Rem 788 in .358 (pics up)

.358

I must to have short barrels...I'm only 3' 10" tall !!! ;)

I like carbines, if you guys don't that's fine. I like to carry a nice short bush gun, rather than trying to pull a long barrel rifle through the willows.:p

Don't you fret, since this actually turned out great, there will be a long pipe
.358 built soon. I am thinking along the lines of a 24" barrel. :evil:

Going shooting this afternoon, I'll have targets hopefully this evening. :popCorn:

Arch:)





Rembo said:
nice...but the barrel is too short...please tell us it was already 18-1/2" before the rebore.....anything under 20" is a pistol barrel.....ask Cam(cccan)...he knows...that's why his 358 is a full 22"....:)
Click to expand...
 
.358

ratherbefishin said:
what gunsmithing was involved in the conversion?
Click to expand...

Hi, yes gunsmithing was involved.

Rebore barrel to .358 / rifling
Chamber through
Cut and crown muzzle
Drill / tap for front sight

Arch:)
 
I like the idea of this caliber in a carbine. I have hunted with a 18.5"/.308 for almost 20yrs and have never wanted for more velocity, for the hunting we do here is usually under 100yds. In fact I load 180gr SPs in that rifle, so I'm sure it's pretty slow. I'm afraid to shot it over the chrony. :p

arch1965 said:
Don't you fret, since this actually turned out great, there will be a long pipe
.358 built soon. I am thinking along the lines of a 24" barrel.
Click to expand...
If you are going for a 24" rifle in a 35cal, I'd consider the Whelen. The bigger case and longer bbl will prolly make a big difference, if velocity is the reason for the longer bbl.


.
 
A couple of things; if you're going to go 24", build a 358 Norma, may as well get your money's worth. Short barreled 358 Win's on the other hand work well together, I've had a BLR in this caliber for years, and the barrel is only 20" if I recall correctly, makes a great bush gun, and there are no flies on the 358 Win as a game getter.

Regarding the McM 788 stock, yup, they made them (may still for all I know), so did Brown Precision, MPI, Ramline, and I believe Lee Six's old company, Six Enterprises, did as well. - dan
 
short barrel 358 Win

Short barreled 358 Win's on the other hand work well together
Click to expand...

x2 :rockOn: - below is a table excerpt from an article on fav carbine loads featuring loads for a 14 1/2" tube 358Win.

_____
358 Winchester Loads
Jarrett XP-1 Hunter - 14 1/2" Shilen Barrel
Layne Simpson Shooting Times - Feb.91- p.64
Warning -author's notes say that some of these are maximum loads in his gun but may be excessive for others - reduce by 10% to start in other guns

Bullet Powder Grains Primer Case Velocity - fps
av. 5 shots at 12'
Hornady 180 SSP ReL 7 45 WLRM Win 2537
Speer 180 FN IMR-4895 51 WLRM Win 2494
Sierra 200 RN IMR-3031 48 WLRM Win 2472
Speer 220 FN ReLoder 12 50 WLRM Win 2411
Nosler225 Partition IMR-3031 48 WLRM Win 2453
Sierra 225 SPBT ReLoder 12 50 WLRM Win 2409
_______
 
the 788 is short action only, so no whelen or Norma mags for you. Maybe a 35 WSM/sambar, but that would be a much more complex conversion
 
arch1965 said:
Hi, well I have it home :)
Click to expand...
Ugly as hell in my eyes (although I love the caliber). However, the guys who shoot competitively in the Cast Bullet Association consider them hellishly accurate for cast bullet guns. A lot of gun for a little money.

My brother has a 788. I am frequently torn by the thought of cheating him out of it and having it rebarrelled and properly throated for something in .40 throwing cast bullets.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your rifle, and Ron Smith does great work. Congrats!
 
Maybe a 35 WSM/sambar, but that would be a much more complex conversion
Click to expand...

Now that caught my attention. Never thought of that possibiliyt, Short mag conversions can sometimes have feeding problems I'm told. The 788 with its straight clip may offer the potential for slicker feeding since the cartridge doesn't need to turn as it goes into the gate. I imagine there would be major mag and bolt face mods too. Very radical. Of course not as natural a swap as Arch's 358Win.
 
Whelen B said:
Now that caught my attention. Never thought of that possibiliyt, Short mag conversions can sometimes have feeding problems I'm told. The 788 with its straight clip may offer the potential for slicker feeding since the cartridge doesn't need to turn as it goes into the gate. I imagine there would be major mag and bolt face mods too. Very radical. Of course not as natural a swap as Arch's 358Win.
Click to expand...

Well, you'd need to engineer an entirely new magazine, of course, as a magazine for the 308 family would be too narrow.

Plus, the 788 isn't known as an especially strong action - it's somewhat 'spongy' due to the locking lugs at the rear and the compression of the bolt. I doubt it would cope well with the increased bolt thrust of a bigger diameter cartridge.

So this may be a theoretically possible conversion, but there are other actions that would be much more suitable IMHO
 
788 .358 win

I think you said that Ron Smith rebored the bbl -- not replace the bbl? What caliber was it before? I am thinking of this move to my .308 788 and wonder if there is enough metal remaining after a rebore of that amount.

ps -- I think 18.5 inch if the right choice for that rifle.
 
Update

Hi, sorry guys. I have been swamped working and ranching. Still haven't had a chance to get out. I'll post asap when I do get it roaring.

Arch:redface:
 
Rem 788 .358

Hi, after a long awaited trial with the Remington 788 in .358, I finally got out to shoot it. :) It cycled just like butter on a hot knife. No jams, malfunctions etc... All was perfect.

It went well I think. My ammo was not the best, old stock Winchester Silvertips 200 grain. There was more white smoke hanging in the grass than a Civil war reanactment. :D:D:D

My grouping was .75 inch at 100 yards. Sorry, I forgot the camera. I am going to pick up some "new" ammo and give them a whirl. I will have pics for those ones, I promise. With some reloading and tinkering to see what it likes to eat best, I am confident I can get down to .25 groups or better.

I love 788's (still) and especially the gunsmithing done by Mr. Smith.

Arch:)
 
Last edited:
I too am very happy with Ron's work. I've owened a few & shot lots.As far as I'm concerened he is the Man in Alberta, if not Can. I still have a falling block in38-55 that will outshoot me. Congrats on your 788. It is going to be a great game getter.,I'm a little envious AJ
 
arch1965 said:
Don't you fret, since this actually turned out great, there will be a long pipe
.358 built soon. I am thinking along the lines of a 24" barrel.
Click to expand...
Might as well just buy a 24" Whelen, like a CDL ;)

That 788 is a nice rifle. I had that idea about 10yrs ago, but just hadn't got to it yet. A 20" Model Seven is another good option.

.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom