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Remington 788 Build

nakneker

nakneker

Gold $$ Contributor
I’ve had a Remington 788 barreled action for a decade that’s just been sitting in my reloading room. It’s currently chambered in 222. I have a McMillan stock, a new barrel in 22 caliber, heavy varmint contour, the stock trigger and bottom metal and stock 222 magazine.

I just sent it off to have a it made into a 222 Remington but ever since I sent it I’ve been thinking that maybe I should make something else out of it. I have a bunch of 222s, I enjoy them but something different might be fun this time around. I’m thinking maybe a 6x45, I think all I would need to do is swap out the barrel to a 6mm. I’m thinking a 1/9 twist with little freebore to shoot up to a 80-85 grain bullet would be a lot of fun. This rifle won’t have a long barrel, 18 inches, maybe less.

If you’ve owned a 6x45 I’d value your input. If you’ve built one of the old Remington 788 I’d love to hear how that went. I can’t see any reason it won’t feed. Any thoughts welcome, I gotta act fast, project is sitting at the gunsmith. I’m thinking buy a barrel, call Manson’s or JGS’s and get a reamer and go. If you see a flaw in my thinking feel free to comment.
 
I understand your dilemma. 222 was my first love and I’ll never have a complaint about it. And I could have one or ten and still look forward to more.

HOWEVER, 6x45 is nearly as sweet. I shoot a 15” Contender and marvel at what the little round will do. Mine is throated for 105 class, but twisted for max 80 gr. It’s a monster jump with Nosler 70s but supremely accurate pushed by H322, the only powder I’ve needed to try.

Especially with you planning on a shorter barrel for you build, 6x45 is even more well suited for making use of that 18”. The volume of a .243 x 18” cylinder is considerably bigger than .223 x 18” so you’ll get more complete powder burn and since force = area x pressure, the larger diameter piston of the 6mm bullet will have a big leg up on the 223 piston. Expect the same velocity from a 70gr 6mm as you’d get from a 60gr 223 with the end result being a bunch more energy for the same powder burned.

Go 6x45, you won’t regret it.
 
I built a 6 x 45 off of a savage action. 22" BHW barrel. Love it!
I mainly shoot sierra 70 gr. blitzkings and a full case of imr 8208.
Shoots well under an inch at 100 yds.
 
Great choice for an action! I've owned a couple of 788's The first was also my first centerfire rifle, and I spent a summer bucking hay bales to pay for it. it was in the rarest of 788 calibers 30-30 Win. It sported an old Weaver K4 as glass My second was chambered in 22-250 and was my coyote rifle. Both rifles would shoot cloverleaf groups at 100 yards. Not too bad for factory rifles without any additional accuracy mods.
 
I've owned 4 different 788's over the years. 222, 223, 243, and 6x45. If I had it all to do over again, and had just one of them back..... it would be the 222. The 6x45 shot well, but never as good as the 222. Not to rain on the parade, but I'd stick with the 222, a good barrel and stock, good aftermarket trigger and enjoy it. JME. WD
 
If I didn’t have a 222 I would build a 222 but I have a few and want to do it something different this time. I’ve also been intrigued by the 6x45 in the past so it makes sense to me to move that direction. Gonna look for a reamer tomorrow, found the barrel. Both Mansons and JGS list it as a standard reamer, I’ll ask a few more questions when I talk to them tomorrow And get one ordered.

Thanks for the input! Fast14, thanks for the tip, I’ll mention it to the gunsmith.
 
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I have a Savage 6x45, Stevens 200 Action, Boyds Thumbhole stock Benchmark strait taper SS barrel. I also shoot the 70Gr Blitz kings. Pretty much one hole at 100yds.

We are building a 6x45 AR for my son right now.
 
Ordered a JGS Reamer, should get here in 10-12 weeks. I’ll send it to Zack (Old Dominion Rifles) and get out of the way and let him do what he does. JGS had a reamer print on file with .50 freebore. Should work great for what I’m doing.
 
The 6x45 is a blast to shoot. If you go with a 9" twist you can shoot up to the 95SMK which is about as heavy as that case works well with. It will handle everything from varmints to deer.
 
I think you will really like it.

Fredo (god rest his AS soul) has one and I was really impressed while shooting groundhogs. He was running 87 grain Vmax. I've shot HUNDREDS of woodchucks on one particular farm, and had the opportunity to shoot "customers" at the same place (darn near same holes) with Swifts, 22-250's, 17's. I shot one chuck with that 6x45 and was sorta momentarily freaked out. it recoiled a bit like a sporter 222 (not my 12 pounders), sounded like a 223, and hit like a 30-30. WOOOMMMP. I could see the hit thru the scope (225 yards) as the round hit thru the shoulders. The chuck was slapped, and the immediate hole was impressive.
Fredo has shot several deer using Barnes bullets and there were no complaints from the deer...they had no time to call customer service with a complaint before they dropped like a stone.

I am now shooting a 14 twist 6x50. I am limited to lighter bullets. The x50 (Mo'Better) will move a 55 grain NBT at 3300 with no effort. It does not hit with the authority of the 87, for sure.

I think you will be pleased with the 6x45. Simple and in your case where you have multiple 222, this makes absolute sense. By the way, my name is Snert, and if you are making out estate paperwork, I'd be tickled if you left it to me when you are heaven bound where primers, bullets and any gun you want is right there, never out of stock! ;):D
 
snert said:
I think you will really like it.

Fredo (god rest his AS soul) has one and I was really impressed while shooting groundhogs. He was running 87 grain Vmax. I've shot HUNDREDS of woodchucks on one particular farm, and had the opportunity to shoot "customers" at the same place (darn near same holes) with Swifts, 22-250's, 17's. I shot one chuck with that 6x45 and was sorta momentarily freaked out. it recoiled a bit like a sporter 222 (not my 12 pounders), sounded like a 223, and hit like a 30-30. WOOOMMMP. I could see the hit thru the scope (225 yards) as the round hit thru the shoulders. The chuck was slapped, and the immediate hole was impressive.
Fredo has shot several deer using Barnes bullets and there were no complaints from the deer...they had no time to call customer service with a complaint before they dropped like a stone.

I am now shooting a 14 twist 6x50. I am limited to lighter bullets. The x50 (Mo'Better) will move a 55 grain NBT at 3300 with no effort. It does not hit with the authority of the 87, for sure.

I think you will be pleased with the 6x45. Simple and in your case where you have multiple 222, this makes absolute sense. By the way, my name is Snert, and if you are making out estate paperwork, I'd be tickled if you left it to me when you are heaven bound where primers, bullets and any gun you want is right there, never out of stock! ;):D
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. You pretty much describe what my expectations are for the rifle, I hope it goes that way. I’ve wanted to build one for awhile actually, I know it’s not the latest greatest craze but I enjoy shooting all kinds and it’s different. Thanks again Snert!
 
nakneker said:
Thanks for the reply. You pretty much describe what my expectations are for the rifle, I hope it goes that way. I’ve wanted to build one for awhile actually, I know it’s not the latest greatest craze but I enjoy shooting all kinds and it’s different. Thanks again Snert!
Click to expand...

Once I get my current projects finished up, I'm going to dive in on my 788 bull-pup project a bit more. Like you, I wanted something a little different and found a stock and all associated hardware on ebay to build a .222 788 bull-pup.
 
Fast14riot said:
Once I get my current projects finished up, I'm going to dive in on my 788 bull-pup project a bit more. Like you, I wanted something a little different and found a stock and all associated hardware on ebay to build a .222 788 bull-pup.
Click to expand...
Fun, you should share that project when it’s done!
 
I built a 6 BR Norma, with a 272 neck, built for the new Lapua brass, without turning the necks, .100" freebore, it shoots lights out, last 5 shot group was .032" at 200 yds. it is on a REM 788 LH action, after lapping the lugs and truing it up, it is an amazing action, in my opinion, and it is on a McMillon custom stock, (BR frame). If you ever want to talk shop on the 788 im here... oh, and i designed it around the berger 105 hybrid... they can't be beat! 29.9g Varget 2980fps bron.rdx.vp@gmai.com
 
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