Gettin' the ball rolling.....

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Poper

Poper

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I love my old Remington 788. It's the carbine length model chambered in .308 Win. I have been waffling back and forth whether to leve it as-is or re-barrel it to another chambering.
I ain't getting any younger and I really want to have it in a 6mm / .243 caliber. I keep going back and forth between 6mm Creedmore and 6x47 Lapua. The only advantage the 6mm CM has over the 6x47 Lapua is the availability of commercial ammo. I load my own, so it doesn't really concern me.
Because of my age, I want to do this one nice. It already has a Timney trigger installed on the existing barreled action (installed by Timney) and I have a 6mm Bartlein barrel on order. My heart's desire is to spend the bucks for a AA Walnut pillar bedded stock from Boyds. Nice upgrades and a fine accuracy cartridge.

Okay, flame suit on for degrading a perfect old 788! :neener:
 
Think I'd go 6cm I don't have any loyalty to either, just brass should be easier with the cm. Tho there maybe better brass for the x47 is lapua making 6cm or adg?

What you got for a scope?
 
troy fairweather said:
How will you be using the gun
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Range trips and the occasional deer hunt. More of a semi-custom feel-good rifle. Just for me. I'm semi-retired and just feel the want for another toy.
My preference is for a Lightweight Sporter contour. I don't intend any extended range sessions and it won't be for competition. Besides, LW contour is just plain sexy!
 
As a 30 caliber fan, I find no fault with the 308 Win. I know for a fact that I can push 150's in a 308 Win faster than I can push 150's in a 270 Win. My 270's blow primers at 308 Win velocities.

I don't know enough about the Rem 788 to know if there are magazines and feed issues with the sub calibers. I have had M70's what fed 308 Win cartridges that would not reliably feed 243 Win. It was something in the timing.

As a 308 Win fan, I would leave it as it.
 
Messing up the originaity modesty collectable rifles aside the 788 was an economy grade rifle and as such the results are only going to be so nice. Plus the aftermarket is pretty thin

If it were me and I wanted to build something nice with good visual impacts I would buy a basket case Mauser and start there. Or a less desirable 700 Remington
 
R.W.Dale said:
Messing up the originaity modesty collectable rifles aside the 788 was an economy grade rifle and as such the results are only going to be so nice. Plus the aftermarket is pretty thin

If it were me and I wanted to build something nice with good visual impacts I would buy a basket case Mauser and start there. Or a less desirable 700 Remington
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Yes, the 788 was an economy / entry level rifle built to a price point. However, Remington messed up when they gave it the fastest lock time of any production rifle and accuracy from it that often exceeded the 700 and most production rifles of the time. Some target shooters still build their rigs based on the 788. The receiver is very stiff and with the 9 rear bolt locking lugs, the biggest problem, according to my research reading, can be the compression of the bolt. However, that only begins to be a problem if/when cartridge loadings are at or exceeding maximum.
Turn your nose up at the 788 action if you wish. There are plenty of competitors out there that will not.

Though there is nothing wrong with the Mauser, the reason I prefer to not go that way is because; 1) it has been done adnauseum, 2) I do not like the safety system, 3) I have a dear, old friend in a 788 that I would like to play with. Additionally, I think the 788 would excell with the 6x47 in a quality barrel such as Bartlein, ER Shaw, Hart or Lilja. I have experience with Hart, Lilja, Krieger and Montana Rifleman and have wanted to do a Bartlein for a couple years now. As I have been getting older, I have become more willing to 'scratch that itch', so to speak. Therefore the 788 as the action, the 6x47 as the chambering, Bartlein for the barrel and a Boyds stock of the wood, checkering, etc. that tickles my fancy.
 
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If I may ask, why not make it a 243 Winchester? Or maybe 6MM Remington? Either will be sufficient for your stated needs. I know nothing about the other two cartridges, but I do like my 243. Of course, I understand if your heart is set on one of the others.

I built my 243 sorta like you want to. Used a Savage 110 action, model 11 barrel, new take-off walnut stock. Topped it with a 3-9x40 Leupold. It drives nails with my handloads, and cost to build was under 500 total. I don't knock the economy rifles; I have a Savage 340 in 222 that will also drive nails and while not beautiful, is very pleasing to shoot.

At the end of the day, I would spring for the AA wood and build exactly what I want, the way I want it. I lean to the 6cm but the 6x47 sounds fun too. My only hold up on it would be brass, but you wouldn't need over 100 cases if all you want to do is plink on the range occasionally or shoot the odd deer.

Whatever you decide, do post before and after pics!

Mac
 
MacAR said:
If I may ask, why not make it a 243 Winchester? Or maybe 6MM Remington? Either will be sufficient for your stated needs. I know nothing about the other two cartridges, but I do like my 243. Of course, I understand if your heart is set on one of the others.

I built my 243 sorta like you want to. Used a Savage 110 action, model 11 barrel, new take-off walnut stock. Topped it with a 3-9x40 Leupold. It drives nails with my handloads, and cost to build was under 500 total. I don't knock the economy rifles; I have a Savage 340 in 222 that will also drive nails and while not beautiful, is very pleasing to shoot.

At the end of the day, I would spring for the AA wood and build exactly what I want, the way I want it. I lean to the 6cm but the 6x47 sounds fun too. My only hold up on it would be brass, but you wouldn't need over 100 cases if all you want to do is plink on the range occasionally or shoot the odd deer.

Whatever you decide, do post before and after pics!

Mac
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Well, I already have a Mauser M18 in .243 Win. Easy to shoot and very accurate. The 788 was chambered in .243 and 6mm Rem, so nothing sexy there. o_O
I also have a Savage 340 in .222 Rem. with a side mounted scope because of the split bridge. It's ok and shoots nice small groups. A typically homely Savage design, it none the less fills a niche.
The 6CM and 6x47 Lapua are very similar, and yes, I would most likely be able to get by with 100 cases. Both will fit within the 788's DBM and will not require opening up of the bolt face. It will not be shot as much as my silhouette rifles, but its primary purpose will be to make others at the range and deer camp drool. :D
 
Poper said:
Well, I already have a Mauser M18 in .243 Win. Easy to shoot and very accurate.
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Well, that's understandable. Those M18's are very nice rifles so I can't blame you in not wanting a "duplicate" as it were.

Poper said:
I also have a Savage 340 in .222 Rem. with a side mounted scope because of the split bridge. It's ok and shoots nice small groups. A typically homely Savage design, it none the less fills a niche.
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Mine is set up similar, with a steel Weaver 3-9x32 AO scope. An excellent rifle that has accounted for many critters in the 9 months that I've owned it. For some reason, even though I like pretty guns, I've had no desire to replace this one with a "prettier" one.

Poper said:
The 6CM and 6x47 Lapua are very similar, and yes, I would most likely be able to get by with 100 cases. Both will fit within the 788's DBM and will not require opening up of the bolt face. It will not be shot as much as my silhouette rifles, but its primary purpose will be to make others at the range and deer camp drool. :D
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Ah, I see. Were I you (and I'm not), I'd go with the 6mm Creedmoor, gloss blue and AA walnut, and find an older Leupold Gloss scope to put on top of it. If that isn't class, I don't know what is!

Mac
 
I'd go with the Lapua, but only because you openly admitted this
Poper said:
also have a Savage 340 in .222 Rem.
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Not really. My first center-fire rifle was the 340 set up just as you've described. Had the .22 Hornet version too. They just shoot.
I'd be more inclined to find another 788 with a shot out barrel to build from, but either way.

You might be the only person in your camp shooting a 6x47Lapua.
You might be the only person in your camp shooting a tricked out 788.
You'd have to be the only person in your camp shooting a tricked out 788 in 6x47Lapua
(Just don't forget your ammo. Ain't nobody gonna have any to loan ya)
 
All I can advise....IF you're going to do it, do it sooner rather than later..

I've had a Rem M7 in for rebarreling and action work since 10MAR, the Manners stock was also ordered in early March. The intent was to have early fall to work up a load. I'm now hoping the 2 come together in time for late doe season:( The next batch of COVID delays will probably push it into 2022 at this rate.
 
I dropped off my rifle in April of last year. It took my gunsmith 9 months to rebarrel and do some stock inletting. The result is absolutely beautiful but 9 months...geez. Ordered a custom stock at the same time and that took a year and 1 week to show up. By that time I had already sourced another stock :fire:. I sure hope your smith is a bit faster but who knows right now.
 
UPDATE:
Well, for Bartlein, it was impossible to get someone to pick up the phone and it was almost 2 weeks before I got a return phone call.
Lilja was much more accomodating, so before I got a return phone call from Bartlein, I had a barrel on the Big Brown Truck from Lilja for about the same money. I decided to go with a stainless steel barrel in a light-varmint contour.
Gunsmithing will be by Keith Johns of Keith's Custom Rifles, Tempe, AZ.
Chambering will be 6mm Creedmore (even though I cringe at anything "Creedmore" - just because). I went with the 6mmCM because of the availability of factory ammo versus the availability of 6x47 Lapua ammo. (I expect to pass this one on to my son that does not roll his own.) New 6mm CM Redding type 's' dies were obtained from Bruno's of Phoenix. A Boyd's pillar bedded maple Prairie Hunter stock with walnut tip and gripcap is planned, too.
Keith is 4-6 weeks out for completing this one.
Stay tuned! :)
 
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I’ve been pleasantly surprised with my 788 in .243, which btw has no feed problems. Sounds like a fantastic project you’ve got cooking and looking forward to updates.
 
Poper said:
Because of my age, I want to do this one nice. It already has a Timney trigger installed on the existing barreled action (installed by Timney) and I have a 6mm Bartlein barrel on order. My heart's desire is to spend the bucks for a AA Walnut pillar bedded stock from Boyds. Nice upgrades and a fine accuracy cartridge.

Okay, flame suit on for degrading a perfect old 788! :neener:
Click to expand...

No flames from this end either.

I recently picked up a Savage Model 11 243Win barreled action with an Accutrigger, DBM and Bottom Bolt Release with the intention of doing something very similar. I already have a Richards Field Trekker stock on order and due to be delivered in Nov.. My enablers at the range have about convinced me to chamber in some form of 6mm though because of a conversation on another forum I am seriously considering chambering it to 250 Savage. Reason being that as a target bench gun this will highly unlikely ever be fired past 300yds., which is the distance of our range. I then see the 250 Savage as an in-between as in-between the 6mm and the 6.5mm

So now I'll take the flame suite!
 
kmw1954 said:
No flames from this end either.

I recently picked up a Savage Model 11 243Win barreled action with an Accutrigger, DBM and Bottom Bolt Release with the intention of doing something very similar. I already have a Richards Field Trekker stock on order and due to be delivered in Nov.. My enablers at the range have about convinced me to chamber in some form of 6mm though because of a conversation on another forum I am seriously considering chambering it to 250 Savage. Reason being that as a target bench gun this will highly unlikely ever be fired past 300yds., which is the distance of our range. I then see the 250 Savage as an in-between as in-between the 6mm and the 6.5mm

So now I'll take the flame suite!
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Get a 1-8 twist tube just in case.....
 
It'll be interesting to see the outcome.I have a very nice 788 in 22-250,but I've been watching for one rough enough to get for the action.I'd think a 788 with a premium barrel would be a great rifle.The tightest group I ever fired was with a 788 in 6MM.Three three shot groups were .128,.112 and .098 at 100 yards.They had two weak points,in my opinion.The stocks were ugly and were bad to warp and shift POI.The triggers were usually pretty coarse.I put mine in a fiberglass stock and the Timney takes care of the trigger,
 
WVRJ said:
They had two weak points,in my opinion.The stocks were ugly and were bad to warp and shift POI.The triggers were usually pretty coarse.I put mine in a fiberglass stock and the Timney takes care of the trigger,
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Yes, I agree that they did have ugly stocks. Mine came with a birch stock when new and it was in an injection moulded plastic stock when it went to Keith. I have a Boyd's Prairie Hunter on order. Maple with walnut tip cap and grip cap. It will get pillar bedded and glass bedded, too.
I, too, put a Timney trigger in it way back when Timney first started making them for the 788. Early '90's IIRC. At the time, I lived about 20 miles from the Timney shop. I stopped in with the rifle in a case and the guys in the shop installed it while I waited at no additional charge. Pretty cool.

BTW, there is a much larger bullet selection (if you handload) for the 6mm than the .257 bore. Just something to take into consideration....
LoonWulf said:
Get a 1-8 twist tube just in case.....
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I ordered mine with a 1:7.5 twist. Might be a little fast for the lightest varmint bullets. I expect it should handle the heavy 115 gr. Bergers, tho.
 
Update:
Lilja's barrel arrived. Just what the doctor ordered! Stainless steel, 6mm, 120 grit finish, light-varmint contour. Waiting for the Boyd's stock (AA Walnut, Prairie Hunter w/skip-line checkering, polymer tip and grip cap. - over $500!!!) It will likely be the last custom / semi-custom rifle I will have built soooooo.......
Aw, what the heck! It's only money, right? o_O :uhoh:
Now I have to start thinking of a scope ..... At first glance, I like this one: https://www.eurooptic.com/swarovski-z5-5-25x52-bt-4w-reticle-matte-black-59884.aspx :):)
 
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Looking forward to seeing pictures of this beast completed!

I think that Z5 would be an awesome scope for it, I'm seriously considering getting myself a swaro has my next big gun purchase.
 
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