Remington 788 fans: Step out of the shadows

[Fast14riot]

Did a Canjar on the 6mm.

 

[Tommie]

The later triggers (with some drilling and tapping) can be made to be quite decent. I can't recall what was different on the pre-1980 triggers but something makes them harder to modify. It's been about 20 years since I did the mods.

The Timmey trigger is better than an unmodified OEM unit but it's nothing great. No sear engagement adjustment, despite the packaging and included instructions stating it's a 3-way adjustable trigger. And yes, it has a little creep.

 

[wiuprof]

I have three Rem. 788’s. This .222 Rem is my favorite of the three, probably because of the
excellent Canjar trigger that is on it. The other two are chambered in .308 Win. and 7-08.
The 7-08 is from the introductory year for that cartridge.

This photo is of the .222 and it shows the wide trigger shoe that’s on the Canjar trigger.

 

[GoWyo!]

I've just used my oem triggers, but the idea of having them all modified at once by a competent smith has crossed my mind. I did put my 541t trigger in my son's 581. 8# to 3# helped a bit. Time to swap it back out! My next question is regarding scope bases. All of mine have 2 piece weavers. I'd like to find an NOS Redfield single base for them. Not having a lot of luck there. Maybe an egw picatinny...anyone know of a source, or stash?

 

[7887mm08]

How many of you have put in an after market trigger vs modifying vs dealing with oem?

I have put 3 timneys on mine out of the 7 I have, Just on the ones I shoot a lot. The others while heavy work ok for my uses.

 

[geraldgee]

So soon old, so late smart....

How true!

 

[Hippy]

I was working at a Jobber in Va when Remington closed out the 788's purchased one in a 6mm and fitted it with a 3-9 Bushnell w/Post reticle did the "NRA" trigger conversion and glass bedded it-my fellow worker had a 700 BDL Varmint Special with a 6-18 Redfield and when it came to shooting targets he would get real upset a the "El Cheapo" 788 would out shoot his BDL every time.
Pretty sure the made a "Semi-Heavy" bbl a few years chambered in 222 + 223--I would like to find one in a 30-30 that I could A.I

Jim

 

[Tommie]

I was working at a Jobber in Va when Remington closed out the 788's purchased one in a 6mm and fitted it with a 3-9 Bushnell w/Post reticle did the "NRA" trigger conversion and glass bedded it-my fellow worker had a 700 BDL Varmint Special with a 6-18 Redfield and when it came to shooting targets he would get real upset a the "El Cheapo" 788 would out shoot his BDL every time.
Pretty sure the made a "Semi-Heavy" bbl a few years chambered in 222 + 223--I would like to find one in a 30-30 that I could A.I

Jim

Did the AI chamber on a 30-30. Performance improved as expected. One negative result was having to load single shot. The magazine won't work with the case shoulders moved forward.

 

[timeout]

Has anyone else noticed all the Savage rifles for sale in the classifieds, but no 788's? Hmm.....

 

[GoWyo!]

Here's my son's first

antelope with his 6mm. 240 yds. With a 100 gr. Speer grand slam. The buck reared up, took one hop and fell. We just got him back from the taxidermist.

 

[bobm]

Very nice buck. Congrats there young man! Glad to see that no frills 788 budget rifle doing what it was made for. That is a picture that should be in a magazine. Looks like the real estate on SH 789 between Rawlins and Jeffrey City.

 

[GoWyo!]

Thanks Bob! Indeed, this is one of my favorite hunting pictures ever! (I might be a little biased)
My brother-in-law it took this shot. My photos were not nearly as structured. I just love it, not only subject matter but the vast expansive background. Actually this is almost directly NW of Independence Rock about 12 miles, so you were close?

 

[Tommie]

Great photo!

 

[Kevin Taylor]

The guns just plain shoot. I own too many of them and not one has failed to easily shoot sub-MOA. Some group WAY tighter than that. The baby brother 580/540 rifles are just as eager to shoot better than they should.

So there. I said it. I'm a fan of the 788.

Yes, my 788 is for prairie dogs. Left bolt right port 308.

 

[GoWyo!]

Yes, my 788 is for prairie dogs. Left bolt right port 308.

A full day of .308 would make me look for the alleve bottle.

 

[bobm]

My first dog kills were from a new pressed checkering M70 .30-06, 110 Sierra HP's. Then I discovered the .222, 22-250, .220 Swift. 243 Win, .25-06...........

 

[GoWyo!]

I know that music. 1977 .270 Ruger M77 90 gr. Sierra HP's. I bought a M77V .22-250 in 1980. Ruger rebarreled it twice for me. This was before my 788 indoctrination and Sako addiction. My nephew bought it from me 5 years ago.

 

[GerryM]

I have a 788 that was a 222 I had it rebarreled after lapping the bolt lugs in so all 9 made contact.
I installed a canjar trigger and changed the pull spring so it has about a 4oz pull. It was re chambered in 222 with a shilen barrel in a homemade stock

it was my first real benchrest rifle . I still have it and plan on re building it again. I see some pretty nice looking benchrest stocks on Richards web site, at a reasonable price.
that,s where i'll get the new stock for the rebuild.
they shoot really well in 222

 

[snert]

Snert started it. Somehow several 788's wound up in my vault. A few of them are .222's. The first one is a very early walnut stock that I've never fired. The second is much newer but is believed to be unfired. There is a reserve.... a little more than snerts hundred bucks.

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Somehow Ol'Snert is getting blamed again! In this case, methinks Ol Snert deserves it!

BTW, nothing nicer than a T10 on such a rifle.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I had one on the classifieds here for well it's been over a month now. 6 mm Remington everyone thought it was worth less than I thought it was worth.