About the Remington 788s...
Huey
[subject]
Friday, March 19, 2021, 17:01 (1974 days ago)
My first centerfire rifle purchase was a Rem 788 chambered in 222 Remington. I grew up with a copy of The 1951 Gun Digest, so loving the 222 Rem came easy.
I eventually collected most of the available calibers in the 788s, but never got a 30-30 Win. To this day it's one of our most underrated cartridges and even better in a bolt or single shot rifle.
I eventually sold off my collection of 788s to focus on Ruger #1s and #3s. I do have a #1 in 30-30 Win.
Today, the 788s bring a premium. They have an extremely fast lock time, so became darlings of the bench rest crowd. Also, the 30-30 Win 788 is sought after as one of the best cast bullets guns ever built.
BlackPete bought the 22-250 from the estate. I'm betting he'll be pleased too.
My only issue with them was the bolt
WB
[subject]
Friday, March 19, 2021, 17:24 (1974 days ago) @ Huey
Coming out of the action into your hand upon manipulation. Weak bolt stops. Not all just some. Perhaps with such a cult following their is an easy remedy in these internet days. My first big center fire rifle was a 788 in .308, boy would it shoot. Then I had a .243 and a 6mm Remington. The .243 had a weak bolt stop. Drove me nuts in the late 1980’s. But they all shot and fed wonderfully from the stamped box 3-shot mags.
But all guns have their quirks. I’m not a big fan of the No. 1 forend screw attachment. Ingenious, just too small, and can rip right through the wood. Alas, I think we’ve gone a bit beyond the intended design. Lol. Most applications are not a problem.
I own 4 and never had that happen, and I
charlie A.
[subject]
Friday, March 19, 2021, 17:29 (1974 days ago) @ WB
hunt hard with mine, or I did in my younger days.
Good ratio, betwix us that 7, and only 1 problem.
WB
[subject]
Friday, March 19, 2021, 18:40 (1974 days ago) @ charlie A.
Like I said not all, just some. Nothing to freak out over. Surely they have stiffer springs or something now days you can apply. I think one reason they are so accurate is the minimal openings in the action, makes it very stiff. Lots of guys spend big bucks with special trigger systems but I never had much issue.
They are still highly sought rifles in the modern day. I think it was one of the very first guns ever chambered in 7mm-08 too. They did some odd ones. Carbines, .44 Magnum, the .30-30 while brilliant was really odd back then. Everyone was thinking what the heck?! They had the Savage 340 and pump 170 in .30-30, we thought Remington was off their rockers. I guess that's why there is such a cult following.
788
Rw
[subject]
Friday, March 19, 2021, 19:57 (1974 days ago) @ WB
I have a 308 carbine in 308 that has killed more stuff than the plague, and a 223 the same, hand loads are one ragged hole at a 100 yds. I love them, always wanted the 44, would be a awesome hog gun
I have never heard of an inaccurate one...
Huey
[subject]
Friday, March 19, 2021, 20:11 (1974 days ago) @ Rw
I had the 44 Magnum one and got a crazy offer for it.
In all likelihood, I'll keep the 30-30 one as fulfilment of a young man's dream.
With my 30-30s handloaded with LVL Powder, a 150 grn spitzer at 25-2600 fps is the norm.
As you said it’s the cast shooters grail
WB
[subject]
Friday, March 19, 2021, 20:15 (1974 days ago) @ Huey
The .222 or .22-250 were the other two on my list. I never played with the .222. As much as I love the .22-250 it’s blast makes me weary off the bench. I can’t imagine more of a sleeper rig than a 788 in .222 Remington.
even though it was not intended for cast bullets
gary reeder
[subject]
Friday, March 19, 2021, 20:39 (1974 days ago) @ WB
back in the mid to late 70s not that many that cast lead bullets did so for rifles. All the articles that I remember had to do with Keith's 429421 bullet and a couple of rifle bullets. But not enough were casting lead rifle bullets to say that the 788 was designed for cast bullet shooters.
Either way, it flopped. Folks were not used to birch and beech stocks and a fairly ugly looking action and bolt. They wanted nice walnut stocks and smooth slick looking actions and bolts like the Remington 700 had. At my shop I didn't sell hardly any of the 788s. At the time they just weren't popular at all. Until Remington dropped them. Then the collector status jumped in and the target shooters started grabbing them up. But by then it was too late. They were history.
All true stuff. Not exactly an attractive rifle...
Huey
[subject]
Saturday, March 20, 2021, 05:04 (1974 days ago) @ gary reeder
But, would fair better in today's market of Ruger Americans, Savage Axis, etc.
I've refinished several stocks on them. Using Walnut Stain and Tru-Oil they come out better than the factory finish.
Agree they were built for factory ammo too. Many cast bullet shooters describe them "as if" they were designed for cast bullets.
In the M788 30-30 I will likely just push bullets designed for the 7.62x39mm thru my Lee .308" Sizer and push them fast out of the bolt action. Maybe even .309" if accuracy is better.
the folks that know a lot more than I do say it's the rear
gary reeder
[subject]
Friday, March 19, 2021, 20:33 (1974 days ago) @ Huey
locking lugs that help with the accuracy.
Now, that’s a 30/30 powder ....
Curt
[subject]
Saturday, March 20, 2021, 03:27 (1974 days ago) @ Huey
Is it fairy dust or LVL? My bolt 30/30 must be slow. 2250 with 150 spitzers was max but those 788 ‘s must run fast. Are you sure thats not an Ackley improved chamber? Or Maybe the .308?
Hodgdon Leverevolution Powder...
Huey
[subject]
Saturday, March 20, 2021, 04:03 (1974 days ago) @ Curt
The only hangup is it never works well with bullets under 150 grn for me.
But, with heavier bullets, it works great. With my Ruger #1, I use spitzer bullets which don't seat in the case as deep which also helps.
Data is in the Annual Hodgdon's Manual and on their website.