Model 788 needs new barrel

[n00b]

So I have an old Remington Model 788 (.222 Remington) But it needs a new barrel

Is it worth getting a new barrel?
Who's Barrel would I get?
Is putting a new barrel one something a n00b can do?
or do I need a smith do it?
If I got a new barrel could I get it chambered for .223 or 5.56x45 or .243?

Thanks,

n00b

 

[MMCSRET]

Why does it need a new barrel? 222 was not a barrel burner and as old goes, the 788 is a relatively new design. You will need the services of a journeyman gunsmith, machining and fitting is required.

 

[NCsmitty]

+1 for MMCSRET.

n00b, how did you determine that you need a new barrel?

NCsmitty

 

[n00b]

The original barrel is pitted... (It was stored at parents for 10 years with out any care) This is my fault. The action has no rust but the barrel does...

 

[MMCSRET]

Internal rust or external rust? Have you tried to remove the rust?

 

[n00b]

Internal and external on the barrel... It was stored in one of those old hunting rifle soft case with like a cloth flanel like lining.

The action is fine... I am guessing it had more oil on it...

 

[rcmodel]

I'm gussing it is a different grade of steel less likely to rust.

Before I got too excited about re-barreling it, I would give it a very thorough cleaning with bronze bore brushes, solvent, and JB Bore Paste.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/st...tle=J-B~ NON-EMBEDDING BORE CLEANING COMPOUND

Until you do this, and then see how it shoots, a new barrel might be premature.

rc

 

[MMCSRET]

rc has the proper procedure lined out for you. You might be very surprised.

 

[jim147]

I'll also agree with rc.
I got a Rem. 722 last year that had been stored in a garage.
Muddobbers filled the end of the barrel up.
A couple good cleanings and it will shoot under 1/2".

Good luck with it.
jim

 

[krs]

That's a good little action and a great caliber. .222 was the king of the accuracy hill until the ppc calibers were designed and it can still hold it's own in the tough game of benchrest shooting.

Amazing things can happen to a rifle that's properly cleaned of lead and copper.

You'd need a new bolt fitted to change to .243. .223 would be doable.

 

[n00b]

Guys,

Thanks for your advice... I will give it a shot and see!

Thanks
n00b

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

As long as large sections of rifling are not eaten away, sometimes a rifle barrel will continue to shoot with mild pitting.

 

[n00b]

So I went and put 30+/- rounds down range off hand. The rifle seemed to impact where it was pointed when hammer hit. Since it was off hand and I am not a good shot it is hard to tell how well/poor it was shooting. Got home cleaned rifle and now I can not see anything in the barrel...

Not sure the best/proper way to inspect a barrel but I dont see the Pitting the "Gunsmith" was talking about. The rifling does not seem as deep as the rifling on/in my AR... but it is there and if I get the bore pointed at some light it becomes so bright I cant see a thing. I am not happy with the "gunsmith", he is 5-6 week backlog and think he just saw a rifle on the rack that he could just pass off and took the easy way out... Seems like he thought he has other easier work he could do.

I need to get to a 100yard range with some sand bags (I am not the best shooter) and see what kind of accuracy this rifle still has. 12-13 years ago it would put 4 shots (Mag only holds 4) all touching, off a homemade bench with cheapest ammo I could find.

Anyone have a source for .222 Remington at a reasonable price? Everything I find is around the $1 a round range.

How hard is it Dura Coat a rifle?

 

[jim147]

The pitting would look like dark specs or patches in the bight of the bore. You may need a you might try a white piece of paper in front of the bore to cut down some glare. But if you can't see them you may be in good shape, only shooting will tell.

I load my own for .222 but I have shot a few boxes of the plain Remington PSP through it last year with good results. I've also had good luck with the Prvi Partizan you may be able to get some from Graf's or Midway for about $8.00-$10.00. The only other boxes of factory ammo I have around here in .222 have prices like $4.00 on them.

jim

 

[Sunray]

Check with one of these.
http://www.remington.com/support/repair_services/specialty_parts_dealers.asp

 

[NCsmitty]

How hard is it Dura Coat a rifle?

If you have a Harbor Freight or one of the tooling stores around you, pick up a cheap airbrush kit. If you have access to an air compressor, get one of the cheap sand blaster kits too.
Remove the barrel & action from the stock and any hardware like scopes, etc.
Tape off the action if you don't want to coat it too.
Sand blast the barrel to remove the corrosion and old bluing. Wipe clean with brake cleaner. I like to hang the item to coat, in the sun, and let warm if weather permits. It will dry much quicker when it's warm.
Mix the coating, it's an epoxy mix, and light coat the item a few times with a few minutes between coatings. Less is better when coating.
You can handle it after an hour or two of drying and assemble after a day or so. It hardens totally in a few weeks, but you can use it after a day.
Duracoat is all that I use. All kinds of color choices too. I have the flat black, the stainless and the gun blue colors. You can do 3-4 complete guns or several barrels out of one 4oz color kit.
I run about 10-12lb of air pressure on the airbrush. Clean is the key to a good coating, so no fingerprints on the area to coat.

NCsmitty

 

[Pokyman]

I am not sure if the clip has the length for a 223. If you are interested I have a really nice 223 barrel that I took off a 788. Blue is excellent and the bore is in very good shape.