Rem 788 worth messing with?

[RichinVA]

>>>>> STOCKS WERE MADE OF BIRCH <<<<<

Not all of them. Some had walnut stocks. Never saw one myself, but remember reading about it. Mine was sycamore. I expect they used whatever.

 

[BKMF]

In my early 20's after apple harvest having saved a little money, I went to the store with my mind set on the Beautiful 700 Varmint Special in 22-250, well I walked out of there with the 700, but bought a 788 in 22-250 as well. The 700 was later sold, practically unfired, the 788 named "Kill Baby" went through 2 barrels, I reloaded 50 gr Sierra Blitz as fast as I accurately could, that gun was great! A buddy of mine said he would like to rebarrel the gun and continue its legacy... I let him have it...gone forever, one of my biggest regrets in all my dealings....
Looking at buying another one now, 61 years old and still miss that little rifle....

 

[436]

The Rem 788 worth it? in one word "yes" There are a lot of options that can be done with the action.

 

[nealm66]

Going down that road for a friend. PAC nor sells a short chambered prefit. Bugholes said it's not really worth the investment money but I think there's some cool factor that might make it worthwhile. Still in a back burner box for now

 

[Slick8]

Holy thread resurrection batman..

have one in 243 that I've considered rebarreling for some time. I bounce between a variety of ideas from short varmint-deer to a long range bench gun.

Or split the difference and build a short heavy suppressed barrel in 6 creed. Good for vermin-hogs-deer out to 1000 yard paper punching fun.

 

[hesse]

Great rifle put the money in to it . Just my opinion

 

[nealm66]

Ya, I bet this topic/discussion/debates been around a very long time

 

[436]

Going down that road for a friend. PAC nor sells a short chambered prefit. Bugholes said it's not really worth the investment money but I think there's some cool factor that might make it worthwhile. Still in a back burner box for now

The first thing I'd do is to drop in a Sako style extractor, new barrel with a good aftermarket stock and you have quite a good shooter I'd think.

 

[nealm66]

Thank you. Never heard that

 

[central iowa couple]

I have a 788 in 243 i bought in high school. I graduated in 1978. I believe that I had shot between 6 and 8000 rounds through it after counting the number of pdog hunts we've done. The barrel was shot out. Hada local gun smith put on a Lilja barrel in 6.5 beanmoor. 24 in, heavy sporter, i think. 1 in 7 twist. This gun with a boyd at one stock shoots lights out. Love it.

 

[WYOHTF]

I grew up with two 788's in the house. A 24" barrel 22-250 and an 18.5" 6mmRem.
They were both tack driving rigs.

I'm always looking for a good deal on one at a gun shop, show or online. JUST for the action.
And the three shot clip is way better than the Tupperware Tikka clip

I remember my dad saying they quit making them because they outshot their target rifles