fireball228
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. A Remington model 788 in 30-30, I've been looking for one a while, made only from 1967 to 1970, the only one rarer was in 44 mag which I have never seen...pawn shops love me...
Ever seen one of these !
- Thread starter fireball228
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. A Remington model 788 in 30-30, I've been looking for one a while, made only from 1967 to 1970, the only one rarer was in 44 mag which I have never seen...pawn shops love me...
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Bozz10mm
US Veteran
I have one in .243, but that is fairly common. Didn't even know they came in 30-30.
Nope never have.
But I have seen 30-30 Remington ammo
Thanks to 30-30 remchester I even know what it is now
But I have seen 30-30 Remington ammo
Thanks to 30-30 remchester I even know what it is now
ColbyBruce
Member
To the OP, John's Gun & Pawn in Clayton, GA had a couple of Remington 788 rifles in .44 magnum the last time I was in there. Pricey for sure, as the things are scarce.
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be careful racking the bolt back too hard. you can break the extractor. it is a frail little piece on the bottom of the bolt. same on the .44 mag. at one time I collected 788s and had them all, even a left handed one in 6mm. I found my 30-30 in the classifieds while stationed in NE. it was listed as a bolt action 30-30, no brand name. I called really early on sunday morning and got there first and snapped it up. enjoy. lee
I have owned 788s in .30-30 and .44 magnum.
Relating what I paid for the .30-30 won't make you happy. I bought it a while ago. I obtained excellent cast bullet 100 yard accuracy with the .30-30 the first day out and it only got better from there. IMO the 788 was the most accurate production .30-30 ever made. Magazine length limits what you can do with spitzer bullets but some shot very well.
At the 1985 NRA annual convention I asked Remington's table staff how many .44 788s they built. Their answer was that it was probably the least produced model/caliber combination in modern times. Mine had shallow grooves with a .430" diameter. It did not shoot cast bullets as accurately as a .44 magnum Ruger #3. It did however readily produce 1 ¼" 5 shot 100 yard groups with jacketed bullets.
Lee Barner is correct that 788s for the two rimmed cartridges are often seen with the extractor/cartridge loading guide protruding from the bottom of bolt faces broken off. That piece was hard to find in the 1980s and finding them has not gotten easier. Jack First made some years ago but I believe they sold them all. A friend broke one trying to chamber a SWC .44 bullet. The shoulder of the SWC caught on the bottom of the chamber. I don't know how else they'd get broken. Be careful.
I'd love to find another 788 in .30-30 that still has an intact extractor. A little time machine would make that a lot easier.
Relating what I paid for the .30-30 won't make you happy. I bought it a while ago. I obtained excellent cast bullet 100 yard accuracy with the .30-30 the first day out and it only got better from there. IMO the 788 was the most accurate production .30-30 ever made. Magazine length limits what you can do with spitzer bullets but some shot very well.
At the 1985 NRA annual convention I asked Remington's table staff how many .44 788s they built. Their answer was that it was probably the least produced model/caliber combination in modern times. Mine had shallow grooves with a .430" diameter. It did not shoot cast bullets as accurately as a .44 magnum Ruger #3. It did however readily produce 1 ¼" 5 shot 100 yard groups with jacketed bullets.
Lee Barner is correct that 788s for the two rimmed cartridges are often seen with the extractor/cartridge loading guide protruding from the bottom of bolt faces broken off. That piece was hard to find in the 1980s and finding them has not gotten easier. Jack First made some years ago but I believe they sold them all. A friend broke one trying to chamber a SWC .44 bullet. The shoulder of the SWC caught on the bottom of the chamber. I don't know how else they'd get broken. Be careful.
I'd love to find another 788 in .30-30 that still has an intact extractor. A little time machine would make that a lot easier.
Big Cholla
Member
I bought a M 788 from Alaska Commercial Hardware Store in Anchorage, AK in 1971 or 72. I had just started as a Commercial Bush Pilot flying Cessnas. Alaska State law at that time required a Commercial Pilot to carry a firearm at all times when flying cross country and required Private Pilots to carry during specific winter months. This was to increase chances of survival if forced down in the bush. I purchased the small Rem 788 rifle to replace the S&W M 29/6" that I started flying with. My first trip out as a CP was about an hour and a half one way and was what we called, "A beat-em-up trip". It was a very rough day to be flying a small airplane. My head hit the side of the cabin roof a couple of times. Two of the three passengers got airsick. My S&W M 29 really looked cool in a Bianchi X-15 shoulder holster. I neglected to fasten the lower belt loop resulting in the pistol banging against my ribs during the whole flight. I flew out, picked up the passengers and flew back. After the plane was put away, I realized that my ribs hurt like the dickens. I left the airfield and went and bought the Rem M 788. I then put it in a tight fitting well padded case. After that when flying I would put that cased rifle in the aft fuselage of the airplane and bungee cord it in place. I never had sore ribs again. .............. Big Cholla
That was about the time Ernst Hardware raised their price on 788s from $89.99 to $99.99. While they were $99.99 they were offered as a package with a 4X scope for $124.99.
I suppose the best chambering for big bears would have been .308, maybe firing GI AP. I feel more comfortable with a .375 H&H or larger.
788s benefited from one of the fastest lock times of all bolt actions. The most common complaint about 788s was heard as men packed up a variety of bolt actions to head for home after a long day at the range. The darn 788 grouped tighter than all of their expensive rifles, again.
I suppose the best chambering for big bears would have been .308, maybe firing GI AP. I feel more comfortable with a .375 H&H or larger.
788s benefited from one of the fastest lock times of all bolt actions. The most common complaint about 788s was heard as men packed up a variety of bolt actions to head for home after a long day at the range. The darn 788 grouped tighter than all of their expensive rifles, again.
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BearBio
Member
My brother had one in 30-30. Nothing special, really except you could load spritzer bullets when you reloaded. That improved performance some.
Weatherby: The ammo you show is not for the 488. It is for the model 8, 81, etc autoloaders. It is also known as the 30 Remington. It was (sometimes) referred to as the "30-30 Remington auto" (or "auto Remington") because of its use in the autos and because it duplicated the 30-30, which was very popular. Similar cartridges were made in 32 auto and 35 auto (35 Remington).
To confuse things more, I think Remington did also load a rimmed 30-30 that was different from the Winchester 30-30 (It MIGHT have been Marlin....)
Weatherby: The ammo you show is not for the 488. It is for the model 8, 81, etc autoloaders. It is also known as the 30 Remington. It was (sometimes) referred to as the "30-30 Remington auto" (or "auto Remington") because of its use in the autos and because it duplicated the 30-30, which was very popular. Similar cartridges were made in 32 auto and 35 auto (35 Remington).
To confuse things more, I think Remington did also load a rimmed 30-30 that was different from the Winchester 30-30 (It MIGHT have been Marlin....)
.303 Savage? I don't know or anything else close. Maybe you're confusing .30 calibers with .35s. There is the .35 Remington you mentioned and a rimmed .35 Winchester. The Winchester is a necked down .405 that Winchester only chambered in 1895s.
788 30/30
Back in late 60's I had several 788s in 30/30. Never bought one
new. Because they were cheap a lot of farm boys bought them.
Even in 30/30 they would outshoot lever guns and 340 Savage.
I recall having hard time getting rid of them.
There is nothing confusing about Rem, series of cartridges. Win.
had 25/35 rem had 25, Win. 30/30-Rem 30, Win 32sp. , rem 32
The Rem loads were rim less same ballistics as Win loads. Win
did not have a 35 cartridge in 1894 series. Savage tried to get
some of 30/30 market with 303 Sav. But it didn't catch on. Marlin
had some similar rimmed loads that didn't catch on either. The
35 Win had nothing to do with this whole mess. Out of the special
new loads for the 1895 only the 405 manages to hang on.
Back in late 60's I had several 788s in 30/30. Never bought one
new. Because they were cheap a lot of farm boys bought them.
Even in 30/30 they would outshoot lever guns and 340 Savage.
I recall having hard time getting rid of them.
There is nothing confusing about Rem, series of cartridges. Win.
had 25/35 rem had 25, Win. 30/30-Rem 30, Win 32sp. , rem 32
The Rem loads were rim less same ballistics as Win loads. Win
did not have a 35 cartridge in 1894 series. Savage tried to get
some of 30/30 market with 303 Sav. But it didn't catch on. Marlin
had some similar rimmed loads that didn't catch on either. The
35 Win had nothing to do with this whole mess. Out of the special
new loads for the 1895 only the 405 manages to hang on.
There were also model 99 Savage is chambered in 30 30
A buddy of mine has 788s in .222, .223, 7-08, and .30-30. All but one were bought at yard sales, and he paid the most for his .222; $175.00.
I was with him when he found the .30-30, and he talked the guy down from $150.00 to $125.00 and a cold six pack of Coke.
I was with him when he found the .30-30, and he talked the guy down from $150.00 to $125.00 and a cold six pack of Coke.
I loaded for and hunted with a .35 Win. Any excuse to bring it up is a good excuse!
Store prices for new 788s chambered for the popular rimless cartridges peaked at $225 during the mid-1980s. As they were discontinued there were close outs, especially on .222s. I bought my .223 new for $199. I chose it over a $179 new .222. About the same time I found a deal to brag about in a news paper ad, my 788 .30-30 with a 4X Redfield in Redfield rings for $125.
I been wanting a bolt action rifle in 30/30 for years. Winchester was going to build a sporter model for me just about the time they stopped making rifles at the New Haven plant. I guess I need to pursue one as I still want one. A call to Remington and or Savage will happen tomorrow.
THE PILGRIM
Member
I recently saw one at a gun show in Alamogordo, NM.
There was some discussion about the caliber.
Several of the guys including me had never seen one in 30-30.
There was some discussion about the caliber.
Several of the guys including me had never seen one in 30-30.
model70hunter
Member
My 2nd rifle was a 788 in 22-250. It was super accurate, as with many guns a want for something else caused dumb to kick in so I could trade it off.
Years ago I saw many 788's in 30-30 sit forever in used guns at LGS's, cheap.
Never saw a 44 Mag, didn't know they made them, thanks. I will now keep my eyes open for one.
Years ago I saw many 788's in 30-30 sit forever in used guns at LGS's, cheap.
Never saw a 44 Mag, didn't know they made them, thanks. I will now keep my eyes open for one.
model70hunter
Member
I've seen Winchester Model 54's chambered for 30-30. Been a while though.
If a guy found a nice action and had it rebarreled to 30-30 it might be cheaper than a collectors rare one. One could choose twist and chamber specs.
I almost bought a rough M-70 Push feed Win in 308 just for the action last year. Had a project in mind.
What is the head size of a 30-30 compared to a 243?
.30-30 head diameter (above the rim) is smaller than .243. .30-30 rim diameter is larger than .243. The biggest obstacle to making a repeating .30-30 bolt action is finding a magazine that will feed .30-30.
Here's an action you probably never considered. Swiss 1889 Schmidt Rubin magazines feed .30-30 without alteration and their original cartridge rim diameter matches .30-30 so their bolts also work without alteration. I regret not buying an 1889 .30-30 that was offered to me for $65.
While were on the topic of .30-30s, I've found Savage 1899/99 .30-30s to group better than tube feed lever guns. So long as you allow light weight barrels to cool, 99s chambered for rimless cartridges group as tight as most hunting bolt actions. However, 99s aren't great for reloaders at .243 pressures because they stretch brass badly. .30-30s have a lot longer brass life in 99s.
Here's an action you probably never considered. Swiss 1889 Schmidt Rubin magazines feed .30-30 without alteration and their original cartridge rim diameter matches .30-30 so their bolts also work without alteration. I regret not buying an 1889 .30-30 that was offered to me for $65.
While were on the topic of .30-30s, I've found Savage 1899/99 .30-30s to group better than tube feed lever guns. So long as you allow light weight barrels to cool, 99s chambered for rimless cartridges group as tight as most hunting bolt actions. However, 99s aren't great for reloaders at .243 pressures because they stretch brass badly. .30-30s have a lot longer brass life in 99s.
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