I've owned three 788s, two in .223 and a .308. They were superb rifles, and with the right load, one of the .223s would shoot in the twos. (Sold the other one before I shot it much).
They're rattley, have a cheap box magazine, lock at the rear, and have a cult following. If I had to chose between a 700 and a 788, I'd go the 788 every time. Now, both of them have bad triggers from out of the box.
I wouldn't build on one. Too good of a rifle.
