Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Why the following for Rem 788?

I picked up a 788 in 243 many years ago for the price and the targets the gun had shot, and it sits in the vault due to it's lack of "appeal". I need to take it to the range one last time before offing it, if my memory is correct, but from setting it up on my cleaning bench and cycling it, I still don't see the desire in the whole package.

I have heard for the $ they were good shooting guns in general, but the odd cycling feel and look just doesn't do anything for me. Is there a love-hate thing for these, I see they typically don't last long on the sale listings.

So what is it that gives them a following? Is it generally only for benchrest use?

Thanks
Allen

They were inexpensive, accurate, and they had the fastest lock time around. Not pretty but amazing shooters for the coin.

Agree with hrnhuntr, but I would add that these were popular rifles when a lot of us could not afford one and so there might be a bit of nostalgia adding to the prices. Kinda like the ridiculous prices 60's and 70's era Olds 442's and Chevy Malibu's bring. For the money I see these go for, one could easily buy a used model 700ADL and have a far better, (but still not that great, IMHO) rifle. I have been guilty of some of this exhuberance as I have owned several 788's. I do like a clip feed rifle for some applications, this might be part of it.

Bingo, and some varmint hunters liked the clip feed.

Rear locking lugs helped lock time I believe, but that also I heard resulted in case stretching......I don't know...but the 222 I bought was INTENDED to be turned into a 6x45, it was ugly BAD ugly and bbl chopped a little with a homemade crown job....but it shot great. It got sold off. One author in American Rifleman long ago enjoyed his 6x45 (223 case) on the 788.

Lock time was VERY quick, and as my 541-T I had would STOMP a custom 10/22 on silhouettes offhand.....it was the lock time that made the difference. Away from bags, lock time can mean a hit or a miss no doubt.

Because it was just what I was looking for in a 44 mag.

Pmc

BEcause they aren't made anymore and human nature being what it is as soon as something is not available any longer everybody wants them and think they suddenly need one.

Because both of my 788's in .222 will shoot lights out all day long. Not pretty to look at but they get the job done.

Thanks.

The seller showed me targets with load data this gun likes, plus some loaded ammo, with sub 1/2" 5 shot groups. Most of the load development I did hovered between 1/2 and 3/4" groups.

Allen

One dad-gummed good rifle/action IMO. I am currently in the process of building a custom medium range varmit rifle using the 788 action, Pac-Nor SS 26" w/ 1 in 11" twist, chambered for the 6.5-08(.260)AI, Canjar SS trigger, in a McMillan stock.

There was some talk about bolt compression and cases stretching but my thoughts the min taper AI cases would render that moot as bolt face thrust would become negligable. Quien Sabe?

Ol' John

I have a 6mm 788 and it is a pretty decent shooter but it is not exactly a fine tuned machine.