Rem 7400 Weathermaster: POI

[oldspice]

Finally have some cooler weather and time to test out the mod for my 7400. I shot over 60 rounds and the forearm screw did not come loose. The POI did not climb 10 inches up and down. The first 3 shots group at 50 yds was touching. During the test, I was checking the screw if it moved. It didn’t. I think I fixed the POI changes. So, those of you have the problem with POI changes, you can try my method.

 

[oldspice]

I went to the range today and retest the 7400. The gun is thoroughly cleaned with copper remover and Hoppes 9. The temperature was around 60 deg with 10 miles wind. I couldn't believe my eyes on the first 3 shots group. I waited one minute between each shot. At 100 yds, the groups were anywhere from .75 to 1.2". Then, I tested some 175grs Sierra MK with IMR4350 without adjusting the scope. No pressure signs. I must had shot 70 rounds today. The gun likes the 175gr with 53 gr of IMR4350. I think I got this gun to shoot straight now.

 

[oldspice]

I have a jug of Ramshot Big Game powder. So loaded up some Sierra 168 HPBT Match King, starting from 50 grains and .5 gr increments. They are 4 shots group. 51 gr. looks good, 3 are touching and I don't know what happened to the flyer. The second target are 3 4 shots groups. The top 2 are 168 grains with IMR 4064. The bottom left is 175 gr. Sierra HPBT Match King with IMR4350. All these bullets are factory seconds from Midway. These are all at 100 yds.
I loaded up 50 more rounds of the 51 grains Big Game with the 168 HPBT for the next outing. I ran out of the IMR4350. Might load up some 175 gr with the Big Game powder just to see if this gun likes it or not.
Yeah, this gun will shoot.

 

[oldspice]

To bbassi: for some reason, i couldn't reply to you. So, I will reply to you here.

If you look at the pics from post #9, you will see the washer was inserted to the forearm screw. The washer will be in front of the gas port when you put it together. What happen is that as you are tightening the screw, the forearm will move forward away from the receiver. This is because of the extra washer was added to it. You do not want any pressure to the receiver from the forearm. Any pressure will cause the POI to change.

Also, make sure there is no contacts from the barrel to the forearm. You have to free float the barrel. I actually filed the end cap assembly for clearance to the barrel. If your forearm is touching the barrel, then remove some wood. Seal the wood when done.

Please post your results after the mod

 

[Cornbread]

I have a 30-06 weathermaster, about 15 years old or so in great shape. Problem is, every year I go to sight it in (on a gun rest), the Point of impact is way off from previous years. No idea whats going on. I've swapped out scopes, bases, rings to a new setup last year (Prostaff scope with Leoupold Base/rings), got it sighted in at 100yds perfectly. went out last week and one shot was 8" high and the other was off paper. same story every year, I can get it to group half way decent then It'll be off again later. Have tried different ammo as well and same thing.

Any idea what a gunsmith would look at? all the screws are tight, forearm screw, gun gets cleaned after every use; nothing noticeable that I see

Good thing I bought a Rem bolt action 270 a few years ago as that is dependable every year.

I just dont have the confidence on bringing this to the deer woods even after I get it sighted in so I just stick with the 270

Is that the pump or the semi auto?

 

[huntnfisher]

Is that the pump or the semi auto?

7400 is the semi auto.

 

[Cornbread]

7400 is the semi auto.

I recently bought off gun broker a 7600 in excellent shape that was manufactured 20 months after I was born! Imagine my surprise when I looked up the barrel codes on the Remington website!!! It was manufactured in April 1956!!! What a jewel! I bought ammo for it to see just what it groups, but i won't be taking it into the woods. This rifle will become my safe queen!!

 

[huntnfisher]

I recently bought off gun broker a 7600 in excellent shape that was manufactured 20 months after I was born! Imagine my surprise when I looked up the barrel codes on the Remington website!!! It was manufactured in April 1956!!! What a jewel! I bought ammo for it to see just what it groups, but i won't be taking it into the woods. This rifle will become my safe queen!!

Nice find, congrats!

 

[Mallardsx2]

I recently bought off gun broker a 7600 in excellent shape that was manufactured 20 months after I was born! Imagine my surprise when I looked up the barrel codes on the Remington website!!! It was manufactured in April 1956!!! What a jewel! I bought ammo for it to see just what it groups, but i won't be taking it into the woods. This rifle will become my safe queen!!

Hunt that sucker. They are NOT meant to be safe queens....

 

[F250]

I recently bought off gun broker a 7600 in excellent shape that was manufactured 20 months after I was born! Imagine my surprise when I looked up the barrel codes on the Remington website!!! It was manufactured in April 1956!!! What a jewel! I bought ammo for it to see just what it groups, but i won't be taking it into the woods. This rifle will become my safe queen!!

I think a rifle that old would be a Model 760. I thought the later models were 7600 ?

 

[oldspice]

Congrat finding a nice 760. I would shoot it and see how it performs. Try some 180's.
Years ago, I heard people that own the 7400 have a smith to convert to 7600. This is because of the POI shifting issue. The 7600 is a good gun and the barrel is free floated.

 

[Cornbread]

I think a rifle that old would be a Model 760. I thought the later models were 7600 ?

Apparently not. It has CC on the upper left part of the barrel, i.e. the barrel code for mfg date.

 

[Cornbread]

Congrat finding a nice 760. I would shoot it and see how it performs. Try some 180's.
Years ago, I heard people that own the 7400 have a smith to convert to 7600. This is because of the POI shifting issue. The 7600 is a good gun and the barrel is free floated.

it's a .270 win. I got some 130s.

 

[jds535]

Oldspice,
I had the same problem with my 7400. I thought it was my leupold scope, sent it back to them twice. I love the gun. I hand load and put 3 rounds in the same hole with it at 100 yards. No kidding. But, I wounded a 200+ lb buck with it by hitting him low in the leg instead of the chest.
I thought the problem was solved with a new Leupold scope but when sighting in for a moose hunt this year it happened again. It was shooting 8" low when I first took it out so I re zeroed it a 100 yards only to find the next time I took it out it was hitting above the paper. I did snug up the forend screw in between shooting sessions.
I can't see exactly what you did by the pics you posted. It looks like you cut the washer to a U shape? Any clarification you could give would be appreciated.
, Jeff

 

[oldspice]

The objective is not to have any pressure from the forearm to the receiver. When you torqued the forearm screw, there will be distortion to the receiver. It will throw the shots all over the place. As it heats up, the shots will go up and down. What I did was to add a spacer (washer) in front of the gas block. I cut the washer so it will fit inside the channel. When I tightened the screw, it actually pulls the forearm forward away from the receiver.
Another way to mod this is to add a spacer right in front of the gas block, using JB weld. When you removed the forearm, you will see the gas block when the forearm screw will go in. I hope this helps. Let me know your results after the mod.

 

[Cornbread]

I think a rifle that old would be a Model 760. I thought the later models were 7600 ?

I misread the date if mfg. It is actually 1981 or 1982. Cant remember.

 

[jds535]

The objective is not to have any pressure from the forearm to the receiver. When you torqued the forearm screw, there will be distortion to the receiver. It will throw the shots all over the place. As it heats up, the shots will go up and down. What I did was to add a spacer (washer) in front of the gas block. I cut the washer so it will fit inside the channel. When I tightened the screw, it actually pulls the forearm forward away from the receiver.
Another way to mod this is to add a spacer right in front of the gas block, using JB weld. When you removed the forearm, you will see the gas block when the forearm screw will go in. I hope this helps. Let me know your results after the mod.

Its been a while but as soon as I removed the forend I could see that what you did made perfect sense. My forend also had a dent from the receiver and was touching. Now I have a space and was able to tighten the forend to a solid stop. I could not do that before. Its raining right now but I will check the accuracy before the end of the week. I marked the metal cap so I can tell if the screw moves at all.

My gun would print down and left as the barrel got hotter. Without fail. I am very interested to see what it does now.

I was looking back at your posts on this thread. I also solved my immediate problem a few years ago and bought a BAR MK3 in 30-06. That gun has been flawless so far, and it is beautiful but my old 7400 just feels better in my hand in a treestand.
For what its worth, my 7400 likes IMR4350 the best. And for some reason both of my semi auto's seem to like copper bullets more than lead/copper. I tried everything I could think of to get 165gr partitions to group well. The best I could get was 2 1/2" for 3 at 100 yards. I guess thats not too bad though for a semi auto.

Thanks for posting your experience for all of us to see. I appreciate it. I was almost heartbroken this week when I thought of getting rid of this gun. You just might have saved me from doing that. I will let you know how it goes.

 

[Jmnhunter]

@oldspice this is hilarious; I’m in the beginning process of trying to sell this gun or trade it in, I will forward your results

 

[oldspice]

Its been a while but as soon as I removed the forend I could see that what you did made perfect sense. My forend also had a dent from the receiver and was touching. Now I have a space and was able to tighten the forend to a solid stop. I could not do that before. Its raining right now but I will check the accuracy before the end of the week. I marked the metal cap so I can tell if the screw moves at all.

My gun would print down and left as the barrel got hotter. Without fail. I am very interested to see what it does now.

I was looking back at your posts on this thread. I also solved my immediate problem a few years ago and bought a BAR MK3 in 30-06. That gun has been flawless so far, and it is beautiful but my old 7400 just feels better in my hand in a treestand.
For what its worth, my 7400 likes IMR4350 the best. And for some reason both of my semi auto's seem to like copper bullets more than lead/copper. I tried everything I could think of to get 165gr partitions to group well. The best I could get was 2 1/2" for 3 at 100 yards. I guess thats not too bad though for a semi auto.

Thanks for posting your experience for all of us to see. I appreciate it. I was almost heartbroken this week when I thought of getting rid of this gun. You just might have saved me from doing that. I will let you know how it goes.

I tested using Ramshot Big Game with 165gr Sierra Game King or MK. Both were shot less than an inch. I also tested with 175gr Sierra MK. It was accurate. My 7400 will now shoot anything, regardless of the powders (IMR4046, IMR4350 or Big Game). Ramshot is much cheaper than IMR, so I will stay with that for now. Just take your time to shoot, no rapid firing. These guns are not meant for rapid firing. I waited for the barrel to cool down before firing the next. Good luck!

 

[44hunter45]

Years ago I hunted with a 7400 that had the 18 1/2” carbine barrel. I experienced the same POI frustration. The gas port on these rifles is integral to the barrel. It is also the point where the fore end is screwed onto the rifle. I think the amount of screwed torque effects the harmonics of the barrel thereby effecting POI. I ditched mine years ago for a 7600 that has a free floated barrel.

This

I have a 742 Woodsmaster in .30-06. I made the mistake of removing the barrel once. Remington's weird barrel nut is a pain to get torqued back correctly. The action bars make it really hard to get a wrench on the nut properly.

Google if your friend getting your hands on a wrench for this.