I was woundering what you all thought of this particular model. I am interested in gun collecting and My pops told me these were getting harder to find and maybe a deligate to add to the collection. He said they were built with cheap parts but were very accurate. Travis
Remington 788
- Thread starter mtboho
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I don't think the Remington 788 was built with "cheap" parts. They were not "pretty" but they were very functional (to some functional is pretty). Everything that I've read and heard about them has been good.
I would concur abought the calibers to search for, 30-30 and 44 mag would be good shooters and are more scarce than other calibers.
Wish Remington would ressurect this model
I would concur abought the calibers to search for, 30-30 and 44 mag would be good shooters and are more scarce than other calibers.
Wish Remington would ressurect this model
Shooter973
Member
788's !!!
I have 3 of these great rifles. 2 of them are in 30-30. I use them for cast bullets only, and they as near perfect for this as any rifle I can think of. The other one is a 223, with Control mounts,and a nice 3x9 scope. What a shooter!!! I have a couple of other 223 Bolt action rifles but the 788 out shoots them by a good margin... Nice rifles, I'm always looking for another one of most any caliber. I've never had any problems at all with any of them. I"ve bought all the 788's in 30-30 that I've ever seen. And the best of only a couple of 223's that I've ever seen. They are getting hard to find!!!
I have 3 of these great rifles. 2 of them are in 30-30. I use them for cast bullets only, and they as near perfect for this as any rifle I can think of. The other one is a 223, with Control mounts,and a nice 3x9 scope. What a shooter!!!
I have a couple of other 223 Bolt action rifles but the 788 out shoots them by a good margin... Nice rifles, I'm always looking for another one of most any caliber. I've never had any problems at all with any of them. I"ve bought all the 788's in 30-30 that I've ever seen. And the best of only a couple of 223's that I've ever seen. They are getting hard to find!!!Fella's;
Heh, heh, heh. I only have one 788, and it was abused as a child. It's not original, but now that it's been told that it's loved & had TLC lavished upon it, it shoots. Really good.
As for the rarity, well it's a 6mm Remington - left hand bolt.
900F
Heh, heh, heh. I only have one 788, and it was abused as a child. It's not original, but now that it's been told that it's loved & had TLC lavished upon it, it shoots. Really good.
As for the rarity, well it's a 6mm Remington - left hand bolt.
900FRemington788
Member
As said above, the 30-30 and 44 are the hardest to find, with the 6mm and 7-08 being the next hardest. The 22-250, 243 and 308 are the most common, but good luck finding extra magazines for any of them.
They are really great rifles that will most often shoot just as good (or better) as a model 700. Their only real downfall is the lack of an adjustable trigger.
I own 5 and would like to have one in each caliber, but the wife has different ideas for our money.
If Remington was smart, they would bring the model back, but I am not holding my breath.
They are really great rifles that will most often shoot just as good (or better) as a model 700. Their only real downfall is the lack of an adjustable trigger.
I own 5 and would like to have one in each caliber, but the wife has different ideas for our money.
If Remington was smart, they would bring the model back, but I am not holding my breath.
kaferhaus
Member
There's not much of a collectors market for 788s. I have a bunch of them including 2 30-30s and a 44mag. Those two are more desirable as a "collectible" but in reality there's no real market for any of them.
They are a very high quality if plain rifle. The ones that I have in varmint calibers are very accurate indeed.
The 788 was an "entry level" rifle that was built to a certain price point for folks that couldn't afford the higher priced, better equipped model 700s..
However, Remington realized that the 788 was competing against their own higher priced rifles because they performed as well or in many cases better at a much lower price.... they discontinued them so they could sell more of the higher priced 700s.
They are a very high quality if plain rifle. The ones that I have in varmint calibers are very accurate indeed.
The 788 was an "entry level" rifle that was built to a certain price point for folks that couldn't afford the higher priced, better equipped model 700s..
However, Remington realized that the 788 was competing against their own higher priced rifles because they performed as well or in many cases better at a much lower price.... they discontinued them so they could sell more of the higher priced 700s.
gringobaba
Member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2006
- Messages
- 15
mtboho:
I like 788s, but for your own education on them, first start with this pessimistic opinion. That way you will be prepared for the potential difficulties. The 788 can be a cool gun no doubt, but it is not without its problems.
As to collectible callibers, .222 is fairly rare too. Most I see are .308, followed by .243 and .22-250. I see more in .223 than .222, but even .223 is something I rarely see. For a shooter, I would take .222 or .223, since they are both at the low end as far as bolt thrust is concerned.
Be aware that some people think just because something is uncommon it is automatically worth $700+. These people usually don't sell many guns, but they will waste a lot of your time, and your money too if you let them.
I like 788s, but for your own education on them, first start with this pessimistic opinion. That way you will be prepared for the potential difficulties. The 788 can be a cool gun no doubt, but it is not without its problems.
As to collectible callibers, .222 is fairly rare too. Most I see are .308, followed by .243 and .22-250. I see more in .223 than .222, but even .223 is something I rarely see. For a shooter, I would take .222 or .223, since they are both at the low end as far as bolt thrust is concerned.
Be aware that some people think just because something is uncommon it is automatically worth $700+. These people usually don't sell many guns, but they will waste a lot of your time, and your money too if you let them.
Gordon
Member
I have a first year of production 1967 .44 mag. It has a decent quality Walnut stock. I paid $50 for an extra mag 15v years ago! I use mine once or twice a year from my deck usually. I shoot a 320 grain cast wide point bullet at about 950fps over some Unique powder. I makes a big "POP" and deer standing up on my apple trees fall over
It has a same year vintage 2-7 weaver scope with post and prints 1" at 50 yards with most loads.I have the trigger cranked down to a 2.5# icicle. I have been offered $500 for the rig and ain't sellin!
It has a same year vintage 2-7 weaver scope with post and prints 1" at 50 yards with most loads.I have the trigger cranked down to a 2.5# icicle. I have been offered $500 for the rig and ain't sellin!ftierson
Member.
I have an early 788 in .223 Rem. that is a tack driver...
And, No, it's not for sale...
Forrest
And, No, it's not for sale...
Forrest
SwampWolf
Member
I've had a couple of 788s over the years and always kind of liked the simple, "homely" appearance. One was a real tack-driver chambered in .243 Win. One rap on them had to do with the rear-locking lugs which supposedly contributed to excessive case-stretching; a negative, of course, if you did a lot of reloading. Such, however, was not my experience.
I can tell you one thing for sure: nobody ever whined about the (especially early) 788 triggers. All the ones I ever handled had really nice ones.
I can tell you one thing for sure: nobody ever whined about the (especially early) 788 triggers. All the ones I ever handled had really nice ones.
MCgunner
Member
SwampWolf said:
I've handled one 788 in .22-250 that had about the worst trigger I've ever felt on a rifle.
Was that trigger adjustable? His was creepy as an SKS and broke about 10 lbs. We had a good gunsmith here at the time. I sighted it in for him cause he didn't belong to a range. I suggested he take it to that smith cause he was good and could have tuned it whether it had adjustments or not. However, that guy never kept anything more'n five minutes and I think he sold it.But, that's my one an only experience with a 788. I was a danged accurate MOA capable rifle, though! I was rather impressed with its accuracy for such a beat up looking old gun. His looked like it might have done time with a seal unit in Nam or something. LOL.
Good week for me on the 788's
If your interested in collecting the 788 then I say go for it.
I've had a 243 in the modle 788 ever sense my 11th birthday and that was a long time ago. I just picked up two more 788's this week. One in 22-250 and one in .223. Both of the guns have had less than 200 rounds shot through them. I couldn't believe it. The bluing on these guns looks like there brand new. I couldn't be more excited than I am right now. I have alway wanted a .223 and now I have one.
The guy I got one the the guns from told me that he knows of a guy down in IA that has a complete collection of the 788's. I would love to see it some time. Good luck in your new adventure!
If your interested in collecting the 788 then I say go for it.
I've had a 243 in the modle 788 ever sense my 11th birthday and that was a long time ago. I just picked up two more 788's this week. One in 22-250 and one in .223. Both of the guns have had less than 200 rounds shot through them. I couldn't believe it. The bluing on these guns looks like there brand new. I couldn't be more excited than I am right now. I have alway wanted a .223 and now I have one.
The guy I got one the the guns from told me that he knows of a guy down in IA that has a complete collection of the 788's. I would love to see it some time. Good luck in your new adventure!
Gordon
Member
Well I never showed a picture of my beloved weird .44mag 788 I posted about on this thread 3 years back! I wish Kali allowed silencers!Notice the old Redfield flip up peep sight? That is a 3x Weaver widefiels with a big post that is icicle clear!
rangerruck
Member
Fantastic rifle, just one of the factory best ever. 9 locking lugs to the rear of the bolt, made for a very strong , straight , and true lockup. Serious rear step rear site assy., along with the massive sharkfin front site assy. Still the best factory setup ever made, in my opinion. weird chamberings, but the 6mm, the 22.250, and the 222, were all known for superfine, even world class accuracy, especially on the 222.
Now then, the wood, could have been made from any old tree growing out in the back field of the factory I suppose, but the trigger assy., more than made up for it. This trigger group, to this day, is still one of the fastest trigger lock times, ever made, and that is for a factory trigger. If you ever get a chance to dry fire one, try and pull it slow as you can a couple of times, just to get the feel of it. then when you think you got it down, try the pull again, super slow motion. When you feel the trigger ' break' try to listen for a space of time, between the break, and when you hear the firing pin go click. You can't!!! You just can't do it, and it will amaze you and freak you out a little, once you understand just how fast that trigger is.
The big prob with it was, it was put into a plastic housing. So if it got fired a whole bunch, or was not cleaned and dried, and treated well, after a hunting trip or such, the pin holes, and pivot holes and the like would get wallowed out a bit, and then the trigger pac gets slow and squishy. Also in that trigger pac, you can adjust it for pull weight, and sear geometry, very cool.
so when you get a chance to handle one, try the trigger game mentioned above, if it does not blow our mind when you do it, then don't get that one.
Or if you just have to have it, Timney Triggers makes a replacement pac for them, and they work very, very well.
You can still find these rifles in the 300's, and the mags will cost you a bunch, especially if you find origional mags, and even more so, if they are in a weirdo caliber like 3030, or 44 mag, or 350, or such.
I have one in 243, and I have allready decided, this rifle goes to Heaven,
with me. Accuracy with plain jane blue box Federal ammo, is just off the charts awesome.
Alot of bench shooters have made rifles with these actions; some will say, that with the hi pressure rounds, like a 22.250 or 243,or even the 6milly, that the bolt face, and the throat area, erode down faster than they like. I am not sure about that, maybe it is so, for a benchrester who shoots a ton of bullets; but who knows how many shots my 243 had taken before I bought it, and I certainly have not been shy to target shoot, and hunt with it, and it is a frickin 1 hole punch, when I do my part.
Now then, the wood, could have been made from any old tree growing out in the back field of the factory I suppose, but the trigger assy., more than made up for it. This trigger group, to this day, is still one of the fastest trigger lock times, ever made, and that is for a factory trigger. If you ever get a chance to dry fire one, try and pull it slow as you can a couple of times, just to get the feel of it. then when you think you got it down, try the pull again, super slow motion. When you feel the trigger ' break' try to listen for a space of time, between the break, and when you hear the firing pin go click. You can't!!! You just can't do it, and it will amaze you and freak you out a little, once you understand just how fast that trigger is.
The big prob with it was, it was put into a plastic housing. So if it got fired a whole bunch, or was not cleaned and dried, and treated well, after a hunting trip or such, the pin holes, and pivot holes and the like would get wallowed out a bit, and then the trigger pac gets slow and squishy. Also in that trigger pac, you can adjust it for pull weight, and sear geometry, very cool.
so when you get a chance to handle one, try the trigger game mentioned above, if it does not blow our mind when you do it, then don't get that one.
Or if you just have to have it, Timney Triggers makes a replacement pac for them, and they work very, very well.
You can still find these rifles in the 300's, and the mags will cost you a bunch, especially if you find origional mags, and even more so, if they are in a weirdo caliber like 3030, or 44 mag, or 350, or such.
I have one in 243, and I have allready decided, this rifle goes to Heaven,
with me. Accuracy with plain jane blue box Federal ammo, is just off the charts awesome.
Alot of bench shooters have made rifles with these actions; some will say, that with the hi pressure rounds, like a 22.250 or 243,or even the 6milly, that the bolt face, and the throat area, erode down faster than they like. I am not sure about that, maybe it is so, for a benchrester who shoots a ton of bullets; but who knows how many shots my 243 had taken before I bought it, and I certainly have not been shy to target shoot, and hunt with it, and it is a frickin 1 hole punch, when I do my part.
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rangerruck
Member
Oh yeah, if you get a 308, or 243, or 7.08, all the mags, whichever way they are marked, are interchangeable, so that is good; I think the same thing for a 22.250 mag, and a 6milly, but I could be wrong on that one.
And to the dude above, with a 6milly and a left hand bolt? That was factory made?
Dude that is totally sick , if that is true...
Anyway, yes go out and get one, and find out what a truely great made rifle looks and feels like.
It's not that they used cheap parts, the wood was cheap, and the receiver was easy to make, because it was basically a round tube, and the bluing was nothing special.
But they were time and labor intensive, with lots of metal, and no cast or stamped parts, lots of usage of bar stock steel. And the sights were considered weird, especially the front shark fin.
But in the end, they were not cheap to make, remmy just price pointed them so low, they did it on purpose, to destroy the low end market of Savage, and Mossberg at the time. Once they accomplished this, they discontinued the rifle.
Just check this beauty for sale in 6milly , for example, I love that rear and front site, man!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=143769642#PIC
and this could be the finest thing ever; a 788, new in the box!!!! in 222 as well!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=144548623#PIC
And to the dude above, with a 6milly and a left hand bolt? That was factory made?
Dude that is totally sick , if that is true...
Anyway, yes go out and get one, and find out what a truely great made rifle looks and feels like.
It's not that they used cheap parts, the wood was cheap, and the receiver was easy to make, because it was basically a round tube, and the bluing was nothing special.
But they were time and labor intensive, with lots of metal, and no cast or stamped parts, lots of usage of bar stock steel. And the sights were considered weird, especially the front shark fin.
But in the end, they were not cheap to make, remmy just price pointed them so low, they did it on purpose, to destroy the low end market of Savage, and Mossberg at the time. Once they accomplished this, they discontinued the rifle.
Just check this beauty for sale in 6milly , for example, I love that rear and front site, man!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=143769642#PIC
and this could be the finest thing ever; a 788, new in the box!!!! in 222 as well!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=144548623#PIC
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pikid89
Member
i have one in 22-250 that i got for 400 bucks..the guy i got it from got it from his dad..after it had 8 rounds through it...when i got it 20 somthin years later, it still had only 8 rounds through it...but i dont collect guns, i wanted a shooter, and a shooter i got, i put a bushnell elite 3200 on millet rings and that sucker is accurate, as to the previously mentioned lock times, i can un scientifically attest to that, shooting clay pigeons on the berm at 220 yards, with iron sights freehand standing...i would have to say that the good lock time helps there.
on another note..i wonder how difficult i would be to maybe 3d print or fab up somehow a mag well filling block, effectively turning it into a single shot bolt action, as an alternative to these rare mags,
but i did read somewhere there is aftermarket magazines available now
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/remington-788-3-rd-magazine.aspx?a=408001
or
http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=723530&chrSuperSKU=&MC=&CatID=&mySort=
or
http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Bro...&categorystring=10613***687***11341***9375***
sorry but you are the 308 family is the only set that is interchangeable
on another note..i wonder how difficult i would be to maybe 3d print or fab up somehow a mag well filling block, effectively turning it into a single shot bolt action, as an alternative to these rare mags,
but i did read somewhere there is aftermarket magazines available now
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/remington-788-3-rd-magazine.aspx?a=408001
or
http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=723530&chrSuperSKU=&MC=&CatID=&mySort=
or
http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Bro...&categorystring=10613***687***11341***9375***
sorry but you are
the 308 family is the only set that is interchangeable
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X-Rap
Member
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2006
- Messages
- 6,657
I got a 22-250 and 7-08 both are tack drivers. I think there was a break somewhere along the way when they shortened the barrels. I missed a sweet 223 a few yrs ago with a handful of spare mags for $350. That seems to be the going rate if you can just find em.
pikid89
Member
i am considering getting a laminated thumbhole stock for mine
http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-309/Classic-Sporter-Thumbhole--dsh-/Detail
http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-309/Classic-Sporter-Thumbhole--dsh-/Detail
wyohome
Member
Mine is my regular hunting rifle, although I own much more expensive rifles.
Fella's, and Rangerruck;
If you go to the Wikipedia site & search for "Remington 788", you'll pull up the article. Then look on the right hand side of the page in the box titled "Production History". At the bottom of the box it has "variants", and lists the 6mm and .308 as being available with a left hand bolt. The ejection port is still on the right though. And yes, I have a 6mm in LHB. And yes, it shoots very nicely indeed.
Wyohome, that's some nice wood on that gun. Where did that stock come from? Frannie?
900F
If you go to the Wikipedia site & search for "Remington 788", you'll pull up the article. Then look on the right hand side of the page in the box titled "Production History". At the bottom of the box it has "variants", and lists the 6mm and .308 as being available with a left hand bolt. The ejection port is still on the right though. And yes, I have a 6mm in LHB. And yes, it shoots very nicely indeed.
Wyohome, that's some nice wood on that gun. Where did that stock come from? Frannie?
900F
I got my 788 in .308 with a bushnell 3-9x40mm scope on it for 200 but I later one found out why it was 200 dollars and why my dad didn't want me to buy it from his ex girl friend. I found that my dad had over tighten screws on the bottom plate and broke the weld on the bung off, (he over tightens everything) but I got it fixed by a gun smith for $50 and I also got new screws and a bottom plate for $36, so after all the hassel I got a great hunting rifle for $286 and I just got my first deer with it last week, then this week I rewarded the rifle and myself with a new Nikon buck master 4-14 x 50mm scope and new scope rail and mounts. I'm glad to have this rifle and I'm glad that I didn't listen to my dad about it.
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