Are these very good hunting rifles ? I just wondered, it being semi auto, how dead on can they be ? Is it worth much for a hunting rifle ?

Some of the very early models gave a lot of problems ejecting spent rounds.

The new 7400 are as good as any other rifle. They shoot well within "minute of whitetail" and are easier on the shoulder.

if you buy one, plan on keeping it because you can't get rid of them......

Will it hold a good group with a scope on it ? I'm thinking of maybe finding a .270, model 7400. I just don't know if it what i'm looking for. I want something that will drive tacks and be quick with a follow up if needed for more than one hog.

What do you mean you can't get rid of it ?

Hey...I've sighted and worked on lots of 7400s. Some are good...some ain't. In general they are not nearly as accurate as a 700...but some are pretty darn good. One good thing is they are heavy enough...in wieght and action...to soak up a lot of recoil. Of course...they ARE heavy...lol. They need to be kept a bit cleaner than you might be used to if you have always toted lever guns or bolt actions. That said, they can take more abuse than you'd think. Any semi auto is going to provide you with a quick follow up shot...what you do with that follow up greatly depends on your ability to recover from the recoil. I don't want to dissuade you from buying a 7400 because I think they are junk...because they are not...but...a practiced person with a bolt action can cap off an accurate follow up just about as fast as a novice with a semi auto. Especially chambered in a 30/06 or 270 class cartridge. A practiced person with a lever gun can do it quicker still. 7400's are good enough, fast enough, and accurate to get the job done...they wouldn't still be around if they were not. But they are what they are. If you get one that'll drive tacks...you are very lucky indeed. If you want one that will make large quanities of hogs and deer go nighty night you shouldn't have a lot of trouble...good luck...

ALL that knowledge, from a man that wants a pump 35 Whelen !!!! ...

When one feels the need and duty to reply, one must, that person's tastes in future firearms notwithstanding. I am reluctant to defend both my reply and choices of weapons at this time...as I am exhausted from typing these rather large and hyperbolic phrases...nighty night...

I have a tape of a friend shooting hogs with a bolt 30-o6. The hogs are comming down trail to him.from the first shot and them starting to run , he head shots 3 hogs in 9 seconds, nine seconds!If you have ever shot a watermelon thats what the heads look like, red mist. I have run the tape several times and the 9 seconds is correct.

Like...OH What..ever!!
You keep jabbin at me and Bill about Howitizer fetishes. I just seriously think that, and this comes from seeing a few people that had the things, pump rifles aren't a great invention. Pump shotguns are. I think if you seriously want to mess with a Whelen it should be either a bolt action or a Ruger #1. The 35 Whelen, while maybe large for somefolks tastes is really a great round, especially when handloaded. I just don't think you can get the full capabilities out of the cartridge in a pump. JMO

O Whatever Man...I wants a Pumpm 35 Whelen cuz that what I wants. I'm free...WELL over...21, and that is what I is gonna have. I've worked with some pumps...7600s and BPRs and found them to be....uuuummmm...challenging. I bet...if I fiddle and tinker with it enough...it'll shoot like I want it to. It is not like I'm walking into it thinking that I'm going to win a benchrest competion with it, CHC...dang. I asked the person...THAT COUNTS...if I can get one.

She said it was OK...lol...so....and try to get back into a grade school set of mind here so you will understand this...NA NA NA NANA NAH!!!!

Seems like you got her "education" well under way! I've had mine for 55 years and see is still trying to learn. Enjoy!

I have a 742 Woodmaster in 243. Friend of mine killed a Mule deer near Childress last year at around 150 yds with it. He borrowed my rifle because his 7400 in 3006 would no longer eject spent shells. Apparently it was wore out and could not/cannot be fixed. I've never had any problems with my 742. It is accurate enough to kill but it is not my primary gun. I would probably not buy another in 243. If I'm gonna get a heavy semi, I would go with something like a 308 or 06 in the carbine model. My friend shoots a 7400 in 308 and loves it. He hunts whitetail in East Texas and Webb County. He also uses it for Mule deer in West Texas.

Also the recoil is very minimal.
Just remembered something. I killed a turkey with a friends 7400 in 3006 in Tom green County while Deer hunting. Shot him right through the butt and out the neck. No meat damage at all. Shoot was about 300 yds. Didnt have rangefinders in those days.

Anyone got any suggestions on where I could get some parts for 742 (bolt latch pins and springs) locally (DFW)?

I have 742 in 30-06sf and .243wcf. They will shot 2" groups most of the time! Got to keep clean. They are not easy to clean. Scope is attached to receiver and not to barrel. I am happy with them but would not buy another autoloader as primary gun. Stick with the bolts and good shot placement. James

i am remington to the core,i do own other brands but jmo rem autos rifels are junk,i do like,and will own a pump 1 day...

that is kinda what i had heard in the past they just look so fun to hunt with. I just wasn't sure, if it was that one individual i had heard that from, or if there were others with the same opinion. I just wanted to know if it was possible to get one to drive tacks and be dependable,or should i just look for some other kind of cool gun for hunting.

JEH dunno if any of the shops will sell you parts but I'd call Doc's in Carrollton, or McClellands on Centerville Rd in Dallas and ask. Have you looked at Brownell's on line? they gots lots of Remmy parts and will sell retail and not to just FFL holders.

Curtis,
There is a major difference in the way the barrel/forearms are mounted to the receiver between the 760/7600 pump guns and the 742/7400 self loaders. I'm told the pump guns are much more accurate and used to be used by federal law enforcement because of the same bolt release and safety positions in the favored 870 riot guns and the 760's...and that the 760's would shoot man sized targets on out to 2-300 yards without scopes.

Back in my often misguided frequently ill spent early stages of reloading of my early 20's I bought a clean used early 60's 742 30'06 for next to nothing and took the dare that I could make it shoot under an inch ...when the factory stuff of the day out of it was grouping about 2-21/2"s or worse. Well to make a long story short I did manage to get that gun to shoot under an inch groups ...but came really really really close to blowing the gun up doing it.
The more powder I could cram in the case the better it shot...until with a load waaaay over max I blew the plastic dust cover out of the ejection port and stretched the head spacing with the brass losing all of the printing on the case head and loosening every primer pocket where they would not hold another primer on the fresh new brass that I found 20-30 feet away...but it shot 9 holes touching in a verticle string as the barrel heated up before things began to break. So Yes they can sometimes be made to shoot straight..but I won't be the one doing it unless I get another "I'm gonna live forever no matter how stupid I am" death wish.
Ron

They are fine for hunting. They are not the most accurate guns around, 2 1/2inch groups are about standard, and they are easy to burn up and ruin the headspacing. I wouldnt buy a used one if its in rough condition. No telling what is wrong with it. One thing I can tell you from a friend that used one for about 12 years is, you HAVE TO KEEP THEM CLEAN. Just like any semi auto rifle, they get dirty they jam or won't eject the shells. I've been shooting a pump 30-06 for years and have never had a problem with it as far as accuracy or messing up. These rifles are great for hunting in thick woods. That's why I have the pump in carbine. Its short and quick and easy to shoot. Most shots are under 50 yards in Newton County.

If your Boss said it was okay, than that is all that is necessary. Last time I looked, we all are entitled to our opinions, and I think that going with the pump is NOT giving the Whelen a fair test. Yes, it is fun to get something and play with it, but I still think that if you get the right gun for the Whelen, you might start leaving that 260 in the closet. JMO

CHC You said it again! My Whelen is built on a 1903 Springfield. It had 3 different barrels before.24" medium Douglas barrel, 1 in 12 twist.With a 225 Nosler Balistic Tip,It will cronogragh at 2760 fps.Sighted 3 1/2 high at a 100 it will shot 3 ' low at 300 yrds, on a measured range.My 338 Win Mag doesnt do enough better to tell the difference. I have shot 3 shot groups at 300 yards that measure 1 7/8 " If loaded correctly it is one mean round. If more shooters dicovered it they would be well pleased!

You guys...cmon! Yall know that I know that a bolt gun is a better choice. Yall havn't figured it out yet? I want one to tinker with. It'll be a challenge to see if I can get it to shoot well and I bet I can. I also want one because it'll bet different....I shoot a 260...that should be a hint...I want something that not everybody has. I know that I'd be better served by a bolt gun...really I do...but that is not a factor in my choice. I WANT a slide action. I was also looking at a 673 in 350 Rem Mag...but it is just not as kewl as the 7600...lol. The kewlest would be a 99 Savage in 358...but they are hard to find and usually expensive. I know yall are tellin me right...but give me a little credit...this has nothing to do with gettin the most out of the cartridge...it is about seeing how much I can get outta the rifle and action. And be careful what you say about leaving the 260 at home...Painless is sensitive and she is already upset because I've been taking the Thunderbolt Grease Slapper this year more than her...lol

OMG!! I just found out that Swift is making the Sciroccos in 6.5mm...130g...I can wait to try them!!! It is going to be a FUN off seaon coming up...I can already tell!

Now then, that you have said ALL OF THAT, hopefully you will understand that I DON'T HAVE A HOWITZER FETISH, I just like things out of the ordinary.

Now jump back and say I have some kind of fetish, I like to use things that are differnt than the normal, like 38-55 lever actions or a double barrel 45/70 with exposed hammers.

So in the future, let's not have any of this "Pot Calling The Kettle Black Nonsense." You want something new and different to play with, and so do I and a lot of other folks.

I still say you are a howitzer freak...but just because I like arguing with you about it...lol

Hornady just announced that they are loading 416 Rigby in two different 400 grain loads, a solid and a soft!!!!
Gonna be a "cheap"er source for loaded ammo and brass now finally...I can see a CZ Safari in my future now to go with my "little" 9.3x62's 286 gr'ers to complete my battery with a serious DG gun.
Just imagine a 400 gr'er at 2500 on white tails or piggies...no expansion just a 40 caliber paper punch thru and thru up to 250 yards. Ya just gotta shoot it standin' up is all
Ron