Model 78 Sportsman

[geezerbiker]

I have a Remington 78 Sportsman in .243 Win that I used to belong to my brother.  It's turn has come up on the project list and I would like to do the upgrades to it my brother and I talked about before he passed away.

The only info I've ever found on it was on the Remington site and all it said was Model 700 economy.  Anyone here have any experience with these?

I'd like to either replace the trigger or do a trigger job, and put it in a Boyds stock.  I've already installed Leupold scope mounts and for now put an inexpensive scope on it that I had sitting around.  Later on it will get a 3-9x Redfield but this one will hold me over to when the rest is done...

Tony

[600RemGuy]

  The 78 was just that, a lesser finished version of the 700.  Its machining is not as precise as the 700 but only on the cosmetic side of things.  Polishing and fit and finish is where the cost savings came from.  Functionality is the same.  All short action aftermarket accessory's will fit, albeit they may need final fitting and this is even so with the 700.  I believe they had a birch stock and lesser quality sites, if any.

[geezerbiker]

Thanx and I agree the sights were junk.  The ramp on the front sight and the base of the rear were made of plastic.  I removed and tossed them awhile back.  I had a set of Leupold rings sitting around and I bought a base for this rifle to mount them on.  Right now I have an old Armsport 3-9x40 scope on it.  I got this scope years ago and while it's not an expensive one, it was always good enough. 

Now that I know I can use 700 parts, the next upgrade will be a new trigger assembly.  The stock is plain birch but I think the polish of the steel and the bluing is and nice as on any new Remington I've seen.

Tony

[Couger]

 
Remington had real winners with the M788's and M78's.
 
 
 
And not the POS 710's or 770's!     
 
I would be PLEASED to get my hands on a couple M78's!    , but 700 ADL's are just as good.

[roper]

Thanx and I agree the sights were junk.  The ramp on the front sight and the base of the rear were made of plastic.  I removed and tossed them awhile back.  I had a set of Leupold rings sitting around and I bought a base for this rifle to mount them on.  Right now I have an old Armsport 3-9x40 scope on it.  I got this scope years ago and while it's not an expensive one, it was always good enough. 

Now that I know I can use 700 parts, the next upgrade will be a new trigger assembly.  The stock is plain birch but I think the polish of the steel and the bluing is and nice as on any new Remington I've seen.

Tony

 

Tony,  The model 78 was made to replace the model 788 and it was limited to 5 calibers 223,243,308,270 and 30-06 and it was 4 yr production run so not very long.  It use same action as 700 one change was the bolt handle it was a round knob and was ADL with cheap stock like the 788.  First thing I did with mine change it over to BDL put it in McMillan stock ,tune trigger and shot pretty good for about 18yrs then send it off to gunsmith new Lilja barrel in 270 also had action squared.

Like yours mine is real bright blue on the action.

[geezerbiker]

This one will likely be wearing a Boyds stock by next year.  That and a trigger job or a new trigger and possibly a new scope is all I plan to do to it.  It's a good shooting rifle and I only plan to do the things to it that I talked to my brother about when he was still with us.

When it's done, I'm going to give it to my daughter when she asks to borrow a rifle for deer hunting. 

Tony