Remington 788 in 308 under $300. Buy?

[joshb]

I was wandering thru the racks at a local gun store and saw a 788 for sale for under $300. It looked new. It has a nut, like a Savage. I was tempted to just get it but I figured I'd ask the board first. I don't know anything about them. Junk or gem? Please advise. Thanks, Josh

 

[retired]

i have seen several favorable private reviews

 

[jsn]

Rem 788's did not come from the factory with a nut to my knowledge. The threads should be 1.000" 20tpi, so maybe it's been rebarreled with a small shank Savage barrel? I'm not sure of the the Savage threads.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Ive read they can be good of you get good even contact on the 9 rear locking lugs to keep the bolt face square with the chamber. Certain chamberings, IF all original and in good condition, are even starting to become collectable. Aftermarket options aren't as plentiful as the 700 tho.

 

[hoz53]

I was wandering thru the racks at a local gun store and saw a 788 for sale for under $300. It looked new. It has a nut, like a Savage. I was tempted to just get it but I figured I'd ask the board first. I don't know anything about them. Junk or gem? Please advise. Thanks, Josh

i think what you saw Josh is a remington 783. if you watch the sales they can be had new under 300. i think they are good rifles for the money. a number of people have expressed this to me to. i have one im working on right now. 783s are basically a savage clone except for the trigger/bolt which is more like a 700, but doesnt accept a 700 trigger. ggmac has done quite alot of work on these rifles and you could ask him about them.

 

[joshb]

Thanks guys. My mind may be playing tricks on me. I'll have to go back and look at the numbers again. This time with my "readers" and a flashlight!! I was sure it was a 788 but that was a few days ago.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

i think what you saw Josh is a remington 783. if you watch the sales they can be had new under 300. i think they are good rifles for the money. a number of people have expressed this to me to. i have one im working on right now. 783s are basically a savage clone except for the trigger/bolt which is more like a 700, but doesnt accept a 700 trigger. ggmac has done quite alot of work on these rifles and you could ask him about them.

Nice catch. That would definitely explain the barrel nut why he said it "looked new". Remington stopped making the 788 about 35 years ago.

 

[bobm]

There is a very nice 788 for sale in the classifieds. GEM I own three.
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/rem-788-308-win-carbine.3941758/

 

[joshb]

I have vague recollections of reading about both the 788 and the 783. A few years back, I think, there was a thread with a bunch of guys liking the 788 and how well they shot. I also remember Ggmac liking the 783. I'll pm him. I find it hard to resist another project. Thanks. Josh

 

[hoz53]

I have vague recollections of reading about both the 788 and the 783. A few years back, I think, there was a thread with a bunch of guys liking the 788 and how well they shot. I also remember Ggmac liking the 783. I'll pm him. I find it hard to resist another project. Thanks. Josh

may as well get one

 

[snert]

If it is a 788 for 300 I would buy it...so if you don't like it or just want to send it my way, I will give ya 300 and shipping for it, or meet ya.

Snert

 

[hogpatrol]

The last 788 I saw in a gunshop rack, last year, was in 30-06 and the price was $250. It resembled a 700 but being unfamiliar with the history of 788s and the super cheap price, I balked at buying it.

 

[jobhopper66]

I don't recall the 788's ever being offered in 30-06. Actually I thought they were only offered in short action cartridges. I suppose it could have been rebarreled or rechambered. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Ray

 

[Uthink Uknow]

I have a 788 that I would not sell for less than $600.00 as it shoots lights out but it's a 222 and it's in really good shape. Oh, it does not have a barrel nut.

 

[hogpatrol]

I have a 788 that I would not sell for less than $600.00 as it shoots lights out but it's a 222 and it's in really good shape. Oh, it does not have a barrel nut.

You are correct, only short actions so it couldn't have been an '06. I do remember it being $250 and the multi-lug bolt. I had it in my hands for less than a minute. I don't remember looking at the barrel stamping, only the tag that was attached to the trigger guard. I either misread it or it was tagged with the wrong caliber. No barrel nut either.

 

[jobhopper66]

My first rifle was a 788 in 223. It was bought for me when I was 14 (1980) for the grand sum of $187 plus tax. I probably shot that rifle more than any rifle I owned to date then I traded it off for a Rem 700 because it had to be better or so everyone said. That 700 never really replaced that 788, it just a long time for me to realize it. I guess you should never get rid of your first rifle!

 

[msinc]

I don't recall the 788's ever being offered in 30-06. Actually I thought they were only offered in short action cartridges. I suppose it could have been rebarreled or rechambered. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Ray

You are correct sir...they were short action rifles. They did offer them in 30-30, 6mm Remington and 44 magnum as the "off breed" calibers. Most sold were 222, 7mm-08, 308. They were a decent rifle and it sure seems like most of them shot very well. People in rifle country go ape over a 788. 788's are a favorite "truck gun", cost effective to the point that if you scratch the birch stock or by accident get a rust spot you probably wont cry too bad, yet most of them will shoot better or at least as good as many custom hunting rifles.
They also made them in left hand versions as well. Supposedly the 6mm Remington left hand version was the rarest, at least it must have been to the guy that bought mine and paid way too much for it.
I have scoped the barrel on every single one that has come my way in the last 10 years or so...nothing to write home about. The actions did seem to fit the stock pretty well. The trigger was non-adjustable and really not great. The two problems I have seen repeatedly with these rifles is the trigger getting corroded in the pot metal cast housing and sticking. The result is that the trigger gets just way too heavy, really not a danger. The bolt handle will break off the bolt body if you get a case stuck in the chamber and force it. At least it is fair to say that it will break easier than many bolt guns...this is really no fault of the gun, you aren't supposed to get cases stuck in the chamber. I'd buy one for $300 if it was in very nice shape. But not because it is some fantastic gotta have it rifle...no, I'd grab up on it to sell.
Based on what I have seen, I would not ever pay close to $300 for a 783...well, I would never even buy one period, just sayin'

 

[dmoran]

There's definite confusions of the models being discussed in this thread.

Remington made Model 788's years ago and currently make Model 783 along with other models.
If seeing one for say under $400, good chance it is a Model 783.
Donovan

 

[dmoran]

@msinc..... +1..... wouldn't even use one if given to me for free (seriously)

 

[joshb]

You are correct, only short actions so it couldn't have been an '06. I do remember it being $250 and the multi-lug bolt. I had it in my hands for less than a minute. I don't remember looking at the barrel stamping, only the tag that was attached to the trigger guard. I either misread it or it was tagged with the wrong caliber. No barrel nut either.

Dale: I guess we both need to keep a pen and paper in our pocket along with readers to write this stuff down. I'm getting worse every day.