Author Topic: Remington 788 Range Update (Read 1723 times)

jason280 · « **on:** August 20, 2005, 01:12:16 PM »

Well, I was cruising the local pawn shop last week when my eye caught the tell-tale protruding magazine. I immediately knew the rifle was a 788, and pretty much decided before I even asked to see the gun that it would come home with me. I was hoping for a .308, but instead was a .243 Winchester. The metal is a little worn, and I'll definitely need to refinish the stock, but I was able to leave the shop with my wallet only $175 lighter. Plus, it came with an older Tasco World Class 4x44 scope.

Now, I just need to see how she shoots! Anyone else shoot a 788?

Chuck White · « **Reply #1 on:** August 20, 2005, 02:12:34 PM »

I'd say it'll be a shooter!

I have yet to see one that wouldn't shoot right along with the best of them, and better than a lot of them!

jason280 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 20, 2005, 02:30:24 PM »

Yeah, I hope she shoots well. I ordered a Refield base to replace the see through mounts currently on the gun, and I haven't quite decided on a scope yet. The trigger is actually pretty good on the gun, better than I expected. The again, this gun was built well before the lawyers got ahold of our rifle triggers!

I picked up a box of factory 100gr bullets today, and I should be able to shoot the gun Monday morning. I hope for 1" groups, but I will be content with 1.5" groups!

lowertroll · « **Reply #3 on:** August 20, 2005, 02:33:34 PM »

My son shoots a LH 788 in .308 and it is fairly accurate. I have a 6mm Rem 788 and it shoots well also. I have set mine up keeping the open sights on and mounting the scope on Weaver Pivot Mount Rings . I can go to either sighting system in a nanosecond. One heck of a little deer gun. Interestingly, I have a Tasco WC 4x44 on mine---that is a heck of a good little scope for the money and it is the only one with 44mm bell that would clear the rear sights (a length issue with all other scopes). If you are interested in Weaver Pivot Rings, I came into a cigar box of them and would sell a set cheap. Note I do not have the bases, just rings.
Good luck and I am sure you will be pleased with the purchase. If not it will sell quickly.

Bart Solo · « **Reply #4 on:** August 20, 2005, 07:05:37 PM »

My Remington 788 is in 6mm Rem. It shoots great. Got it new a long time ago. Just make sure the barrel hasn't been shot out. If it hasn't you probably got a shooter. Let us know. I don't think it's nearly as ugly as people say. My only complaint is the magazine rattles when you hunt. That is the big reason I am planning to retire mine in the coming year.

Slamfire · « **Reply #5 on:** August 20, 2005, 07:11:45 PM »

I had one once, it got too heavy after nearly 20 years of use. My oldest grandson borrowed it to run up Mount Baker in Washington, and I haven't seen either one since. :grin:
It was an inch and a quarter shooter, the first and third shots touched, the danged second was always high and left. :roll:

De41mag · « **Reply #6 on:** August 20, 2005, 07:24:45 PM »

jason280;

I had a 788 in 243 back in the 80's. It had the 18-1/2 inch barrel. I tried to shoot Federal Premium 100gr. and the gun would keyhole the shots, even at 25 yds. sent it back to Remington. They sent me a target back showing a nice 1-1/2 inch group with their ammo. Tried the Federals again, and the same results... keyholeing. I got rid of it after that. Should have tried the 85gr HPBT's, I've heard they are tack drivers. Good Luck

Dennis

beemanbeme · « **Reply #7 on:** August 21, 2005, 02:32:51 AM »

It ought to be against the law for something that butt-ugly to shoot that well. I have had several and they have all been shooters.

The really nice thing about a 788 in .243 is you can rebarrel it to a 7-08 or a .260 without any other modifications. I had a 788 rebarrelled to a .260 last year and it wears a vintage 2.5x weaver.

I had to seat the 140gr Core Lokt bullets a little deep because of the magazine but those long bullets kill like the Hammer Of Thor.

poncaguy · « **Reply #8 on:** August 21, 2005, 03:49:20 AM »

Just be careful with the bolt handle,I broke one off on my 22-250 years ago. They are just brazed (?) on. Very accurate rifles............

jason280 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 21, 2005, 10:33:58 AM »

Well, I should know how she shoots in the morning. I picked up a box of Winchester 100gr PP's, and I should be able to scrounge up a few reloads.

Beeman,

Who did the rebarrel on your 788?

james · « **Reply #10 on:** August 22, 2005, 08:07:45 AM »

Jason, Ive had a 788 in .308 for thirty years and its one of the most accurate rifles I have. I picked up a .223 in excellent condition a few months ago. I tried different loads and it would put 3 rounds touching using IMR 4198 and 52 gr. Sierras. No matter what load I used, it always shot a smaller group than my j-lock 700 BDL. I bedded the stock and adjusted the trigger on the 700 and it will shoot almost as good as the 788 but not quite. The old 308, with the bluing worn off the bolt and magazine, will be my back up and bad weather gun on a hunt to MT for mulies and elk this year. I may throw in the 788- .223 for p-dogs.
Long live the 788.
james

beemanbeme · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2005, 04:18:22 AM »

The barrels on my rifles are Douglas. I had the .260 and .222 rebarreled by Stan Taylor here is WV. I would/will use him again. I don't know if he is taking on any new work or not. His number is 304 766-6328.

jason280 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2005, 02:14:03 PM »

Well, I did get to shoot the 788 yesterday. However, I didn't get a chance to try any reloads, but I did shoot a box of Winchester 100gr PP's. Average group size was just over an inch, with the best group being under 3/4". Not bad for factory ammo out of a 30 yeard old gun!

Who knows what the gun will do with handloads and a bedded action!

Bart Solo · « **Reply #13 on:** August 24, 2005, 09:54:16 AM »

I see it shoots great, which in the case of a Rem 788 is about average. :grin: Congratulations.

huntersmurf · « **Reply #14 on:** November 12, 2005, 09:08:46 PM »

I came across a 788 last month, a 22-250 with 24" bbl. Looks rough, blueing wore and brushed on finish on the stock. The guy I got it from said he thought it had a head space problem cause the primers would flatten out bad. The bolt face has some pitting around the perimiter of the primer but when I shot it the primers didn't look unusual.

Took it to the range and fired some reloads I had for my savage. No sign of headspace problems or flattened primers. The ugly gun shoots. The 60 grainers printed three into 3/4" at 100 yds. Not bad. Will have to see what I will do with some custom loads.

Smurf

huntersmurf · « **Reply #15 on:** November 12, 2005, 09:11:01 PM »

I came across a 788 last month, a 22-250 with 24" bbl. Looks rough, blueing wore and brushed on finish on the stock. The guy I got it from said he thought it had a head space problem cause the primers would flatten out bad. The bolt face has some pitting around the perimiter of the primer but when I shot it the primers didn't look unusual.

Took it to the range and fired some reloads I had for my savage. No sign of headspace problems or flattened primers. The ugly gun shoots. The 60 grainers printed three into 3/4" at 100 yds. Not bad. Will have to see what I will do with some custom loads.

And it only cost me $100

Smurf

Fjold · « **Reply #16 on:** November 18, 2005, 12:19:33 PM »

I bought a left handed 308 in 1977 for $104.99 (lefties cost $5 more than righties then.) and it still shoots 3 round groups into 3/4".

I broke the bolt handle off in 2001 during an Elk/Deer hunt in Colorado and Jim Wisner repaired it better than new. I still have it but I'm going to rebarrel into probably a fast twist 22-243

Slamfire · « **Reply #17 on:** November 18, 2005, 02:26:41 PM »

788 Bolt handles were brazed with a copper washer heated on an induction coil until it merged with the steel. The reason they break is due to the rear locking lugs, After they disengage the bolt just goes loose. Being unguided like front lockers they have a tendency to bind, and in the heat of action, fellahs, just overstress 'em. Brass has a tendency to grow as the bolt compresses a bit when fired. There is no better gas handling system though. :wink:

ScoutMan · « **Reply #18 on:** November 20, 2005, 07:28:43 AM »

Anyone know how to improve the trigger pull on the 788. The one I have "breaks" at 4 lbs 7 oz.

beemanbeme · « **Reply #19 on:** November 20, 2005, 09:15:59 AM »

Timney has been "threatening" for years to make a run of adjustable triggers for the 788. And Midway carried them as a "coming soon" item for a while. Currently, I don't think anyone make a adjustable trigger for them.
A little gunslick, which is supposed to be a no-no, helps some but that 4-5# is about par.

robin-hood-90 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 20, 2005, 09:53:14 AM »

I replaced the trigger spring with a much lighter one and polished the bearing surfaces with a cotton wheel and some flitz on a dremel tool. The one on my .243 breaks @ 2.9# and the 6mm @ 2.3#. I did the same thing on a model 70 .270 ( my favorite deer rifle ) and it breaks @ 1.3#. Thats a little light for a hunting rifle I know, but I believe the trigger makes the rifle. And that Winchester is a shooter ! :grin:

jason280 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 20, 2005, 10:46:36 AM »

The trigger on my 788 is actually pretty good. I haven't tried adjusting it, but at this point it really doesn't seem necessary. Don't get me wrong, as its definitely not a target trigger. But it is a very capable hunting trigger, and shooting good groups with it off the bench isn't difficult.

Remfarmer · « **Reply #22 on:** January 14, 2006, 03:33:32 AM »

Hey Guys, I have found the best way to improve a 788's trigger is with a trigger shoe. I have used them for some years on several 788 rifles and it helps. I hope they're still available.

DavOh · « **Reply #23 on:** January 14, 2006, 05:43:44 AM »

My dad purchased his 788 in .308 win. way back in the early '70s. About 10 years ago, when I was 13 he bought a mdl 700 in .270 win. Gave the .308 to me. I wont let him have it back. He never got that .270 to shoot anywhear near as accurate as the 788 .308. My dad could drive tacks at 200 yds with it. Even myself, can produce 1.5-2.0" groups at 200 yds and just under 3" at 300 yards... with a relatively cheap simmons scope and 150 gr. soft core-lokt remington factory loads. It's old, battered and ugly, but its the sweetest firearm I've ever handled. Personally, I like the weight. It really tames out what little recoil the .308 has to begin with. I'll probably have the stock refinished this year(I know it can hurt the value, but the 7-8 yr old dried deer blood needs to go), and get a Leupold vx-ii to put on it. But otherwise, I wouldn't dare change a thing. Especially for whitetail hunting. Oh yeah, my dad had a lot of work done on that rifle. It's got about a 2-2.5 lb trigger with no creep and crisp clean break. It doesnt move untill adequate pressure is applied and then it just goes off. It's a great rifle.

The only reason I'm considering to get a new rifle is that my dad has fallen on hard times and had to sell his guns... So I figured I'd fix up the 788 and give it back to him for his Birthday in June. Thus leaving me an empty void to fill.