REMINGTON MOD 788... I need the benefit of your experience.

Trying to find out if this model has any weak or undesirable features.
Is it subject to the recall by Remington on their triggers?
Is the trigger adjustable?
Det. Clip.. in .222, still available? and a reasonable price for a clip?

Comments and suggestions, please.
Thanks, Doug

Excellent shooters typically, giving outstanding accuracy for what was designed as a budget rifle (though now worth good $$$).

Some have reported bolt handles coming loose/off, but I have never experienced that on the ones I own, nor the ones my friends have.
Trigger is not adjustable, but there are gunsmiths that can make them so (Mike Bryant -$50).
Clips still show up at gunshows and the Internet; I sold two 222 clips about a year ago for $15 ea shipped.

My 788's in 221 Fireball (set the barrel back), 222, and 7-08 are all keepers.
Only one I sold was a 22-250; the magazine was so short, the loads it liked would not fit. Rather than single load, I let some other 788 fan enjoy it.

I haven't heard of any sort of recall for the M-788!

I bought a 2nd clip for my brothers 223 Rem 788 a few years back, only because happended to be on the rack at the store! I paid $21.50! They're getting harder to find, but yes they are available! The 222 and 223 take the same clip! The one I bought for the 223 is stamped 222 on the side! Exactly the same!

You'll like the 788! Very accurate!

788's have a reputation for extreme accuracy and although some gunsmiths can work on the trigger, it is not adjustable like a 700 trigger. Mags are still available via ebay and other sources and a new in package mag should be about $30 to $40 max.

The bolt handles had a reputation for coming off, so if you buy one check where the handle attaches to the bolt, to make sure it hasn't experiences a bad repair. I've never had a problem with any that I have owned, and I think the bolt handle problem is only an issue if they left the factory with a bad joint.

Personally, I think the .222 is the perfect chambering in the 788.

Weagle

Doug:

I have owned 788s in 222 and 308, and still have a 223. I never felt a need to have anything done with the triggers, so I don't know whether they are adjustable or not. I sold the 222 and 308 many years ago (mistake!), before I got a trigger pull gauge. However, my 223, a late model from the early '80s, breaks at 2.75 lb. I have not heard of a recall.

The biggest problem with the 788 was the detachable clip. I bought both the 222 and 223 used, and both original clips were unusable. The floorplate on the 222 was jammed in the up position and the rear of the 223 clip had sprung, rendering it incapable of holding cartridges down, making both rifles into single-shots. However, I was able to get the 222 clip working by using that clip body with the follower and follower spring from the 223 clip. There appears to be no difference between the 222 and 223 clips other than the calibre stamp on the clip, and I found that the 222 clip and replacement 223 clips could be used interchangably in either rifle. An additional problem with both of these rifles (but not the 308) was that unless upward pressure was placed on the front of the clip the round would not feed into the chamber but jam against the rear of the barrel (this applied to the replacement clips as well). This could probably be fixed somehow, but since I only used these two rifles for target shooting I never got around to investigating this.

Another potential problem is failure to eject due to the case hanging up on the windage turret of a low mounted scope. This is easily solved by either rotating the scope 90° or going to higher rings.

Given the problems with the two original clips I kept both of the replacement clips when I sold the 222. One is still in the original Remington package, with a mid-80s price tag of $20.40Can (and no, it is not for sale!) I suspect that inflation, etc. will have driven that up to at least $50US or so by now.

I would suggest that if you are going to buy a 788 that you ask to test the functioning of the clip to make sure it works acceptably before you make the purchase. Then you won't have to start looking for a replacement before you can use the rifle as a repeater.

Hope this helps.

Cheers, Al

The other replies came in while I was typing mine. So much for my "guesstimate" of current replacement clip value

Cheers, Al

REGARDING THE REM MOD 788...

I thank you all for sharing your experiences. Your comments helped me decide to buy a 788 chambered in .222 at a local gunshow. It seems to be little used and in fact, with the exception of a few small marks on the synthetic stock, it is near perfect overall. I see new clips on ebay, so we'll see how that goes. TripleK.com has them for $60.00.
It has Weaver bases and I don't know if that limits me to Weaver rings. If not, what brand do you recommend? I'll need to get some dies and while I have always used RCBS, I have heard that their quality may have slipped recently. Anything to that? The trigger seems a little heavy for me... haven't put a gauge on it. After market triggers available?
This is my first .222 and I'm really looking forward to working up some loads and shooting the piece. Paid $300.00.
Best Regards, Doug

To begin with, I'll give you $350 sight unseen.
The only thing I can think to warn you about is often the old 788's were an inexpensive rifle and were treated as such (altho they were also the platform for many prize winning bench guns). Be sure and clean your bore really well before doing any serious shooting. I once bought a 788 in .223 that was "shoot out". Now that's hard to do in a .222/.223. It can be done but you have to work at it. Long story short, for a couple of weeks, I cleaned and shot the rifle. Every time I cleaned it, it shot better. It ended up holding 5 shots well inside of an inch using a 4x weaver.
I'd leave the weaver bases on it. (take them off and put them back on with a little lock tite) There are several rings that will fit weaver bases but there ain't nothing wrong with weavers. Ugly as frozen snot but they work well.

I've owned several 788s and all shot well. Though some folks don't like the feel of how the trigger breaks, I think it has one of the fastest lock times of any product rifle ever made. As has been mentioned, cleaning seems to be critical. I bought one "shot-out" .222, gave it a normal cleaning and couldn't get groups under 1.5". A thorough clean with J&B paste and my son shot a .215 three-shot group with the first three rounds. I had one re-barreled to .358 Winchester and put a Ramline synthetic stock on it. It's one hell of a whitetail rifle back home in PA where most shots are less than 50 yards but 200 yarders may happen. About the worst thing I can say is that they seem to be going up in price.

I had one in .22-250 and wish now I had had it rebarreled instead of trading it off!

It does have a short mag but I got a couple extra mags and had the trigger done to 2.5#, it shot very well for years.

The bolt handles are something to watch, and the rear lugs can't take as high of pressures without binding. But there are some very good loads that will function perfectly.
Mine wouldn't eject completely so I had to reach up and take the cases out of the port. It could have been fixed but it was handy as I didn't have to go looking for brass.
You got a good deal. If you find you don't like it sell it for more than you paid and put into it! Nate

Add me to the pile of 788 lovers.

Fortunately, there wasn't any recall on the 788 triggers. As the folks have said, a good gunsmith can take care of it for you without a problem. Another common complaint about them is the fact that magazine rattles. It's not that it can't be addressed... just a complaint. The bolt handle IS an issue. I haven't had any problems with the one on mine, but of the 3 they had on the used rack at Cabela's, one of them did have a re-attached handle. Not that it makes any difference to me, as long as it works and shoots good, who cares however I'm still careful with mine. As for the price, I think it's pretty fair. Most of the 222's, 308's, 243's etc. I've seen generally go for $350 or so depending upon condition. The ones that bring top dollar are the rare calibers like 30/30 and 44 mag. I'd like to have one of those.

My $.02

Congrats on your purchase. I have no doubts you'll love it as much as the rest of us love ours.

quote:

Ugly as frozen snot

That's one I have never heard before!

788 is a good rifle for the money mine is a left hand model in a 308 Winchester.
I must admit it is ugly but it more than makes up for it, I never see mine any more my kid brother took a shine to it and I have not been able to get it back by the way he"s right handed

I WILL have another 788 chambered in 6mmRem before I die. So far I've had 2 of the carbine length 243's, one full length 308 and one 6mm. Problem is everyt time I get one and someone see's it shoot they end up owning it. My uncle shot the throats out of 2 788's in 22-250 and 2 in 6mm. For what was meant to be an in-expensive gun they sure did shoot good.

I have a used 222 clip you can have for $25.00
Bolt handles come off because people don't clean the chamber, cartridge gets stuck, pound on the bolt with something and off it comes. Timmney is making a replacement trigger.

www.duanesguns.com

quote:

Timmney is making a replacement trigger.

Timney has been claiming a 788 trigger "will soon be available" for about 4 years. Please let us know if you have actually seen one!

Jerry's is listing them in the new sales flier- I will see if they actually have them the next time I talk to Mike.

For those of you shopping....or to temp those of you who aren't!
788 .22-250

good day:
i have a 788 in .222 with the timney trigger.
the trigger is fantastic,set at 2.5 lbs.
the only problem is that the trigger is very narrow.
i'll have to find a shoe for it.

Z

The first new deer rifle I ever bought was a 788 in .243. I paid $67.95 and added a cheap scope. I never appreciated the accuracy until I sold it. If I could find one for around $300 I would buy. Seems that at gunshows they go for $450 or more. I'll keep looking.

My brother in law had one in a 22-250 as he was not a high roller at the time. I hunted with him and wasn't impressed with the looks of the gun, looked as cheap as they were, but when he started shooting I was very impressed. That shooter would consistently group around .5-.75" with that slender barrel all day long.

He later moved to Wyoming as a ranch manager and shot everything with a 52 grain HP boat tail match grade Sierra. I mean he shot everything with it, it was his only rifle. He took antelope, mule deer, coyotes, elk and a moose at 60 yards with a head shot.

I loaded that same bullet until I came across the Nosler BT's and have stayed with them.

I would love to come across a 788 either in .223 or 22-250 but the ones I've seen at gun shows are priced out of reason.

Nothing like reviving a six-and-a-half-year-old thread....

FWIW I have two, both purchased new in ~1970 and both in 6mm Remington. I burned the barrel out on one rifle shooting Nevada jacks in the 70s but never replaced it. The other belonged to my father and has less than 100 rounds through it. I need to get a laminated stock for it (the factory stock is just too ugly for me now) and do some more shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by TX Nimrod:
Nothing like reviving a six-and-a-half-year-old thread....

FWIW I have two, both purchased new in ~1970 and both in 6mm Remington. I burned the barrel out on one rifle shooting Nevada jacks in the 70s but never replaced it. The other belonged to my father and has less than 100 rounds through it. I need to get a laminated stock for it (the factory stock is just too ugly for me now) and do some more shooting.

No kidding that stock was a piece of work. I think that they called it stained birch but who knows. Throw that baby in a new stock and it's a wonderful shooter. The one I shot of my brother in law's had some trigger work on it and was a great "Walk around" shooter.

I have had two 788's left hand .308's and regretfully sold one. The action due to it's stiffness and fast lock time is exceptionally accurate. There has never been a recall on the trigger that I'am aware of. I have a timney trigger on mine and is perfect. Canjar also made triggers for th 788. The cheapest magazines that I have found is sportsman guide in Min. for around $30 a piece. I might still have Weaver bases and rings used If you want them pm me I'll give them to you. Any one needing an accurate rifle in the $350 buy a 788 it's a no brainer. I have seen some sell for over $700 stock....not smart.

quote:

Trying to find out if this model has any weak or undesirable features.

My experience with two of them is that both didn't feed well from the clip.

I had a left-handed .308 and .223 that I sold years ago. They were both good guns and I regret selling them. Good luck finding parts for them now. Numrich is completely out of every part and I think people are hoarding them or something.