Remington 788 action
I have a couple and the ones I've been around have been very accurate my question is has anybody used that action to build a custom rifle out of and yes I know the bolt lug configuration doesn't allow for laping and etc but the action not machined out for bolt lugs up front leaves a nice ridged action to build on Not sure if the action can be squared up on them though.... just throwing it out there for discussion
0
-
Rear locking bolt designs aren't often selected for "custom builds". 0 -
This is there entry level cost cutting third production line overnight trainee big box store special line...
Not only has quality suffered but the design is a step backwards in order to cut costs and it compromises safety and accuracy and as a result suffers as a builders platform or modular project start point.
Let me say that if it's not worse - than the others are just better.
Build what you got on your budget - but take heed and realize there can and will be issues.
Mike0 -
I liked the old 788s and almost all I have been around were tack drivers but I don't think I would want to tie a lot of money up in one. 0 -
The closest thing to custom 788s I ever saw had heavy barrels, and that was about it. You might see the occasional one-off custom stock, but most had the factory-style stocks. The ol' boys I used to shoot against were completely infatuated with them, almost to the exclusion of any other rifle, and 99% of them were chambered in .308.
Every once in a while there would be a .243 in the lineup, but it was rare, and the rules at the time didn't allow anything under 6mm, period, a rule that I still consider lower than snake poop. At that point in time, I think the reputation of the old .222 still scared them, and there were a few 788 .222s around here then. [;)]0 -
I owned four of them and customized one. Mike Bellm made me a .25-308 788 that's a shooter for sure. One problem was that there were no really decent stocks available for them. It was either settle for a plastic stock or have somebody carve one from a plank. I went with plastic for budget reasons on mine. I also have a .223 that somebody else customized. Heavy barrel, target crown, ported, tuned trigger, etc. It's Black Death in a PD town. My first ever hunting rifle was a .308 I bought back in about 1974 I still have that one, the .223, and the .25-308. Had another .223 that loved 55-gr bullets and was my coyote rifle. I gave that one to a good friend and he had it rebuilt and customized.
So, yes, people do have them upgraded. Some people, anyway.
BTW. I've never owned a 700 or any centerfire rifle OTHER than 788s - except for a Savage 340 .30-30 I got for the novelty factor and to experiment with cast bullets. And my only .22 is a 582, so you could say I'm a 788 devotee.0 -
Not being a gun smith I wouldn't know how this action would stack up in the custom build world. I do know I had one in .243 that shot very well and I wish I had never sold it. But I worked construction and it was January of a slow winter's work, babies have to eat. 0 -
cowdoc,
While I'm still in hospital for a lung infection, I have tried to avoid writing long winded explanations since it takes a large effort to drag everything out and type. But, in response to your question and Mr Mike's opinions, here is a short version.
Remington 788s were introduced as the entry level, inexpensive answer to the more expensive Rem 700. However, Remington, in all of their excessive stupidity, managed to create an extremely accurate yet inexpensive common man's rifle. So much in demand that they had to discontinue it in favor of the M700.
While it may go under reported by the mass media and the now electronic media, the 788 was an excellent selection for 'custom builds'. Many of us chose it when they became available from the general public because all of the negative factors reported by the idiot writers in the then paper trade mags proved to be incorrect. Simple, proper accuracy techniques for barreling and bedding these actions in proper stocks allowed for superior accuracy and ease of handling.
Be sure to add a screw through the bolt handle to secure the handle to the bolt body.
Avoid extremely high pressure cartridges such as the PPC as loaded by benchrest shooters. Normal cartridges operating in the acceptable pressure range of 55,000 to 60,000 psi will function for years in the 788 platform.
The rear locking lugs are not the problem even with the bolt 'flex' that so many of the so-called experts report. Excellent, consistent and repeatable accuracy is easily achieved by those who failed to read about the negatives. Yes the bolt flexes but it's the targets (paper and hunting) which show the results don't seem to be affected by this factor.
It is difficult (or impossible if you want) to lap all nine lugs for the same degree of contact. But, when left alone, all nine lugs still act in unison, providing a stable, accurate firing pin travel and ignition for excellent accuracy in spite of what the 'experts' tell us.
The biggest drawback to making custom rifles from the M788 action is the lack of accessory parts such as trigger guards and floor plates. Many of us solved this by making our own designs, foregoing the factory parts as being stamped and ugly.
Some have reported the safety lever as failing (breaking) which was thought to be an idea killer. Those of us with knowledge and skills for machining simply went to work making our own out of stronger material.
In essence, there are no real drawbacks to the M788 as a custom action. We've proved it for years but got no recognition and we really didn't need any. I have several of these actions put away for when I finally get out of here and can maybe get back to work.
Best.0 -
Thanks for replying NN. I really likes my 788 and found it to be very accurate. My longest shot on a deer was with that rifle, and that was decades ago.
Our best from here on your recovery. Take care of yourself.0 -
I have 788's in every chambering Remington made except the 7-08 and, if they'd made the 7-08 with a rifle length barrel, I'd probably have one of those, too. (I think that 18.5" barrel made the gun look like it laid in the sun too long.) I bought the first one in the late 60's, shortly after they came out; I think I paid $85 for it, new. It's a .22/.250. I set it up with a Weaver K6 and it's been shooting tiny groups and crows and woodchucks ever since. My wife was left handed so the next one I bought was a LH 6mm. The barrel date code of XS suggests in was built 12/'69. At that time, Fajen was making semi-finished stocks for the 788 (even the LH models), so I started with that, threw away the stamped bottom metal, and replaced it with a Krag guard. The rifle looks very nice and shot even better but, unfortunately, deer hunting was not on my wife's agenda.
In 2000, I bought one that had been rebored from .30/30 to .38/55 by a local Gunsmith. The magazine required only a slight modification and will still feed .30/30 cartridges if necessary. In that 788, the full potential of the .38/55 cartridge can be realized! Bullet selection is rather limited but I can load the 220 gr. Hornady to 2300 fps so I guess I don't need much of anything else.
I was able to modify the triggers by fitting adjusting screws to improve the trigger pull. My .223 has a Canjar trigger. I don't know the time frame when Canjar made 788 triggers; my rifle had that trigger in it when I got it.
I suspect it's true that Remington discontinued the 788 because it cut into the 700 sales and out-shot the 700. But, besides that, manufacturing and inventory must have been a nightmare with 3 different action lengths plus left hand actions (even though the LH were only slightly modified) plus the .30/30 and .44 magnum rimmed action modifications.
But I'm glad they made them even though they are plain and some would say ugly--they shoot!
I would recommend the book, The Bolt Action, Volume I by Stuart Otteson for a technical review of the 788 as well as other actions.0 -
The 788 was a great bargain rifle and shot way better than they should have.
I have 3: 308,222 and a 22-250 all shoot really well and are good hunting rifles.
Back in the 80's they were sought out by Steel silhouette shooter because they were light, accurate and they came in 7mm-08. The action is super stiff and they have a very fast lock time on the trigger both of these contribute to their accuracy.
Timney makes a really nice trigger for them. Stocks can be had at most stock makers(My 308 has a aftermarket laminate stock and timney trigger).
Getting a barrel is not hard nor if fitting it so if you wanted to make a nice semi custom gun it is not hard to do and would probably be fairly cheap in the long run if you did most of the work yourself.
What caliber and bolt face do you have?
You are going to be limited to a short action cartridge and its going to have to be close to what it was originally chambered in because of the magazines and the size of the ejection port.
So if say it was a 222 you go with 223 or 17 remington stuff like that but I doubt you could go to say a 222 Magnum, that would be pushing the magazine size.
If its a 243 or 308/7mm-08 you will have more wiggle room but be sure to look at C.O.L.
The 30-30 and 44mag versions are really cool but its hard to find them.
good luck.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Sam06
The 788 was a great bargain rifle and shot way better than they should have.
I have 3: 308,222 and a 22-250 all shoot really well and are good hunting rifles.
Back in the 80's they were sought out by Steel silhouette shooter because they were light, accurate and they came in 7mm-08. The action is super stiff and they have a very fast lock time on the trigger both of these contribute to their accuracy.
Timney makes a really nice trigger for them. Stocks can be had at most stock makers(My 308 has a aftermarket laminate stock and timney trigger).
Getting a barrel is not hard nor if fitting it so if you wanted to make a nice semi custom gun it is not hard to do and would probably be fairly cheap in the long run if you did most of the work yourself.
What caliber and bolt face do you have?
You are going to be limited to a short action cartridge and its going to have to be close to what it was originally chambered in because of the magazines and the size of the ejection port.
So if say it was a 222 you go with 223 or 17 remington stuff like that but I doubt you could go to say a 222 Magnum, that would be pushing the magazine size.
If its a 243 or 308/7mm-08 you will have more wiggle room but be sure to look at C.O.L.
The 30-30 and 44mag versions are really cool but its hard to find them.
good luck.
Just looked at the auction side. There was a .44 mag for $1200. They standard calibers were 300-700 dollars plus shipping and receiving. If I ran across one at the right price I would get another one. But at those prices I would probably buy a new rifle of some kind.
Not that I need another rifle.0 -
Thanks for the replies! I have two in 22-250. It would be nice to rebarrel with a heavy barrel and put a nice stock on and rechamber to 22-250 AI or something and seems to like a guy would have a very nice varmint rifle without a lot of work 0 -
Does it have the same threading as a 700? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by cowdoc
Thanks for the replies! I have two in 22-250. It would be nice to rebarrel with a heavy barrel and put a nice stock on and rechamber to 22-250 AI or something and seems to like a guy would have a very nice varmint rifle without a lot of work
I looked at a .308 earlier today. Great shape, looked all original. $350 OTD. I hate to be tempted like that. Might have to check back on it again.[:D][;)]0 -
I've always ran across more folks that like them then those who have complaints.
The fast lock time is one of the features that many people mention when it comes to accuracy. Most of them were known to be more accurate than expected from a cheap rifle. I had several friends with them and they never had anything bad to say.
I did not own one myself. I have always been a fan of the 1903 action and built my bolt actions guns around them.
Built a 7mm Win Mag from an FN Mauser action that went Well but never hunted anything that needed anything more than the 30-06.
I bought a case of 8 1909 Argentine Mausers (carbines). Nice actions but for various reasons never got around to building a custom gun from any of them. (Paid $147 for the lot and it come with a 1000 rounds of ammo. Those days long gone now. I think my brother still has one of them.
At any rate if you have a spare 788 I say go for it. Some good points/posts being made regarding this rifle.0 -
SoreShoulder,
quote:Does it have the same threading as a 700?
Unfortunately, no.
The tenon is threaded 1"x20 tpi on the 788 while the M700 is threaded 1.062" x 16 tpi. Many times the M700 is written 1-1/16" x 16 tpi. The m788 thread pattern is unique in the world of rifle barreling.
The gap near the end of the tenon was machined at the factory to prevent the forward action screw from locking up on the threads.
Best.0 -
I just checked my inventory and I have 4. A 243, 30-30, 44 Mag and 375 Win. I'm sure the last one is a custom job. 0 -
The major weakness and the most common failure point is the bolt handle attachment, because it is only brazed to the bolt. Get a tight fired cartridge and try to pound the bolt open? PING! there goes the handle. And then it's a bloody nightmare for the 'smith to get it open and re-attach the handle. 0 -
Produced (theoretically) from 1967 - 1984
The action was locked by lugs on the rear of the bolt body engaging seats in the receiver behind the magazine
Designed as an entry level lower cost budget rifle by Charles Morse and Wayne leek the platform was a complete departure from the model 700 architecture
Only one action length was produced - magazine well dimensions and length of bolt travel being adapted for specific chamber Inga.
Most easily identified buy the tubular receiver and a bolt with 9 small lugs in rows of 3 locking into the receiver immediately began hind the magazine well. This allowed the receiver to be made from high grade tubing - which greatly lowered production cost when compared to the model 700.
The multiplicity of lugs kept lug height to a minimum - however undeniably rigid the action was considered unattractive and did not present a traditional ergonomic appearance and would never displace the 700.
Remington omitted cheek pieces and checking and went with plain pistol grips and half stocks in order to simplify production and lower costs.
The left hand option did very poorly as far as sales figures.
The 700 platform could be configured or customized in any imaginable way - with tons of after market support.
The 788 had almost zero factory or after market support - it died on the vine
As stated above it was not bad - but others were better.
Certainly the 721 - 722 - 725 platforms that predated the 788 were better guns.
I did not set out to trash your favorite rifle - I have no skin in the game.
Mike0 -
I'Im actually a big Winchester model 70 guy and the only two Remington's I own are the two 788s I got them for the kids to start out deer hunting with.. 1 they were cheap accurate and 2 the fast lock time is a bonus for kids that might have the flinches lol. Last time I looked at any Remington 700 which admittly many years I thought they were of very shoddy craftsmanship 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
20 comments