Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Rem 788 in .44 Mag. Buy or Pass

Local gunsmith who knows how much I prefer older guns to newer ones called me with a lead he has on a Rem 788 in 44 Mag. He has the gun in his possession now and has shot it. Says it has very little sign of use and shoots/functions well. Asking price is $450. I see the 788 online for $350 up but was thinking it would be worth the asking price in .44 Mag.

Agree?

You sure don't see many of the 788's in 44 mag. I sure see alot of USED ones for 375 to 425 in the other calibers. When I see a minty cond one they allways want 450-550 for the common chamberings. I think a guy could allways get his money back on that one. Magnum Man

.44 Magnums and .30/30's are rare in the 788. Personally, I'd jump on it. In fact, if you don't want it, I do.

thanks guys...i saw the other calibers but not the 44

thanks guys...i saw the other calibers but not the 44

Every gun show here in town, some guy comes in with a NIB .44 for sale, he's got $700 or so, on the price. Considering that, your smith ain't hurtin' ya much.

Remington 788s in 44 Magnum are very uncommon and $450 seems like a great price in the condition that you've described. Make sure that the magazine is in good shape, 'cause a replacement would probably run in the $150+/- range.

Jeff

I havent seen a 788 in 44 magnum in a very long time, last
one was priced $650, if I remember correctly.

I think I'd jump at it. I don't believe that I have ever seen one in a 44 mag in person. The 788 is kind of ugly IMO, but they shoot. You'd never get hurt at that price, and I'm guessing you could make a bit if you desired to part with it.

Should be a fun gun! What's the competition? Ruger 77/44? If they were priced the same....

$450 for one in 44 mag is a very good price. Now and then one pops up around here (PA), usually for $650 and up and they don't last long.

Don't sweat the mags. Gun Parts (Numerich) has repros identical to the orginals, probably still less than $40, new.

I would/will buy the the by gun.

I dont recall ever running across one. Maybe not many around here.
I own a 788 in 22-250. Just dont remember seeing one in 44 mag..
Sounds like fun... Would love to see what it would do at 200 yards.
....SmokeRolls

thats half what the 44 sells for on line. buy it, then if you dont like it you can trade for a rifle double the value.

If the magazine is good. I'd get it. If you don't like it you'll get your money back+.

rear lug guns are scarey accurate.

I'd like to try one out with the new Hornady flex tip ammo. I think it would be interesting.

IIRC the 44 mag is the rarest of the 788's.

I owned one back when they were new. That thing kicked harder than any rifle I ever owned. It was down right painful. Kicked harder than my .264 Winchester Magnum. Not only that, it wasn't very accurate. I kept the 788 in .223 Remington and traded off the .44 Magnum as quickly as possible.

Best rifle in .44 Magnum I ever owned was the Ruger Deerstalker semiauto carbine. If you are looking for a .44 Magnum, I suggest looking up one of those. Recoil was mild and accuracy good enough at about 2" at 100 yards with factory loads.

The 788 is a neat little rifle, but for some reason the .44 Magnum version stock and weight made it a poor choice. My 788 in .223 will shoot under .75" at 100 yards.

I'd be very tempted.


ddj