788 any good?
- Thread starter sv7772
- Start date
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
Awesome group Duffy, and some sweet looking rifles there
I had a .243 that was just fanastic for accuracy. Two issues though. The little plastic block on the mag release fell off both mags I had ;eaving very sharp metal edges. The other more serious issue was when the safety-bolt stop broke. It was replaced with a hand made part by a local 'smith but was not quite correct. By the time I got a factory replacement the repair had damaged the slot in the bottom of the bolt. Working the action briskly would mean I eneded uop standing there with the rifle in my left hand and the bolt in my right. Not conducsive for a fast second shot.
Stock split in wrist, magazine rattles and sticks out in the balance point.Plastic on magazine broke off in the cold. Safety is a joke prone to come off and the plastic piece broke in the cold. Also no bolt lock which allows the bolt to open when your in the thick stuff.
they shoot well and are a strong action inspite of the rear lockup but man are there better hunting rifles......MOYMMV
they shoot well and are a strong action inspite of the rear lockup but man are there better hunting rifles......MOYMMV
have had great luck with most. 222 was a sweet heart.would punch same hole allday.I have a 243 that has been shot with too heavy a load,I know these are not overly strong,I dont think this one will see service again.(note check all guns in a lot u bye).A friend also has a 243 that does not shot as well as most, 2'' at100
Just a funny little story...
I knew a gunsmith in Edm ("Don's Gunshop" in the west end) We were talking about 788s one day. He told me his son had one in .223 with a fairly good optic on it. The son went to the gun range one day and shot some groups with some handloads he was working on. While he was down range picking up targets a Doctor who was a customer of Don's arrived and started setting his gear out. The Doctor had a Rem model 700 in 22/250 that Don had done a fair bit of work on, to get max accuracy out of it. Well when the son brought back his targets (each was one ragged hole) the doctor packed up, his very expensive piece and left without firing a shot.
Robin in Rocky
I knew a gunsmith in Edm ("Don's Gunshop" in the west end) We were talking about 788s one day. He told me his son had one in .223 with a fairly good optic on it. The son went to the gun range one day and shot some groups with some handloads he was working on. While he was down range picking up targets a Doctor who was a customer of Don's arrived and started setting his gear out. The Doctor had a Rem model 700 in 22/250 that Don had done a fair bit of work on, to get max accuracy out of it. Well when the son brought back his targets (each was one ragged hole) the doctor packed up, his very expensive piece and left without firing a shot.
Robin in Rocky
Only real downside that I have observed with these is separation of the bolt handle from the bolt. The newer version with slightly rear swept handle is better than the earlier version with the straight handle. Have personally observed at least 18 of these with the handles off. These rifles had been subject to hard use, plus abuse. No one here is going to hit the handle with something because a case is sticking in a pitted chamber.
As mentionned above, bolt stops break, as do the plastic tops on the safeties, and the plastic finger piece on the mag. catch. Parts availability is catch as catch can.
As mentionned above, bolt stops break, as do the plastic tops on the safeties, and the plastic finger piece on the mag. catch. Parts availability is catch as catch can.
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788 in .223
I have a model 788 in the.223. With the bulk forty packs from wal-mart for $17.99 it will put 5 shots in an inch at 100 yards. I have seen guys shooting next to me with sendero's that couldn't do that.
The glass on it is a Simmons Pro-Hunter 6-18X that I have hunted hard with.
Picked the gun up with no scope for $150.00
Makes you wonder what the gun would be capable of with good glass and handloads.
I have a model 788 in the.223. With the bulk forty packs from wal-mart for $17.99 it will put 5 shots in an inch at 100 yards. I have seen guys shooting next to me with sendero's that couldn't do that.
The glass on it is a Simmons Pro-Hunter 6-18X that I have hunted hard with.
Picked the gun up with no scope for $150.00
Makes you wonder what the gun would be capable of with good glass and handloads.
