model 742

[saxman]

Hello
I'm sure this has been covered many times.
I have a new to me model 742 woodsman 1n 30-06 (pictures to follow) and am having trouble figuring out the date of manufacture.
I went to the date code and looked.
My rifle is marked KQ 28 on the left side of the barrel.
The code has 2 q's one for 1978 and one for 1996
And I see the K means May.
The rifle looks older than 1996 but some folks don't take very good care of their weapons.
I have always wanted one.
I went hunting on a friends property who is disabled and no longer hunts. I took my muzzleloader and missed two deer,we figured that the old scope is done so instead of sighting a new scope he let me use his model 7400 30-06.I went out the next day and killed two deer with it (legal in FL) and fell in love with the rifle.He suprised me when I left with this 742.I am tickled with it and want to learn all I can about it.
Thanks in advance.
Scott

[600RemGuy]

You have a 1978 model if it is a 742. It will give you good service if you feed it with good ammo and keep it clean. If you don't already have one, get a chamber brush made for the gun. It enables the chamber to be cleaned well from the ejection port which is a big part of maintenance of the 742.

[saxman]

Thanks 600RemGuy.I am very excited about the rifle.Many of the hunters of my youth carried this gun and I always admired it,and the 30-06 was their caliber of choice.
I have taken the forend off and found no rust of any kind under there,I did a through cleaning and lubricating in that area.
There is some surface rust on the outside.the action is smooth I suppose.
I don't have a clip/magazine for it but will pick one up.
I put a round in the gun and ejected it several times and it seemed to do fine.
I"ll put it on the lead sled and fire it remotely a few times before I shoot it.
This rifle has an extension for the sling stud that I didn't see in other pictures of the gun,I put it back the way it came apart.

[600RemGuy]

Something about the front sling swivel doesn't sit right with me. It seems to be sticking out further than mine and others I've seen. It might be a different make than Uncle Mike's, the pioneer of the sling swivels. As long as the bolt is the proper length to hold the forearm it should be OK. The clip from a 7400 should work fine. I believe they are interchangeable in the autoloader family and a 760/7600 pump clip can also be used but it won't stay open after the last shot. Any long action clip will work. You will find then in 270, 30-06 and 35 whelen. Mine in 308 was built it June of '78.

[saxman]

I noticed when I re assembled the forend that there was another of those spacers in the very end of it.
It seems to tighten up ok,maybe I should try removing it and see if the bolt goes in all the way.

[saxman]

I noticed when I re assembled the forend that there was another of those spacers in the very end of it.
It seems to tighten up ok,maybe I should try removing it and see if the bolt goes in all the way.

Found a factory clip at the big box store and a box of ammo.
On the advice of a friend I pulled the action back to look for damage to the rails that it rides in.There seems to be no damage or sharks teeth as he described it to this rail.
I will look for a bore brush for it and inspect and measure the recoil spring today.
Other than normal use wear this rifle seems to be in good serviceable condition.

[lifelongnra]

NICE!!
I have been looking at the 742 but I really like the 760 pump. However the carbine version of both appeal more to me.
I can't decide if I want the 30-06 or the 308??????

I have a 30-06 so that is why I'm undecisive. Plus it has a punch to it.

[600RemGuy]

30 ought and 308 in a carbine? Hmmm... Not alot of difference. In a carbine, I would lean toward the 308-just a little less muzzle blast but it gonna be loud!! Either would be fine. No appreciable difference in the rifle itself, but you can get cheap 308 military ammo for some fun.

[lifelongnra]

LOUD HUH! Who's worried about noise it's a gun by GGees.