788 Remington

Dan, like you and others that you mention, I am also a "very happy" 788 owner. That doesn't keep me from accepting reality when it occurs, however.

Indeed the comments in the link are one person's opinion.

If I had known you would present a lecture on what is wrong with the linked article from your perspective to defend your 788 ownership, I would have prefaced my comments with a disclaimer stating that its OK with me for all who don't want to believe any or part of it to do so if it makes then feel better.

However, if you will read my post again, I mentioned that head space developed in a 22-250 that I bought back in the early 1970's. Why, since you are a 788 owner, do you find it necesary to discount that fact with your own brand of personal intellect like you do with most other things that you personally haven't experienced or don't want to accept?

The next time I have primers backing out of even factory ammunition in a rifle that did not always show that, I'll keep your post in mind and tell myself it's just bolt compression because that's what Dan said. And when I have it checked with Go-NoGo Gauges and the gunsmith tells me it has developed excessive head space, I'll correct him and tell him Dan said its not possible because it never happened to him and it's just bolt compression.

It all sounds logical to me now. How it escaped me before this is beyond my comprehension. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

I just wish the old gunsmith who checked the rifle for me back then were still alive so I could correct him personally. How dare he find fault with my rifle. And, if he were alive today and showed me another 788 in 243 Win that also had the same problem (like he did that day), I could tell him I know a knowledgeable Guru in the future who can tell him its not possible because it never personally happened to him. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif - BCB
 
Dan:

I know you already understand this, but why you feel a need to be contrary at times and play mind illusion games is beyoned me. Maybe another poster who posts here made the proper assessment of your behavionr last fall in your thread about cheap optics being just as good as more expensive optics.

If you're still in denial, bolt compression causes brass to stretch upon firing and possibly limits case life if not accounted for upon reloading. Bolt compresson that occurs upon firing can be measured but it can't be measured with conventional head space gauges at that moment. And, I'm sure you will agree, bolt compresson is generally greater in a rear locking rifle than in a front locking rifle. That's just how it is, and in itself isn't a major problem if accounted for in the rifle design. Roy Weatherby showed us that the concept works. As did Remington with the 788.

Head space gauges are used to determine total bolt set-back over time. What ocurred in my 788 was excessive head space caused by total bolt set back. As was the case with the Model 788 243 that the gunsmith also had on hand at the time. I actually sold the rifle to the man and he planned to set the barrel back, rechamber it, and see how many more rounds he could get out of the action and barrel. I chose to let him do that, and I bought a different rifle to eliminate the problem of primer set-back for me.

I am not against anyone owning or shooting a 788 Remington. I have some myself. Just the fact that the problem is real and the fact that many of the 788's floating around today could have been fired a bunch makes the problem worth considering for a perspective buyer. Whether or not it's on your personal radar screen is not important to me.

Based on my experience, I would not have bought the 6MM I mentioned a year ago if it had evidence showing it had been shot a bunch. In hindsight, that would have been my financial loss. It did not show signs of excesive use, so I bought it, later wanted someting else worse and sold it without firing it. Pure and simple. What you do with your money is your business based on your experience.

Have a nice day and try to deal with some of what happens to others in life, even if its hard for you to accept at times because you weren't there to personally witness it. With that, I'm done. I'll let you continue on your own to joust at life's windmills that threaten your existance, whether real or imagined. I have better things to do with my time.

- BCB
 
Just "for the record", also.

I don't really need your advice or old Mule Deer's advice on where to best spend my money, or on any other issue for that matter. Thanks, anyway.

The attitude you were assessed with having in that optics thread is showing again. - BCB
 
My 788 was fairly used when I bought it.

It is a .22-250, and as such I would assume that it pushes on the bolt a fair amount since that cartridge is both a .473 bolt face cartridge and has a considerable body taper.

I have shot it extensively and many of those loads are using a good dose of Varget with 55 gr. bullets.

I have not seen any set back issues todate but I make one consession. I use the Lee Collet die (neck sizing over a mandrel).

Three 44s
 
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