Remington 788 in .308

[JamisJockey]

Thoughts, opnions, and experiences on the Remington 788 in .308?
Pretty sure I looked at one today in a gun shop, used, with scope, possibly interested in this rifle for hunting Mule deer and varmints.

 

[Mal H]

If the barrel is in good shape, you just might have found a real sleeper. The 788 was Remington's bargain rifle for about 15 years. But the low price was the only thing below average. The bolt was like a bank vault - very strong. They are usually very accurate if they have been minimally cared for. They aren't much to look at as far as the original stock, receiver, barrel go. But, they more than make up for that in accuracy and toughness.

Even so, I think $350 is on the high side unless it is in pristine condition, around $250 to $300 would be more like it. (I paid $105 for mine, brand new. )

[Edit]
I forgot you said it had a scope. If it is a good one from a reputable mfg., then $350 wouldn't be a bad price.

 

[Badger Arms]

Check the trigger group to make sure it is not loose. Do a function check to make sure the safety and trigger operates correctly. Check where the bolt handle attaches to the bolt body. There are often cracks or repairs here. Check for wear on the locking lugs. If all the lugs on one side are worn and the other 6 lugs aren't, there could be trouble.

The 788 was one of the most accurate out-of-the-box rifles ever made. I have 2 in .308, one carbine and one rifle. These are both sub-MOA rifles with hunting ammo and I don't feel the need to try working up a load if the gun shoots better than me. One thing that limits the rifle is that you can't top off the magazine easily and capacity is "only" 4 rounds if you can live with that.

For Mule deer, I'd stick with 165 to 180 grain hunting loads although many 150's are built to do the job. I'm a shot placement, penetration guy. Many want a faster bullet, but I prefer less meat damage. For varmits, pick a light, fast load that shoots good in your gun. More velocity means faster energy transfer and flatter trajectory which minimizes range estimation errors. Enjoy. I've also got a 22-250, .243 carbine, .358 carbine (rebore), and a 7mm-08. I LIKE 788's.

 

[444]

I agree with everything Mal said. I never owned a 788 in .308 but I have owned two in .223 and it is a terrific bargin. These shoot REALLY good for a factory rifle, let alone the economy model of the line. If I told you some of the groups I shot with my first one someone on here would call me a lair and I can no longer back up the claims. At the time I showed my dealer some of my targets and he would not leave me alone until I sold him the rifle and he bought a case of the ammo I was using (Black Hills, 55 grain Hornady SX). Every time I tried to buy something, he would almost demand that I make him a deal on the 788. I finally gave in partly to shut him up and partly because he had something that I couldn't live without. I don't even remember what I traded it for now but I remember how well that rifle shot. So, when the opportunity presented itself to get another one a year to two ago, I jumped on it. I haven't done any real extensive testing of this one, but it seems to shoot very well. I paid $250 for it with a cheap scope mounted, so I do also agree that the price you mention might be a little high.

 

[cracked butt]

I had a 788 in .243 many years ago and really regret ever selling it.:banghead:

 

[OreGun]

The first deer rifle I ever got was a Remington model 788 in .243. It was a Christmas present from my dad. It has always been an extremly accurate rifle for it's size. This and the fact it was my first centerfire rifle makes it very special to me.

 

[cheygriz]

I can't prove this, but I've heard a rumor for many years that the reason Remington discontinued the 788 line was the embarrassing tendency of the 788s to be more accurate than Remingtons' high priced model 700s.

 

[pdh]

I bought my 788 in the 22-250 around 1979 or so.I had my eye on a beautiful 700 classic 22-250 there in the same shop 6 or 7 months later.The owner actually talked me out of a trade saying the 788s were more accurate and he felt remington would mess them up somehow or drop their production.It was not long after that,remington dropped the 788.
Still have my 788.Could not ask for it to shoot any better.It will keep up with my 700VS 22-250 any day of the week.

 

[Mike Irwin]

I know people who are willing to pay that much, and more, just for an unbarreled 788 action for use in building ultra-accurate rifles.

Griz,

You're not the only one who's heard that.

But I'm not so certain that it's the case.

Remington could have dropped the 788 action into the 700 line, touted the increase in accuracy potential, and really had a world beater.

I really think, though, that the 788 suffered from an image and appearance problem and it just didn't sell all that well for Remington, which is why it was dropped.

 

[BenW]

I also have a 788 in .308 that I bought new for $120. It's a tackdriver and if I had an ounce of foresight I would have bought a half dozen of them.

I think one of the things that lead to its demise was a popular opinion that it wasn't a "real man's gun." When I bought mine, the clerk in the first shop I went into to loudly exclaimed, "Oh, you want a KID'S gun!" Needless to say I bought it at another shop and it's been my main hunting arm for the last 23 years.

EDIT: I got curious and looked up my reciept. I actually paid $150, not $120. The getting old thing strikes again...

 

[Al Thompson]

Around here, 788's have disappeared. I sold mone for 300, no scope, ramline stock almost 9 years ago. Folks that have them keep them it seems.

FWIW, I've never even heard of an inaccurate one.

 

[JamisJockey]

The scope that is on it is crap....I found a Savage 110E at the same gun shop with a better scope. Its a 30-06, and $50 cheaper....I think I'm just going to go that route since I've heard nothing bad about Savage rifles.

 

[cheygriz]

Mike,

You may well be correct. Unfortunatly, there are still an enormous number of pholks that buy a rifle based on it's appearance, more so than perfornance.

A large numder of people will buy an "average" rifle it if has "nice wood and blued steel" rather than a truly superior rifle that is parkerized and synthetic stocked.

A good example is the Remington 600. Great little weapon, but not "aesthetically pleasing." They bring it back a few years later, all gussied up and "reel purty" as the model 7, double the price, and it sells like hotcakes. Go figure!

 

[Mike Irwin]

The 600 also had ammo problems. It came in two calibers that could have been fantastic, had Remington not put them in an action that was just too stinking short to get the most out of them.

 

[cracked butt]

What really buggers me is that a few years ago they introduced the 710 to fit the bill as a bargain entry level rifle which must mean there is a market for cheaper rifles. The problem is that the 710 is garbage, they should have just reintroduced the 788. I would buy a 788 any day, but never a 710.

A few people mentioned that remington discontinued the 788 because its more accurate than the 700. This is the first time I've heard this, but its not hard to believe that remimgton would do this.

 

[DrDremel]

It is correct that the 788 was more accurate than the 700. That was the reason for it being cancelled. I have one in 308 that will shoot honest 1/2 inch groups. My .223 caliber 788 is amazing. I was only 18 at the time when I got it and used to set up 12ga. shotgun shell hulls and shoot them down at 100 yards. I still have that one. I sold the .308 788 to get another gun. It was a stupid move. Buy it in confidence.

 

[SmokeRing]

How's this for luck. Have been looking for a .308 "fun gun" as I call it. Asked a question here about Savage Scout and was thinking about a Rem 760. Went into a local gunshop and found a pristine Rem 788 in .308 marked as used. The salesman said it still had the green Remington tag on it when it was brought in. To him it appeared "unfired". They had a price of $299 on it and it is now mine. I remember these were popular with some metallic silhouette shooters back in the 70's due to "quick bolt action" etc. Really glad I found it. You have to keep looking!