 Carbine is a sweet rig. Also, see if you can find one of the "tactical" or "police" versions in .308. Gives you a caliber you don't have, in a compact (18" barrel) pump with detachable extended mag capacity and a parkerized/durable/truck-gun finish.

i'm thinking the trombone remmy. it'll carry just like your 742. it'll point just like your 742. it'll probably be more accurate than your 742. and if you bag one in .270 or 308, the recoil will get on down 'bout to where you'd like it. go get 'em shaman. bind that 742 puppy tight, bury it, and cover the dirt lid with a rip-rap cairn. that'll take care of any zombie walks.

iF It doesnt have to be scoped a remington 81 in 35 would be neat.........If it does a 760 pump should do it all....Essex

I really enjoy the BLRs. I have one in .308 and it has become my go to deer rifle. No disrespect Va, but HEAVY? have you handled one of the newer models, heavy they are not.
I just might have one in .358 for sale if you are interested. That caliber is a little hard to find. PM me or email @ matthew.pair@us.army.mil if your interested.

I'll re-correct "heavy"; awkward and ugly probably makes me think "heavy", 'cause it would weigh me down to carry that thing in the woods. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Shaman, I have a early 70's model, 760 Gamemaster 30-06 and the 4x Redfield that came mounted on it, it has been fired 21 times, YES 21 times!!! I has beautiful wood and is 98% at least. I would part with it to someone that would honestly use it................................................. I can get pictures 2 nite if you want... 721 tomahawk

Shaman--
This is what I think you need, even though it is not on your list.

Shaman's new thumper

The .35 Whelen would be very nice.