Looking for info on Rem 788???

[RKBAHolsters]

Local pawn shop has a Remington Model 788 in .243win for sale.

Gun appears to have approx. an 18" barrel.

Comes with a broken scope in Burris mount and rings.

Wood stock may have been cut down for a younger/smaller shooter.

Besides the broken scope and short stock the gun appears to be in very good condition.

Asking price is $299, but 2 seconds of negotiating got to $250.  So I think that $200 or $225 is not out of the question.

What I'd like to know is:

1. Is the short barrel factory?

2. What is the quality and accuracy potential of this rifle?

3. Is it worth the money?

Look forward to your replies.

Steve

[John Traveler]

The Remington M788 was made in several popular calibers including .223, .243W, .308W, .30-30W, .44 Rem Magnum.

The short barrel was standard, as was detachable box magazine.  It was in production during the late 1960's thru the late 1970's.

It claimed the fastest lock time of any production bolt action, and is well-proven for accuracy.

The hardwood (birch?) stock put off some shooters, as did the multi-lug rear lockup and homely lines, but it was plenty accurate to keep owners happy. I had shooting buddies that owned them in .30-30 and .308W, and with careful cast bullet handloads, 1/2 to 3/4 MOA was routine.

Alas, since it's discontinuance, replacement parts are hard to find.  A reader asked for several weeks  ref a broken bolt handle with no results.

As for "Is it worth the money?", only you can decide that.  Restocked and properly scoped, there is no reason not to expect the gilt-edge accuracy the design is noted for.

HTH
John

[Sixgun]

I got an 18" Rem 788, in 308, from a pawn shop for $179 in 1994.  It had a scope mount with rings and a custom walnut stock.  It shot one hole groups with the first load I tried and has been really nice to load for cause it seems to like everything I have tried.

When I got my chrony I found out that with the same loads I got about 75fps more volicity out of the short little 788 than I did out of my Rem 700 with a 22 inch barrel.  I also had a Burno Mauser in a 30-06 which I almost blew up trying to get more volicity with the same bullet than I did in the little 308.  I had always been told that 30-06s were supposed to get about 150fps more volicity on average than 308s.  I found that this is not always the case.

I gave the 700 to my son and sold the 30-06 and replaced it with a 338mag.  

The only thing I don't like on the 788 is the safety.  Since I don't like it I am always checking it.  I have a rule that when I am hunting with another person in close, I don't keep a live round in the tube.  

Other than that it is a real nice little gun.

Sixgun