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...

That's a great find.
I'm sure you could always get your money back on a re-sale.

Looks like an early model. I believe actual walnut stocks were phased out by 1970. After that it was "walnut finished" birch.

That's a cool rifle. I always wanted a 788 back in the day but for some odd reason in my area every one I saw for sale was in .222 Rem.

Yes, the mags limited the OAL.

I thought they all had hardwood stocks

Is the 30-30 a long action? If so, I might be able to help out with a scope base.

I'm not sure, but I do recall there being two action lengths....

.30-30 IIRC is a short action.

Kinda like a backwards Mark V!

i have had a few of them, even when they were new. and had a couple in 30-30. i just put a Timney trigger in one for a friend. these rifles have a deserved reputation for accuracy, i will tell you why, a little known secret is they all dad Douglas premium barrels on them.

The early ones had walnut. I got one in .222 the first week they hit the market in 1967. By the time I came home from overseas adventures and bought my kid brother a.243 for Christmas 1973, they were “hardwood.” They still shot lights out and we both still have ours.
I would grab a .30-30 at any reasonable price, but only to use it as a traditional.30-30 (150 or 170 grain bullets in the low 2000’s.)

I've always thought it would be an awesome .375 win or 38/55 (or the jes rebore that handles both) but they are too unusual to modify. Maybe if I had 2 of them?

The replacement ejector arrived this week, and I was able to get it installed today....now, I just need to dig through the "extras" pile and see if I have an extra Weaver base.

Nice addition, hope to see it after the makeover.

Also liked the bolt action 30-30. Savage made an handling and easy shooting bolt gun. It too is a laser with green box. Shooting the Hornady Leverrevolution in it now.