Remington 788 243 win

E

elterrible

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Had this gun for years handed down to me when I was kid havent shot it much neither did my uncle was the first owner . But use to shoot inch groups with any ammo at 100yards but now accuracy is not the same can't figure out why . Use to shoot 3/4 inch groups with hornday American Whitetail 100 grain now that group is inch and a half been trying everything from 58 grain 70 grain 80grain nothing seems to be accurate anymore best groups is around inch and half at 100 yards use to shoot way better. Any tips I cleaned the barrel few times use wipeout made sure scope mounts are tight could be bases to haven't checked those yet but inch and half not bad but I like it around inch or under if I want to take it hunting .
 
Send it to me. I'd love to have a 788 in 243. :)

if it were mine, I'd check the crown, clean the bore, check the mounts, switch the scope, try different ammo, get it bedded, tighten all the screws, etc, etc.
 
Are the guard screws a bit loose or has the stock warped a wee bit ? Check the sides of the barrel channel to see if its touching the barrel anywhere as this can open up groups. The crown could have a nick or it could just be the barrel is starting to wear at the throat. It's difficult to diagnose a firearm over the interwebs but these are a few things I've seen over the years that can cause a rifle to open up.
 
Few yrs ago I put a Boyd's stock on it had it free floated didn't bed the action yet but I could get that done see if it would help. Crown looks fine I never really used it shot one deer with it few yrs ago round count be 250 or less since it was new . Checked the stock screws before last trip to the range
 
I've found Boyd stocks need to be bedded to get the best accuracy. You said it used to shoot 1" groups, was this before you changed stocks. The 788 I had shot extremely well in the factory stock so I'm wondering if the stock change is the culprit.
 
Just curious, how slick are the bolts on the 788? I bought a steyr model M the other year and am quite stoked on the rear bolt lugs, thinking about a 788 at a later date, but curious as to how slick the actions are, they're supposed to be a short bolt throw and one of the quickest cycling actions these little 788's
 
cody c said:
Just curious, how slick are the bolts on the 788? I bought a steyr model M the other year and am quite stoked on the rear bolt lugs, thinking about a 788 at a later date, but curious as to how slick the actions are, they're supposed to be a short bolt throw and one of the quickest cycling actions these little 788's
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The 2 (243, 30-30) I've owned both cycled like they were on roller bearings, and the bolt locked like it had no lugs (zero effort)

It's a very slick action, especially for a "budget rifle)
 
X2 on the stock possibly being the problem. I put a Boyd's stock on my marlin 60 and groups opened up 3x what they were with the original tuuperware stock on it. Alot of fine sanding to make sure it was perfectly free-floated and now it shoots better than ever.
 
Okay try fine tuning the stock could always go back to the original but Boyd's has was better feel to it . Original Lengh of pull short for me now . Thanks all for the tips much appreciated
 
elterrible said:
Okay try fine tuning the stock could always go back to the original but Boyd's has was better feel to it . Original Lengh of pull short for me now . Thanks all for the tips much appreciated
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If you still have the original stock throw it back on. If it goes back to shooting like it used to, you've found your problem. Then look into bedding/free floating the boyds.

If it shoots the same regardless of stock then you've got a problem to do with the barrel or action (throat, crown, rifling, ect)

You say it hasn't been shot much so I wouldn't immediately think it's just a worn out barrel, but you never know...
 
So put the original stock back on went to the range accuracy more consistent under inch with cheap factory 95 grain fusion ammo . Very pleased with results . Go back again another day see if it would do the same .
 
SuperCub said:
Bedding that Boyds will help.
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This. Bed the boyds, and make sure the barrel channel is inletted properly and not making contact with the barrel. You *should* be able to get it to shoot just as good in the boyds.

With the factory stock, is the barrel free floated? (I was thinking maybe the factory stock is putting pressure on just the right spot, changing the barrel harmonics for the better?)
 
GMC403 said:
The 2 (243, 30-30) I've owned both cycled like they were on roller bearings, and the bolt locked like it had no lugs (zero effort)

It's a very slick action, especially for a "budget rifle)
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Ditto! Have one in 222 and another in 308. Superbly accurate little rifles for the initial cost.

Edit: I have a friend who owns a 788 carbine in 243 as a beginner deer rifle for his daughter.
Thing would hold decent accuracy for up to 9 consecutive shots from a bench at 100. (kill at deer or kill a fox/coyote) After that the barrel heated up too much.
I discouraged him from doing exactly thus, but hey, it is his rifle.
 
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okay if i put the boyds stock back on get it properly bedded i like the feel of the boyds stock better than the factory .the factory just a little short on the length of pull for me, my original plan was using this 243 this winter for predator hunting but wasnt able to get that accuracy with that boyds stock on. think got one or two more hunts with it before all the snow goes away to use it . been using my 22 250 but with potenial shot at a wolf be way more comfortable with that 243 than a 22 250 . used my 6.5 creedmoor once on a coyote with a 143 grain eld x left a big hole in the coyote on a square on shoulder shot at 110 yards since i want to preserve the pelts prefer use somthing smaller . that 6.5 creedmoor worked great on a mule deer took my buck with it this past fall
 
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