Remington 788 in .308

[wsryno]

Hey, I'm looking at a Remington 788 in .308, date code XC which I think is 1982. Gun appears overall in good condition but I have a few questions based on what I've read on this and other forums. I appreciate any advice or direction you can provide:

(1) I read somewhere to be wary if one set of the bolt lugs looks more worn than the other three. It appears that one set of the lugs has the edges chamfered, at least they look like they were machined at the factory and it doesn't appear that the chamfer is from wear. There doesn't appear to be excessive wear on the corners or edges of any of the lugs, including the ones that appear chamfered. So if you don't mind dragging your 788 out of your gun cabinet, is one set of the bolt lugs "chamfered"?
(2) The bolt is engraved with the last four digits of the serial number. Was this common? Was this done at the factory, or perhaps by a gunsmith who might have done some matching of the bolt to the chamber?
(3) Barrel appears in good condition, lands are clean, might be a very small bit of rust about 4-5 inches down from the muzzle. Muzzle is free of nicks and burrs so overall this appears good to me, what else might I look for?
(4) Bushnell 3-9 scope looks ok but is a bit tight to adjust power. Can this be loosened up to turn more easily?
(5) Can this gun be dry fired safely?
(6) The very tip of the trigger looks really really close to the trigger guard. Is this normal?

The bolt doesn't appear to be re-welded and the iron sights are in good shape. No external rust, needs a good clean-up and the stock would benefit from refinishing but that wouldn't even be necessary. Trigger guard has very little wear and no nicks or dings.

I think I can pick it up for $365 bottom end price. Too much? Good deal? What do you think? Thanks in advance.

 

[GooseGestapo]

It sounds like an "average" M788.
I've owned several. Yes, one set of lugs was beveled. This allows for caming the action closed and open.

A circa '80's M788 will have the slightly bent bolt and 18.5"bbl in .308.
These are decent rifles. A tad heavy and not particularily well finished from the factory.
Most are acceptably to really accurate.
$365.00 imo is a bit steep. Considering you can get a NEW Savage Axis/Edge at Wally World for $267.00 plus tax...

They are/were "shooters n' hunters". Not collector grade, or customizable like a M700. Consider it an "as is" commodity.
If that's what you want, and $365 is a "good" price, get it.
Personnaly, I'd pass.... But, I don't need a .308, or M788...

Yes, the bolts were "hand etched" with the ser.# at the factory. This was done to keep the bolt matched with the action after the bolt/barrel's were fitted to the actions. They are "massed" produced rifles, after all.

Realize that the finish on the stocks is a "soft" varnish. Be careful to really, really dry any solvent from the bore/action after cleaning. I'd had my circa 1972 M788 in .30/30 for about 4weeks. I cleaned it well after shooting and put it up in a gun cabinet. I looked at it about a week later. The solvent had run out of the bore/action an down the stock for about 4" and took the finish off the wood !!!! I ended up refinishing it with a linseed oil finish that took me about 6mos to rub-in.... But, it did look good !!!

The Bushnell scope with "tight" zoom ring is a "good thing" as long as it isn't "gritty". It means that it's been hunted/shot little. One that is "easy" or "loose" means that you probably can't trust it to hold it's zero. A Bushnell "Banner" the age of your rifle was a "$50.00" scope when new. Consider it as "disposable"..... as compared to a Leupold scope that has an "eternal" warranty. Supercedes the "life" of the original owner(s)...... I know, as I've sent several back for repairs/upgrades....

 

[Old Dog Man]

Rem. 788

Most of your concerns are things that are normal, except for the rust in bore. That can be helped by cleaning the bore with JB bore paste, unless it's pitted. Still that is a very good price for the 788, fine little guns. Al

 

[35 Whelen]

Stop scrutinizing it and BUY IT. In my part of the world you can't touch a 788 for less than $500.
Every 788 I've owned and/or fired was extremely accurate. A buddy of mine has one in .308 and I worked up some loads for it. Even with the el cheapo 4X scope it would routinely group under 1/2" with 150 gr. Hornady's. I own an old beat up 788 in .223 with some light pitting in the bore and still it easily groups under 1" @ 100 with handloads.
Yes, you can dry fire them to your hearts content.

35W

 

[Saint Dennis]

I would recommend buying it. I have one in 243 and that ugly bugger will shoot! Doesn't make any sense. Rear bolt lock up. Trigger only has one spring so it is difficult to lighten. But every one I have heard about including mine is a tack driver.

 

[sage5907]

A friend had a 243 and it was really a tack driver. One year during deer season he was target practicing and a fired case stuck in the chamber and wouldn't extract. The bolt handle was in the up position and we thought that if we took a small piece of wood and tapped rearward lightly on the bolt handle it would free the stuck case. At the first tap the bolt handle separated from and bolt body and fell to the ground. They must have been held together by super glue. BW

 

[LeonCarr]

Buy it.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[X-Rap]

I won't say $365 is a good price since I haven't paid over $250 for any of the three that I have. 2 22-250's and a 7-08 the later having the shorter barrel. They all shoot extremely well but I prefer the longer barreled models.
Magazines are on the high side, I have seen them for as much as $50 each so they are on my list of things to look for in junk/parts boxes when I'm out and about. I got into a bunch or the 22-250 mags for $25 and they were still in the OG wrapper.
In my mind they are a great utility rifle and my 2 22-250's each have a seasonal coat of paint, tan/green camo the other white/gray. They also each have matching 3x9 Weaver Micro Trac scopes from around the same period as the guns.
I'm always on the lookout and 223 is next on my list.

I have seen a few at Cabelas for over $400 so that $365 might be a pretty good price if you just gotta have one.

 

[hardluk1]

I have a 308 from the mid late '70's very accurate and not picky about bullet weight or brand. Still a sub-moa rifle today. Even had good factory triggers on them. Many of us have sanded the old stock and oiled them or a bit of stain and oil. Looks way better, just makes for a nice rifle. Most would out shot the 700's of the days too. Uneven bolt wear is fine ,they all do to some point. Get some pro-gold lube and use it on all high load areas of firearms. Bolt lugs for rifles and the area with the bolt is cocked. The $365 would be a fair price for around here-

get your self some Kroil oil and jb's bore paste, soak the bore in kroil set over night. use both together on a patch and brush to clean the bore up. if not pitted it will shoot well.

 

[Strongbad]

I'm with the "fair price" crowd. $365 is a decent price, or would be around here. They didn't make 788 that wasn't a shooter. Be careful with the gun and it should serve you well for years. The triggers can be adjusted and tuned up nicely. As long as you don't have a bunch of hot handloads and risk a stiff bolt lift situation the bolt handle will likely last forever. Hot loads will also cause bolt compression because of the rear lugs which can be hard on brass. Again, judicious handloading is your friend. Now, go buy that thing.

 

[NCsmitty]

The 788 rifles were a great bargain when they were made and many shoot great groups today, but they are getting some age to them, and the important thing in my mind is that some parts are becoming very hard to find for them.
The rear locking lugs rarely mate all together, just check your contact points on your own rifle. The key to the 788 accuracy potential was the precisely machined barrels that Remington installed on the $99.95 rifle.

My point is that many of today's budget rifles are capable of excellent accuracy too, and although I think the M788 is still a great rifle today, the lack of key parts availability would make a difference in my choice.
Give me an older M700 Rem any day of the week.


NCsmitty

 

[TwoEyedJack]

The most accurate rifle I ever owned was a 788 in .222 Rem. Never should have sold it, wish I had it back. It would put 5 Winchester factory rounds into one ragged hole at 100 yards. I have never heard of one that had poor accuracy.

 

[Liberty1776]

I'd offer $325 and go up from there as needed. I think it's a tad high for the condition you describe, but the scope adds at least $50, so.... and man, do mine shoot! I have two and my two life-long hunting buddies each have one - no dissapointments..

 

[wsryno]

Okay, seller started at 400 which is why I was thinking about $365 max, but I offered 350 and he took it. Rats! Should have started at 325 as suggested. Anyway I've taken it apart for a thorough cleaning and only see 3 problems, mostly minor, I appreciate any help you can offer:

(1) The wood "bridge" between the trigger group and the receiver is split. It goes all the way through, top to bottom, but the stock doesn't seem to move if I try to pry it apart by hand. I think this is probably not a big deal, what do you think? If it is a big deal I've seen a new production walnut stock for this gun priced at $74. If it's a good shooter it might be worth a new stock anyways

(2) The magazine seems to be missing a small trim piece, it would go on the tabs that you push in to release it from the receiver. Again if it's a good shooter it might be worth $30 for a new magazine. Otherwise I'll just put a few pieces of heat shrink tubing on the tabs so I don't slice up a finger. If anybody has a close-up picture of those tabs I'd appreciate it.

(3) It's not a Leupold scope , the zoom ring is tight (hate to see how tight when it's 10 degrees out), and the threads for the eyepiece seem to have some sort of grease on them. I wonder if this is a sealant for waterproofing? Any way to loosen up the zoom ring without damaging the scope? I have zero scope repair experience.

Thanks in advance, I can't wait to put it all back together and head out to the range.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

There is supposed to be a small sheet metal box that fits snuggly over the two projections which is what you press to release the magazine. If you know anyone who does sheet metal work you should be able to fashion a replacement with a very small piece, some pliers, and maybe a small tack hammer. I would probably use a small piece of flat stock as a mandrel to form it over. The one on mine is staked on but you could probably use a small rivet, a cotter pin, or a piece of small wire and fold the ends down flat.

 

[wyohome]

They clean up pretty good with a new stock. You can see how close the trigger is to the TG in this picture.

 

[wyohome]

 

[wsryno]

Wyohome, that is one nice looking rifle. Where did you get that stock?

Thanks for the pics of the magazine, that will help me fashion a new "box" for those tabs.

 

[T.R.]

Remington introduced the 788 a couple years after their 660 (shown in photo)went out of production. They marketed the 788 as a short action rifle with carbine version availalbe as well. I owned a 788 in 22-250 for a time and it shot exceptionally tight groups. Alas, it was traded away in a moment of weakness.

The 788 went away and was replaced by Remington's very popular model 7.

.308 cartridge is a favorite of mine. Recoil is moderate. It shoots nearly same trajectory as 270 out to approx 325 yards with 150 grain bullets. Yet can be handloaded with Speer 200 grain bonded bullet for really big animals. This is a versatile cartridge in same league as 30-06. A very practical choice for most hunting situations within North Amercia and other parts of the world as well. I've read that .308 is very popular among Scandanavian hunters going after moose. It's also popular with New Zealand hunters for red stag and fallow deer. .308 is a keeper!


Good shooting to you.
TR

 

[wsryno]

Thanks for the note TR. Your second paragraph is exactly why I purchased this rifle. I have other calibers, including a Rem 7 in 7mm-08, but until now I had no rifle in probably the most versatile caliber available. I have already stripped the finish from the stock and am preparing to apply the first of many coats of oil.

BTW, that's an odd looking Pennsylvania whitetail in the first pic LOL!

 

[wyohome]

I bought that rifle with the stock already on it. I bought it off of a guy that was trying to sell it at a gun shop in Oregon. The store owner didn't want to give him the price he wanted, or take it in partial trade for an Browning A-Bolt. I paid $275 for it with a different scope installed. I saw the guy at the gun club later that year and he was sad that he parted with it, the gun shop owner said I got the better rifle at half the price.
I have 4 .308 rifles, many animals have been put in my freezer that had no idea they could be killed without being shot by a magnum.

 

[kaferhaus]

Down here, that would be a very good price. A 788 in good shape with no scope brings $450 all day. While a used M700 in the same shape....you'd be lucky to get $350 for it...

I have no idea why they bring that kind of money... I've owned several over the years and only one of them was a real "shooter". It was a .223. The others were all average shooters.