They don't make them like they used to

[Gene L]

An inexpensive rifle that shot above its price was/is the Remington 788. I have two at this time, a .308 and a .222 and both are accurate if "plain." Rear locking. I bought a new one in about 1980, a .223 with a 3x9 Tasco scope for $125. It shot about 1 3/4" so I did a bedding job, but not knowing anything about bedding, I bedded the entire barrel and action. It shot about 3/4"" after that routinely and with reloads, shot about a half.

I don't know why Remington quit making them but it was a mistake. There was no replacement for them that I know of...generally when a line is discontinued, they come out with a "new and improved" but not with the 788. They went to a front locking rifle that was supposedly a replacement but I've never heard satisfactory results from it...what was it? A Model 7? Hardwood stock like the 788, kinda slab sided.

I don't know how collector interest is in the 788, but mine are not for sale. I always wanted a .222 and this one has been accurized and it shoots well...not as well as the .223, but there it is.

 

[browningcollector]

788

I always heard that this "cheap" rifle was so accurate that it cut int the sales of their more expensive model 700SA rifle. My first high powered rifle was a 788 in 22-250 with a big USA Weaver K10 scope. I shot lots of groundhogs with that rifle. Wish I still had it. My grandpa had one in 6mm

I also heard that the Pontiac Fiero cut into the sales of the corvette and that was why GM discontinued those. Don't know if that is true or not

Kelly

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

I have one in 30/30 caliber, and it is indeed accurate.

Still, the 788 always seemed like the design was never fully finished and it has, to me, kind of a clumsy feel to it. I've never shot a jacketed bullet through mine, but I'm sure that it would be sub MOA with good quality jacketed bullets. With cast bullets it averages 1 1/2 MOA through 200 yards for five shot groups.

Lyman 311041 cast bullet (170 grains with gas check) over 4759 powder at 100 yards with my 30/30 788.

 

[CH4]

An inexpensive rifle that shot above its price was/is the Remington 788. I have two at this time, a .308 and a .222 and both are accurate if "plain." Rear locking. I bought a new one in about 1980, a .223 with a 3x9 Tasco scope for $125. It shot about 1 3/4" so I did a bedding job, but not knowing anything about bedding, I bedded the entire barrel and action. It shot about 3/4"" after that routinely and with reloads, shot about a half.

I don't know why Remington quit making them but it was a mistake. There was no replacement for them that I know of...generally when a line is discontinued, they come out with a "new and improved" but not with the 788. They went to a front locking rifle that was supposedly a replacement but I've never heard satisfactory results from it...what was it? A Model 7? Hardwood stock like the 788, kinda slab sided.

I don't know how collector interest is in the 788, but mine are not for sale. I always wanted a .222 and this one has been accurized and it shoots well...not as well as the .223, but there it is.

I believe you're thinking of the M78 Sportsman. Many custom gunmakers prefer the 78 over the 700, because they say the 78 action is more true. The 78 will fit in a 700 stock. I had one in 223, it had open sights. Very accurate.

 

[chief38]

My first rifle ever was a Marlin Glenfield Model 25. I received it back in 1965 as a birthday gift from my Dad and put through thousands and thousands of rounds as a kid. Now I am not claiming this rifle is an Olympic grade competition shooter but it is very very accurate! Even today it will hold its own with many rifles costing 20 times the price it originally sold for in the mod 1960's.

The trigger on this $30- $35 NIB (1965) is also incredibly smooth and light for what I'd now consider a cheap beginners rifle. It the time when I was 11 I thought of it as a Weatherby - HA - LOL!! I still even have the original "Marlin" 1/2" scope that came with it - sort of like a 1/2" copper pipe and I never really used it since I could hardly see out of it.

I shot this very rifle (would NEVER sell it) about 6 months ago and I was impressed once again how accurate it really is. I do have a better scope than what originally came with it but it's still what I'd consider a cheap scope. I think it's a 4X Bushnell - certainly nothing to write home about. The point is that back in the hey day, even a cheap starter rifle was more accurate than almost anyone could shoot it! Yes..... they certainly do not make 'em like they used to!!

 

[Ruger 13]

I had a 788 chambered in 44 mag that was a tackdriver!

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Never knew any 788 owners that were dissatisfied with their rifle. They are selling for good money these days, especially the hard to find calibers. Routinely see them sell for $600-$800 at auctions when in good condition.

And a used Marlin 25 is still the best buy for an accurate affordable 22. I had a JC Higgins version made for Sears and could shoot off the thumb tacks holding up the target at 25 yards. Four shots...the one in each corner.
John

 

[tops]

I have shot them in .222 and.223 and a friend had one in 6mm and I was amazed at the accuracy. I wanted one in 30-30 but found one in .308 and put a Leupold 6X42 on it. Using 36 grs. of IMR4895, 170 gr. Hornady Flat Point (close to 30-30 velocity) it will shoot less than 3/4 in. groups. My 14-15 yr. old grandson shot 10 times and killed 9 deer.
Not much recoil and plenty good enough accuracy. I think that's 2 good reasons to like it. Larry

 

[30-30remchester]

I never understood the appeal or accuracy of the 788's. If you read any book on accurate rifle construction, the 788 is the perfect example of what NOT to do when building an accurate rifle. Round bottom reliever, small, almost nonexistent recoil lug, rear locking bolt. All things that insure inaccurate rifles. Apparently, Remington never read the book. It amazes me as to how accurate they are. As to their sex appeal, there ain't any. The stock design looks like something a brick layer would come up with. As to why Remington quit manufacturing them is something their accountants could answer. They had reliability issues with some in regard to their feeding from the magazine. Saw quite a few people have to struggle to get them to cycle. Then there is the bolt. Poor design and quality of construction caused many bolts to break when cycling. The internet is full of people asking how to repair broken bolts. There is no easy way according to a former president of the custom gun makers guild. I often see request for replacement bolts in classified ads. A friend has a near new 788 in the back of his gun safe. Will never be shot again as the bolt broke while cycling a round. The moment enough time had passed that Remington was no longer financially liable to replace broken bolt or repair, they stopped any work on this model. Far from rugged and reliable, they were amazingly accurate.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I also heard that the Pontiac Fiero cut into the sales of the corvette and that was why GM discontinued those. Don't know if that is true or notKelly

They had a lot of problems with them catching on fire. I always thought the name Fiero was kind of ironic.

 

[505Gibbs]

I have one in 44Mag which I stumbled upon in a small gun store years ago.
It was only $75!!!!!!!!

 

[damienph]

I agree that these are good rifles that should still be in production.

Mine is a .222 with steel Redfield base and rings and a 30+ year old US made Redfield 3x9 scope.

 

[LVSteve]

I never understood the appeal or accuracy of the 788's. If you read any book on accurate rifle construction, the 788 is the perfect example of what NOT to do when building an accurate rifle. Round bottom reliever, small, almost nonexistent recoil lug, rear locking bolt. All things that insure inaccurate rifles. Apparently, Remington never read the book.

You realize all those "rules" were written by the Mauser Mafia. Let's tack on a couple more:

Only controlled feed works.
You cannot build an accurate gun with a split bridge.
You cannot build an accurate gun using rimmed ammo.

I guess the folks making the Enfield No4 Mk1T and Mosin Nagant 91/30 sniper rifles didn't get that memo either.

 

[The Norseman]

Go Team 788

Gene L - you are correct, They don't make them like
use to!

My circa 1978 Remington Mdl 788 is 222Rem.
Fit and Finish very respectful for a cheap rifle and
better then todays rifles.

Nothing has ever been done to it, all stock, and just
the action/scope base/rings screws torqued to spec.

This Mdl 788 has always been boringly accurate from
day one. My nothing special processed reloads of
50gr SP and IMR4198 has always produced dime
sized groups. And IMR4895 works to.

I have always treated it like it was the last 788 on
Earth, so it is still in excellent condition.

Remington definitely should have kept it going.

 

[2152hq]

The bolts 'breaking' on the 788 Remington rifle is usually the bolt handle separating from the bolt body.

The bolt handle is a separate piece and was high temp silver soldered (hard soldered) into place (maybe Brazed?).
No mechanical interlocking joint betw the two parts.
Their Model 700 has it's bolt handle attached to it's bolt body in the same manner.

Dropping the gun or trying to lever out a stuck cartridge case can break the hard soldered joint especially if the job was less than perfect to begin with.

I'd suspect the heating was done by induction coil, not by flame. So plenty of controlled temp to the correct degree would be there, and quickly.
But if a perfect fit betw the two parts isn't there or the surfaces aren't clean,,the soldering/brazing job will fail.

Good news is that the handle can either be hard soldered right back on again. Refit the surfaces and do a good solder job of it. Use a heat-sink for the nearby lugs or a HeatSink Paste. The latter works well for stuff like this

I've heard of refitting the handle back to the body and TIG welding.
Some under cutting of the handle to get a secure weld would have to be done I suspect to get a secure weld.
I've never done this and admit I am not much of a welder.

I would stick with Hard Solder or even Braze with a proper HeatSink method.

If you are missing the bolt entirely or just want a one-piece bolt,,Pacific Tool & Gauge makes one. Not cheap at around $300 !
Usually not a stocked item due to differences in bolt face/caliber, etc. But sometimes they have some in stock. Otherwise it's order and wait for it to be made.

Wisner's Gun Parts used to make a replacement bolt for the 788 but I don't think they mfgr them anymore.

788's are generally accurate rifles. Most owners really like them.
The 30-30 and the 44mag caliber 788's are among the most sought after

 

[30-30remchester]

The bolts 'breaking' on the 788 Remington rifle is usually the bolt handle separating from the bolt body.

The bolt handle is a separate piece and was high temp silver soldered (hard soldered) into place (maybe Brazed?).
No mechanical interlocking joint betw the two parts.
Their Model 700 has it's bolt handle attached to it's bolt body in the same manner.

Dropping the gun or trying to lever out a stuck cartridge case can break the hard soldered joint especially if the job was less than perfect to begin with.

I'd suspect the heating was done by induction coil, not by flame. So plenty of controlled temp to the correct degree would be there, and quickly.
But if a perfect fit betw the two parts isn't there or the surfaces aren't clean,,the soldering/brazing job will fail.

Good news is that the handle can either be hard soldered right back on again. Refit the surfaces and do a good solder job of it. Use a heat-sink for the nearby lugs or a HeatSink Paste. The latter works well for stuff like this

I've heard of refitting the handle back to the body and TIG welding.
Some under cutting of the handle to get a secure weld would have to be done I suspect to get a secure weld.
I've never done this and admit I am not much of a welder.

I would stick with Hard Solder or even Braze with a proper HeatSink method.

If you are missing the bolt entirely or just want a one-piece bolt,,Pacific Tool & Gauge makes one. Not cheap at around $300 !
Usually not a stocked item due to differences in bolt face/caliber, etc. But sometimes they have some in stock. Otherwise it's order and wait for it to be made.

Wisner's Gun Parts used to make a replacement bolt for the 788 but I don't think they mfgr them anymore.

788's are generally accurate rifles. Most owners really like them.
The 30-30 and the 44mag caliber 788's are among the most sought after

For those that have 788's it is good to hear there is some hope of finding replacement bolts. However, several top gunsmiths have advised to not just weld the handle back on. A few are quite adamant about this procedure without re-heat treating. I never personally met a gunsmith that was willing to take the responsibility. There could be some out there. Though I am not a fan of this model, I dislike seeing a gun that is inoperable. Now it sounds like there is hope. I will inform my friend to keep searching for replacement bolt for his 222.