remington 788

Okay boys... my turn to chime in as I just got back from a week in Hawaii...

I've had three Rem 788's... a .308 Win, a .30-30 Win [both sold] and still have a carbine in 7mm-08  [factory 18 1/2" barrel]. I swapped out the beat up ole plain factory wood stock for a Ramline synthetic [one of the good one's when they put a Pachmayr decelerator recoil pad on them]... Anyway, got mine set up with a Tasco World Class Plus 3-9x44mm scope... She shoots like a house on fire!!! This little rifle's a keeper!

If I knew then what I know now about 788's I would've never sold the .308 or the .30-30 Win. I had bought the .308 at a gunshow for $250 Canadian [about $215 US at the current rates]...

Regards, Marcus.

Kingpin wrote: I see it now NH, and for the $64,000 questoin, NL, did you straighten out the dog leg?..................Kingpin

Mr. King - I'm not familiar with what you mean...  

I know "Ramlines" are econo stocks. And this Rem 788 certainly, on performance, would seem to "deserve" something better... maybe custom hardwood, etc. However, I subscribe to the axiom "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". This Ramline came "as is" with a nice Pachmayr decellerator recoil pad installed. The stock, while "utilitarian" [and somewhat "ugly"] fits me perfect. The action just dropped right in with no further mods or adjustments required. The barrel is floated in the barrel channel right from where the action sits in the stock. And topped with the "econo" Tasco scope this rifle/stock/scope combo just simply "shoots".

And as stated I didn't even want to jinx it by swapping out the Tasco for an "extra" Leupold VariX-II 3-9x40mm I have.

That's my 788 story & I'm sticking to it...  

Kingpin wrote: NL, I mean, the bolt handle. Every 788 I have seen has a dog leg shaped bolt handle. The bolt handle on yours more resembles a 700.....................Kingpin

I know you are the "King" of Remingtons... but don't you mean the Rem 600/660's with the funny bolt handles?

Kingpin-et al,

Since we are discussing 788's, here is a pic of the custom medium-range varminter that I STILL have not completed but thats another story.  788 action, Pac-Nor 25" #4 contour SS barrel, Holland brake, chambered for 6.5/08AI (260Rem), McMillian stock.  Rifle is set up as a single-shot, CanJar single-set trigger and the barrel twist is 1 turn in 11".  I will be using Lapua .243 brass necked up to 6.5 and hopefully the powder of choice for the 85-100 bullets will be VV-150.

Ol' John

PS  I recently acquired a Rem 788 the hard way.  On one of the auction sites was a 788 in .243 but MINUS the bolt...got it for about $165........a week later during a discussion with a custom rifle gunsmith...he had a Rem 788 bolt available which I purchased for $25 dollars......Excess headspace when I assembled the parts together but I will resolve that at a later date........

Kingpin wrote: LOL NL, you caught me n my own confusion. Now the new $64,000 question,do you want to sell it to me so I can restore your rifle to its origional splendor with the origional stock with a glass bed job? I have, since achieving a goal of buying a '97 Winchester in 90% condition, shifted my wants to a 788 Rem, and yours looks like a prime candidate for what I have planned. How can we make the deal over the border? Looking on a deal between us, I could possibly resend the order to allow Canadians to resume vacations to Hawaii...........LOL............Kingpin

Kingpin - The $64,000 answer is that my Rem 788 is a keeper & I won't part with her. In fact I'm getting the will amended to request that she be buried with me when the time comes...  Well, maybe not the Tasco scope... oh, what the heck, might as well keep the "shooting combo" together. LOL. 

Regards, Marcus.