Remington 788 project

[Meteormann]

Hi

I got a 788 I 222 I very good shape for free and want to build a very accurate rifle. I have a hs precision stock i'm gong to adapt to this rifle. But I have a couple of questions regarding what caliber I can build using this action.

And if I lap all the 9 lugs to contact will this reduce the bolt compression?

Is it possible to build a 6.5 grendel on this or Should use something with the same bolt face as the 223 ?

 

[Ggmac]

Bolt compression is a function of design , lapping the lugs will just make it smoother, safer . A rear lug action is , bolt compression is not really to be worried about ,if you goal is accuracy . Many good accurate rifles have been built off it . None lately because they are becoming collector pieces and better actions are available , cheaper .
I would stay with the same bolt face , go with a 6x45 6x 47 or 6 TCU . Or if 7 mm are your choice , same cases . But for accuracy stick a good 222 rem barrel back on it and follow the old published trigger mods and go for it .
Love those 788 s
Gary

 

[riflewoman]

Lapping the lugs won't reduce the bolt compression. Just keep the 223 boltface and the compression will be minimal. For a 788 awfully hard to beat a 222 or 223 for accuracy. The key is to use a quality barrel Headspaced and chambered correctly. Good triggers are the next issue but there were mods you could do and Timney makes one. Good luck.

 

[snert]

Most of the 222 788's and 308's i have shot were shockingly accurate for being an "economy" gun. Scope it and shoot it, see if it works for you. If not, simply have Hart put a new barrel on. Stick witht eh 223 bolt face, and pick a cartridge of about the same design so it feeds. Put whatever stock on it you want. Timney makes a trigger for it.

If it were me I would clean it, scope it, load up some IMR 4198 under a 52 grain berger, jump it .010 and smile.

 

[snert]

Or sell it to me at a $300 profit and use the money to buy a rifle you like....

 

[GerryM]

Ive done one many years ago It was a 222 I changed the stock lapped in all of the lug {it was only hitting on 4 }
Cleaned up the bolt face and re barreled it to 222 with a shillen barrel , changed the trigger to a c anjar sportsmen.
It shot extreamly well . Great benchrest rifle I still have

 

[mac86951]

Agreed on all points. I LOVE my 788 in 222. I bedded the original stock and its great, aside from a trigger job. Can't argue with the cost of loading 222 either.

-Mac

 

[BoydAllen]

In that caliber, bolt compression is not an issue. You have to remember that case head diameter (reduced by twice the case wall thickness next to the solid head) times pressure (in PSI) minus case cling is actual bolt thrust. I used to load my .223 so hot that all my Winchester cases had ejector marks and I never saw a problem that related to bolt compression. IMO the construction of HS stocks does not lend itself to the kind of modification that you would be doing. Just pillar bed the factory stock and go from there. There are a couple of tricks that you need to know about bedding 788s . let me know if you are interested. If you overlook them, you can end up chasing your tail.