Life after the Remington 742

[shaman]

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.

[mrjbigfoot]

Hey Shaman, how's it going down there in KY? I saw on awesome antlers where a couple of guys posted some real nice bow killed bucks out of the bluegrass state already. As far as rifles go... if I lived in a friggin rifle state... I've always believed in having enough gun! Considering that you've also got a growing elk population, you might want to think about that, if your ever going to consider trying for one of those as well. I had a Ruger 44 carbine that I traded off & unless your shooting a 44 out of a 444 Marlin, I'm not a big fan of the pistol cartridges accuracy as compared to other rifle cartridges. If I was you, I might be leaning towards that 358 but you could also consider looking at the various 300 mag calibers to.

& I hope you have years of enjoyment out of whatever you decide on!

[shaman]

I stopped tipping my hand a few years ago and vowed not to bowhunt in September. All it seemed to be netting me was a bunch of hot sweaty sessions on the stand. If you waited until after legal hunting hours, however, and went driving on the roads, the deer would be out in droves. It led me to believe that the deer were waiting until dark to move.

It's not much of a sacrifice; our county gets under 40 bow kills in the month of September. The pay off is that I can scout more, and also get some squirrel hunting in with the kids before things get serious in October. It also lets me hunt poachers: very tasty when they're dressed out properly.



Actually, we've had elk on the property already. Here's an account:

blackholecoffeehouse.blogspot.com/2004/09/stuff-of-dreams.html

blackholecoffeehouse.blogspot.com/2004/09/more-stuff-of-dreams.html

I keep an '06 with 180 grainers handy.


I've heard that trying to fire 44 Mag out of 444 Marlin is really bad Ju-Ju. I'd research that again before trying it. I went looking for an article on it, but could not find it. I remember the conclusion: 44 Mag out of a 444 Marlin should only be attempted only as a dire last resort. I could be wrong, but the wrinkle might have been a difference in headspacing.

[bbbh]

I love my 7600 30.06 I would not trade it for anything. Does not have a big recoil and is a more versitle rifle than a 444. The great thing about a 30.06 is it is probably the best all around calibers on the market you can use it for whitetails, elks and bears the occasional crow has fallen too! you have more of range with a 06 than you do with a 444 try shooting a deer at 250 yards with a 444. If you hunt more thick woods where you won't get a shot past 100 yrds then a 444 might be good for you. But if you have a chance to shoot one at a longer distance than I would think the 06 would be your best bet.
With that said the next thing you need to decide is which bullet you need to use. For deer I use a 150 grain silver ballistic tip or nozzler ballistic tip. I have never had a deer go more than 20 yards when you hit them with one of those they are just devastating!! I have shot deer with them from 10 yards out to 300 yards . the only time I have had one g farther is years ago with a nozzler ballistic tip I shot a 6 pointer that we tracked for over a mile before we found him. I shot him at 8 yards and hit him a little high hitting one lung and what we later discovered was tha my dad when reloading bullets had mixed some 180 grains in with the 150 grains. the effect this had was #1 the deer was to close and #2 the bullet blew right threw the deer never having a chance to expand. In my experiences you don't need those big bullets when hunting deer the lighter bullets work just as good and shoot better at longer distances. If you were hunting elk I would probably step up to a 180 grain bullet.

[midrivers]

As I recall very vividly, the 7600 is the pump gun.
I do not know if I got a bum rifle or if it was the way they made the gun during the years I bought it, but that gun was the mule-kickingest SOB I have ever fired in my life. Sold it with the scope for $200. Guy thought I was being a wuss. he sold it a year later told me he put a box of shells through it and noone in his family would touch the damn thing. I shot an older model and it did not kick like this. I really loved the gun except that the damn thing had me scared to pull the trigger. Got scope-eye from it twice. Kicked more than my 12 Gauge pump with 3 1/2 turkey loads in it. Brutal. If you like the autos, I am now the very rpoud owner of a Browning BAR in .300 Win Mag. Very nice gun, reduced recoil doesn't even begin to describe it. Has the BOSS system on the front with a muzzle break to boot. Worth every penny!!

[shaman]

#2 Son, AKA Mooseboy, loves the idea that you guys are big on the Remington pump. That's what he's wanted all along. We've decided it's too late in the year to go looking for a new rifle, so I broke out the M1 Garand to see how it would work as a back-up.

Mooseboy and I had a great time. I had not fired it in a couple of years. It took the Remington 742 fodder nicely. I managed even with my poor eyes to do a 1.5" group at 50 yards-- best grouping with irons I've done in years. Some of those shots were through the same hole.

I've threatened for a long time to get the M1 working as a deer gun. The problems were that :

1) It had previously fired anything but Lake City surplus all over the bedsheet. I'd never before had it working with hunting bullets. I don't know why it suddenly started to like my reloads. Maybe Jerry put in a good word with me with The Great Armorer in the Sky.

2) KY had a limit of 5 rounds in a hunting rifle. They've recently bumped it up to 10. That lets in my unaltered M1 and my SKS as well.

The only real downsides to the Garand are that it's heavy and clunky to unload. Those really are not a problem if you're a walking landform, and only have a half-mile of walking to get to your treestand. I'll order up some 5 round clips today.

The upside is that it will be perfect for both the Moose and I as an all-weather deer gun. This is a 1942 Springfield, with nothing more than a good cleaning with Ed's Red between it and the warehouse at the DCMP. Lord only knows what it's been through over the years.

Unless somebody makes me an offer I can't refuse, that puts the decision off for a year. Mooseboy and I can take our time looking for a bargain.

[accurate]

25-06 easy on the shoulder and shoots out to 400 yards

[hd444]

I like the 35 rem in the marlin 336 its hard to beat in the woods.

hd444

[shaman]

The Remington 742 has managed to still serve a purpose even after retirement. I took the offending Remington 742 and placed it in a positon of obvious disgrace next to my gunsmithing table. All the other rifles have an easy view of it whenever I open the safe. The message is clear: "This will happen to you if you fail."

It must be working. Mooseboy had the M1 Garand out this weekend, taking his last practice prior to the start of KY Yute Season. Here were the results:








That was his first offhand target at 50 yards. I think Mooseboy was made for a 10.5 lb battle rifle, and vice-versa. This was using the standard 165 grain/ H4895 load for the Garand, substituing Hornady Interlock SP for the FMJ.

I also cleaned up the Garand considerably. Since the last time Moose' saw his new interim deer rifle, I added an oiled leather sling and went at the stock with 0000 steel wool, wood cleaner, and paste wax. The stock went from murky and black to a rich brown with honey highlights. I also bought him a few 5-round clips.

I hope all the deer rifles get the hint and are on their best behavior in the coming months.

[Win Mag]

Thats pretty good shootin Mooseboy,

Good grouping for off hand shooting. I think i should wish the Buck Luck instead of mooseboy

[shaman]

Well, it's official. Girlfriend announced that she is buying me a Saint Hubert's Day present. It's a . . . . drum roll . . . May I have the envelope please . . .

It's a slightly used Remington 7600 in 35 Whelen with scope, pad, dies, bullets and brass.

The shaman is doing his happy dance, and trying not to leave a puddle.

What is Saint Hubert's Day? Well, it's the feast day of Saint Hubert on November 3. Saint Hubert is the patron saint of deer hunters. Over on another forum, we were discussing how it's a lousy deal for deer hunters that Christmas comes at the end of deer season. I suggested that hunting families trade gifts on the Feast of Saint Hubert. The French shut down the roe-buck season to observe the day, and some Germans have big pagents with hunters decked out in their hunting togs and carrying their boar spears.

Anyhow, I guess the idea caught on, at least at our house.

I'll send pictures when it arrives.

Happy Saint Hubert's Day y'all.

[ncturkey]

Sounds like you got your self one great all around rifle there.That 35 Whelen is a good round for deer,bear amd hogs.It has alot of knock down power.Well have yourself a Happy Saint Hubert's Day.See ya,Mike

[shaman]

Well, Yute season came and went. The Garand didn't get much action, but a lot happened nonetheless. Here are the details:


blackholecoffeehouse.blogspot.com/2005/10/ky-yute-season-come-and-gone.html