Rem 788 in .308 Win Value?

[NAA]

I have 4 788's. They are all MOA or better.
$450 bucks is an excellent price. Unlike the plastic stuff today they will only grow in value.
Good score. Don't try to redo the stock if it's hardwood. They are nearly impossible to refinish well.
If it's walnut, tru-oil after stain removal does a great job

Back in the early 90's I picked up a 788 in 7mm-08 with the 18 1/2" factory carbine length barrel. It was a deal because although the barreled action was in great shape the wood stock was beat up. I sourced a new black Ramline synthetic 'drop in' replacement stock for it, as replacement wood stocks were hard to come by. This was when Ramlines came with a Pachmayr decelerator recoil pad factory installed.

My barreled action, of course, just dropped right into that stock. I topped it with an econo Tasco World Class Plus 3-9x44mm scope. While I meant to eventually change out the scope for something better, this combo has shot so well just as is I haven't changed it since.






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NAA.

 

[Ganderite]

Good deal. The 788 has a very fast lock time and the barrel is good quality. Just don't load it too hot. The rear locking lugs allow the brass to stretch.

 

[Old Ranger]

I still have one in 222. Purchased nearly 50 years ago. Very accurate rifle as were a couple others in 222 that my brothers have owned.
For years I was a member of The Cast Bullet Association. 788's in 30-30 were frequent winners of the factory postal matches. I finally came across 2 in a local gunshop - one in 44 mag - the other in 3030. I bought the 3030 for I think 500 bucks and that was at least 20 years ago. Never really shot it all that much. I still have it as well. The 44's and 3030's are not common. I have seen another 3030 advertised years ago but never another 44
Very accurate basic rifles but not all that pretty in my opinion.
Incidentally the other rifle to beat in the cast bullet matches was the 788 in 308!

 

[Mogulrider]

I still have one in 222. Purchased nearly 50 years ago. Very accurate rifle as were a couple others in 222 that my brothers have owned.
For years I was a member of The Cast Bullet Association. 788's in 30-30 were frequent winners of the factory postal matches. I finally came across 2 in a local gunshop - one in 44 mag - the other in 3030. I bought the 3030 for I think 500 bucks and that was at least 20 years ago. Never really shot it all that much. I still have it as well. The 44's and 3030's are not common. I have seen another 3030 advertised years ago but never another 44
Very accurate basic rifles but not all that pretty in my opinion.
Incidentally the other rifle to beat in the cast bullet matches was the 788 in 308!

I have the 30-30, 44 Mag, 243, and 308.
I can attest that the 30-30 and 44 Mag are superb and accurate. The 44 is an absolute thumper.
I'm getting 1850 fps with Winchester white box. Absolute hammer on deer and bear.
The 243 - a gunsmith pillar and action bedded. That thing is nearly one hole accurate
The 308 was a rough one I picked up and cleaned up as a woods rifle. It'll shoot Sub-moa with 4 different bullets.
These are my pride and joys. I wouldn't trade them for nothing. No need to.

 

[Mogulrider]

That plastic stuff grows in value too. Savage Axis prices have doubled in the last decade, Tikka prices have nearly doubled too. can't say the same for a lot of "classic" used guns.

Plastic rifles IMHO have no soul. They look cheap and feel cheap because a machine pukes out a stock.
The wood ones, although CNC made just feel different in your hands.

 

[Suther]

Plastic rifles IMHO have no soul. They look cheap and feel cheap because a machine pukes out a stock.
The wood ones, although CNC made just feel different in your hands.

Nothing wrong with that feeling. I like wood stocks too. I was just pointing out that plastic rifles are absolutely going up in price, and in a lot of cases at faster rates than old wood stocked guns.

I would buy a 788 over an Axis every day of the week - and I both own and enjoy my Axis. But I'm not the average gun buyer, as evidenced by the fact Savage is still churning out Axis by the truckload despite the fact a used Mauser is now cheaper than an Axis...

 

[dan belisle]

Back in the early 90's I picked up a 788 in 7mm-08 with the 18 1/2" factory carbine length barrel. It was a deal because although the barreled action was in great shape the wood stock was beat up. I sourced a new black Ramline synthetic 'drop in' replacement stock for it, as replacement wood stocks were hard to come by. This was when Ramlines came with a Pachmayr decelerator recoil pad factory installed.

My barreled action, of course, just dropped right into that stock. I topped it with an econo Tasco World Class Plus 3-9x44mm scope. While I meant to eventually change out the scope for something better, this combo has shot so well just as is I haven't changed it since.


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NAA.

I have the same one, still in it's wood stock though. Topped with a Leupold 2.5-8. Put a Canjar set trigger on it (had it on a 6mm Rem 788 until I sold that) and it is still a favorite walk around hunting rifle. I also used a couple of those Ramline stocks, they were much cheaper than the other synthetic options around at the time (Brown and MPI). They were quite good, for the money. - dan

 

[Mogulrider]

Back in the early 90's I picked up a 788 in 7mm-08 with the 18 1/2" factory carbine length barrel. It was a deal because although the barreled action was in great shape the wood stock was beat up. I sourced a new black Ramline synthetic 'drop in' replacement stock for it, as replacement wood stocks were hard to come by. This was when Ramlines came with a Pachmayr decelerator recoil pad factory installed.

My barreled action, of course, just dropped right into that stock. I topped it with an econo Tasco World Class Plus 3-9x44mm scope. While I meant to eventually change out the scope for something better, this combo has shot so well just as is I haven't changed it since.


View attachment 852831

View attachment 852834

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NAA.

I've wondered what the muzzle blast is like on those carbines. Handy rifle.

 

[Mogulrider]

I have the same one, still in it's wood stock though. Topped with a Leupold 2.5-8. Put a Canjar set trigger on it (had it on a 6mm Rem 788 until I sold that) and it is still a favorite walk around hunting rifle. I also used a couple of those Ramline stocks, they were much cheaper than the other synthetic options around at the time (Brown and MPI). They were quite good, for the money. - dan

Those canjar's are fabulous triggers. Nice touch

 

[Gerald]

I sure would like to buy one of those Canjars or Timney if anyone knows where there is one.

 

[dan belisle]

I sure would like to buy one of those Canjars or Timney if anyone knows where there is one.

Timney still makes theirs I believe, so they should be available. Canjar is sadly out of business. I buy them used when I come across them. Still have one for a Ruger 77 tang safety, though I don't own any of those anymore. Thought I might be able to use it on a Mk II, but they don't fit. - dan

 

[Gerald]

Thanks for the reply Dan.

 

[Thunderhog]

I still have one in 222. Purchased nearly 50 years ago. Very accurate rifle as were a couple others in 222 that my brothers have owned.
For years I was a member of The Cast Bullet Association. 788's in 30-30 were frequent winners of the factory postal matches. I finally came across 2 in a local gunshop - one in 44 mag - the other in 3030. I bought the 3030 for I think 500 bucks and that was at least 20 years ago. Never really shot it all that much. I still have it as well. The 44's and 3030's are not common. I have seen another 3030 advertised years ago but never another 44
Very accurate basic rifles but not all that pretty in my opinion.
Incidentally the other rifle to beat in the cast bullet matches was the 788 in 308!

The 44 Magnum in a Model 788 brings a huge price with it these days. I have only seen one in my lifetime. I believe it was $900.00 over twenty years ago.

Mogulrider is very fortunate to own one of these great models. And I bet they are indeed a thumper!....

I agree these 788 rifles do not win any beauty contests, but we all can't be married to the Cherry Festival Beauty Queen or the prettiest girl in high school.

The fact is, they shoot, are accurate and the ones I used to have never disappoint or let me down.

 

[johnl]

My plastic Steyr Scout did not double, in fact it lower than when first introduced.

 

[Thunderhog]

Plastic rifles IMHO have no soul. They look cheap and feel cheap because a machine pukes out a stock.
The wood ones, although CNC made just feel different in your hands.

Some synthetic stocks are no better than Tupperware. There are some real nice ones as well. It depends on the manufacture and model.

I prefer wood stocks, and most women I know prefer wood!..... LOL

Firearms in general have skyrocketed in price since and during the Covid Scam. Reality is now setting in and gun prices are slowly coming down, as are most other things.

I do believe firearms and ammunition will always be a good investment if you were lucky enough to buy them pre-covid.

Ruger/Marlins are no longer selling for $3000.00-$4000.00. I recently saw both a trapper and SBL version for $2300.00-$2400.00. The market definitely is correcting itself.

One can hope the real estate market will follow.

 

[Royzo]

With the quality and accuracy with the 788s, I have always been surprised at how they have been underrated.

 

[Butcherbill]

That plastic stuff grows in value too. Savage Axis prices have doubled in the last decade, Tikka prices have nearly doubled too. can't say the same for a lot of "classic" used guns.

Prices being raised doesn’t mean their value has increased, prime example being a savage axis.

 

[Mogulrider]

Thanks for the reply Dan.

Try Arsenal Force search engine.
Western Gun Parts stocks them for the 788 but I think there are couple others around.
https://westerngunparts.com/product/remington-788-w-safety-2/

 

[Mogulrider]

The 788 isn't a collector-type rifle imho.
They are simply fabulous hunting rifles that are stupid accurate.
Just a piece of working man history.
Our family way back needed to hunt for winter meat. Dad had at least 6 of them for us as teenagers.
They were 100 buck rifles that could get beat up and no one cared.
It's only after guys shot them that they realized they could do shooting competitions with them.
There are some wild conversions out there.
My Dad converted his 30-30 version 40 years ago into a 25-35 for my little sister for her deer gun.
We don't know where that one ended up but it could hit a nickel at 200 yards.
Crazy stupid accurate.

 

[Mogulrider]

The 44 Magnum in a Model 788 brings a huge price with it these days. I have only seen one in my lifetime. I believe it was $900.00 over twenty years ago.

Mogulrider is very fortunate to own one of these great models. And I bet they are indeed a thumper!....

I agree these 788 rifles do not win any beauty contests, but we all can't be married to the Cherry Festival Beauty Queen or the prettiest girl in high school.

The fact is, they shoot, are accurate and the ones I used to have never disappoint or let me down.

You wouldn't believe what I've been offered for the 44 mag.
It's a family hunting rifle so it'll never be sold in my lifetime.
I'll tell you one thing, those Winchester white box 240gr soft points leave one helluva a hole in both sides of the deer or bear.
Tracking isn't a problem.
There is only one other 30-30 in Canada that I'm aware of. A fellow in Sask has one.
My 30-30 is my favorite of the lot. It's a fun gun to shoot and deadly.