788 rem

[shotman]

I found a receiver for a 788 is the barrel easy to change?

[Bret4207]

No more difficult than most other bolt guns. Not as easy to headspace as a Savage, easier than a Mauser with the double shoulder.

[shotman]

thanks will send out to do I got good deal so can do that. thanks rick

[EOD3]

IIRC, the 788 has a rear locking bolt which might cause some issues. The .223 I bought in Panama was a shooter, quarter to half inch groups were common even with military ball ammo. :shock:

[shotman]

Yea the 223 and 308 I have are tack drivers Now I got the one I want a 7mm -08. It the carbine but I bet it will do as good as I can

[Rocky Raab]

I own four 788s. The one I had re-barreled presented no special challenges to the 'smith, but do be aware that SOME 788s used a slightly non-standard thread pattern. Have your 'smith check that before he starts forcing in a pre-threaded barrel.

The one thing to be cautious about is the bolt handle. They are only silver-soldered on and 788s are notorious for having them snap off. It's a genuine booger to get them back on well enough to stay on. It can be wise to have a small relief cut ground away from the handle root, and then a small bead of weld run around. But that itself is a tricky job due to heat-treating. And it almost has to be done BEFORE the original handle breaks off.

[Jack Stanley]

I had a bolt handle break and the gunsmith put it back together with the heli-arc welder . He said he had to use a heat sink but the lugs stayed hard through the process .


Jack

[shotman]

My 223 the bolt opens very easy before and after firing. The 308 is a little tight . Its not bad but does take a little more to open. will see how the 7mm does

[Four Fingers of Death]

I found a receiver for a 788 is the barrel easy to change?

You got a reciever? SHucks, yer half way there!

Unless you have really got the hots for a custom rifle, you'd probably be better off selling the action and buying a new Savage, Mossberg or Marlin.

[sargenv]

I had a borrowed 788 for a few years. It was in 308 Win. I had the bolt handle break off. It took a trip back to Remington and they may have either had it re-bolted in shop or may have sent it out. This was back in the late 80's to early 90's. I think it cost me something like 100 to 150 dollars to fix. No idea what that would cost now... It came back tighter than before and it was still a tack driver.

[NickSS]

I had several 788s they all shot well and when they were selling for $90 brand new they were a good accurate rifle. I eventually sold them because they were esthetically not pleasing to me. I never had one that shot bad though.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Every one I know who has them or has had them in the past praised their accuracy and never had any problems at all with them. One of my old hunting buddies insited on walking around with the rifle slung over his shoulder and the bolt opened to show his gun was safe. No amount of input from me had any impression on him, he liked to show everyone it was completely safe. It is permanently safe now because he lost the bolt!

I have a 222 and a 22/250. The only calibres I have come accross in Australia are:

222
22/250
243
7/08
308.

I have always fancied one in 30/30.

[waco]

i have a 788 in .308
its an honest half min rifle @100 yards with jacketed bullets and varget
love that rifle!

[shotman]

well got the receiver complete and 2 triggers. I had a 7mm-08 barrel and stock in the carbine style. I am set to go. They made them in several cal all short action. I have 223 that was a little harder to get. They also had a 244 or 6mm that was a little hard to find. I have not seen a 44 mag. I killed a crow at 400+ yards with the 223. Had 3 buddies with me at the time. I guessed at hold over of about 2 or3 ft dont know for sure, but the gun cracked and it seemed like 10 sec and crow fell out . We all looked at each other and didnt say a word for a couple of min.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Talking about 788s, I have a friend who sheds his rifles regularly. He has a 308 carbine 788 which he bought recently and has now changed his mind. The rifle was bought by a mutual friend and rebarrelled when new to a wildcat and used for a few years, then put in the safe. He had the 308 carbine barrel re-fitted by the local gunsmith who refuses to fit a barrel without truing everything up. It shoots like a dream. I'm thinking it would make a nice cast boolit gun.

Maybe even re-barrelled to a 358Winchester or similar. I always wanted a 35-30/30 after seeing Col Harrison's front cover on his Cast Bullet NRA Publication. The 358 Win would probably be just as good, but more practical.