Free floating a Rem 788, worth it?

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varhunter

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I have a Remington 788 in .243 that I use for everything from prarie dogs to mule deer. The best group I've recorded for it is a .836" group that was shot with 85 grn Barnes tsx bullets. That is the only sub inch group i've recorded and I'd like to shoot more. I just shot a 1.377 inch with 95 grn SST's from Hornady. Idk how much it would help but who thinks it's worth it?
 
Use a small piece of conduit or dow rod with some heavy grit paper and sand away. To easy to pay to have it done. All my rifles are free floated. Only one didn't improve the accuracy. It was a Ruger rimfire and it didn't shoot wort a flip to begin with. I will add, don't expect miracles but it usually helps.
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogGo for it! You've nothing to lose and everything to gain. If it doesn't help, just put it back with bedding material.

Odd most of them shot well. Never mentioned loads you have tried or working with some 243's can be picky. The 788 had a horrible trigger and this may contribute to some of your shooting owes. we used to replace them with 540X triggers.
 
sounds good, it's not a good looking rifle anyway so if it doesn't look great when I'm done who cares. Thanks for the info. Wyo, I've thought about getting a Timney for it but just haven't bit the bullet and bought one. I don't think my groups are outside of acceptable but I always crave something tighter.
 
Glass the action and free float the barrel. about all it could do is make it better, but then there is always the ONE that shoots worse, but not very often.

Glassing the action aint that hard BUT if you don't get it right you may be using an ax to get the stock off.or you get some glass in the wrong place and the rifle wont function.

Great time to put another stock on it and a Timeny trigger

If you don't feel you are up to doing the bedding and all.
I know there are a lot of smiths out there would love to do it.
 
Bed it and float it. You won't be disappointed. I have 5 788s and all are tack drivers. PM me if you need help with the bedding.
 
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After glass bedding my 788 .243 I still had POI changes. Installing aluminum pillars solved that problem.(Most 788 stocks are really soft wood) Now It's going on ten years with no scope adjusments, & no POI change. My load for everything from gophers to whitetails is an 85gr sierra over 40.4gr IMR 4350. It's a mild load but hot loads are not good for 788s. The first two shots from a cold bore will go in the same hole every time if I do my part. The 85gr TSX with the same load, not quite as accurate in my rifle, but works very well on game also, IME.
 
With all due respect; how much are you willing to pour into that rifle? Perhaps stay with the .243, but aquire a better platform to shoot from. Maybe a Rem Model 7? Good luck...
 
Thanks guys, I didn't even think about glass bedding it. Gary, I've thought about getting a new rifle but I don't know, it's something about the first rifle you hunted big game with that you just can't let go. I can usually get a load to work good enough for my purposes. So I guess until something wears out and I can't find a part I'll probably stick with it. Plus my dad has a post 64 Model 70 winchester in .270 that I can use for deer and I have an AR for coyotes and prarie dogs.
 
Originally Posted By: GaryOWith all due respect; how much are you willing to pour into that rifle? Perhaps stay with the .243, but aquire a better platform to shoot from. Maybe a Rem Model 7? Good luck...
To each his own. A tube of devcon and a little shoe polish is all it takes to bed a rifle. I wouldn't consider that "pouring" money into it. $6 maybe if you don't already have the stuff at home. I liken shooting a 788 to driving my old '68 Ford truck. The new KingRanch is prettier and cost a heckuva lot more but most times I walk right past it and drive the old '68. It's a sentimental thing I guess.
 
Originally Posted By: GaryO "A tube of devcon and a little shoe polish is all it takes to bed a rifle."


HUH?


Devcon plastic-steel is a very good bedding compound and kiwi clear shoe polish is a very good release agent. I've used them many times with excellent results.
 
The Devcon I use comes as a set of containers. You have to measure by weight the two parts and mix. I think the smallest amount you can buy is around $40 now, but could be more.

Jack
 
Originally Posted By: GaryOWith all due respect; how much are you willing to pour into that rifle? Perhaps stay with the .243, but aquire a better platform to shoot from. Maybe a Rem Model 7? Good luck...

I wouldn't say that the 7 is a better platform than a 788. I'll take a 788 any day.
 
Originally Posted By: Jack RobertsThe Devcon I use comes as a set of containers. You have to measure by weight the two parts and mix. I think the smallest amount you can buy is around $40 now, but could be more.

Jack
Currel's has it in 2.5oz tubes for around $6 IIRC. Which is plenty to do one rifle.
 


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