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Rem 788 .44 mag thoughts

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If you do not want it I do. Please let me know if you are not interested. I collect that kind of stuff.

Whether or not you want it depends on what you are going to do with it.
 
if you get it,do not single feed it. only load from the magazine as the extractor will break sooner or later. don,t ask me how i know. eastbank.
 
Had one for 20+ years and sold it recently for a NEW 3 person cedar low infra red sauna INSTALLED on my deck! They are worth alot as they were only made for 2 years in the 60s I believe. Mine had a 3x weaver in weaver mounts and was used for taking deer out of my apple orchard - quietly . I worked up a sub sonic load with 340 grain wide flat points cast soft over Winchester 231 which was burned long before it reached the 22" muzzle. That load flattened the 100 pound coastal blacktails and sounded as loud as a .22LRHS. The new owner does the same thing with factory 240 grain ammo to pigs on his small farm.
 
I'll bet it's going to be pricey, you don't see many 788s in 44 mag let alone an unfired gun.
 
Rem 788. Rear locking, artillery style bolt. Very strong action. Fantastic lock time/trigger.

I bought one in 1970 for $69.00, 6mm Rem.

Traded it 15 years later for a NIB Win 94. Boy, did I ever regret that deal.
 
I would make a move on it for sure, or give it a good try.

You can still find clean 30-30s that have not been messed for sale occasionally, but I have never seen a .44 before other than in a display.

The 788 was a popular gun for the owner to self-customize it seems, and the one you are looking at is new? In .44?

Consider me in line (should have read this post sooner!!) if you pass.

JT

LOL on that thought DMZ.
When I move a gun nowadays (To justify another)
I just mutter to myself 'Well, you've got the rest of your life to regret it' because I usually feel that way for some time.
 
Well, we reached an agreement to trade rifles, should have it by the end of the month (we're in different parts of the state).
 
DMZ said:
Rem 788. Rear locking, artillery style bolt. Very strong action. Fantastic lock time/trigger.



I bought one in 1970 for $69.00, 6mm Rem.



Traded it 15 years later for a NIB Win 94. Boy, did I ever regret that deal.
Click to expand...


I thought that same thing basing a gunbroker purchase of a 30-30 788 on my previous experience with a 243

WRONG!!!

788's for rimmed cases for some stupid reason have two piece bolts that operate with all the svelt grace of a hi lift jack and almost as much weight.

Lots of flex between the two bolt halves and mediocre accuracy. I kept my example for long enough to make it to the next Tulsa gunshow to trade it off.

All in all a rare, expensive and highly collectable pile of MEH!
 
I do have a 788 around here, but the 788 that I had in 44mag. is loooong gone, my brother does still have one though.

One of his kids and/or gran kids shoot a few deer with it every year.

DM
 
bikemutt said:
Well, we reached an agreement to trade rifles, should have it by the end of the month (we're in different parts of the state).
Click to expand...
I know this has already been mentioned on this thread, but I hope you do not intend to shoot it. That gun is about as valuable as a 788 can get and will lose a lot of its value the second you fire it.

I know the 'guns are made to be shot' yadayada that is often repeated on this board. That may very well be true for 99% of them this one is in the 1%. If you want one to shoot buy one that has been shot.

My two cents. Thank you.
 
Only made from 1967 to 1970. Doubt there were many .44's either. Be worth a pile of money. Shooting it will drop its value considerably. So will taking it out of the box if said box is still sealed.
 
Thanks for the advice guys, I'm not sure what I'll do with it.

A few more disclosures came out as we moved on. It was bought by the guy I'm trading with from an old timer who said it was unfired, this occurred 25 years or so ago. There is no box, papers etc.

So, I'm not looking to get rich off this trade. I really figured I'd like the camp carbine more than I did. Maybe I'll like the 788 better.

We both agreed that if something doesn't feel right about the trade we can walk, no hard feelings.
 
critter said:
I have 'half of one of those' I guess. My 788 is in .222. Shooter, it is!
Click to expand...
Allow me to one up you. Mine is in 222 rem MAG. Booyaa!!

and to the OP. It doesn't need its original box to be considered unfired. It is still worth a ton of money. And sunday is right. Shooting it will drop its value considerably.
 
OK then, the deal is set to go down around the 28th or 29th of this month. If it all goes according to plan I'll take some pictures and post them in this thread. If it truly does not appear fired, I will not fire it until we can all look it over.

Thanks
 
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