Anyone rebarreled a 788?

Shyt happens to all rifles from time to time, I'm no expert on remington 788's other than I own a 22-250 which I bought new in the early 80's.

Haven't had any problems with it at all (still stock as it came from the factory) and it will still shoot Winchester factory 45 gr jacketed hollow points (4000 fps) into .5-.6 inch groups @ 100 yds.

From what I understand they (the 788) have or have had a Cult like following because of there accuracy potential.

I'd spend the money to re-barrel if it needed it even though the cost would exceed the value of the rifle :)
 
I don't recall ever hearing complaints about 788s and accuracy.
If Remington had put a few more dollars into the manufacturing cost, the issues could have been avoided. The fundamental problem was that they wanted an economy rifle, and went cheap in some areas. Had they used a bolt handle with a ring (like post-64 M70 Winchesters) rather than a simple handle pegged into the bolt body and brazed, the handle separation issue would never have existed.
 
MilitaryCollectorMark said:
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.
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788 long actions are actually short actions. Designed for nothing longer than the 6mm rem. If you want a 25, try the 25 Souper, basically a 25-08. I had a 788 in one some years back. Show very well. They are a great rifle for the money, but hard to get parts for now days. I've owned at least a half dozen over the years, a few wildcats in there. I like them. Still have three or so around. - dan
 
dan belisle said:
788 long actions are actually short actions. Designed for nothing longer than the 6mm rem. If you want a 25, try the 25 Souper, basically a 25-08. I had a 788 in one some years back. Show very well. They are a great rifle for the money, but hard to get parts for now days. I've owned at least a half dozen over the years, a few wildcats in there. I like them. Still have three or so around. - dan
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Very interesting cartridge, it seems to be a 243 necked up to 257 calibre. And it's a short action calibre, so a go in the 788.

Thanks!
 
For a 25 caliber, could also consider a 257 Roberts - from Hornady 9th, looks like the 257 Roberts is actually smidgeon shorter maximum C.O.A.L. than is the 6mm Remington - both from same parent 7x57 case, though. If the magazine holds a 6mm Rem now, will also hold a 257 Roberts.

Probably a pretty minor distinction any more, but at least at one time was possible to buy factory ammo for the 257 Roberts - not sure if that was ever possible for the 25 Souper. But both are likely hand loading things these days, practically speaking.
 
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Potashminer said:
For a 25 caliber, could also consider a 257 Roberts - from Hornady 9th, looks like the 257 Roberts is actually smidgeon shorter maximum C.O.A.L. than is the 6mm Remington - both from same parent 7x57 case, though. If the magazine holds a 6mm Rem now, will also hold a 257 Roberts.

Probably a pretty minor distinction any more, but at least at one time was possible to buy factory ammo for the 257 Roberts - not sure if that was ever possible for the 25 Souper. But both are likely hand loading things these days, practically speaking.
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Good to know! Basically the souper and roberts are the same, just different parent cartridges. Maybe the only thing is that dies might be a pain to acquire.
One thing going for the souper, its a exotic cartride out here on the praries :)
 
Is pretty much part of a series I think - started with 308 Win - went up, commercially, to 358 Win - no doubt there was .311", .323" and .338" versions as well. Going down, 7mm-08 (.284"), 260 Rem (.264"), 25 Souper (.257"), 243 Win (.243") - no doubt someone also tried .277" or .224" bullets - not certain what else exists for bullet sizes. I suspect similar done at one time or other for various parent cases - 9.3x62 (Dave Scovill series) , 30-06 (multiple), 7x57 (multiple), etc. Some became commercial rounds - some never went very far.
 
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Potashminer said:
Is pretty much part of a series I think - started with 308 Win - went up, commercially, to 358 Win - no doubt there was .311", .323" and .338" versions as well. Going down, 7mm-08 (.284"), 260 Rem (.264"), 25 Souper (.257"), 243 Win (.243") - no doubt someone also tried .277" or .244" bullets - not certain what else exists for bullet sizes. I suspect similar done at one time or other for various parent cases - 9.3x62 (Dave Scovil series) , 30-06 (multiple), 7x57 (multiple), etc. Some became commercial rounds - some never went very far.
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I've had the 308 based case in 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, the original 30, 33, and 35. Never tried it in 311 or 32 (already owned a bunch of 8x57 rifles, so already had that itch scratched). The x57 cases are similar, with 5.6mm, 6mm, 257, 6.5mm, 7mm, 7.5mm, 7.62mm, 311, the original 8mm, 9mm, and 9.3. Basically, if you have a reasonably popular case, someone, somewhere has necked it up and down. - dan
 
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From Ballistic studies in article about the .25-08:

"In 1994 Australian Guns & Game editor Breil Jackson, with the help of gunsmith Peter Kay, developed an improved .25-08 which they named the .250 Humdinger. The case design featured a minimum body taper and a 45 degree shoulder angle. The Humdinger achieved working velocities of 3400fps with an 87 grain bullet and ADI2209 (H4350) powder, 3270fps with a 100 grain bullet and ADI 2213sc (H4831sc) and 3014 with 120 grain bullets again using slow burning ADI2213sc."

I found a place in USA that will sell correctly headstamped brass - 25 HUM, for those that must have that!!! Not real sure if 250 Humdinger is exactly the same as 25 Humdinger or not... For a purist to figure out, I guess...
 
guntech said:
... and then came the 25-284...

none of them up to the 257 Wby... the best 25 out there...
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I have a 6mm-284 built on a 788. Magazine had to be modified to work, and you are limited to 2.8" or less, but it shoots very well. 257 'Bee won't fit, except as a single shot (and you'll likely have to pull the bolt to remove an unfired round). - dan
 
mbogo3 said:
Easy FL size 7mm rem mag
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Too short.
Wrench for the 788 can be internal or external with external being the more robust of the two. A wrench which uses a key inserted into the magazine cutout is best. I built myself a BR rifle on one just for fun. It shot well enough to place but not well enough to win. Had to re-attach the handle to start. I paid 20 bucks for the rifle which had been driven over and spent a lot of time but little money in putting it together,
 
Finding a 40-50 year old economy/budget built rifle in good condition today is easier said then done. Most have been well used, even “driven over”. No wonder a few of the bolt handles come off.
 
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