Originally Posted by RockyRaab
Just a caution: the 788 is NOT a gun for pushing hot loads. You will rapidly set back those tiny locking lugs, resulting in dangerous headspace. The first clue will be cracked or separated cases.

The 788 bolt is rear locking, with three rows of three small lugs each. In normal use, only the first three lugs firmly engage. The middle row will just barely touch, and the last row never engages at all. Look at the wear on them and you'll notice bright metal on the first set, faint wear on the middle, and a pristine rear set.

Unless you've been hot loading. In which case, you'll see heavy wear on the front set, bright metal on the middle, and definite wear marks on the back set. By then, you have grossly excessive headspace. The gun is toast. Shooting beyond that level risks shearing off the front lugs entirely.

This ...
Adding that both the 788 and a 77 Ruger in my arsenal liked IMR 4895 for accuracy with many varied bullets. I will say I never loaded anything smaller than 45 grain projectiles.


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