Remington 788 Stuff

[ohland]

I finally got my 788s up. Just ordered an RCBS 243-95-SP mould, RCBS top punch 503, and Lyman H&I .244 sizer die. My box of Hornady gas checks came in yesterday my Lyman M die has been lying around for years.

My .222 Rem still cloverleafs at 100yds, and the Timney trigger is paradise compared to the stock trigger.

http://ps-2.kev009.com:8081/ohlandl/Rem788/Remington_788.html

:coffee:

[Reloader06]

Ohland

Welcome to the Board. I have 3 788's. 222, 30-30, 308. The duce shoots lights out with no mod. the other 2 are problem chidren, but working through it as time and $ allow. I have not tried boolits in any of them yet(Oh the shame). It sounds like you're ready to go for your 243. Keep us posted. Nice link BTW.

Matt

[Multigunner]

I had a 788 in .243 many years ago, most accurate rifle I've ever owned and that thump you just heard was me kicking my own butt for the ten thousandth time for trading it in on a car I needed for the engine and other parts to fix my old VW. Of course I figured I'd buy another 788, but never got around to it.

It would be great if they reintroduced this rifle, with modifications to the manufacturing processes to eliminate the bugs that can affect some of the larger caliber versions.

The most serious problem I've seen reported was the bolt handle breaking if a hot load jammed the bolt tight and it took some real effort to raise the handle. Thats something they could deal with in the manufacturing process.

I've never heard of any problem with the 788 in .243 or the smaller bore chamberings.

[ohland]

I shot my 6mm Rem 788 for the first time in over 15 years. So twitchy with the first shot. Good stuff - Canjar Hunter trigger works just fine, I have never shot it with my 6mm after installing it... The RamLine stock is freakin miserable off the bags, it's a thin sporter stock and it shows. Round chambered well, no bolt lift problems.
75 grain bullet @ 2960 fps, darned bags and rest kept me from dropping them together. Caldwell Rock BR bag is for the wide forend stocks, sling stud in the stock is about 1/8 inch out, I think RamLine moulded it in place.
My dad had a case separation with his Win Low Wall K-Hornet. I saw the bright band halfway around the base of the fired cases. I used my ProChrono Digital and recorded 2916 and 3020 fps. Turns out that the original 22 short barrel was chambered to the K Hornet. The bore diameters are somewhat different, I believe. Bang, magic smoke came up from the breech, and he extracted a head about 1/3d of an inch long. He had been shooting it a lot without problems, but I guess Murphy finally got him.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_179094d7147f1d60e8.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=99)

[rmcc]

I , like Multi, had a 788 in 243, new in box, traded for, never shot it, traded it off for something I had to have at the time... Long story short, I was stupid!

My hunting partner had one in 243 that shot better than he or I had the ability to shoot. He's pretty damn good, me I'm average. He had to have one of those Browning BAR Boss things in 243, so he sold the 788 to his brother. The brother is smarter, he won't sell it back to him. That rifle with 44 gr IMR 4350 and Sierra 70 gr. Match shot better than that rifle should have!! Down through the years I have known many folks who had 788s and have NEVER heard a bad word about any of them , regardless of caliber.
I have never cast for rifle bullets yet, but the you have a GREAT rifle!!

Rich

[ohland]

I finally got my 788s up. Just ordered an RCBS 243-95-SP mould, RCBS top punch 503, and Lyman H&I .244 sizer die. :coffee:

Got a note from Optics Planet. Two things -
First, they needed to review my purchase of the casting and sizing products to ensure compliance with Federal, State, and Local regulations. I'm positive the Mexican smugglers want to rebarrel their AKs to 6mm, then cast one boolit at a time.

Second, they claim this 243 stuff is popular, and they expect delivery in 5-10 days...
Laughter through tears...:killingpc:

PS. My 1/2 inch studs, flange nuts, tapping drill, and 1/2-13 tap came today. After my joyless weekend, I can start making chips for a barrel vise.

[rmcc]

OHLAND,

What type of vise are you making? Please post pics so we can see what you have!!

Thanks,
Rich

[HARRYMPOPE]

'Turns out that the original 22 short barrel was chambered to the K Hornet."

It will probably have a a 1-20 twist.I'd be curious how long of a bullet it can stabilize.My Windermusket re-chambered to LR wouldn't stabilize LR that well.

HMP

[Multigunner]

Older .22 rimfire barrels are often very soft steel and can get swollen chambers even when modern .22 rimfire ammo is used. The Rechambered Lo Wall may now have a swollen chamber due to soft barrel steel, which would explain the bright rings and case separation.

Back to the 788. I'd long heard that for long range accuracy in .308 chambering that the lugs should be lapped for equal contact. Also that heavy long range target loads could be too much for the action, with bolt handle breakage and parts coming loose.
When I got my .243 I'd gone there to get a .308 but was told that store would no longer carry the rifle in .308 because of complaints. Another store here would not sell the model 600 in .308, saying there had been problems when shooters used 7.62 NATO ammo.

[HARRYMPOPE]

[QUOTE=
Back to the 788. I'd long heard that for long range accuracy in .308 chambering that the lugs should be lapped for equal contact. Also that heavy long range target loads could be too much for the action, with bolt handle breakage and parts coming loose.
When I got my .243 I'd gone there to get a .308 but was told that store would no longer carry the rifle in .308 because of complaints. Another store here would not sell the model 600 in .308, saying there had been problems when shooters used 7.62 NATO ammo.[/QUOTE]

I have shot and played with a lot of 788's and have seen one 44 mag shear off a lug because only three were bearing.One 7-08 i had was accurate but had issues reaching anything close to top loads with any case life beyond three shots because of bolt flex due to the rear lug design.i was told this by A Remington employee.I sent it back because factory loads would occasionally split after a while.I had my smith lap the lugs,set the barrel back,re-chamber and the problem was gone.He told me the 30-30,222 and 223's never had problems,only the 308"class".Its the same reason Contender can be chambered in 223,but not 308,its a bolt thrust issue relating to head size to simplify it.After that i tuned down my jacketed laods for my other in those calibers.They were always the most accurate sporters i owned.I love the darn rifles.I have had a few made into Cast BR rifles and they shot as well as anything else.

HMP

[Jack Stanley]

I was one of the guys who ended up with the bolt in my hand once . Fortunately , we had a fella that knew his stuff , seems he used heat sinks and heliarced the thing together again . Then dressed it down and blued the weld and you had to really look to see something had been done to it . I shot many more loads after the fix than before and everything held solid .

When Remington offered the seven hundred in a .308 left hand bolt I bought one and sold the other to another leftie .

Jack

[Malcolm]

I would not trade one savage form a train load of 788s I own 2of them one 22-250& 308 they were nothing but trouble

[HARRYMPOPE]

I would not trade one savage form a train load of 788s I own 2of them one 22-250& 308 they were nothing but trouble

with cast loads they are fine,but soup them up hot and results vary.

HMP

[ohland]

OHLAND,

What type of vise are you making? Please post pics so we can see what you have!!

Thanks,
Rich

A simple one with 1 3/4 w x 1 1/4 h base 7" long, a 1 3/4 w x 1 1/2 h x 4 inch long top piece, using hard maple blocks. 1/2 x 13 studs, threaded into bottom piece, through hole in top piece, tightened with 1/2 x 13 flange nuts.

I had wanted to do 1 1/2 dia x 1 3/4 long bushings....

[AZ-JIM]

OHLAND,
Just out of curiosity, what powder do you plan on using? I have a 788 in .243 as well and a hand full of the RCBS 95gr cast boolits. I just havent loaded them yet, I need to make a top punch for my sizer. I was considering using SR7625 or SR4759 because I can use them in my .357 as well. After you get to the range for some testing, please share your results and pictures!

az-jim

[HARRYMPOPE]

OHLAND,
Just out of curiosity, what powder do you plan on using? I have a 788 in .243 as well and a hand full of the RCBS 95gr cast boolits. I just havent loaded them yet, I need to make a top punch for my sizer. I was considering using SR7625 or SR4759 because I can use them in my .357 as well. After you get to the range for some testing, please share your results and pictures!

az-jim

I just shot a 6mm with the Lyman 245498 95g I used 14.5 of 5744(4759 will be close) at a velocity of 1720 fps.

HMP

[ohland]

OHLAND,
Just out of curiosity, what powder do you plan on using? I have a 788 in .243 as well and a hand full of the RCBS 95gr cast boolits. I just havent loaded them yet, I need to make a top punch for my sizer. I was considering using SR7625 or SR4759 because I can use them in my .357 as well. After you get to the range for some testing, please share your results and pictures!

az-jim

The following is a collection of snippets, this is NOT personal experience...

The RCBS 95 grain semi-spitzer has shot VERY well in my Rem 788 in 243. 12.0 grains of 2400 is the usual load. Lyman #243496 has done nearly as well, same load.
I shoot that boolit and the RCBS 95 gr. Start either over 12 gr 2400 and go to 14 Gr. You should find your sweet spot. Mine is at 13 gr but I am using a ER Shaw bbl from 1982. I am after accuracy first rather than speed but you can whack a few gophers with it @ 13 gr.
From: Loading Cast in the .243 Win., Mike Mohler, The Fouling Shot 158-10

"Lyman 245496 - A multi-grooved Loverin design that weighs 88 grs. It casts .246". By sizing to .243" it can be seated out into the throat and shoots nicely for small game. Eight grains of 700-X gives 1560 fps. The bullets fall easily from my old single-cavity mould. Thousands of these bullets have gone through the Husqvarna I use in the Offhand Postals. In spite of much effort, it is the least accurate bullet tried and not recommended for benchrest."

"IMR 700-X - A bulky powder for its speed. Best results have been with 6.6 to 7.0 grains with the 85-grain bullet. I've had poor results with bullets over 90 grains.
IMR 4756 - Dropped due to light leading showing up on cleaning patches. It showed promise with light bullets.
AA 5744 - Though position insensitive, both my father, using a .308 and myself using the .243 had mediocre results.
IMR 4227 - An excellent powder. Use 14.5 to 16.0 grains with any bullet.
IMR 4579 - Not as good as 4227.
Reloder 7 - Very good results in cool to moderate weather. Groups opened badly when the temperature approached 90°."

From: Cast Loads for the Sixes, Jim Carmichel, Varmint and Small Game Rifles and Cartridges, p. 134 [Loads below were fired in .243 WCF.]

Lyman 245496 (85 grains) - linotype - sized .243" - seated with all lube grooves covered
Reloder 7 - 15.0 - 1785 fps - moa at 100 yds.
Reloder 7 - 17.5 - 1965
Reloder 7 - 20.0 - 2160
Hercules [now Alliant] 2400 - 13.0 - 1900
Hercules [sic] 4895 - 30.0 - 1938
Hercules [sic] 4895 - 31.0 - 2220
Hercules [sic] 4895 - 32.0 - 2480
Norma 204 - 30.0 - 2060
IMR 4064 - 30.0 - 2387

"For pure accuracy, light charges of fast burning rifle powders such as RL No. 7, 4198, 2400, etc., will do best with top grouping being found in the 1600 -1900 fps range. If, however, you want more velocity, go to heavier charges of medium to slow burning charges of 4895, Norma 204 or even 4831. The slower powders tend to accelerate the bullet less rapidly and urge lead alloy bullets to top velocities with less damage from temperature and pressure."

From: Lyman No. I-don't-know-'cause-the covers-are-missing-but-maybe-Cast Bullet Handbook No. 1 [The manual with loads used by shooters and their comments, bullet profiles in blue bars.]

Lyman 245496
.244" - 85 gr - "hard" alloy - Fed. 210 primer - 1" @ 100 yds - Ball C [probably Ball C-1] - 20.0
For squirrel shooting with this bullet in the .243, a good load is 7.0 grains of Unique.
.244" - 85 gr - "hard" - West. 9½ - 1" @ 50 yds - SR4759 - 15.0
I also found 14 grains of 2400 gave fair to good grouping.
.244" - 85 gr - "hard" - West 9½ - 2.5 to 1.5" @ 200, 100 yds - 4064 - 30.0
.244" - 85 to 87 gr - "medium" - Win 120 - 1.5" @ 100 yds - 4227 - 12.9
All bullets weighed to ± 0.1 gr., use neck expander .001 smaller than diameter of bullet.
.244" - 87 gr - "hard" - Cascade - 1.5" @ 100 yds - 4198 - 24.5
I find sizing nearest to actual barrel dimensions proves best for me. Also, hard alloys will take more velocity and size better.
.243" - 85 gr - "hard" - Rem 9½ - 2.5" @ 100 yds - SR4759 - 13.0

From: High Speed .243 Loads, Bruce Judson, The Fouling Shot 86-9

"With Rx 19 [Reloder 19], my 2,200 fps load is 31 gr. The cases are Remington and are unsized. My Saeco mould [probably #243, an 85-gr. TCGC, but not stated in the article] casts bullets that are oversize, and are loaded as cast. They are "glued" in place by Lee Liquid Alox lube and are loose in the case neck. The bullets are made of wheel weights plus 1% tin, and are heat treated after the checks are added. I use Winchester primers and a grain of Dacron on the powder charges.

With Rx 15 [Reloder 15], the first load I tried was 27 gr. All other load specs are the same. Over 40 shots (8x5) the velocity averaged 2,326 fps and the groups, including foulers, averaged 1.44" at 100 yards.

I had also assembled some loads with 30 gr. of Rx 15. 40 shots gave these averages: 2,562 fps and groups of 1.83. Not bad for a load almost 400 fps faster than cast bullets are supposed to be able to go. Both of these loads burn very cleanly. The bullet holes show none of the powder residue smudges common to other loads and no unburned powder remains in the bore. Maybe the clean burning characteristic of Rx 15 is helpful in getting good accuracy at high speed."

#245496 I have the Lyman , mine come out 90gr with lube and gas check.
14gr IMR 4227, 1500fps, put 3 in .2" at 50yd, 16gr , 1650fps, did .4" at 50yd, 24gr IMR 4198 gave 2300fps and 2 touching, one 1/2" to the right, 26gr gave 2575fps and all three shots missed the lower right target on a 4 bull target.
Rem. 788, 4x Gibson's scope from the '80's from a good rest.
Don

I just shot the 245496 over 11gr of Unigue this weekend, and it's a great plinking load. A little lower point of impact than my jacketed, but I'm definitely going to be loading up some more soon. I really liked shoting the load.

[AZ-JIM]

OHLAND, and HMP, thanks for the input. I am looking for acuracy as well, speed is whatever it ends up being. My idea with this rifle and a cast boolit was to use it for predator hunting, hoping that it wouldn't damage the pelts too badly, especially on smaller game like fox and bobcat.

az-jim

[Four Fingers of Death]

I've got two, a 222 and a 22/250, nice old guns. I bought the 222 to fool around with cast boolits. Just ordered a group buy 22 mould. Bought the 22/250 off a mate who had the breeze in his drawers and was desperate for money. I decided to give it a run as I have always been a 220Swift user. I found out you can't tell which one your are firing they are pretty close in performance.

[Three44s]

I have had one 788 for going on 20 years .......... a well used .22-250 ........... My .22-250 needed a trigger job ....... after that it began getting quirky and I had a Canjar Single set installed .........

........ then it was LIGHTS OUT for many a coyote!!!

........... till the tube went belly up! Started shooting side ways at close range. A good member of this forum sold me two barrels for the .22-250 to try out.

Just last summer ........ it began raining 788's ......... go figure! When 788 rain cloud came over I walked away with a pretty fair (metal wise) in .222 rem. It's tight as a drum but some finnish is OK. But I'm not that much into "looks" ........ more into WORKS!

Around the end of last year I ended up with not one but TWO receivers for the longer action ........ both were .243's!!

One a broken ear with no bolt nor trigger (ear where the trigger fastens to the receiver) and the other, after I had bought the bolt and also found it would need lapping.

After the dust had settled .......... I ended up with a complete 788 in .243 with an 18.5" barrel for $160 including the transfer fee! ........ but have to have the trigger re-installed.

When it's all said and done, I'll have them in .222 ..... .22-250 and .243 .......

The outstanding thing about this rifle model is it's LOCK TIME ....... and it's enough faster than just about anything else for the money ..... that they are hard to not love!!!


Three 44s

[missionary5155]

Greetings
I still have my origonal 788 in caliber .243. Best shooting .243 I have ever had and that is why it is still with me. Last coyot got popped at 257 steps with me sitting on my lower posterior. Normally I have a 3-9 Bushnel on top. Only bad thing I know about a 788 is the weird trigger assembly.