Yes it was. Was such a shame, rifle appeared unfired, not even a mark on the bolt face. Unfortunantly as is the case of a lot of safe queens, the last 1.5" of the muzzle had severe erosionand was toast - the rest of the bore as new. My options were to cut it shorter, but I always thought one of these in .257 Roberts would be awesome and rebore it. Going from 6mm to .257 wouldn't remove all the grooves so 6.5 it was. 6.5x57 was a natural and the gun came with 3 new 6mm Rem. mags so that round fits and feeds like a glove.
Remington 788 - What do you have?
- Thread starter Mogulrider
- Start date
Yes it was. Was such a shame, rifle appeared unfired, not even a mark on the bolt face. Unfortunantly as is the case of a lot of safe queens, the last 1.5" of the muzzle had severe erosionand was toast - the rest of the bore as new. My options were to cut it shorter, but I always thought one of these in .257 Roberts would be awesome and rebore it. Going from 6mm to .257 wouldn't remove all the grooves so 6.5 it was. 6.5x57 was a natural and the gun came with 3 new 6mm Rem. mags so that round fits and feeds like a glove.
- Location
- Barrie Ont. Canada
No nether. Manly shoot Hornady 225 FTX (my gun really likes them) and have also shot some Remington and PMC bronze
I watched that rifle til the end.. The turn off for me was the recoil pad and the unknown history. Unfortunately turned one down years back in favour of a 600 in 35Rem from the same seller. Hoping to run across another. What I do have is a 222, a 308 with a seriously custom thumbhole stock and a 30/30.
I’ve owned 3, 788’s over the years.
My first one was a right hand 22-250, I had a blast with that rifle slaying a truck load of ground squirrels one summer.
The next one started life as a 6mm and is a left hand action. It’s was shipped off to have a pencil thin .284” barrel installed and chambered in .284 Win, the gunsmith fluted the receiver in 4 places, thinned and flattened the bolt knob like a A-bolt, I wrangled an MPI fibreglass stock and topped it off with a Leupold Ultralight 3-9x it tips the scales at 7.6 pounds with a sling and 3 rounds in the magazine. For the longest time this was my only big game rifle, and I shot the first barrel out and had a Gailliard mountain contour .284 Win barrel installed since.
My latest started out as a left hand 6mm too, it was tweaked too having a #4 contour Jury, 6.5 mm, 1 in 8 twist tube fitted and chambered in .260 REM. I had MCRS tactical build me a laminate stock from a blank I had, it’s a broad fore end, with a garish grip styled stock of my own creation, the rifle is a sort of long range stand rifle/ target rifle and it sure can flog 140 grain match bullets or Sierra Gameking’s into teeny groups at distance…..
My first one was a right hand 22-250, I had a blast with that rifle slaying a truck load of ground squirrels one summer.
The next one started life as a 6mm and is a left hand action. It’s was shipped off to have a pencil thin .284” barrel installed and chambered in .284 Win, the gunsmith fluted the receiver in 4 places, thinned and flattened the bolt knob like a A-bolt, I wrangled an MPI fibreglass stock and topped it off with a Leupold Ultralight 3-9x it tips the scales at 7.6 pounds with a sling and 3 rounds in the magazine. For the longest time this was my only big game rifle, and I shot the first barrel out and had a Gailliard mountain contour .284 Win barrel installed since.
My latest started out as a left hand 6mm too, it was tweaked too having a #4 contour Jury, 6.5 mm, 1 in 8 twist tube fitted and chambered in .260 REM. I had MCRS tactical build me a laminate stock from a blank I had, it’s a broad fore end, with a garish grip styled stock of my own creation, the rifle is a sort of long range stand rifle/ target rifle and it sure can flog 140 grain match bullets or Sierra Gameking’s into teeny groups at distance…..
Gent I used to work with, passed on now, used to customize all his 788's with thumbhole stocks. John loved those things. - dan
Ice in my drink
New member
- Location
- Stony Plain , Alberta
Picked up a 788 deuce about 2 months ago now. This is the second one I’ve owned. First one was in excellent condition with 4 clips that I sold to fund a beautiful Tikka stainless and walnut deuce. Guns came and went to fund projects but when I came across another 88 deuce with original near new metalwork, I had to have it. Stock ( not walnut) has no dents to speak of, but was seemingly removed and sprayed with a spray bomb clear lacquer. Will be a fun project to strip it and doll it up with proper sanding and Tru oil. Will not be parting with this rifle so bedding it is next on the menu followed by a trigger swap (if I can ever find one). Told a friend about my purchase and he miraculously had an excellent condition clip (properly labeled) in a drawer which I purchased for a spare ��. I’m into this for $700 so far and could not be happier to be back in the 88 club again.
gunrunner100
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- NW Ontario
I have some 788 mags- 222 Rem, 223 Rem, 6mm, 243, 308 and a 44 mag. PM if anyone is looking.
222
243
7mm08
308
All good shooters but still a budget rifle. Poor quality metal, cheap wood stocks (unless you are fortunate enough to own a first year production that were fitted with nice walnut), weak bolt handles, cheap extractor, and most had terrible triggers. They have a reputation for being accurate shooters but a lot of that can be atributed to the fast lock time. Any gunsmith that has worked on a 788 will have probably had to clean up corroded chambers, re soldered bolt handles back on, replaced extractors, and in some cases, clean up damaged bolt lugs. They were cheaply built when new in 1967 and haven't got any better with age. I still have a first year production in 222 with a Timney trigger that shoots as good as my Sako A1 V but the quality doesn't compare to a new Savage Axis and I can't see any Savage Axis becoming collectable in my lifetime.
243
7mm08
308
All good shooters but still a budget rifle. Poor quality metal, cheap wood stocks (unless you are fortunate enough to own a first year production that were fitted with nice walnut), weak bolt handles, cheap extractor, and most had terrible triggers. They have a reputation for being accurate shooters but a lot of that can be atributed to the fast lock time. Any gunsmith that has worked on a 788 will have probably had to clean up corroded chambers, re soldered bolt handles back on, replaced extractors, and in some cases, clean up damaged bolt lugs. They were cheaply built when new in 1967 and haven't got any better with age. I still have a first year production in 222 with a Timney trigger that shoots as good as my Sako A1 V but the quality doesn't compare to a new Savage Axis and I can't see any Savage Axis becoming collectable in my lifetime.
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I've only got one; A 222 with McMillan stock and reworked trigger put together by the guy we can't name. Got it with a few new clips, 100s of rounds loaded in new brass, Redding bushing dies, and rings and bases for 300 bucks. Shot it once to sight it in and confirm that it shot extremely well, then propped it in the safe and haven't looked at it since. Typical bargain, something you don't need at a price you can't refuse. 
Mogulrider
CGN Regular
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Remington had 3 different action lengths for 788
When ordering a new stock you have to be careful. These action distances are what decides your stock size at Boyd's for example.
For whatever reason Remington caused alot of pain with the naming conventions in these rifles.
Long Action, 243 and .308 Winchesters measured 6-9/16 inches.
Short Action, 222/233, 22-250 Remington, and .30-30 Winchester measured 6-5/16 inches
Ultra Short Action, (44 Mag) action measured 5-5/8 inches
Mogulrider
CGN Regular
I've only got one; A 222 with McMillan stock and reworked trigger put together by the guy we can't name. Got it with a few new clips, 100s of rounds loaded in new brass, Redding bushing dies, and rings and bases for 300 bucks. Shot it once to sight it in and confirm that it shot extremely well, then propped it in the safe and haven't looked at it since. Typical bargain, something you don't need at a price you can't refuse.
LOL no kidding. Think of the 1000s lying around gun cabinets in Canada. I personally know a family member with every caliber except the 44 mag in original boxes never fired. I've tried for decades to get the 30-30 and he tells to "you know what".
788 fanatics are like no other - lol
He's told me I'll get the 30-30 in Walnut when he's gone... hehe
He knows it's driving me nuts but that is his way.
I have a feeling I'll get them all since his kids don't hunt.
Out of respect for him the only one I'd shoot would be the 30-30
Then go have a few beers in honor of him.
Mogulrider
CGN Regular
I finally had the 44 out to the range yesterday. Zeroed it and shot 3 groups each of 3 with some white box and Magtech 240 gr soft points.
Yup it's 788 alright. 1moa or better.
Interesting had some 20 mph wind come up and had a couple vertical stringing to 2moa.
When you are chucking 44 magnum big fat plywood booyahts they sure drift with headwinds. Lol.
Aerodynamic they isn't.
It'll be at most a 100yd woods gun anyway so it won't be an issue where I hunt
Yup it's 788 alright. 1moa or better.
Interesting had some 20 mph wind come up and had a couple vertical stringing to 2moa.
When you are chucking 44 magnum big fat plywood booyahts they sure drift with headwinds. Lol.
Aerodynamic they isn't.
It'll be at most a 100yd woods gun anyway so it won't be an issue where I hunt
My kids each took their first deer with a 788 carbine in 7mm08 loaded with 120gr sierra bullets. I had a 788 308 for a while. They are surprisingly accurate. 788 is a good rifle with the only possible downside being the bolt is rear locking. It should not be loaded hot or cases will stretch more than in a front locking action. Keep to factory ammo pressure levels and there's no problem.
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5%-10% below SAAMI max.
I think that's why I've seen so many 788 with no bolt or fixed bolt. Trying to knock the bolt open on a jammed action.
