.30-30 Remington 788 for CB ?

[hc18flyer]

I recently found a 1970's Remington 788 in .30-30 locally. Would this be a good choice for cast boolets? I would like to use it to bang away at NRA silhouette's and deer hunting. A friend had one in .308 and was happy with it.
Thanks, Tom

[RickinTN]

I have no personal experience with the 788 in 30-30 but do have a friend who does. It's my understanding his rifle shoots cast quite well. The 30-30 is an excellent cast cartridge and the 788 has a good reputation for accuracy as well so combining the two is like a win/win.

Rick

[Ben]

The 788 is a " nail driver " with cast in 30/30.
The Achilles Heel of the rifle was a weak extractor( pretty flimsy, not nearly as strong as the 98 Mauser design ) .
If I owned a 788 Rem., in 30/30 Win., I'd own a spare.

Ben

[Jack Stanley]

Mine seems to shoot just about any bullet well . I've been finishing up a coffee can full of ammo loaded with the H&G number sixty-seven bullet . At thirty yards it shoots better than most rimfire rifles . I have loaded heavier bullets but I don't remember the data right now .

Mine had an ejector break shortly after I got it but Jack First makes replacements so I was back in business . If the price is even close to right buy it you won't be sorry .

Jack

[Uncle R.]

...Would this be a good choice for cast boolets?
There are thousands who consider it the holy grail of rifles for casters. The .30-30 is a seriously excellent cartridge for cast in part because of its medium powder capacity and its long and thin-walled neck. The 788 may well be the strongest and most accurate factory .30-30 you'll ever find. If the price is reasonable and it's in nice condition, grab it. I got mine years ago, I'm very happy with it and it's not for sale.
Uncle R.

[HARRYMPOPE]

Ben is correct about the extractor.the ejector often gets broke too.in the 788 the 308 was more accurate on average.I have owned three in 30-30 and they need to be throated for best accuraccy.

[odis]

I picked one up for my wife 3 years ago. It eats a 170 gr bullet that I cast from an accurate mold the number escapes me right now. I have found that 15.5 grs of SR4759 gives it its best accuracy so far, my wife doesn't hunt so thats what I'm sticking with. My biggest complaint is with the box mag which restricts the oal of the ammo but thats a moot point for my wifes needs. I really like the 30-30 and so does a lot of people in the area I live in the gravel pits are littered with once fired factory brass, I've never bought any and have coffee cans full that I've scrounged.

[wmitty]

The extractor broke on mine and I believe it was Wisners that had a replacement for it. I reworked the trigger and it shoots the 311041 and the 311407 Modified group buy quite accurately. If you don't jump on it let us know, someone else will.

[richhodg66]

I bought one on impulse a while back, just happenned to be in a shop window shopping and there it was. I haven't shot it a lot yet, but the initial range trips with some ammo I had loaded for other rifles (cast) indicates it will be agood shooter.

I've had a few other 788s and haven't had one yet that wasn't a good shooter. I wish Remington would make them again, they were considered bottom rung cheapies in their day, but I like them better than the 710 and 770 bottom rung cheapies they make now.

[Shooter973]

I have 2 of these rifles and shoot nothing but cast bullets in them... I haven't had any problems with the ejectors at all... Great shooting rifles and are a cheap to shoot center fire... My sons and Grandsons like to shoot them a lot, so cost could become a problem if not for cast bullets and long ago purchased gas checks...
I also have a 788 in 223 that is my most accurate 223 rifle ever...Good 3x9 scope and Control mounts...
I'm always looking for more 788's.....