Remington 788 - Lets hear about them
- Thread starter coyoteman23
- Start date
I have owned many, but had to sell a collection of them last year, 22-250, 223, 222, 708, 3030, 308, 243, 6mm, and more.
I have one in 243 (my first deer rifle), and a 223 custom LeatherBuilt with Lilja barrel. The 788 rifle was a production rifle to capture those less wealthy folks who wanted a rifle to hunt with- turned out to be one of Remnigton's mistakes- made better and accuate than they expected, 9 locking lugs- not real smooth but very nice for the price- now the 788 has a following. The last pair I sold were mint and I sold way too cheap at $475 each.
ONLY problem ever to be had is my brother who received his the same time I received mine (1974 / $169 with 4x Banner)), broke his bolt. The main bolt body is drilled and the bolt lever is pressed into the drilled hole. Back in the lee loader days sizing brass was not possible without a press- hence only use the brass fired from that particular rifle. Well he broke off his bolt- so now when he comes back to TX he uses his old 788 but with my bolt since they are interchangable- angain the tolorences are not well machines apart from each other.
I bought another 788 for my brother a few years back- searched high and low for a 223- when I found one I bought it- nice- but the BAS%$!D had a 222 reamed out to a 223, restamped the barrel (not under the receiver) which was common after the splash the 223 stole from the 222, but as far as being a collectors piece - well it is just a shooter. That suits my brother just fine as would throw his rifle across a creek before crossing anyway.
I test fired 2- 22-250s in 788 as compared to the many current 22-250s- both held well- but just not as tight as a model target/varminter types. Both held MOA. Keep center. JHG
I have one in 243 (my first deer rifle), and a 223 custom LeatherBuilt with Lilja barrel. The 788 rifle was a production rifle to capture those less wealthy folks who wanted a rifle to hunt with- turned out to be one of Remnigton's mistakes- made better and accuate than they expected, 9 locking lugs- not real smooth but very nice for the price- now the 788 has a following. The last pair I sold were mint and I sold way too cheap at $475 each.
ONLY problem ever to be had is my brother who received his the same time I received mine (1974 / $169 with 4x Banner)), broke his bolt. The main bolt body is drilled and the bolt lever is pressed into the drilled hole. Back in the lee loader days sizing brass was not possible without a press- hence only use the brass fired from that particular rifle. Well he broke off his bolt- so now when he comes back to TX he uses his old 788 but with my bolt since they are interchangable- angain the tolorences are not well machines apart from each other.
I bought another 788 for my brother a few years back- searched high and low for a 223- when I found one I bought it- nice- but the BAS%$!D had a 222 reamed out to a 223, restamped the barrel (not under the receiver) which was common after the splash the 223 stole from the 222, but as far as being a collectors piece - well it is just a shooter. That suits my brother just fine as would throw his rifle across a creek before crossing anyway.
I test fired 2- 22-250s in 788 as compared to the many current 22-250s- both held well- but just not as tight as a model target/varminter types. Both held MOA. Keep center. JHG
Lost_River
New member
6mm 788.
Bang Flop:
Bang Flop:
NM_HighPlains
New member
A 788 in .22-250 was my first gun. I bought it in '81 or so and paid $140 for it. It was all I could afford. I stuck an old Weaver V8 on it- the one with the triple crosshairs- and shot it for many years. I loaded the cases with 4350 because that's what we had in the reloading cabinet and it shot 5-shot cloverleafs at 100 yards.
The problems were that the zero would change with the weather. Might've been the stock, might've been the scope (external adjustments), I don't know. Tired of contantly re-zeroing it, I eventually sold it, thinking that all guns shot that well. My next gun was a Winchester M70 in .243 that shot 1.5" groups at 100. With much reloading, I got a load down to 1" and that's when I realized what a shooter the 788 was. Welcome to the real world!!!
If I had the 788 back now...well, I wouldn't because I like my Savages much better... but IF I did, I'd just make sure the stock was good and stick a good scope on it.
The problems were that the zero would change with the weather. Might've been the stock, might've been the scope (external adjustments), I don't know. Tired of contantly re-zeroing it, I eventually sold it, thinking that all guns shot that well. My next gun was a Winchester M70 in .243 that shot 1.5" groups at 100. With much reloading, I got a load down to 1" and that's when I realized what a shooter the 788 was. Welcome to the real world!!!
If I had the 788 back now...well, I wouldn't because I like my Savages much better... but IF I did, I'd just make sure the stock was good and stick a good scope on it.
bigjeepman
New member
I bought mine in .308 earlier this year. I fired off three factory Win rounds and shot a 1" group. I am just now starting to reload for it and I expect to do a lot better than that. Here is mine after sanding it down and about 10 coats of Tru Oil. I'll buy another if I get the chance.
bjm
bjm
Also, some one mentioned triggers, I have bought about 9 or 10 788s over the last 15 years- I always looked for the mint ones. The mint ones were rarely used and in most cases had the factory trigger grease (gum) on it- so many times you could not get the trigger sear to catch it would allow the firing pin to go home with the bolt. Simple fix- but for about 25 bucks you could get a plumber to adjust the trigger. When I say adjust- it is more than screws on a 788, they do some spring switching. I have real nice triggers in mine. My nomenclature may not be perfect, but close enough- you get my point! the yotes do.
Keep Center, JHG
Keep Center, JHG
stanimals2
New member
lungpopper
New member
sent you a pm K22,,I could use a 223 magazine also my email is cachristensen@huntel.net
Doc_Foster
New member
My wife loves her 788 in 22-250. Hers is one of the later ones with a heavy 24 inch barrel.
BuckeyeSpecial
New member
I am still killing groundhogs with my 788 in .222. Bought it used in 1983 and still going strong. Also have one in 22/250 AI (had it rebarrelled with a Douglas #4 , stainless 26" match grade this spring).
The bolt handles are put on just like the Rem 700 (weld/brazed) and no trouble with them at all.
Stock triggers are fine if kept away from ham-fisted previous owners who can't leave their ignorance at home.
Buy it and shoot it!
The bolt handles are put on just like the Rem 700 (weld/brazed) and no trouble with them at all.
Stock triggers are fine if kept away from ham-fisted previous owners who can't leave their ignorance at home.
Buy it and shoot it!
I've got a 788 in .222. I've had it for about 15 years and it is the most accurate gun I own. Refinished stock (not glass bedded, just cosmetic refinish), Canjar trigger, B&L 6-24x. Shoots near 1/2" with 50gr. VMax's which is all I have loaded for it right now. Shoots several other bullets under 1".
The gun:
Target from last range trip. 5 - 5 shot groups at 100m. Aggregate 0.612" including terrible last group of 0.85" (cleaned gun before group and only fired one fouler - oops)
The gun:
Target from last range trip. 5 - 5 shot groups at 100m. Aggregate 0.612" including terrible last group of 0.85" (cleaned gun before group and only fired one fouler - oops)
You want the good and the bad , Good I have had two of them one 222 and one 22/250 both shot under 1/2 moa @100 they both work great and loved them , The bad with both of them when shooting out the truck window You have to be careful not to release the magizine , It will end up on the ground . It is a no frills gun that shoots Buy it
