Should I buy an old 788?

[ricebasher302]

Edit to add...I reread your post and since the stock is cracked no way I would give him 5 bills.
Stocks are available used on Gun Broker for 788's but they can be fairly costly.

The stock is not cracked. The finish is. A simple light sanding and re-finish and it'll be as good as new.

I stopped by today. The scope is an old Redfield Wideview in weaver rings. I had them call the owner who said the original rear sight is gone. The magazine matches and is in good condition.

However, they revealed to me that the owner is pretty firm on the price. Should I leave it for a while and try again, or could you justify the price considering the vintage scope (which looks to be in great condition)?

 

[Clifford]

I owned one in .223 for many years, it was my first centerfire rifle. The rifle was stupid accurate, with 55 grain silvertips I could drop 5 in a quarter at 100 yards. I recently sold mine for $400 with a old redfield scope on it. I got rid of it cause it was 9.5lbs and I wanted a lighter weight rifle.

If it's in a caliber you want get it, but they are heavy.

 

[Strongbad]

I'm a huge 788 fan, but $500 is top dollar unless it's in 30/30 or 44 Mag. $450 would be a solid deal. Less than $450 would be snatched up in a heartbeat. That's for all of the standard chamberings.

 

[don]

500 dollars for a rifle that originally went for a lot less than 200 back in the 70's? NO way in my opinion. I had one in 22-250. Bolt handle came off, showed pressure with factory loads, trigger too hard to pull,cheap stock but very strong action.

 

[jmr40]

I wouldn't pay that much. The 788 was a budget rifle that proved to be more accurate in it's day than it should have been. But it had it's flaws, and eventually failed commercially. There are a small group of guys who love them and drive the prices higher than they should be based on the rifle's performance.

They should be selling for around $300. If you want to pay $500 to be cool and have something a little unusual, it is your money.

 

[SwampWolf]

They should be selling for around $300.

In the condition as described, I agree. And if you're a reloader, keep in mind those rear-locking lugs will result in faster than average case stretching. I had one once chambered in .243 Winchester. Nice trigger and very accurate but case life somewhat less than that of a typical front-lugged bolt-action. I'd like to have this rifle back-but I'd never pay $500.00 for it...

 

[dogngun]

I had one in .243Win many years ago - shot a groundhog at

270 paces with it. A great little rifle, and the last one I saw for sale was pretty beat up and still around $400 - the prices went up several years ago and stayed there. Check the safety, check the bore and if it looks good and works well, get it.


mark

 

[rangerruck]

absolutely, I have one, and it will never get sold. Too accurate, to rock solid, super great trigger, fastest lock time I have ever experienced. Nothing bad to say about this rifle.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have two of them and they definitely have their points. But I think $500 is a lot to pay for a well used economy model rifle.

 

[rangerruck]

the 788 in 6mm is getting harder to find, becuase of the longer bbl length. But that is too much money. I would check it out thoroughly especially the trigger; if it is factory, and has been sitting around a long time, I would ask to take the rifle out of the action so you can look at it. Also when you pull the trigger, it should have a superfast locktime, with no creep or crawl whatsoever. If it does have any creep or crawl, then it is getting warn from sitting in oil/cleaning fluid too long, without being cleaned/dried out. So if the trigger is great, and the rifle is in great condition, and the rifle has both of the origional front and rear site setups; i.e. the rear step/stair sight, and the huge front shark fin sight. I would not take this rifle if it is not almost perfect. But if it is in great condition, and has all the above goodies, then 500 may be worth it.

Now then, you can get a drop in Timney trigger for these, which are fabulous, and since you have so many great 6 mm bullets out there now, you could get some 105 or even 110 grainers, and shoot laser shots with this out to 500 plus yards easy, and with the super long case neck, it is not as bad a throat burner as everyone thinks; just don't heat it up by shooting too fast.

Just as a final thought, I have had a few of these in the past, and now have settled on my 243.
I never had a bad one, never had one that wasn't accurate, and never had one that couldn't
absolutely startle me, on how fast the trigger lock time was. if you want it, and again, has all
the stuff I mentioned above, then 500 bucks ain't to much.
that scope is proly either an old weaver, redfield or burris; could be an old Japanese made bushnell
or Tasco, so if it is Japanese made, don't fear it-- it will be fine. I stripped my stock down, and
redid it, in a nice honey color, with several coats very thinned out with mineral spirits. Came out a
very nice looking rifle.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

But that is too much money.

Possibly but what about ten years from now when we look back and say it was a steal at that price. Desirability of a firearm to collectors is not a static situation. The Model 788 MAY be the darling of collectors willing to pay a premium for them in the not-too-distant future. The same can be said for MANY makes and models as well.

 

[SwampWolf]

Now then, you can get a drop in Timney trigger for these, which are fabulous

Also when you pull the trigger, it should have a superfast locktime, with no creep or crawl whatsoever.

and never had one that couldn't
absolutely startle me, on how fast the trigger lock time was.[

I'm curious as to why you'd recommend an after-market trigger when you are lauding the stock unit?

 

[rangerruck]

because as I mentioned in my post above, you can get a very good old one, but if you run into one that was not cleaned right or overlubed, the holes for the pins can route out, and they can then get mushy. so if you like everything else about the rifle, but have a bad trigger, you could still buy it, then get the replacement trigger.

 

[prisondoc]

So... $350.00 for a 788 (with a scope) is definitely a good deal? Still waiting for an e-mail with info as to overall condition of the rifle and brand/power of the scope.

 

[X-Rap]

$500 is pretty spendy for sure, I saw one at Cabelas for $450 and thought it was to high. The last one I bought was in 22-250 and I got a period 3x9 wide view Weaver for $350. The mags are worth picking up anytime for any cal. if around $20. I did find some new for $25 and got 3.
I prefer the older long barreled 788 but I'm not sure when they changed.

 

[prisondoc]

The seller tells me the overall condition of the 788 he has for sale is a 9.5 out of 10. "Not a scratch or a ding." Seller claims it has only been fired 3 times. He's asking $350.00 and that includes a Tasco 4X32 scope. Good deal???

 

[X-Rap]

I would be all over it if it was a caliber I wanted, the scope is no prize but will do. Check and see if he has an extra mag, I'm pretty sure they were sold new with 2 but many were lost.

 

[Dr T]

My 6 mm 788 is a tack driver. I bought it in the mid 70's new. The stock finish started getting soft after about 5 years. I have used it to take over 30 deer through the years.

The stock finish is easily fixed with a little time, effort, steel wool, finish remover, and Tru Oil. Get some stripper used to remove varnish from furniture and follow the directions to strip the stuff that Remington put on the stock. Then put about 4 coats of Birchwood Casey TruOil on it. It will likely look pretty good after that.

While $500 may seem like a lot, it would take considerably more than that for me to even consider parting with mine.

By the way, these were sold with only one mag, and they are a bit expensive if you can find one.