FL-NC
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At 100 yards and less, I would pick the one I like/shoot the best.
Interesting choice for a deer rifle
- Thread starter Smaug
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Smaug
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Me too! Lots of different viewpoints and there's almost always someone who sees things differently.
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I looked into it maybe 15 years ago and I think this is a 70s gun. It had a really ugly orange/blonde finish on it that was starting to orange-peel. My pix show my amateur refinishing job. It doesn't look great, but it looks better than the orange-peeled orange/blonde it had when I got it.
You're right, he didn't use the scope. I bought the scope & rings when he gave it to me about 20 years ago. I take full responsibility for the hokey rings, hehehe. He said he bought it for ground hogs; he felt like the 22LR wasn't quite enough. He wound up going back to his old Marlin 39A. (a sweet take-down lever action) I think he figured out the 22LR was plenty of juice to anchor a ground hog, just maybe not immediately with a chest shot., like the 6 mm would. Probably had a couple get into their den underground before they died, then stunk up the place while they rotted. I like to think he got some varmint ammo for this and really splattered a few of them before going back to the 22LR. Or maybe he couldn't HIT them and that's why he went back to the 22LR.
I may do that before I re-mount the scope with the Pic rail & rings.
I'll need to roll some more ammo first, and that will require me to get some rifle powder. I have plenty of cases and bullets for the time being. Mine has the tighter twist rate on the barrel, so it should handle up to 105 gr OK, but the barrel sure does get hot quickly. (early Remington rifles in 6 mm Rem had a slower twist rate and wouldn't stabilize the heavier bullets) I'm reading in a reloading forum from a couple of guys that these guns like bullets in the 80 gr. range better, and that it's plenty heavy enough for deer. Nosler bullets seem to be preferred over the basic Sierra and Midway-branded bullets I've got in stock here.
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Smaug
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By the way, I'm surprised how many people shoot 6 mm rifles at > 200 yards. Must be a lot of you have a lot of room in which to shoot. I can't get more than 200 on a range and maybe 50 in the woods.
Chuck R.
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My favorite precision rifle in a re-barreled Ruger RPR with a 26" Bartlein on it in 6mm SLR (slightly slower than a .243Win). It launches a 105 Berger Hybrid at 3170 from it's 26" barrel and has done very well out to1200yds.
I'm fortunate that my backyard range goes out to 760yds and I've got steel off my back deck at 400 and 547yds, so I routinely practice out to at least 300-400 with my hunting rifles and the precision stuff I stretch further.
When it gets closer to the season I'll run tgts out from 200-600 at varying distances and have my friends come out and we'll practice hunting situations. I basically set up course of fire and we shoot from field expedient rests.
It's good practice (and fun)
Buuut, you don't really need the distance. You can accomplish a lot of it, especially watching/reading wind by shooting .22LRs out to 200. I'm getting ready for a MT mulie hunt this NOV, so I'm spending a lot of time behind a .22LR and a .223shooting off a tripod, backpack etc. Both are way more challenging than what I plan on hunting with (.270 & .300WM).
This weekend I'm got a couple friends coming out to do some range maintenance, then we'll get some practice in shooting .22LR silhouettes out to 125yds or so.
Howland937
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I've owned 788's and I've owned a 6mmRem, but not a 6mm 788. My 6mm was in a BDL heavy barrel. It's been years ago, but it really liked a 90gr Nosler ballistic tip (the purple ones) in the lower-middle load range...just can't remember specifics. Every 788 I've owned (3) was a good shooter. The combination you have should shoot much better than 3".
Lots more room in the west. I can shoot 1700 yards out my back window if I like.
22250Rem
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A buddy had a 788 in 6mm Rem. for years and took a few deer with it. Sold it to another buddy of mine a few years ago and now he's taken deer with it. IIRC the serial number places it as a 1958 production specimen. I have seen its performance on whitetails and know the exact load it likes, as I load the ammo for my buddy because I'm retired and he's not. It seems to shoot almost anything decently, but it now gets fed only one load so he can be familiar with the trajectory. It uses a 90 gr. Speer Hot-Cor with 38.3 gr. of Varget and it is a proven combo on whitetails. I like that rifle, it's a cool old classic that shoots.
First statement is correct.
Second statement: Watch some YouTube and read tutorials. If it's out of your scope of practice. Don't do it.
Third: Clean with a copper solvent. Then CLR. Then Copper solvent. Until you get clean patches in consecutive cleanings.
The issue is layers of copper, then carbon, then copper then carbon...
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Smaug
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I took off the scope and see-through mounts on the 788 yesterday. When I went to install the Pic rail, I found this:
Seems like I ordered the one for the standard action instead of long. I'll have to return that, dammit.
I found I have 40 rounds of ammo left for it that I loaded years ago with bulk packaged 100 gr. PSP bullets from Midway. I guess I’ll shoot that up with iron sights at 50 yards and buy the correct mount with my next order.
Seems like I ordered the one for the standard action instead of long. I'll have to return that, dammit.
I found I have 40 rounds of ammo left for it that I loaded years ago with bulk packaged 100 gr. PSP bullets from Midway. I guess I’ll shoot that up with iron sights at 50 yards and buy the correct mount with my next order.
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Smaug
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JeffG
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Pretty much my experience.
22250Rem
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.. Interesting project. Keep us posted on the results and the scope mounting when that other mount shows up. Best of luck with it.
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Smaug
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This little screw-up on my part may be the perfect opportunity to try the iron sights. I think my local indoor range will let me shoot it there. Even at only 25 yards, that will be a challenge if I do it standing offhand.
It'll also let me burn up some of these bullets that has been too accurate for me. I'll save the half box of Sierras in case I get the itch to go deer hunting again soon.
The consensus in the reloading fora seems to be that these Remingtons don't like the heavier bullets. (100 gr. and up) I think I'm just going to sell what I have left and buy a couple boxes of lighter bullets in the 70-85 gr. range. I probably should just start a new thread at this point, (and point back to this one for background) since it is getting off-topic now.
I have a rem model 700 with see thru mounts which I was never a big fan of and did try to a swap them out for lower rings when I did they seemed to interfere with the round being ejected I am sure it's an error on my part just don't know what any suggestions
d2wing
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.223 because shot placement is key. I have shot deer with both. Only I used a 788 in 243 instead of 6 MM almost the same thing. Only my 788 was sub moa so I am thinking there is something wrong. A good cleaning might do wonders for it. At the range where the additional power of the 6 MM would matter, you could not hit with a 3 moa rifle.
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scchokedaddy
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Someone said it already, but no one really followed up on it, get the crown checked or redone. Muzzle down in trucks has been known to cause issues. Also not many think to check it before they start chasing accuracy issues.
Mauser fan
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Before buying another thing for your old boom stick shoot her with the iron sights that she is dressed in. You might have a different story to tell. I'm hard pressed to believe that she is grouping that poorly. Besides without having it in a skilled smiths hands you're really just chasing your tail.
JMHO
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Smaug
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I ordered the wrong Pic base by accident. Returned that for the right one. Before I mount that up, I'm going to shoot this one with the irons, as you suggest.
I'll take a look at the crown and see if it's jacked up. A proper cleaning, and a new scope mount. I would hope to be able to shoot 2 MoA @ 100 yards from a cold, clean barrel from a scope, or maybe a fist sized group at 50 yards with the irons.
I have problems shooting well with see through mounts. They might be half the problem.
If you shoot with iron sights. Try to match the target size to the size the front sight appears to be at the distance you're shooting. Too big or two small leave you guessing a bit.
Space Ghost
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I would feel comfortable using a .223 considering the size of the deer in my area, and the distances they are shot at, but I voted for 6mm because I'd rather a .243.
alsaqr
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The .223 is legal for deer and elk in Oklahoma: A rancher lady acquaintance takes an elk every year with her .223.
IMO: Shot placement is everything. A 55 grain .223 bullet in the lungs trumps a 180 grain .30 caliber bullet in the guts.
i'm a muzzleloader hunter: Most deer are killed from stands and blinds overlooking ponds, game trails and food plots. But i really prefer to stalk deer and hogs. Infrequently i'm able hunt wheatfields early in the growing season: That low wheat provides for the most challenging stalking: It looks easy, crawl when their heads are down, stop when they raise their heads.
IMO: Shot placement is everything. A 55 grain .223 bullet in the lungs trumps a 180 grain .30 caliber bullet in the guts.
i'm a muzzleloader hunter: Most deer are killed from stands and blinds overlooking ponds, game trails and food plots. But i really prefer to stalk deer and hogs. Infrequently i'm able hunt wheatfields early in the growing season: That low wheat provides for the most challenging stalking: It looks easy, crawl when their heads are down, stop when they raise their heads.
GooseGestapo
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I’ve never seen a REM 788 shoot worse than 1.5 MOA. I’ve owned 3.
.223, .243, .30-30.
With a 130gr Speer JHP over a case fill to the bottom of neck of IMR4320 would shoot one hole group’s.
The .223 was the “pickiest” of the three wanting a Sierra 50-64gr bullet over BLC2. Still shot near 1/2 MOA.
After getting rid of that abomination of scope mounts, try properly torquing the action in the stock. Then if accuracy is still wanting, get a knowledgeable gunsmith to re-cut the muzzle crown. It’s likely been cleaned from the muzzle and gotten wear or a ding.
I wish I had them all back.
The one I wanted most was a Lefthand 6mm. It’s probably the rarest and second most desirable. The most coveted is the .44magnum. It never really struck a cord with me.
.223, .243, .30-30.
With a 130gr Speer JHP over a case fill to the bottom of neck of IMR4320 would shoot one hole group’s.
The .223 was the “pickiest” of the three wanting a Sierra 50-64gr bullet over BLC2. Still shot near 1/2 MOA.
After getting rid of that abomination of scope mounts, try properly torquing the action in the stock. Then if accuracy is still wanting, get a knowledgeable gunsmith to re-cut the muzzle crown. It’s likely been cleaned from the muzzle and gotten wear or a ding.
I wish I had them all back.
The one I wanted most was a Lefthand 6mm. It’s probably the rarest and second most desirable. The most coveted is the .44magnum. It never really struck a cord with me.
Robbins290
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4 confirmed kills with 223. Shot placement is critical.
illinoisburt
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Any update?
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Smaug
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Non yet. I got the right mounting base in the mail, but haven't mounted it nor even looked at the gun. I haven't been to a range of longer than 25 yards recently.
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