Remington 742 Woodsmaster Cleaning

[Bergerboy]

Has anyone cleaned one of these magnificent staples of the 80's? I have acquired one in 3006 and am wondering on any tips for cleaning? From what I am gathering, you should not completely disassemble but spray them out, similar to an old Auto 5.

Thoughts?

[fps plus]

They are definitely not for the novice to disassemble ! At best one can pull the trigger group assembly out and wash out the trigger group and with pressured cleaner / degreaser . Can also do the receiver and bolt assembly inside the receiver the same way

[Positrac]

Originally Posted by Bergerboy

Has anyone cleaned one of these magnificent staples of the 80's? I have acquired one in 3006 and am wondering on any tips for cleaning? From what I am gathering, you should not completely disassemble but spray them out, similar to an old Auto 5.

Thoughts?

I just picked one up myself. You’re be hard pressed to find a 742 made in the 80’s though. My dad bought his 742 new in 1964. Mine is a 1978 but doesn’t look like it was ever used.

Can’t help you on the cleaning but I’m going to pull it apart in the next month and give it a good once over.

[Smokinyotes]

I had a left hand 742 in 308 win when I was 16. I think I had way to much oil in the action and I called it my jamomatic. I took it apart and had to get my uncle to put it back together. After a thorough cleaning it still jammed. Sold it and bought a 700 bdl in 30-06.

[FellSwoop]

I have one in 6mm rem, dated 1972 that has very low rounds through it judging by the rails. I have never attempted a full disassembly, basically just do what fps said. After, I add a light amount of the yellow can silicone WD40. It will fail to extract and rip the rim off the cartridge in the attempt, but it only does this at the range if allowed to get warm. My solution is to site in with 2 rounds at the start of the season and call it good. It is a backup gun that has done its duty in the past.

[Bergerboy]

Thanks guys.

[Positrac]

Originally Posted by Bergerboy

Thanks guys.

You can take the barrel markings if interested and look up the year of the rifle online. Doesn’t make a whole hill of beans difference but it’s always kind of cool to see what age it is.

You’ll also hear a lot of negative comments in regards to 740/742/7400 Rems but treat them right and they are just fine. My dad has been shooting his since the sixties without an issue and I’d hate to guess how many rounds have been down that old pipe.

And ya, I’m still talking about the rifle....

[Kolibri]

Originally Posted by Bergerboy

Has anyone cleaned one of these magnificent staples of the 80's? I have acquired one in 3006 and am wondering on any tips for cleaning? From what I am gathering, you should not completely disassemble but spray them out, similar to an old Auto 5.

Thoughts?

I have had a few, and did smithing on a number as well. 90% of the time pulling the trigger group and spraying out the reciever/bolt will do the trick, as well as pulling the forearm to clean in under it.
If you want to get fancy and either do some of the bolt head lockig/over rotation upgrades, or really just go all out, you can pull the barrel, its more a PITA then technically challenging. Getting the barrel nut off can be a chore the first time if its never been off. I made up a few tools just to make it easier, but for regular cleaning, there is no need.
Check out you tube, tons of videos.

[Bergerboy]

This is a very nice rifle to shoot! Very mellow recoil and not an awful trigger. Seems to be a solid 2 MOA performer with is adequate for a hunting rifle. I think I am going to be on the look out for some better glass for this thing.

[lyallpeder]

I have used this guys videos to show me how to disassemble a couple rifles.

https://youtu.be/bvml8dV8Cq8