Remington 788, anyone have info on them?

My brother has one in 6mm.
He claimed he had never shot it that it did not knock his hat off.
Shot 7 gophers with it . . . missed the 8th . . . I had enough. It was brutal.

A friend had one in 223 converted to a target rifle and it gave phenomenal accuracy.
 
I remember the 1969 Remington catalogue where they listed for $89.95 with a 4X Bushnell scope mounted and a sling........................They were fairly priced in 1969, not now..............
 
cam1936 said:
I sold one in very good condition in 7mm08 listed for $525 and had about 10 "I'll take it" in 5 minutes. Should have asked for more, but unlike some who would delete the add and post for more later, I sold it to the first responder for $525.
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Well I hope Karma paid you nicely in return! I've had my 788 in 7mm-08 for 22 years now, my first rifle and still in great shape. It used to be about a 1/2" rifle, now with thousands of rounds down the tube it's still well under an inch with the right loads. I passed on a .22-250 788 at the Senlac gun show last November (October maybe?) for $525, bluing was ~97%, stock only had a couple tiny marks. Kicked myself each day for not grabbing it, then saw the gentleman who was selling it at the Provost gun show this past weekend, and of course, it had sold the day I looked at it.

Tiriaq pretty much nailed it. There are lots of "warts" in the design, but my personal biggest one is the safety. If the OP plans on using this rifle for hunting, take extra care with regards to the safety, they are very easy to switch off. Of all the years I've hunted with my 788 I've only had the safety pop off once that I can recall, but I'm surprised it hasn't happened more to be honest. I have also had the bolt lock up on me a couple times due to hot loads, once after a very poor first shot on a running buck that was ~130y and quartering away at lightspeed!

All in all, great rifles. Are they $600 rifles? I don't think so, but the market dictates what is fair I guess. I can say this, I'll never get rid of my 788 due to sentimental reasons, but I wouldn't get rid of it even without those reasons, as it is a great shooter that feels right in my hands.
 
Damn... The more I read here and elsewhere on the net, the more I want to get my hands on this thing. Accuracy is all I really care about. I don't really mind if it has warts if it shoots great.
 
Gunneegoogoo said:
Wow....this is a blast from my past....

I grew up with 2 788's in the house - one .243 and one .308. The .243 is what got me my first deer when I was a kid, and a couple more after that....

What's been said is what I remember my dad and his buddies saying. I remember hearing that they were d/c'd because the "cheap gun" would outshoot the "fancy" 700, which was embarrassing for Remington.

I thought there was something about the bolt lugs (position? Number of them?) that contributed to accuracy as well???

-J.
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I have a 788 in .243 Super accurate. There are nine locking lugs I believe.
 
I have owned some and even built a BR rifle on a 788 action. To me, they are a solid 250 dollar rifle which means I will never own another one. I would buy a Savage first. For the asking price of a used 788 nowdays, you could buy any number of Savage, Stevens, Howa, or Ruger rifles; all of which are better in virtually evry way.
 
Leeper said:
I have owned some and even built a BR rifle on a 788 action. To me, they are a solid 250 dollar rifle which means I will never own another one. I would buy a Savage first. For the asking price of a used 788 nowdays, you could buy any number of Savage, Stevens, Howa, or Ruger rifles; all of which are better in virtually evry way.
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Lol. :) Be careful, you may hurt Rembo's feelings - I hear he has a thing for the 788's.
 
Bought one for $89 brand new in 22-250 from Hallam's when they were on Yonge St. below Bloor in TO, 1969. Added a fixed 10X Bushnell Banner and a Lee Loader. Got rid of it b4 they got a cult following. Classier than a Savage 340 at the time for that budget.
 
So assuming I could get this one for the same price as a new Savage axle, which you you guys recommend? From what I've read, this seems like a better gun, even if only for its accuracy and resale potential.
 
Many moons ago, I bought a left handed 6mm for my oldest daughter, who is a southpaw.

It was a very accurate rifle, and she won several informal competitions with it. [Turkey shoots, etc]

But everything tiriaq has said, I echo. They are hard on brass, unless you load "light"

Magazines are very hard to find. The list is there to see. I would agree that they are overpriced today.

I would rather have a 600/660 any day. Dave.
 
Well I'm going to see it tonight, but I almost feel like I'd be stealing it at the price he gave me. It's been bedded and trigger tuned by a professional gunsmith, and it's got a Lyman 6x all American perma centre scope, rings and bases on it, and he wants $250 for it. :dancingbanana:

And I might get even luckier... he has a number of other rifles apparently and has no use for them. Including what he thinks is a roughly 70-80 year old Winchester '94 in 38/55.
 
Make sure the funds arrrrrr bern'n a whole in yer pawkitt.
Never ever everneverever let him go home with it.
Might be the last yew git att'titt.
 
kamlooky said:
Make sure the funds arrrrrr bern'n a whole in yer pawkitt.
Never ever everneverever let him go home with it.
Might be the last yew git att'titt.
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No kiddin. I'm taking a roll of freshly minted bills to his house tonight when I go have a look see what he's got. I don't want to rip him off, but I don't mind takin a good deal when I see one. He has no interest in guns or money really for that matter. He's an old time oil man.
 
I had a 788 Factory carbine in 308...it fit good, shot very good, but didn't like any load even getting warm...BUT it was always with me when I needed it...my Sunday rifles were in the vault.
 
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