Remington 788 .223 - cheap shouldn't be this good!

[Tommie]

Interesting. I didn’t realize there was more than one trigger design. The 3 or 4 I’ve done were all alike. The Model 581 in 22RF is basically a 2/3 scaled down version of the 788 with 6 locking lugs instead of 9. The trigger is nearly identical and I’ve done one of them too.

Definitely two designs. Did the set screw mods on a late model trigger (early 80’s manufacture). When I later tried to do the same on a 1960’s model is when I discovered that the triggers are different. I don’t know what year the design change happened but I do own several 788’s and two trigger designs exist.

 

[radford56]

Your group is not as good as some other 788's. Some were near benchrest accurate. I had one in 22-250 that was unbelievable. Even with factory ammo.

I'm well aware that the group wasn't spectacular in benchrest terms (and I'm NOT a benchrest shooter) - but for a inexpensive factory rifle with a horrible trigger, shot off an improvised rest, using a random box of factory ammunition.....well, I think it was pretty good. Sure made me realize I want to keep shooting this rifle and see if I can get more out of it.

 

[Darwin]

I’ve seen several 788’s outshoot 700’s repeatedly. Atrocious trigger and all. Well done at .8 for ten with factory ammo. You didn’t leave much on the table there.

 

[epc308]

I'm well aware that the group wasn't spectacular in benchrest terms (and I'm NOT a benchrest shooter) - but for a inexpensive factory rifle with a horrible trigger, shot off an improvised rest, using a random box of factory ammunition.....well, I think it was pretty good. Sure made me realize I want to keep shooting this rifle and see if I can get more out of it.

I have NO doubt you can get more out of it. Have fun and good luck!

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

I'm well aware that the group wasn't spectacular in benchrest terms (and I'm NOT a benchrest shooter) - but for a inexpensive factory rifle with a horrible trigger, shot off an improvised rest, using a random box of factory ammunition.....well, I think it was pretty good. Sure made me realize I want to keep shooting this rifle and see if I can get more out of it.

Yes of course. My words sounded condescending. Didn't mean it that way. Your 223 is a great gun , I'm a big fan of 788 model. As you shoot it more you will be more impressed I'm sure. Piller bedding and free floating the barrel can result in tiny groups like( two tenths) 1/4" groups. There is lots of nostalgia with the 788 model also. Keep us informed.

 

[Downhill]

The carbine I have had the stock painted(?) To " look" like walnut. It did not. Sanded it down and the wood was nearly chalk white. WTF? I applied a black walnut stain and the most amazing tiger stripe pattern appeared. Hit with 4 automotive clear coats and wow. Prettier than a speckled pup.

 

[snert]

The carbine I have had the stock painted(?) To " look" like walnut. It did not. Sanded it down and the wood was nearly chalk white. WTF? I applied a black walnut stain and the most amazing tiger stripe pattern appeared. Hit with 4 automotive clear coats and wow. Prettier than a speckled pup.

When I redid one, it was white too...I used a propane torch to lay on some "tiger stripe" and then hit it with walnut and finish. It came out respectable, and looked real

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

The carbine I have had the stock painted(?) To " look" like walnut. It did not. Sanded it down and the wood was nearly chalk white. WTF? I applied a black walnut stain and the most amazing tiger stripe pattern appeared. Hit with 4 automotive clear coats and wow. Prettier than a speckled pup.

Same for me, blonde wood. Instead of stain i used a wood dye , you dissolve it in denatured alcohol. It really penetrates into the wood fibers deep so when you give it a light sanding you won't cut through like can happen with stain. Stain lays on the surface with hardly no depth. I mixed different colors to attain the walnut tone i wanted. Kinda red/walnut. Piller bedded then.

 

[gtl1946]

Years ago I had a 788 in.223 and it shot amazing especially when I found an article that said that you could replace the factory trigger with a Canjar trigger for the 541S . I don’t know how I did but I found one . Did it work ? YES!!

 

[Fast14riot]

I'm currently working on s 788 .222 bullpup build, I should get going on it, but I have several gun projects going right now.

 

[F224]

I made my first 400+ yard shot on a woodchuck with my 223 Rem 788 that had a K6 weaver scope on in back in 1974...they shot very well, but the triggers always sucked.

 

[Steve Blair]

This worked for my three 788s.

 

[nakneker]

I’ve had a few 788s, they all shot very good including a 30-30, I think I could seat the bullets backwards and they would still shoot good. Have fun with that rifle, your reaction is much like mine after my first purchase which was a 22-250 that had been used as a truck gun, rifle looked atrocious but the bore was good. After a good clean up I discovered a great rifle.

 

[WVRJ]

I found a 788 in 22-250 that the owner had lost the magazine to it the first time he had it out,and he never shot it after that.He'd shot it 15 times.The trigger was awful,and the stock bedding was worse.Even with those problems,it shot well under MOA with handloads using Nosler 55 grain Ballistic tips.I installed a Timney trigger,and adjusted it to a little less that 2 pounds.I had an HS Precision stock that I had taken off of one of my 700 LA's and reworked it to fit the 788 and I pillar bedded it.It was a lot of work to do,but that project showed me a great way to make very nice custom stocks.I find old solid fiberglass stocks,and work them into the shape I want using dura-glass and simple hand tools.The end of the story is that the 788 I have will put 5 Hornady 52 grain A-Max's into half an inch at 100,and that's at a little over 3900 FPS(Chronographed).It's a rifle that would take a lot of money to get me to let go of it.I've seen some downright abused 788's at local auctions here in eastern WV bring 800 bucks or more.They're really great rifles,and any of the ones I've been around are crazy accurate.

 

[ethanjordan]

yeah, if they still make 1

 

[YEW PLUCKER]

Those 788s were always good shooters. I had one in .308 and one in .243. Both were one hole'rs with tailored loads.

 

[SpikeDiesel]

I love when one of these 788 threads pop up with yet another person in awe of their greatness. Makes me pull my 788/.222 out of the safe to shoot a group or a few woodchucks and smile!

 

[epc308]

This worked for my three 788s.View attachment 1202560

I would have to find my sketch, but I came up with a nearly identical setup for my 788 triggers. When I did the first one, you could buy a 3pack of different weight sear springs that allowed some tuning.

 

[geralton4]

I have on in .308. Isn't particularly pretty but shoots great. Lots of people think they were discontinued because they outshot the higher priced 700. No idea of it is true, but mine is a really nice shooting, rifle. Trigger isn't great, but serviceable. Supposedly one of the fastest lock times in a factory rifle.

 

[ken158]

I found a NIB .223 Remington 788 in a hardware/gun store in Pensacola, FL in the early 1990s - can't remember the exact year. Just so happened it was really close to my birthday and I talked my wife into letting me buy it as a gift to myself. I shot it a little, but for some reason it ended up in the back of the safe for quite a few years.

I'm currently making an effort to go through the safe and put some of the safe queens back in circulation - or put them up for sale. On a whim I pulled the 788 out, mounted an old Weaver 16x (kind of the correct vintage optic for this rifle) and took it to the range last week. I primarily load .223 with heavy bullets for fast twist AR-15s, so I had to look around for something suitable for the 788's twist rate. I finally found a box of Winchester factory 45 grain .223 ammunition that I bought and stuck on the shelf so I decided to use these to check out the 788.

After checking the zero at 25 yards, I moved to the 100 yard range and decided to shoot the 10 rounds that I had left into one group. I could tell it was going pretty good through the scope, but when I pulled the target, I was surprised to see that the 10 shot group measured right at .8 inches center to center! Maybe just luck, but I don't really think so. And I have to tell you, the trigger on this rifle is so bad that while I was shooting, I kept checking to make sure I hadn't inadvertently engaged the safety.

I guess this one is a keeper, but I have to do something about that trigger. I know these rifles had a reputation for being more accurate than they should be based on their price, but do they routinely shoot this well?

”I talked my wife into letting me buy it as a gift to myself” How sad... (guess that is why I am no longer married!)