Anyone rebarreled a 788?

I have done a few in my garage. Needs a wrench to grab the action. Needs a way to hold the recoil lug when tightening on the new barrel. Needs a vice to grab the barrel without marking either barrel or action. Then need headspace gauges to check headspace - and presuming you are swapping to another factory barrel, then also a bit of fussing sometimes to get tight, and head-spaced, and iron sights at top dead centre. Sometimes, all three do not happen.

The last one I did is still here - the iron sights are a few degrees or so yet to go to top dead centre, but Go gauge says bolt and chamber about tightest that I can go, before too short. I do not have a chambering reamer for that cartridge to re-cut that chamber, which would be the "correct" solution, I think.
 
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Similar to rebarreling any round receiver separate recoil lug action. Requires an external action wrench - an internal action wrench can't be used. Barrel vise needed, of course. Be careful removing the old barrel. The recoil lug has projections which mate with the receiver face. Easy to twist them off. Headspace gauges will be needed and a way of adjusting headspace if necessary.
So, the job can be done in a garage if the proper tools are at hand, and the person doing the job has gunsmith's skills.
 
The 788 was a common action used in custom benchrest and silhouette guns. It’s benefits included a quick lock time and stiff receiver.
 
MilitaryCollectorMark said:
Hey all!
As the title says, have anyone ever rebarreled themselves a Remington 788 before?
Is it a difficult job? Something that can be done in the garage or a smith is required?
Click to expand...

It's not a difficult job for a smith with a lathe and the tools to take it apart and assemble it again, plus the required reamer and go gauge. Got all that in your garage?
 
Factory 788s tend to be excellent shooters.
They are a quirky design with numerous warts.
Personally, I would not invest much money in a 788 project.
 
I have a 788 factory 308 barrel in very good condition I kept to copy the shank threads...
788-2.jpg


788-1.jpg


I will sell it... pm me if interested
 
Why I asked, is if I get myself another LH 788 I might want to rebarrel it to a different calibre, maybe something like 25-06. The problem with being a lefty is they only came in 2 calibres, 308 and 6mm Rem.
 
You’re welcome.
Someone needs to rechamber a 788 in a 6.5 Creedmoor.

Not a lefty. But have a few lefty guns for whatever reason.
 
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