Remington 788 with a decocked bolt that needs to be cocked to go back in the action.

[Xerothermic]

Any other ways to go about this for a guy with minimal tools? I tried to use a vise to hold the firing pin head, but couldn't get a good purchase. Vise grips were a no-go also. Help!

TO COCK BOLT—Bolt must remain cocked to put into rifle. If bolt “uncocks”, firing pin head will snap forward into cocking cam in rear of bolt. To cock bolt, hold firing pin head (Fig. 4) firmly to prevent movement. Use vise jaws if available. Raise bolt handle. Bolt will cam cocking surface (beneath handle) against firing pin head. Continue raising handle until cocking detent on rear of bolt engages firing pin head. Bolt is then cocked and ready for re-entry to rifle.

 

[AlNyhus]

If you're asking how to cock the bolt to put it back in the receiver.....take a square edged tool and pull the cocking piece back while at the same time rotating the bolt shroud.

You want the nose of the cocking piece to settle into the notch on the rear of the bolt body. The bolt can then be put in normally.

 

[Twdmar]

In a pinch, without the correct tools, you can use the square edge of a table or bench as long as you're not worried a out possibly gouging the table/bench. Put the front face of the part of the firing pin that meets the trigger on the edge with the bolt face pointed down. Then push the whole bolt downward while you hold the bolt body.
Once the spring is compressed enougj, spin the bolt body to move the firing pin into the cooked position and as mentioned before, let the firing pin settle into the upper notch.
Wear gloves and select a surface that is soft enough to not damage the firing pin but hard enough to support it. The square edge of a 2x4 could work too as long as it secured to something solid. With some rifles you can also just grab the bolt body and handle and twist hard enough to push the cocking cam up the ramp.

 

[hogpatrol]

Tighten a dime in a vise with just a small amount showing above the jaws, hook the firing pin, pull and turn.

 

[Jeff Porter]

I was able to use a boot lace to do this once years ago. Hook pull and turn.

 

[bugman]

I was able to use a boot lace to do this once years ago. Hook pull and turn.

Yep, the old boot lace trick works every time. Use a piece of leather or rubber to get a good grip on the bolt body.

 

[Xerothermic]

Thanks, for the responses. I'll start at the top, with the how-tos, and work my way down. I'm not sure what I did in that I've had this bolt in and out a lot with no issues.

Shoot coming up on Friday that I don't want to miss with the 6mm.

Lee in Tucson

 

[Twdmar]

The boot lace trick is awesome!

 

[AlNyhus]

At one time, Remington actually showed the dime and boot lace trick in the owners manuals for the 788's and the 700's.

 

[farmerjohn]

Any other ways to go about this for a guy with minimal tools? I tried to use a vise to hold the firing pin head, but couldn't get a good purchase. Vise grips were a no-go also. Help!

TO COCK BOLT—Bolt must remain cocked to put into rifle. If bolt “uncocks”, firing pin head will snap forward into cocking cam in rear of bolt. To cock bolt, hold firing pin head (Fig. 4) firmly to prevent movement. Use vise jaws if available. Raise bolt handle. Bolt will cam cocking surface (beneath handle) against firing pin head. Continue raising handle until cocking detent on rear of bolt engages firing pin head. Bolt is then cocked and ready for re-entry to rifle.

Hey Feller, all good advice mentioned above, but one thing was mentioned lightly and needed to be highlighted, if this is your first time fooling around with this remember the gloves....old hide grows back slowly... John

 

[Dimner]

I was able to use a boot lace to do this once years ago. Hook pull and turn.

Paracord will also work

 

[Xerothermic]

You guys are awesome! I used a piece of 18 maybe 20 gauge electrical wire twisted in a hoop and a pair of vise grips to tug with. Easy! I am now cocked.

I decided to pull the firing pin for a looksee and had a hell-of-a-time unscrewing the FP from the bolt. I put my readers on and found it was left-hand threads. I could've sworn the one video I found on YT the guy was doing the lefty-loosie thing. It is a LH bolt so maybe there's a reason for it. Thanks, again for the how-tos.

 

[Twdmar]

At one time, Remington actually showed the dime and boot lace trick in the owners manuals for the 788's and the 700's.

This reminds me of the meme where they talk about how car owners manuals from 50 years ago told the owner how to adjust the valves and now the manuals tell people not to drink the contents of the battery.
It's been a while since I read the manual for a rifle, but they seem to be aimed at the lowest common denominator now.

 

[outasite`08]

This reminds me of the meme where they talk about how car owners manuals from 50 years ago told the owner how to adjust the valves and now the manuals tell people not to drink the contents of the battery.
It's been a while since I read the manual for a rifle, but they seem to be aimed at the lowest common denominator now.

Yeah, another meme old guy says" Stop putting warning labels on everything and let nature thin out the herd".

 

[DaveTooley]

Just like opening a bottle of beer a pocket knife works well. Catch the back of the blade on the cocking piece- pull and twist.

 

[Old Navy]

I was able to use a boot lace to do this once years ago. Hook pull and turn.

Run mine through the press. Works great.

 

[Xerothermic]

Run mine through the press. Works great.

?

 

[Old Navy]

?

I hold the lace down on the bolt with my thumb.

 

[Xerothermic]

I hold the lace down on the bolt with my thumb.

I see.