Turn old into new

[subsonic]

I have a Remington 788 in .308. The action seems to be okay but the barrel looks to be pitted badly from one end to the other. How do you guys feel about re-barreling this old classic? I was thinking about a 22" SS match grade barrel with a 1:12 or 1:14 twist chambered in .308 to shoot 110 - 135gr bullets for small game and varmints. Looking forward to reading all your comments.

Ron

 

[Preacher]

A lot of that will depend on how it shoots, I've seen a few pitted barrels that shot pretty darn good hunting wise...

 

[subsonic]

Preacher, when i first got the rifle I discovered the previous owner cared nothing about his guns. The barrel was almost completely clogged, holding a surefire tactical light at one end and looking through the muzzle, it looked like a foggy dawn morning. I ruined a bronze brush trying to push it through the barrel. So i tried pushing a wooden dowel through, it opened a hole about the size of a 6mm bullet so I brought home a steel rod about 5/16" thick and got about two heaping tablespoons of rust and gook from the barrel. Then I used break-free and a stiff nylon brush and scrubbed for two days before I saw metal. The only way I would shoot this gun in this condition even after I cleared the barrel would be to put gun in a vise, tie a 25ft string to the trigger and pull from behind a tree. The previous owner was going to load a round in the chamber and pull the trigger, I convinced him not too. I guess my question should have been do you think this gun is worth saving?

Ron

 

[DickE]

Well this all depends on how you feel about spending money on a gun that is worth $350.00 in very good condition. The 788 did have some inherent weak points, but I've never encountered any, they seem to just keep on shooting. If you plan on keeping it and shooting it, i'd say go for it. Should work out to be a pretty accurate gun. But nows your chance to go to a .243, 260, or even 7mm-08 with no further alterations, if your so inclined. There is no gun more fun to shoot than one you have made better than a stock factory gun.

 

[subsonic]

DickE, I'm kind of set on the .308, I spoke to a gunsmith today and his recommendation was to use a 1:17 twist barrel to push the bullets over 3400fps if I am only shooting 110 - 135gr bullets. Can you elaborate on the 788 weak points. Thanks for your comments.

 

[DickE]

look at this: http://www.charm.net/~kmarsh/788.html

Like I said, the ones that I have seen or worked on, just keep on shooting. I have one in the shop right now that I worked on, the trigger rusted solid in the trigger housing, punched it out, cleaned it up and works fine(neglect).

 

[spclark]

The previous owner was going to load a round in the chamber and pull the trigger, I convinced him not too. I guess my question should have been do you think this gun is worth saving?

Heck with the gun... I woulda (silently, and from a great distance) asked "Is this gun owner worth saving?"

 

[subsonic]

spclark, that's a good one. I think I reamed him enough about gun safety and gun maintenance that he will not make that statement again. That was his way of cleaning his guns just before hunting season. The gunsmith to whom I spoke with told me there would be at least a minimum of six month lead time. I was hoping to be on the firing line by first spring. Do you think that a 1:17 twist is too slow for a 135gr bullet?

 

[spclark]

Do you think that a 1:17 twist is too slow for a 135gr bullet?

No, unless you're hunting when it's around 30F or below. I'd hesitate with anything heavier too; 1:17's on the slow side for 135's.

Glad you could reason the fellow out of his hazardous habit....

 

[jsn]

I would slug the bore before I gave up on it. It would only be dangerous to shoot if it were undersized by rust.

 

[subsonic]

jsn, I'm a little green when it comes to some of the shooting terminology. What do you mean by slug the bore?

Would the .308 last longer than the .243, 260 or 7mm-08?

 

[spclark]

Slugging a bore is an operation performed with a soft lead plug that's placed into a bore then 'upset' by means of rods inserted into the open bore ends so as to expand the lead plug into the grooves. Start at the breech end then use a cleaning rod to force the expanded plug into and thru the length of the bore. Be sensitive to changes in force required to move the plug along, the degree of which can tell you a lot about the bore's internal condition.

A good bore scope is worth having on hand too for a visual inspection at points that deserve a closer look.

308 likely will last longer than the others, 243 probably the worst for barrel life. Smaller bore with roughly equal case capacity equals shorter barrel life.

 

[jsn]

NECO used to sell pure lead cast bullets to be used as slugs. Do not use anything other than pure lead or an alloy of about 6-7 Brinnel hardness--wheel weights, linotype, etc. are too hard and may stick in your bore (just in case any of your friends want to help you by giving you a cast bullet). Most cast bullets are at least .001 larger than the intended groove diameter before sizing, which in soft lead is great, it will compress down and fill the bore. If the first one passes through too easily, use a second slug after setting it on concrete or steel plate and giving the nose a love tap with a hammer to fatten it up a bit.

Use light weight engine oil or comparable for lube, use a rod about the diameter of the bore being measure (slightly undersized, of course), I find hard woods or brass would be best, steel or bronze should be wrapped in electrical tape to keep from galling the rifling. I would not use a cleaning rod threaded end, but others have. Wipe the oil off before measuring.

spclark nailed it, you're not just looking for diameter but the changes in force required to drive the slug through changing into tight/loose patches. A tight spot near the breech loosening up towards the muzzle probably wouldn't give great accuracy. Any tight spots are going to be the slugs diameter after it clears the muzzle.

With 6 months lead time and the expense, you can at least make a better informed decision regarding your goals and options.

 

[ourway77]

As said the price being $350.00 to maybe $450.00 for one in VG condition for a 788. I would recommend rebarreling the rifle. As to your discription of the barrel I would suggest that rebarreling is your only option If it were mine I would look for a used barrel that will support a rechamber have it threaded for your action. Now unless you have the proper tools and the knowledge to install a barrel then you will have to get a Gunsmith to do it for you. Then all you have is a rifle you will never get your money out of. If you are willing to keep the rifle it may pay. Then there is still the trigger if I recall they were not the best. And there was a recall on the rifles something to do with the safety. You may want to sell the stock and action for maybe $200-$250 add another $200 to it and buy a complete rifle. I have seen stock Rem 700 ADL's for that price. If you go that route make sure you ask the seller to tell you the condition of the barrel etc. I will say about 99% of the people selling something are honest as to the condition.I am 74 and I have bought numerous rifles pistols etc off the various sights and can say I have been decieved one time to the condition of the item. Ourway77

 

[subsonic]

Hey guys, the other night I decided to soaked the barrel with break-free so I sealed off the muzzle and filled the barrel with break-free. This evening I popped the cork, drained it and proceeded to scrub the barrel with a nylon brush. After five minutes of scrubbing I saw shinny metal surface. So I pushed about fifty patches through the barrel and about every ten I used Tipton bore solvent and scrubbed again. I finally used a 22 caliber jag with a piece scotch-brite pad (the white pad) to finish cleaning and polish the rest of the crud out of the barrel. I must say I think this barrel is safe to shoot. It is a 22" CM with a 1:10 twist. I will be taking it to the range very soon to test fire it, because of its age and original condition it will be placed in a vise and a string attached to the trigger for at least ten rounds. I will let you know how it shoots

 

[Nomo4me]

After forcing a steel rod through it I think it'd be a miracle if you didn't dig a gouge in the bore. The 788 action isn't a real desireable one to run hot loads due to stretching of the receiver - case head separation can be an issue if you FL resize and try to use your brass many times.

Play with it for a bit, but any $$ you sink into rebarreling isn't going to be recaptured if you go to sell it.

If you want an 8 week barrel job you could call Guy Malmborg here in Salt Lake City. He'd do a good job for you.

 

[subsonic]

Nomo4me, thanks for the info. the steel rod has a rounded tip and it was pushed by hand with little to no effort. I am well ahead of you, I chose to use Hodgdon's recipe for reduced loads using H4895, I'm not a big fan of full load .308 recoil. If I decide to re-barrel is gun, I would like to do it as inexpensively as possible and safely too.

 

[Chuckhunter]

Will anxiously awaiting your results. I can tell you I had a similar situation several years ago with a fellow I worked with. He said his rifle would no longer shoot well. I asked when he had cleaned it last and he said he don't think he had ever cleaned it. When I asked how old the rifle was, he responded with approx. 30 yrs. After four days of cleaning and soaking and about 200 patches, it shined like a new penny. My brother in law bore scoped it for me and said the barrel looked great. Go figure! I took it to the range and test fired it with my fathers pet load for his 06 and the first 3 shot group measured .450 I returned the rifle along with cleaning instructions and at last report that old 700 Rem was still shooting well. Hope you have the same results.

 

[finnwerke757]

If you decide to part out the rifle. Ill take the action for $200. I dont look at the resale value. The 788 is a great action indeed. You just cant hotrod it. Load with care and prejudice and it will last you a lifetime.

 

[subsonic]

Hey guys, as I write this I am prepairing some new Remington brass for this gun I'm hoping to get out Friday morning. I will be using some 150gr Sierras and Noslers. if I decide to sell I will have to hold an auction because there are at least five people here who have made offers already.