Remington 788 22.250

LUCKYDOG

LUCKYDOG

Active member
I'm thinking about making a deal on a rem 788 22.250. I own 3 rem 700's and like them all. I know the 788 is an older gun, but I've bought two guns from this guy all ready ad they have been perfect. I've never even held a 788, so could you guys tell me what you think about them.
 
They are heavy but good shooters. The weak point is the bolt handle. They will break off if you stick a case. If you shoot factory rounds it should not be a problem. The other thing is mags. They are out there but getting harder to find and come with a hefty price tag now so don't lose them. I have about 4000 rounds through mine now and it is still shots about 1 1/2 inch groups. I think I should get it rebarrled and fall in love with it again.
 
Compared to a 700, the 788 looks cheaper. It's cruder and less refined but they shoot well. If you're a handloader, one thing you should be aware of.....the .22-250 magazine is kind of short. When bullets are seated out far enough to touch the lands of a factory chamber, loaded rounds may not fit the magazine. Plus those magazines are scarce and when you do find one, it can be expensive. I've had a bunch of 788's and one particular .223 since about '82 that'll never be sold. But in 22-250 chambering, unless the price is very right I'd much rather have a 700.
 
I have the same gun and it shoots pretty good, around 1/2 " at 100 yards. Not to heavy, fine to carry around coyote hunting. Just as long as you don't lose a magazine, should be a great rifle.
 
My personal 788 is more accurate out of the box than any of the 700's that I have had in 22-250. In fact it is the only SA remington that I still own. I have not had a problem with OAL in the mag on this rifle, even jammed into the lands with 40 vmax or 50 blitz. Ackman is right, they are pretty ugly. The factory trigger is horrible and impossible to tune even for some gunsmiths. I put an adjustable Timney in mine as well as freefoated and pillar bedded the stock. It will and has outshoot many other expensive rifles at the range no matter who is behind it. They are what they are, good field rifles. Much better than Remington's other attempts at economy rifles. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
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I love my 788 in 223, a few weeks ago I shot a 0.48 - 3 shot group at 100yds of a bi pod with a factory trigger 3 shots 2 holes and this is tipical for it. Yes the trigger sucks and yes mags are hard to find but man do they shoot. BUY IT !!! you wont be sorry

Stan
 
yotekyllr,
There's nothing wrong with Blitz bullets. I think they're great and they shoot really well. But the newer plastic tipped bullets are much longer per weight and stick out considerably further past the ogive contact point. My loads for another gun use 50BT's seated within .010" of the lands for a chamber having 0 freebore and that's only .010" longer than the case. These rounds will just barely fit a 788 magazine with only a tiny bit of wiggle room. If the chamber were any longer, or if there were any freebore whatsoever, seating near the lands there's no way that ammunition would fit. In other words, that same ammunition seated for a factory chamber wouldn't be anywhere near short enough for the magazine. Factory 22-250 ammo is seated unbelievably deep and those guns were made long before anyone ever dreamed of plastic tipped bullets. That's why I said handloads "may" not fit the magazine, you have to choose your bullet.
 
The 788 in 22/250 is a whale of a rifle as long as you don't have blinders on. First of all is the accurizing that is done on most guns of free floating the barrel, glass bedding the action, and replacing the trigger spring with a .168 dia ink pen spring which will give you a 2-2 1/2
pound trigger pull.

I hunted yotes with several in the 80's, loaded with h4895 with 55g Sierra Sp and Sierra 55g BTHP, 1/2" groups were easy, copper fouling was expected so de-copper after every 50 rounds...you are good to go on 300 yard shots.

Magazines are still around on several aucton sites, no worries as long as you are not broke, I never had more than one....I like living on the edge.

788's are getting some age on them....be careful. Barrel life of a 22/250 in chrome moly of that age can be short due to rusing out in the last 1/2" of the muzzle. If the gun comes from back East, then the barrel can have some rust in it due to humidity.

I have really massacred more than my share of small creatures with a 788. One rifle in particular I will never forget in 22/250, you could not miss a coke bottle at 300 yards with this rifle with a load of 34.5g of H4895 with a 55g Sierra Sp.

If you have the chance of getting this rifle in great condition at a price of say $350, then buy it. Email me and I will walk you how to re-spring the trigger.
 
Owned a 788 Rem bolt rifle 22-250, circa; early 70's. Was a good rifle & shot good. Never had a problem with it, as I recall. Gave it to my Dad to kill coyotes.
 
Quote:
yotekyllr,
There's nothing wrong with Blitz bullets. I think they're great and they shoot really well. But the newer plastic tipped bullets are much longer per weight and stick out considerably further past the ogive contact point.


I'm with ya Ackman. I think the 55vmax's are to long, to load them the way I want too. Most of my loads for that rifle are about .010" off also. I have only actually jammed the 40 vmax and 50blitz, which are short bullets.

Allen
 
The 788 was probably Remingtons Biggest mistake! They made this gun as one of their bottom line guns and It out shot everything else they made right out of the box!!I owned one in 223 cal. It had to be the best gun I have ever owned. 2 things happened - Lost clips out of it if I wasn't careful carring it on my back with the sling. and I also once lost the bolt out of it. I carried it with the bolt open and must have hit the bolt release with a limb or something. Good thing was both parts were easy to find back then and easy to get. Not so sure they would be easy or cheap to get today!!
 
I had the same rifle for years, it could shoot the wings off a gnat. I traded it off a couple years ago due to my paranoia. Mags and bolts are getting somewhat difficult to find and are expensive. The last bolt I was watching on Ebay out of curiosity (before they quit allowing just about anything firearm related to be sold) went for over $200. Mags were easily over $45, some went for $75. I decided to trade it off on a new rifle before I broke a bolt or lost both of the mags I had. Not too sure I would let another go. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
Thanks for all the info. I already have a .223 and a .243, so I really don't need this gun. But need, is not why we do what we do. I'm not sure we are going to trade, if I do I'll post a pic.

Thanks again for all the info!

Bryan
 


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