Rem 788 carbine question
My mother recently gave me a old 788 in 308 w/ an 18" barrel and 2x4 stock. I doubt she ever shot more than 60 rounds down the barrel in the 25 yrs she had it.
Question is
what are the down sides to the 18" barrel in this particular caliber?
is it to short for long range plinking??
Question is
what are the down sides to the 18" barrel in this particular caliber?
is it to short for long range plinking??
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you'll lose maybe 100 fps muzzle velocity, will still have plenty for reasonable long range plinking, no big deal. enjoy! be careful not to lose the clip or break the bolt handle off, and the trigger likely has a terrible creep, but it should be very accurate. i love my 788 in 243 but did have a trigger job done. 0 -
Odawgp,
I think you'll enjoy your mother's M788. The ones that I've owned have all been accurate and easy to load for. The 18" barrel is a little short which makes it louder but wear eyes and ears and you won't notice it.
My most accurate loads were using the Berger 175 gr. VLD over a full case of IMR-3031. It will make it to 1,000 yards but it does pass through the transonic zone right before this. If you don't want this factor to be involved, stop shooting at 800 yards. With a nice light scope, it makes one heck of a nice hunting rifle.
Keep your eyes open for another stock, they're out there but not real common.
Best.0 -
The muzzle blast with the short barrel is severe but they are great guns and the prices keep going up. Love mine in .222 Remington. 0 -
Nice rifle, short barrel and all. Owned one in 7mm-08 years back. Wish I still had it. Never owned a 788 that didn't shoot well. On the stock, RamLine makes a stock for the M788, if you don't mind synthetic, and it's inexpensive. Also, you can find magazines for them quite easily nowadays.
CC0 -
quote:Originally posted by CryptoChief
Nice rifle, short barrel and all. Owned one in 7mm-08 years back. Wish I still had it. Never owned a 788 that didn't shoot well. On the stock, RamLine makes a stock for the M788, if you don't mind synthetic, and it's inexpensive. Also, you can find magazines for them quite easily nowadays.
CC
Hey those RamLine stocks don't look bad @ that price, nice recoil pad too
Im thinking it could be my new tactical rifle0 -
I 2nd the IMR 3031. Use it in my 742 and 760 Carbines and noticed a signuficant reduction in muzzle blast and noise.
Nice riffle. Wish wish I had one.0 -
Odawgp,
Was looking at the RamLines for a new stock for my M788 in 243. Old wooden stock is in too bad a shape to mess with. Rifle needs a face lift but it's still a tac driver regardless of what she looks like. New stock would cut some of the weight off the rifle too. The good wooden stocks on the 788's were actually quite heavy. McMillian makes stocks for the 788 also, but there you are running into a good deal more coin.
As far as loads, I have always liked Reloader 15 especially with bullets 150 to 180 grain though Varget performes very well too. The short barrel might be best with the lighter variety pills.
CC0 -
The original stock is not in bad shape it is Just plain ol ugly. Look like they carved it from a 2x4
I had thought getting a Richards Micro fit Stock as they have some nice laminate one for 150 bucks. But I haven't had much luck with them in the past they are hit or miss when it comes to the 98% finished they claim
I think that Ramline is just what this thing needs
along with a descent burris scope0 -
I have one in .22-250. Just worked up a load that had 4 holes, (4 shot group), touching @ 100 yds. It's always been pretty predictable. Know your overall length, the magazine doesn't allow you to sneak many bullets out towards the lands.
I took the finish, what ever it was, off of mine, poly-urethaned it, and lightly spray painted it white for varmints. Need to do something in the grip areas yet, as it's pretty slippery, (no Checkering of course).
Brownells, I believe, has a replacement trigger w/ safety. Nicer trigger, adjustable to 1 1/2 - 3 1/2 lb, and better safe that the original. Around $120 I think.
I've had to replace the extractor. It was done a couple years ago when there wasn't any replacement 'c-clip' riveted types available, with a Sako type. $125+. Now I see the original type are readily available again. With so few roumds throught yours, that shouldn't be a near future problem.
New original magazines are around $75, gun show price. Old used and abused are $50+. If someone knows of something different there, I would like to know about it.
I had to 'rebuild' mine the other day.
Good luck and good shooting.0 -
Midway USA has 788 mags for 6mm rem, 30-30, 243/7-08/308 for $29.99 each. Go to the MidwayUSA website and type in Rem 788 in the "keyword" section and voila!! There they be. Where I got my extras from.
These are not originals but are made the same as far as I can tell and are of good quality. And yes, originals will cost you more.
CC0
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