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Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 118 Likes: 1
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 118 Likes: 1 |
I’ve always thought that lefty 788s were only available in 308 and 6mm; today the guy that owns the local gun shop tells me that they were made in 243 as well, and that he has one at home. Said he knows 2 other guys who have them as well. I have never seen one anywhere; can anyone confirm this?
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,046 Likes: 89
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,046 Likes: 89 |
I'm not an expert on this topic but based on everything I've seen & know, your initial thought that LH models were only available in 308 & 6mm appears to be correct based on information that is available about that rifle. I couldn't find a single documented example of a LH 788 in 243 anywhere. And I looked because I'm thinking of acquiring a LH 243 at some point. So what makes this strange is a single person claiming to be aware of three of these unicorns. Without additional information (rebore? rebarrel? special undocumented run?, etc.), I am unable to give you hope that you'll be the owner of the equally rare 4th copy of a LH 788 243. But I hope you prove me wrong & are able to pull that rabbit out of a hat.
Last edited by odonata; 02/11/23.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,056 Likes: 50
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,056 Likes: 50 |
Never heard of such a critter, very suspicious of his statements.
'Four legs good, two legs baaaad."
----------------------------------------------
"Jimmy, some of it's magic,
Some of it's tragic,
But I had a good life all the way."
(Jimmy Buffett)
SotG
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,342 Likes: 28
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,342 Likes: 28 |
LH models were only made in 6MM & 308. If he has one it is likely the product of a barrel swap with a RH 243.
There are 2 rules to success:
1. Never tell everything that you know.
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 49
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 49 |
never heard of a lefty .243, but I would think it would be very easy to do a barrel swap.
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Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 118 Likes: 1
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 118 Likes: 1 |
He’s the type that gets very blustery if you call him out on anything; I just told him I’d like to see his. I’m assuming they’re re-barrels. I just had my 788 308 re-barreled with a 243 barrel from a 700, gonna shoot it tomorrow.
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 49
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 49 |
If I remember correctly you can date the barrel. It should match up to the receiver date. That would be something that would likely be overlooked in a rebarrel. Does anyone know when the lefties were available? I have never even seen one in person and only know the .308 and 6mm were available for sure. My wife is a South paw and I've been watching for a long time, but have yet to see one.
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,046 Likes: 89
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,046 Likes: 89 |
Does anyone know when the lefties were available? 1969 ~ 1980 for both calibers.
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Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 118 Likes: 1
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 118 Likes: 1 |
If I remember correctly you can date the barrel. It should match up to the receiver date. That would be something that would likely be overlooked in a rebarrel. Does anyone know when the lefties were available? I have never even seen one in person and only know the .308 and 6mm were available for sure. My wife is a South paw and I've been watching for a long time, but have yet to see one. Gunbroker is gonna be your best bet; they’ve gotten spendy the last few years, but they show up there fairly frequently and it beats hitting endless gun shops and pawn shops for a needle in a haystack.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,689 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,689 Likes: 6 |
Tell him hes a liar. If any of them have one they have been rebarrelled
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,342 Likes: 28
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,342 Likes: 28 |
He’s the type that gets very blustery if you call him out on anything; I just told him I’d like to see his. I’m assuming they’re re-barrels. I just had my 788 308 re-barreled with a 243 barrel from a 700, gonna shoot it tomorrow. If he's that way he may well be hiding something. It may be best to avoid him.
There are 2 rules to success:
1. Never tell everything that you know.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 749 Likes: 12
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 749 Likes: 12 |
I would be hesitant to mess with an original 788. Should have some collector value which will likely only grow. Putting a different barrel on an original 788 would decrease it's value I assume.
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,614 Likes: 6
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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NRA Life Member
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,811 Likes: 24
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,811 Likes: 24 |
I had a guy tell me that the 788 carbines were available in every caliber offered.....
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,614 Likes: 6
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,614 Likes: 6 |
.222 Remington
.223 Remington
.22-250 Remington
.243 Winchester
6mm Remington
7mm-08 Remington
.308 Winchester
.30-30 Winchester
.44 Remington Magnum
NRA Life Member
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,342 Likes: 28
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,342 Likes: 28 |
I had a guy tell me that the 788 carbines were available in every caliber offered..... I have seen them in 243 and 7mm-08.
There are 2 rules to success:
1. Never tell everything that you know.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 877 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 877 Likes: 1 |
A right handed 788 in .243 just sold on another forum for $600.00
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 49
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 49 |
I had a guy tell me that the 788 carbines were available in every caliber offered..... I have seen them in 243 and 7mm-08. I own a .243 carbine, and have made an offer on a 7mm08. I keep looking at the .308 carbine, but i just can't get excited about buying one.
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 49
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 49 |
A right handed 788 in .243 just sold on another forum for $600.00 I passed on a .243 walnut stock early production for $600 a few days ago. I probably should have bought it.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,811 Likes: 24
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Posts: 10,811 Likes: 24 |
I owned a Remington Model 600 in 308 WIN, awesome gun, loved carrying it. But the noise and the recoil.......
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