Jim Watson
Member
Do you mean 710? Remington 610 was a low production rimfire.
If so, the answer is
Practically everything.
If so, the answer is
Practically everything.
“New” Remington 788 Owner; Need Ur Info!
- Thread starter MatrixReality
- Start date
Old Hobo
Member
Had a 788 back when. Tack driver in .308. Was an ugly duckling and the bolt rattled a tad when not locked in battery. Sold it to a friend for a song.
Could kick myself for having not having kept it. I was young & this act proved my foolishness.
Keep this puppy.
Gosh, but haven't firearm prices gone berserk! Over $600 for a 788, wow. Firearm prices up and the dollar going down the drain. There's some old man who keeps showing up in my bathroom mirror. Strange days.
Could kick myself for having not having kept it. I was young & this act proved my foolishness.
Keep this puppy.
Gosh, but haven't firearm prices gone berserk! Over $600 for a 788, wow. Firearm prices up and the dollar going down the drain. There's some old man who keeps showing up in my bathroom mirror. Strange days.
Dr T
Member
Another item: Be careful working up handloads and check each round for signs of pressure. The 788 will show pressure signs long before a 700, and a buddy's pet load for a 700 may be a bit too warm for a 788. You will know if you have perforated a primer when a lot of gas comes out of the receiver and you have to hammer the bolt open.
On the ejected brass hitting the turrets:The package guns in the 70's were shipped with a Bushnell banner and low Weaver style rings. This scope had a significant shift of impact when you changed power (I left mine set at 6x). My old scope had a couple of dozen little brass colored dimples in the 5 o'clock to 7 o'clock arc. This was solved with higher rings and a scope with small turrets. {That OEM scope soured me on Bushnell for decades until I got a Bushnell Elite 3200 series at a bargain price (it had Zombie Hunter graphics) that ended up gracing a TC Icon 243.} I ended up tossing the Banner off the 788 when I replaced it with a Cabela's Fixed Power 6x.
On the ejected brass hitting the turrets:The package guns in the 70's were shipped with a Bushnell banner and low Weaver style rings. This scope had a significant shift of impact when you changed power (I left mine set at 6x). My old scope had a couple of dozen little brass colored dimples in the 5 o'clock to 7 o'clock arc. This was solved with higher rings and a scope with small turrets. {That OEM scope soured me on Bushnell for decades until I got a Bushnell Elite 3200 series at a bargain price (it had Zombie Hunter graphics) that ended up gracing a TC Icon 243.} I ended up tossing the Banner off the 788 when I replaced it with a Cabela's Fixed Power 6x.
Heir Kommt Die Sonne
Member
I meant the Remingon model 600
Jim Watson
Member
Even less.
PistoleroWadcutterGANG
Member
Front vs. Rear locking lugs. 788 had a lot more bolt flex. 788 is in reality a massive action / heavy. Knew a guy who had a custom made 22-243 Middlestead imp. He want to make sure the fire formed case filled out. So his first batch of loads he stoked them HOT! First shot smeared the brass case head all over the bolt face, ruptured the case and locked that bolt so tight the smith broke the brazed B.handle right oft. lol both them issued a squad full of cusses and momma disparagement. AHHH memories.
I bought the 788 I have back in 2012 for 385.00 but it didn't have a magazine with it.I was able to get a new Remington mag for it,and it wound up being a great rifle.It's chambered in 22-250 and is always less than an inch for 5 shots at 100 with 52 grain A-Max bullets.With CFE-223 powder they're turning 3900 on the chronograph.Mine had the birch stock that would change POI with the weather.I retro fitted an H-S Precision fiberglass stock for a 700 long action and installed a Timney trigger.Sometimes the extractor on them can get stuck and it'll let go of the empty case too soon and make you think it's an ejector problem.If a rifle is carried muzzle up in rain or snow,water will go down the bore and cause the extractor to rust and stick.You got yourself a good rifle.I can't recall ever seeing a 788 that didn't shoot well.I got luck with mine because the original owner didn't shoot it after the magazine got lost.It had 10 rounds through it when I got it.
Random 8
Member
Stock a spare bolt stop while they are still available. This part is subject to wear and breakage. Better yet If you can find a whole trigger/safety group.
I had a 788 back in the days when .308 surplus could be had for a song. I fired it A LOT! I wore out a bolt stop, and also had an issue with the safety over time. The safety would partially engage, resulting in an unsafe condition where the rifle could be fired with the safety in on position if you pulled the trigger twice or subjected the butt stock to concussion. I ended up trading mine for an M96 Swede to an F-class shooter who was doing a full build and not too worried about the safety issue.
I had a 788 back in the days when .308 surplus could be had for a song. I fired it A LOT! I wore out a bolt stop, and also had an issue with the safety over time. The safety would partially engage, resulting in an unsafe condition where the rifle could be fired with the safety in on position if you pulled the trigger twice or subjected the butt stock to concussion. I ended up trading mine for an M96 Swede to an F-class shooter who was doing a full build and not too worried about the safety issue.
Scooter22
Member
The 100 dollar 788s were more accurate that the flagship 700 so they dumped them. I have a 24" .223 and a 18" 7mm-08. Just plain, simple and accurate.
Jim Watson
Member
Right.
There used to be a website that listed the 788's shortcomings. One being that the rear lug bolt was subject to compression, the long receiver to stretch, making the action marginal with full charge .473" head cases. Nothing that most of us notice if we stay out of the right hand column of the data. Other limitations largely due to cheap construction.
The 788 is not the only Remington with brazed on bolt handle, I have reliable reports of overloaded 700s with the bolt handle knocked off before it knocked open.
Mossberg brought out the 800 series to compete in the sub C-note rifle market.
They saved money with plastic and mung metal parts, but the multi-lug front locking bolt is stout.
One gunzine writer dared say of the stock that while he understood cheap wood and pressed checkering to save money, it didn't have to be UGLY, which is is with pressed in skip-line "checkering" and embossed deer and reverse slanted forearm tip. They later straightened out the checkering but kept the slant.
Steel Horse Rider
Member
Jim: I have long respected your postings here but I am a skeptic of the "rear lugs are weak:" theories as I don't believe the steel used in the manufacture of the bolt or receiver can be overpowered by the energy it takes to send a bullet down the barrel. I hand load but usually do not push the limits in the manuals and have never had any issues with my 6mm. The issue I think may be a weakness is of burning out the barrel by pushing velocities too far due to the accuracy characteristics of the 6mm Remington cartridge.
d2wing
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
- Messages
- 6,430
I had a 788 in 243. Regrettably I sold it. Very accurate but ugly. I have heard that the action is not as strong or safe as a 700 action in part due to the rear locking lugs and something I don't remember, maybe venting system. I was told not to run hot loads.
d2wing
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
- Messages
- 6,430
As I recall the 600 was similar to the 700 action but I think shorter and lighter which is very different than a 788. It was intended to be a carbine and compete with lever actions. I have also heard that it was the basis of Jeff Cooper's scout rifle idea. It came with forward scope mounts that he utilized so he did not invent them.
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DM~
Member
It's pretty much accepted that 788 actions will stretch if you don't keep your loads reasonable. No matter to me, as I don't run super heavy loads in my two 788's as there's no need to.
DM
DM
Jim Watson
Member
I didn't say rear lugs are weak, I said the setup is more flexible. Loading at the limits there are reports of stretched cases. Since you don't, you won't see it.
Ken Waters cited reports of overly stretched 7x61 Sharpe and Hart brass in the rear lug Schultz and Larsen rifles. HIS 7x61 was a Mauser.
Gordon
Member
I have a 788 in .44 Rem Mag for 35 years, my grandson now has it. I put a 1-3 Weaver scope on it and it by far the most accurate .44 mag I ever owned. I shot deer out of my small orchard in Calif with it with .44 Spec. 240 grain Kieth loads using
Unique powder that got around 900 fps and just a big POP for a report !
Unique powder that got around 900 fps and just a big POP for a report !
GooseGestapo
Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2003
- Messages
- 6,153
I’ve owned three 788’s.
First was a .30-30 I bought for $69.95 in ‘73 while working after school at a gun shop till closing, while in high school.
It was the first rifle that I ever shot three shots touching with at 100yds.
But, it was “just” a .30-30, so I traded it for a 788 in .243. It too was a tack driver. Especially with an 80gr Hornady Spt over H4895. , but, then I had a hankering for a Remington M700 in .308.
Lastly, in 1991 I acquired a 788 in .223. It too was very accurate but very picky about powders and bullets. A max load of BLC2 under a 50gr Sierra Varminter (flat base) was near 1/2” at 100yds. Substitute a Speer or Hornady at same OAL and it was 2” or worse… Go figure!
The only “issue” I’m familiar with regarding the M788 is the extractors. I had a friend shear off an extractor ruining the bolt with a warm load of H4831 under a Speer 105gr Spt. (Warm load stuck in chamber).
Also, magazines are nearly impossible to find. $$$ if you do…
I’m told that Remington discontinued them due to intricate machining of the receiver made them cost prohibitive in the market.
First was a .30-30 I bought for $69.95 in ‘73 while working after school at a gun shop till closing, while in high school.
It was the first rifle that I ever shot three shots touching with at 100yds.
But, it was “just” a .30-30, so I traded it for a 788 in .243. It too was a tack driver. Especially with an 80gr Hornady Spt over H4895. , but, then I had a hankering for a Remington M700 in .308.
Lastly, in 1991 I acquired a 788 in .223. It too was very accurate but very picky about powders and bullets. A max load of BLC2 under a 50gr Sierra Varminter (flat base) was near 1/2” at 100yds. Substitute a Speer or Hornady at same OAL and it was 2” or worse… Go figure!
The only “issue” I’m familiar with regarding the M788 is the extractors. I had a friend shear off an extractor ruining the bolt with a warm load of H4831 under a Speer 105gr Spt. (Warm load stuck in chamber).
Also, magazines are nearly impossible to find. $$$ if you do…
I’m told that Remington discontinued them due to intricate machining of the receiver made them cost prohibitive in the market.
