MidSouth Shooters SupplyWidenersTitan ReloadingInline Fabrication
Load DataReloading EverythingLee PrecisionRotoMetals2
Repackbox
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 21 to 39 of 39

Thread: Never thought I'd see one in real life, . . .

  1. #21
    Moderator
    Texas by God's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    14,334
    Quote Originally Posted by crackers View Post
    "Bolt is lockable?"
    No. Two position safety - and it rides up by magic. At that point, mine ceased to be a hunter.
    All mine were pre 1980 and they all locked the bolt closed when on Safe. I share your dislike of rifles that don't.

  2. #22
    Boolit Master waco's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Springfield, Oregon
    Posts
    3,186
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	7F527A27-34BB-4788-8B90-00D515CFC7E7.jpg 
Views:	21 
Size:	44.4 KB 
ID:	234566
    Rem 788 .308
    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
    Proverbs 1:7

  3. #23
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Oklahoma
    Posts
    150
    Quote Originally Posted by TCFAN View Post
    I have one just like the Op but mine is in 222. Shoots cast very well. Cost me 89.00 dollars at Wal-mart many years ago.
    I got ripped off. Mine was a 308 for $118 from TG&Y (long dead Oklahoma based chain store) bought in the early 80s when they went out of the gun business. Traded away a few years later. Too soon old and too late smart.

    Now I've given up on one of my grail guns, the 30-30 788. I want the duplicate to the one I saw in a Gibson's store in Muskogee about 1983: the 7mm-08 for $160.
    Last edited by Mohawk Daddy; 01-24-2019 at 07:25 PM.

  4. #24
    Boolit Master Shawlerbrook's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Central NY
    Posts
    2,916
    Back in the early 70’s many farmer’s fields here in Central NYS were ridded of woodchucks by a young boy and a Remington 788 in 222. They weren’t pretty, but boy they would shoot.

  5. #25
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    3,149
    A friend of mine has one in .308 Win. It’s in excellent condition but must be an exception to the rule: it’s a 2moa gun, and none of the usual tricks or load could improve on that.

  6. #26
    Moderator Emeritus

    Treetop's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    623
    Quote Originally Posted by Texas by God View Post
    All mine were pre 1980 and they all locked the bolt closed when on Safe. I share your dislike of rifles that don't.
    Well, thanks to this thread, I now realize that I own one of each! I bought my original LH 788 in 1972 or 73 and the bolt locks on it.

    I later found the mate to it at a gun show in Houston during the early 1980s. Just checked it with the safety on and the bolt lifts up! I can't believe that I hadn't noticed this earlier! Mine are both in .308 Win and are absolute tack drivers with cast boolits. Semper Fi, Treetop
    "Treetop"
    Sgt. USMC
    1968-71

    "Accuracy has a suppressive power all by itself."
    Lt. Gen. George Flynn, USMC

    “The Second Amendment was not written to protect your right to shoot deer.
    It was written to protect your right to shoot tyrants…”
    Judge Andrew Napolitano

  7. #27
    Boolit Master 44magLeo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Lebanon, NY
    Posts
    1,019
    I bought a used 788 in 22-250 in the late 70's while in the Air Force. It blew primers in factory loads. Worked ok when loaded to 222 powder charges.
    I live near the Remington factory in NY. Took it to them. Sent it back after week or so. The letter said the chamber was rusted. They set te barrel back one turn and rechambered it.
    Shot like house afire. I shot it with many bullets from 50-63 grs. all shot less than 1/2" groups. many less than 1/4".
    All to same poi at 100 yards.
    Let that one go to a nephew under the rule if he sells it he has to sell back to me.
    He thought he could get a better deal from someone else. I no longer do anything with him.
    Sure wish I find a rifle that shot as well.
    Leo

  8. #28
    Banned
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    2,725
    There is one for sale in Everett WA for $300...in case anyone lives near there.

  9. #29
    Moderator
    Texas by God's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    14,334
    Quote Originally Posted by Traffer View Post
    There is one for sale in Everett WA for $300...in case anyone lives near there.
    If it is a 30-30, it's probably already gone. $300 is a steal for a 788 no matter what caliber it is in.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  10. #30
    Boolit Master northmn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Northern MN
    Posts
    2,407
    The 788 is a strange rifle. I remember when they came out and they were offered in limited calibers. Can't remember but I think 44 mag and maybe 30-30 with possibly the 222 later. They were considered a cheap rifle that may have been made to compete with the Savages. Most that traded them off probably did because they were a "bargain" rifle. After Remington quit making them they rose in value and got a reputation for accuracy, some claim because of a very short lock time. I don't remember when they started making them in the other calibers like the 308 or 22-250.

    If you read the early literature on cast bullets, as with Frank Marshall, the Savage 340 and the 788 in 30-30 were prized cast bullet rifles that many found fun to shoot against more expensive rifles using J bullets at the time. The 788 was the most prized for its accuracy with cast. Back then a rifle shooting J bullets into an inch group was a real prize. Another caliber they liked in cast bullet competition was the 30-06.


    DEP

  11. #31
    Boolit Buddy


    thegatman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    New York State of Confusion
    Posts
    360
    Be careful. Extractors go bad. Hard to find parts.

  12. #32
    Moderator
    Texas by God's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    14,334
    Introduced in 1967. First chamberings were .222, 22-250, .243, 6mm, 30-30, .308, & .44 mag. In 1980 they were updated cosmetically and the .223 & 7mm-08 were added and the .222 and 6mm were discontinued. The rimmed cartridges used a non rotating bolt head. The 788 singlehandedly put the 22-250 on the map IMO. As to function; of the even dozen I've owned- not a speck of trouble. Ever. I carried my first one in my truck, wiped the scope lens off every so often, but no cleaning otherwise for 7 years. Like the idiot I sometimes am I traded it for a Franchi 20.
    It's out there somewhere; 788 22-250 serial # 6106093.
    If you find it holler. I don't own any now, I use the Finland version- the Tikka T3.
    If I find one for $300, my wallet will leap out of my pocket like a bullfrog!
    788 Fanboy here.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  13. #33
    Banned
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    2,725
    Quote Originally Posted by Texas by God View Post
    If it is a 30-30, it's probably already gone. $300 is a steal for a 788 no matter what caliber it is in.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
    It is a .308 made in 69

  14. #34
    Moderator
    Texas by God's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    14,334
    Quote Originally Posted by Traffer View Post
    It is a .308 made in 69
    That's a deal, especially if it has the walnut stock they were introduced in. I don't know when they changed to birch. My first was a 1972 model and it had birch. While I'm droning on, I'll mention that in 1980 they changed the stock shape, swept the bolt handle, shortened the barrel on .243 on up to 18.5, and inletted the formerly proud floor plate. They also changed the safety to a non bolt locking design for some dumb reason.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  15. #35
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    3,149
    I just remembered one that I had, but never fired. A friend gave it to me; it was a 788 in .223 rem., but the bolt handle was broken off. part of the threads on the end of the bolt were broken off with the handle, and he had no idea where the handle went.

    It sat in the back of my closet for a few years. I always intended to find a way to fix it, but when we moved for work six years ago I got rid of all my unnecessary projects. I think I sold it to a guy at a gun show for $100.

  16. #36
    Boolit Master




    EMC45's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    East TN Mountains...Thanks be to God!
    Posts
    4,549
    Quote Originally Posted by fatelk View Post
    I just remembered one that I had, but never fired. A friend gave it to me; it was a 788 in .223 rem., but the bolt handle was broken off. part of the threads on the end of the bolt were broken off with the handle, and he had no idea where the handle went.

    It sat in the back of my closet for a few years. I always intended to find a way to fix it, but when we moved for work six years ago I got rid of all my unnecessary projects. I think I sold it to a guy at a gun show for $100.
    The only one I saw in a shop ever had the handle brazed up all crazy looking.
    You can miss fast & you can miss a lot, but only hits count.

  17. #37
    Moderator
    Texas by God's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    14,334
    Some of my early adventures in reloading tested the handle of my 788 severely and it never broke. All the ones I've used and seen used- no broken handles. I've read of it but never have I seen it. I don't doubt it because I've seen one m700 break at the braze joint; just that I haven't on the sevenateyate.

  18. #38
    Banned
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    2,725
    When the handle breaks off does the bolt go into the eye? Or do the lugs still hold.

  19. #39
    Moderator
    Texas by God's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    14,334
    The handle is brazed on to the body and supposedly breaks there - no lug failure or injury that I'm aware of.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check