One great 788

[WVRJ]

I have finally finished a project that I have been working on for about a year. I found this really nice Remington 788 a couple of years ago and decided to work it over a bit, but leave it so I can take it back to original if I wanted to. I fitted the HS Precision stock that was originally on one of my 700 long actions. That was quite an adventure. I probably have a few days work in reworking and pillar bedding it. I put a little piece of pic rail on the forend for any accessories I want to mount. It is a very good shooter,alwa al under an inch at 100. The Timney trigger is much better than the original. I think it turned out great,a an just wanted to share it with you.

 

[nettlle]

I remember the 788's when they first came out. Remington marketed them as an economical bolt action rifle.

Turns out they were one of the most accurate bolt actions made. My take at the time was that Remington regretted advertising them as an economical rifle because they were worth more than the price they were asking for them.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

What caliber is it? I have 788's in 6mm Remington, .308, and 30-30. They are all pretty accurate and fun to shoot.
What is the scope? Nice looking rifle!

 

[bannockburn]

WVRJ

Kudos to you for putting in a lot of time and effort in fixing up a "Plain Jane" Model 788 into something really nice!

Well done sir!

 

[Random 8]

I had one of these, my first centerfire in .308. I literally wore it out, a few times. I got it at a time when surplus ammo in 7.62 could be had cheaply and nobody bothered to gate off or post their gravel pits in Northern MN, MI and WI. I shot this rifle A LOT. Field positions, improvised rests, no rock, old tire rim or beer bottle was safe to 500 yards or more. 2 bolt stops, a trigger group, a safety and a headspace fix after firing some too hot military ammo all went into this rifle from my limited funds, such was my love for this rifle. Glass bedded the action and barrel shank around 2000, and even with some pretty good throat erosion it would still shoot 1" groups. It got to the point from wear in general that it was unsafe to carry in the woods without basically rebuilding the internals, with the right combination of jiggling and jostling, it would fire when the safety was pushed to fire, and needed a new barrel. I sold it to somebody who was going to do a full rebuild and rebarrel for an F-class build, and still miss the ugly duckling.

 

[WVRJ]

It's chambered for 22-250.With CFE223 powder,a 52 gr A-Max turns a tick over 3900 fps.Sighted in 2" high at 100,it's dead on at 300.The metal is 99%,and the round count is less than 100.I bought it at auction for a decent price because it didn't have a magazine with it.

 

[WVRJ]

That's a straight 12 Leupold with fine crosshairs on it.

 

[troy fairweather]

ironically 788s are like hens teeth in my part off NY. nice rifle. we need groups now.

 

[Scooter22]

That came out nice. I have a stock .223 and 7mm-08 carbine. Both very accurate. I'd like to find one in 30-30 but the few I've seen were way more that I want to spend. My Stevens 325 will have to do until I find a real deal on one.

 

[mushu]

I've always liked the one that I've had which have been a 223,6mm, and a 30/30. nice job on yours!

 

[Missionary]

Good morning
Bought a 788 in caliber.243 over 35 years ago. Still have as it is still the best shooting bolt .243 we have ever owned. 70 grainers right through 100's. Only thing it dies not like are 60 grainers but will do OK out to 150 yds on ground hogs but the 70 grainers will do itty - bitty clover leafs.

 

[tark]

788s and old Ford Bronco's have something in common. People lust after them and bemoan the fact they are no longer made.

That's a fine piece of gunsmithing .

 

[sparkyv]

Very nice! I HATE the stock on my 788, but don't have the patience to fit one like you do, WVRJ.

 

[mgmorden]

I've always wanted one of these. My uncle has hunted for decades now with a 788 in 6mm Rem.

 

[WVRJ]

Two things the 788 didn't have the best of were the stock and the trigger.Timney makes fixing the trigger easy.The stock is another matter.Nobody that I know of makes a good synthetic stock for them.The first rifle I ever had was a 788 in 222 that my dad bought me for my 15th birthday.I sold it to buy a 243,and have tried to buy it back from my cousin,but he killed his first deer with it and won't part with it even though I've offered him a very good sum of money.I want one in 222,but I also want a 280 AI barrel for one of my 700's...

 

[rsrocket1]

I paid $119 for my 788 in .308 brand new in the late 70's. It's still one of my favorite guns.
Hmm, maybe I should look into getting the Timney trigger for it.