Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Short and chunky, but at least she's ugly

Jim

I know for sure that the 788s were not getting good press in the 80s.
Rear locking lugs, bolt compression, et.al.

I had one in 243 and it didn't melt my butter.


Jerry

I’ve got it’s twin here at the Ranch. It’s killed a ton of deer and several truck loads of feral hogs over the years. And all of my nieces & nephews shot their first deer & hogs with it.
Mine absolutely LOVES 140 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips.
And I’ve never owned a 788 that would’ve shoot 1/2”
3 shot groups at 100 yards.

Short, chunky and ugly...how many Savage rifles do you own then?

Very nice. I Like it.

I can’t Savage, but I can hold my nose and Ruger American. Close as I’m going to get.

..............................I am with you. Love da shorty carbines too. Gots one.........What is the barrel length? The 7/08 is one of the best shorty barreled rounds that you can get.

There AIN’T no flies on a Savage 99 >> period.

NO other Savage will occupy space here !!!!!!


Jerry

I agree about ONE of the best carbines.

I had a 77 UL in 308 with 20” bll and it gave up NOTHING to 22” ers.

I’m not particularly a 308 fan but in 20” it does very well.


Jerry

I’d shoot a 99, true. They’re classy.

The 788 carbines are 18.5” barrels of a sturdy contour, about like a 660 or 600 Mohawk.

..........................................I have owned a 300 WSM Ruger Frontier since '07.............LOUD and powerful!....................LOL..................Hearing protection a must!

308 W vs 300 WSM ? ? ?


Jerry

I always wanted a 30-30....I found one and couldn’t bring myself to cough up that kinda dough on a 30-30....I almost regret it now.

$400 is the best price I've seen so far on the Marlin 30-30s! I had my SIL bring my Mod 94BB in .375Win back to me ( it was kept in his gunsafe as heirloom for grand daughter, who is only 9 now) to "scratch my levergun itch". I still have 3 boxes of 200gr factory ammo but order two boxes of Buffalo Bore Heavy 38-55 255fn ammo. The Mod 94BB is neither fat nor chunky ( don't get me wrong, in my youth I'd "dance" with any girl of any shape!) but it is short, handy, good for heavy snow day out here.

I think I have seen "one" 788 since I moved out here, back in 89. Savage 99s (especially in 300 savage) were everywhere! I agree, the Savage 99c .308 I owned briefly was a fine, quality rifle! I just can't resist poking fun at the 110s and Axis. Ewww, no Ruger American for me either...but lots of folks out here are buying them! Since box blinds/tree stands are not used out here, you just don't see a lot of carbines. Truck guns can be a 28" 300 RUM to ARs!

My first deer rifle was a 788 22-250 and fortunately I’ve managed to not trade it off.

I’m not a fan of carbine length hunting rifles b/c of the increased noise. I still want to be able to hear the thunder chickens sound off when I’m 70.

The noise difference in an 18” barrel vs a 22” barrel is surprisingly quite significant.

Wise thinking Weslley2. I'm 76 and wishing I'd been more careful years ago. Living with significate hearing loss is a PITA

I have the carbine bug in .22 rimfire. I have four CZs in 16.5", and all of them shoot with, or better, than my 452 American. I also have two RARs with 18" barrels (Predator configuration) that are short and handy, too. All six are under 3' in length, total. I have to use a scope, so the sight radius is of no importance to me. The snubby barrels shoot like sumbitches, too. I really like them, handy in the truck, handy in the field. Just plain handy, period. If I ever get around to it, 5 of the six are factory threaded for suppressors, too.

Heck, I'd hunt it.

I've not gotten around to CFE223 with the 120 TTSX.
R15 bested Varget and I called it good.

I look forward to the report.

....................Well yep!!!.........Given the 16.5" barrel length that the Ruger Frontiers have, a 308 Ruger Frontier would have whole lot of catching up to do in order to ballistically match a 300 WSM Ruger Frontier...............I get the ballistics of a 26" tubed '06 from a rifle only 35.5" long.........Lots a fun.

the ONLY practical downside ive found w a carbine is muzzle blast. which depends on your cartridge of course

I'm thinking that this year will likely be the year I start hunting with electronic earplugs. I'm 40 now, and I noticed my ears rang a couple times last season when I was hunting from a blind, and this was shooting barrels 20-23". With hogs, deer, coyotes and such, I may shoot 20-25 rounds in the field each fall and it's likely a good move to do some prevention on further hearing loss going forward.