Rem 788 222 Rem your thoughts

AWS

AWS

Custom Accessory Maker & Retired PM Staff
I sold my Win Model 70 in 222 and miss having a 222 that I can just grab and not worry about it like the my Sako or a beast like my HB Sav. I have a chance to buy a 788 in really nice condition, but not collectable. The 788 is not a rifle I've had much experience with.

Your thoughts

Thanks
 
I had the R-788 in .243 with a 18.5 inch barrel. Bought it new in about 1972. It was a great gun, great shooter. One of the cheapest Remington ever made but it turned out to be a real performer. Killed a lot of Mule deer and P-dogs. If it looks good and and the barrel isn't shot out and a fair price I'd do it.
 
Never owned a 788, but pretty sure you are aware that the 788 triggers also suffered from safety issues same as the 700's.

Every Remington I ever owned, from the Mod. 37 target .22, to their bigger brothers shot lights out! Had a 40XC that was a wonderful cross the course comp. rifle, but the first round downrange was a FORS (Remington's acronym for fire on release of safety). I "dehorned" the safety lever (which is all Remington did on their 700 trigger recall) to allow for unloading with the safety on.

Great rifles, just be aware of the possible safety issue.

Regards,
hm
 
I'm sure there is an inaccurate 788 out there somewhere but I have never seen one. I have seen about five or six of them over the years between family and friends and every one of those rifles shot as well or better than the flagship M700.
 
I have 2, .223 and .243. Both were purchased after much research like you are doing. First and only thing I changed was to put in a Timney trigger in the .243 set at 2.5 lbs and shooting 80 gr. at 100 yds and it performed very well, 3/4 inch 3 shot group. I am currently refinishing the stock on the .223 and have ordered a Timney for it. Once you have the trigger right everything else is good to go.
 
I have a 788 in 222 and its one of my favorites. I generally shoot 52 grain Bergers but scored a bunch of factory Winchester 50 grain with soft point bullets so I've been shooting them. Not as accurate as the Bergers but plenty good enough to hunt with. My gunsmith did a trigger job and it breaks just under 2 pounds. I refinished the stock but didn't really care for the way it looked so I bought a Boyd's stock. While looking at the stocks, I decided to go with Maple, then figured what the heck and added checkering. I ended up with a $350+ stock when all said and done but its a "Looker" for sure. I did float the barrel and bed the action as well. Its not a bench rest accurate rifle but the groups are respectable for what it is and its fun to shoot.

On a side note, I've had several 788's from 308, 30-30, 243,22-250, 223 and now this 222 and never had a single issue with the trigger or safety and all shot very very good. The 30-30 was the only one that didn't shoot as good as I was hoping but it did shoot good enough to hunt with. Of course its accuracy issue was probably me expecting more than the cartridge was actually capable of.
 
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As the owner of every caliber 788 I say buy it
They definitely are not light but most shoot fantastic
Put a timney trigger on it and go shootin
 
Originally Posted By: 7887mm08As the owner of every caliber 788 I say buy it
They definitely are not light but most shoot fantastic
Put a timney trigger on it and go shootin

You have a 44 Mag? I've only seen one and it was priced to high for my meager budget. It was $2500 and as bad as I would like to have one I just couldn't do it.
 
I have loaded for and shot a couple M788- .222 all have been well under 1" 3 shot groups. They had factory triggers. I used 50 gr vmaxes in all the loads.
 
Thanks guys, I bought it, now to sell something to bring the gun fund back to even.

I'll let you know how it turns out.
 
Yes i have one in 44 magnum. Took it out last season for the first time deer hunting.
It performed perfectly. Looking to use the 30-30 this year . Have used 7mm08, 308, 6mm and 22-250 successfully
so far. Need to work up ammo for the 243 also
 
Years and years ago, there was a guy that worked at a gun shop in Tulsa. He moved and the shop closed down but he claimed he had every model 788 and their box's. Whether or not he actually did, I don't know for sure but I know he had a few that were for sale every now and then. Must have been a nice collection. The only 788 that gave me any problems was a 22-250. It just didn't like hot loads. It showed pressure signs really quick and I had to keep the loads really mild, but it shot good.
 
I had a 22-250 like that H-380.would flatten primers show ejector hole and swipe the head of the case 4gr under max. It didn't like top loads of 4320 either but it was accurate. I actually bought a new set of scale check weights to check my scale.
 
I have a 788 in .243 that has a blonde stock and the 18.5 inch barrel. Shots very well, but would benefit from a better trigger. Don’t remember how many pounds it is, but way to much. I bought it for $270 at a pawn shop about 12 years ago.

Not sure the blonde stock is original, but it is in excellent condition.
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogYears and years ago, there was a guy that worked at a gun shop in Tulsa. He moved and the shop closed down but he claimed he had every model 788 and their box's. Whether or not he actually did, I don't know for sure but I know he had a few that were for sale every now and then. Must have been a nice collection. The only 788 that gave me any problems was a 22-250. It just didn't like hot loads. It showed pressure signs really quick and I had to keep the loads really mild, but it shot good.
Everyone of mine was bought used, most in 90% or better condition.
The 44 that i spoke of earlier was in sad shape but it shoots 1" groups at 50 yds. Alot of exterior rust on receiver. Polished it best i could and cold blued it and while not pretty it shoots factory ammo just fine. My 30-30 is a 2" gun at a 100 at its best, from 125 grain to 170's. A used good looking gun on the outside means nothing till you shoot it and the same goes for a bad looking firearm. You just never know.
 
I hunt mostly wooded areas. Never really been a long range deer hunter. I guess because in my early years I mainly bow hunted. That being said, the longest shot I ever made on a deer was with a 788 Remington in 243. It was the carbine model in a plastic Ramline stock. Anyway, it was 373 steps, a little over 300yds. LOL I remember it like it happened yesterday and it was long long ago.
 


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