Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Finally found one...

Not sure why, but I've always wanted a Remington 788 in .30-30. I've owned quite a few in "normal" calibers, but not sure I've ever actually seen a .30-30 or .44 Mag in person....until this week. I was really surprised to see it sitting there, most every one you find is in either .243 or .308....couldn't believe I actually found one in .30-30!

It definitely wasn't a safe queen, but metal isn't in terrible condition. Stock will need to be refinished, not sure what's going on near the rear of the stock.













Only real problem I've found is the ejector was broken....luckily, I was able to find (and order) one online. All I need now is a 1pc Weaver style base, and I'll likely mount a fixed Sightron SII 6x42. Should be a nice rifle with 125gr Nosler BT's or even Barnes 110gr X bullets. Date code *should* be Aug '83, its a 6-digit SN.

Very cool! That stock will look brand new after a few hours of work.

Awesome! I've always wanted one as well. Nice find

I am no 788 expert by any stretch of the imagination, but 1983 sounds awfully late to be a .30-30 and that bbl stamp doesn’t quite look factory.

Does it look to be someone’s project converted into a .30-30?

The last Remington 788 in 30-30 that I've owned was SN 037086, but I didn't record the assembly date code.

Date code is "WD", which seems to match Aug '83, although now that I look up some of the SN blocks, it may actually be a first year (1967) rifle. SN is 034***, I'll call Remington tomorrow and see what they pull up.

Looks like a walnut stock from here. If so there's no way it was made in 83 as they were all hardwood by then.

Jason, I had a 788 chambered in 30-30(I always wanted a bolt gun) and it was an absolute LASER! It was a big bulky gun and I ended up selling it as the guy wanted it way more than me. If it was a short barreled rifle, I’d probably kept it. Sold it with a Swarovski 3-9x36. The guy loves it 100%. I hope you are happy with it…I bet you will.

I’d love to have one in 30-30 just for a cast bullet gun. I have two, a 222 and a 22-250. Traded a 308 (yes, I regret it) many years ago for a S&W 4506. I really liked the 45 other than I couldn’t hit anything with it which was kind of important….

But yeah, a 788 in 30-30 or 44 mag would be nice to have. I know where there is a 44 mag but haven’t ever handled it and I’m at the end of a mile line of guys that could buy it before me.

It really doesn't feel that bulky, and barrel length should be perfect for pushing 110-130gr spitzers.

I bought one with the same dream and I could not get anything to fit correctly. I was hoping to get Nosler 125 grain Ballistic Tips to work, but I had too seat them so deep in the case that the .308 bullet diameter was below the case mouth. The 110 grain Speer would seat just fine though.

I didn’t mean it negative. Just would have rather had it in a 20” barrel. I’m a small dude and hunt primarily the woods of Georgia. I have several (main use) hunting rifles that are 20-21”. The others don’t get a lot of use. You’re gonna love that rifle. When I say Laser, I mean sub 1/2” groups at 100 with green box 150’s. I was blown away!!

I had one in 22-250 in the late 70s and it was he'll on coyotes. I read somewhere that Heimo Korth of the Last Alaskans tv show used a 788 in 22-250 ashis favorite rifle, even for moose. Go figure.

I would say that is a 1967 model. looks like a walnut stock too. I have two of them in 30-30. I've been thinking about selling one for several months now.

Way back when...I bought a 788 in .30-30 simply to see if it shot like other 788s...it did!

Killed a lot of deer and a couple elk with it.

I am curious if OAL will be an issue, seems like the mags limit OAL....makes sense, though, considering its designed around 150-170gr flat or soft points.

Never been a huge fan in general, but the .30/30s are an exception. Only ever saw one in the flesh, and regret not buying it.

These are far and away IMO, better than the Savage 340s, though I know that’ll draw some flack.

Hands down better than the Savage 325/340s....and I've owned a several of those in .30-30 (and one in .222).

Yes the magazine limits your OAL, you have to trim the case back to keep the ogive out of the case mouth usually with spitzers. You also might need a custom or Lee crimp die to get enough tension on the bullet since the neck does taper a little from shoulder to mouth. Or you could stick with Hornady FTX bullets which will work with the OAL constraints of the magazine.


My 788 .30-30 often thinks it is a varmint rifle.

I'd forgotten about the FTX bullets, I *think* I may have a bow or two to load. If it wasn't such an uncommon rifle, it would make a great AI conversion...