Remington 788 in 308 under $300. Buy?

[SDWhirlwind]

Perhaps the 30-06 was the Model 78 made after they discontinued the 788? A 700 without a checkered bolt knob and a birch stock like the 788's. Chambered in IIRC 223, 243, 270 and 30-06. Seems there were a couple others but my memory gears don't mesh well anymore.

 

[pmg]

Whole lot of 788 love here especially at just under $300. Josh you could restock it with one of your designs and it would not only shoot good but look great too. Timney make triggers for them, although Gre-tan slicked one of my factory triggers. Hope it's a 788 not 783.

 

[Midnightmedic]

My father fell in love with the 788 in the 80's so after I left home and had the means we but together the entire collection of all 13 rifles (listed below). The early models from the 1960's had nice walnut or maple stocks too. All thirteen rifles would easily handload to shoot three shots clover-leafing under 1/2moa at 100 yards. The 30-30 and 44mag would do it with some factory ammo at 100 yards. Great little rifles and the two lefties were LB/RP. (ball park average price for good condition)
RH 44mag ($800-1000)
RH 30/30 ($600-800)
RH 222rem ($300-400)
RH 223rem ($300-400)
RH 22-250 ($350-450)
RH 243 ($300-400)
RH 243 carbine18" ($350-$450)
RH 6mm rem ($350-500)
LH 6mm rem ($400-600)
RH 7-08 carbine18" ($350-500)
RH 308win ($300-400)
RH 308win Carbine18" ($300-400)
LH 308win ($400-600)
I think this is the correct list. Been years since fiddling with them. Got me thinking; Maybe need to strap a new Brux 7-08AI on that old action for this summer's f-class matches. Need to see some old iron next to those shiney Bats, Bordens and Barnards on the 1000yard line.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

... Got me thinking; Maybe need to strap a new Brux 7-08AI on that old action for this summer's f-class matches. Need to see some old iron next to those shiney Bats, Bordens and Barnards on the 1000yard line.

That's funny because I thought the same exact thing one time. I built a rifle for 1K BR competition a handful of years back, unfortunately decided not to compete shortly after so it never saw any action on the line. Anyhow, the rifle is built on a trued up Rem 722 action with a Jewell trigger and custom order PTG bolt. Of course all the 722's were CM steel. I was going to powder coat or cerakote it, but then I thought, "EVERYONE has a nice shiny new looking rifle, why not do something different?"...So I scratched the holy living piss out of the entire receiver with a wood file then clear coated it and called it the "Remmy Rat Rod". I actually REALLY like the look! Maybe she'll see some action someday

 

[hogpatrol]

Perhaps the 30-06 was the Model 78 made after they discontinued the 788? A 700 without a checkered bolt knob and a birch stock like the 788's. Chambered in IIRC 223, 243, 270 and 30-06. Seems there were a couple others but my memory gears don't mesh well anymore.

Well, that could have been too. Same here not only on the memory gears but the synchros are shot too.

 

[msinc]

Well, that could have been too. Same here not only on the memory gears but the synchros are shot too.

Hog, are you tryin' to tell us that you might make a little grinding noise when you go to shift gears????? I just wish I could remember peoples names...it's embarrassing!!!

 

[300_whisper]

Hog, are you tryin' to tell us that you might make a little grinding noise when you go to shift gears????? I just wish I could remember peoples names...it's embarrassing!!!

I’m 29 and I can’t remember people’s names now!!

 

[300_whisper]

That's funny because I thought the same exact thing one time. I built a rifle for 1K BR competition a handful of years back, unfortunately decided not to compete shortly after so it never saw any action on the line. Anyhow, the rifle is built on a trued up Rem 722 action with a Jewell trigger and custom order PTG bolt. Of course all the 722's were CM steel. I was going to powder coat or cerakote it, but then I thought, "EVERYONE has a nice shiny new looking rifle, why not do something different?"...So I scratched the holy living piss out of the entire receiver with a wood file then clear coated it and called it the "Remmy Rat Rod". I actually REALLY like the look! Maybe she'll see some action someday

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Can we get a full shot of the rifle? It’s looks gorgeous.

 

[Eric Leonard]

a friend of mine has a 788 44 Magnum he put a can on to deer hunt with in suburban areas,,with the 300 gr XTP at 1050 fps it will shoot less than an inch groups at 100 yards and all you hear is the firing pin click and the bullet hit the target,,

my older brother has a 22-250 that shoots really well also,,,I always heard Rem quit making them so people would buy the 700 ADL

seems like their lock time was their claim to fame

 

[joshb]

That's funny because I thought the same exact thing one time. I built a rifle for 1K BR competition a handful of years back, unfortunately decided not to compete shortly after so it never saw any action on the line. Anyhow, the rifle is built on a trued up Rem 722 action with a Jewell trigger and custom order PTG bolt. Of course all the 722's were CM steel. I was going to powder coat or cerakote it, but then I thought, "EVERYONE has a nice shiny new looking rifle, why not do something different?"...So I scratched the holy living piss out of the entire receiver with a wood file then clear coated it and called it the "Remmy Rat Rod". I actually REALLY like the look! Maybe she'll see some action someday

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Oh! Sneaky "sleeper" gun. I like!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Can we get a full shot of the rifle? It’s looks gorgeous.

Yeah I'll have to dig it out of the safe and take some pics of the whole thing. It's nothing special. Wears a walnut Bobby Hart stock and has a .1250"-.900" SS Match Shilen ratchet rifle barrel finished out at 27". Chambered in 243 LBC Turbo 40. Think it's a .269" neck...have to check. Been a while since I've played with it.

I'm actually gonna send the bolt off this week with a couple other bolts to Paul ("boltfluter") so he can spice the Rat Rod up a bit more

 

[jsn]

Here's a 788 that someone has on sale here:

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/rem-788-308-win-carbine.3941758/

 

[hoz53]

I’m 29 and I can’t remember people’s names now!!

i just wish i remembered being 29

 

[msinc]

.......my older brother has a 22-250 that shoots really well also,,,
.........seems like their lock time was their claim to fame

22-250, that's the caliber I missed...and should not have either. The absolute best shot I have ever personally witnessed was made by my brother-in-law with his 788.
I worked on the trigger, bedded the action and painted the stock, installed target block scope bases and mounted a Unertl 1 1/2" scope.
The night I got it done we went predator calling. Saw what we thought was a big black cat at 450 yards {+or-} I held the red light, he took the shot. The cat froze right there. Unertl scopes are not noted for their night time clarity and ability to enhance light.
It wasn't running away but it was stepping lively up a little hill. When we arrived at the scene to see where he hit it we got hit by a wall of skunk stench!!! Tomato juice is worthless. His then brand new Avalanche reeked for days and so did I. Did I mention that tomato juice is worthless??

 

[snert]

Rat Rod...I like the concept. Just need to add a cone flash-hider made from a funnel and a sling made from barb wire!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Rat Rod...I like the concept. Just need to add a cone flash-hider made from a funnel and a sling made from barb wire!

Wish I could have found a stock made out of old barn wood too! Lol

 

[hoz53]

Wish I could have found a stock made out of old barn wood too! Lol

not to late

 

[beemanjohn]

So Josh, did you ever go back and look at that gun? There is a lot of love here for the 788 but none for the 783. I shot the barrel out of a 788 22-250 back in the "day", but as I remember it, there was not that much love for that ugly old gun back then. Real gun guys had a 700 you know. Now everyone wishes they still had one.

As for the 783, I have never shot one, but what little I can find on them says they shoot very good for what they are. Got to love a cheap truck gun that shoots good. (like the 788)

 

[rogn]

Back to the 783, they are some sort of price leader that Rem came up with. Supposedly they are the reiteration of a Marlin bolt action. Receiver is Saavge-esque but it accepts a functional trigger. They were being sold as a lead in or loss leader. You could apparently get one in any stock caliber from 223 to 300 mag. They use a chintzy box magazine that works OK. Ive heard of people buying a scoped combo with a rebate and paying less than 270$ for the combo. Scope manufacturer wasnt proud enough to put their name on it unless the scratching is some form of Chinese. I bought one in 223 for a barn/truck protector. I immediately put a Tract scope on it( glass more$ than rifle). It seems to hold less that 2 1/2" at 300 M- this just looking at pattern on steel, not paper punching. This is with FC red box 55gr bt. Ignoring the scope totally the only complaint(?) I have is that the headspace is dead "0" at the minimum spec. Good thing brass is cheap.
Overall I think its an attempt to make the cheapest functioning rifle possible. The good part is CNC and barrel manufacturing are good enoug/ and cheap enough now that many of these current production of "EL CHEAPOS' are capable of performance as good as or better than a lot of top of the line stuff from 20 or 30 years ago.

 

[okie]

Perhaps the 30-06 was the Model 78 made after they discontinued the 788? A 700 without a checkered bolt knob and a birch stock like the 788's. Chambered in IIRC 223, 243, 270 and 30-06. Seems there were a couple others but my memory gears don't mesh well anymore.

yeah, they were stamped sportsman--or sportster??