Remington 788 .308

[eveled]

I was hoping to get opinions. I found a very nice condition Remington 788 with a scope see through mounts Williams receiver sight 2 magazines. $650 out the door.


.308 is the only high powered rifle cartridge I stock, have M1A's and a Savage 99 was thinking I should add a bolt action. Just not sure which one.

Thanks guys.

 

[Cholo]

It was Remington's economy CF Rifle that usually outshot their 700 series. I think $650 is reasonable.

 

[bedfordboy]

I love the 788 and although the.308 is not MY preferred caliber for that rifle I'd say that's a good deal and good investment.
Matter of fact if you decide to pass forward me the info as I would definitely be interested.
My 788's are in .223, .243, 6mm and 7-08. I bid $1300 on a .44 mag last week that went for $1450… always room for another 788.
FWIW the .44 mag and .30-30 seem to go for more due to rarity but any clean 788 with a scope for $650 is a good deal in my opinion.

 

[Mobuck]

I've owned and used 788 rifles since they were being sold for $100. 243 and 22/250 were the primary calibers with a side order of 308 & 6mm .
The rifles were generally very accurate but somewhat subject to variances due to the stock warping. Unless you have a personal attraction to this model, it's my opinion that there are more suitable rifles available at much lower cost. Again, just my personal opinion.

 

[contender]

At $650 it'd be purchased quickly by a friend of mine. He collects them. And he already has a couple of the .308's.

As noted above,, they were the "economy" gun offered by Remington. yet,, they turned out to be quite popular & very accurate. I've owned a few & miss one of them a lot. Like a fool I traded it off LONG ago. But it's history was what makes it special to me. It was super accurate though. HOWEVER,, as noted,, sometimes the stocks were not built to where the true accuracy could be realized. The one I miss originally had issues. The previous owner had a fellow gun friend who literally used a pocket knife to whittle out some wood from the barrel channel. Once the barrel got free of a few pressure points,, it was SCARY accurate. In fact,, my friend once told me he'd "Bet my house on one shot with this gun!"
I still own the penny that was taped over a single bullet hole on a sign. His second shot at the same spot produced a holed penny. It was in .222 Rem.

Just buy the dern thing!

 

[Johnnu2]

I've said this every time there is a post about the Rem. 788: "IMHO, it's the BEST production rifle ever made..!!!" Contrary to the popular opinion of gun writers back in the day, its REAR 'MOUNTED" locking lugs (9 of them) make it more accurate than the front mounted lugs; they also help make it much more sturdy (albeit a bit heavy). I've owned 788's in 7mm-08; 6mmRem; 22-250; 223; 222; every one of them shot well under 1" out of the box. I typically glass-bedded the actions front and rear, and free floated the barrels; that modification got me a rather consistent 1/2" (at 100 yds) in all calibers. I no longer buy guns, but if I did.................
I never wasted my time on the 30-30 or the 44 Mag.; I let the "collectors" raise the prices on those by themselves.
BUY IT MY BROVVA
J.

 

[twriggen]

The 788 in 308 was my first hunting gun, or at least the one my father owned that he let me hunt with at the time. He had a 243 and a 308 which my sister currently owns. She knows the 308 can only go to me if they ever decide to get rid of it. I shot countless whitetail and muleys with it in Montana.

 

[Tenbore]

It is my main hunting rifle in .308. I did replace the stock with an aftermarket one. Grab it. You can't go wrong with one.

 

[SteveRuger]

I am A Ruger Rifle Lover! That being said I very seldom walk away from a 788 I have shot them a lot & if they made a 30-06 I would have not purchased my first Ruger Rifle. My 22-250 788 has taken quite a few animals with one shot.

 

[kmoore]

That's a good find. I hate those see through scope mounts. It sounds great on paper, you can choose to use the iron sights or scope at any time. But in use, its like the car/boat combo yeah it can do both but neither very well. Scope sits too high to get a cheek weld, rings limit field of view when using iron sights or peep sight. A lower power scope mounted correctly is better than iron sights. If you think you're going to the brake scope than need iron sights, buy quick detach rings.

 

[Threespears]

I have a 788 in 308.
I will take it or my 300 Win.Mag. When I go hunting. The 788 is very accurate,I just wish there were magazines that held more than three rounds

 

[mr.deerstalker]

I just got one, 750. shipped. nice gun too..from a fourm member...

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

BUY IT !!

 

[mr.deerstalker]

I love the 788 and although the.308 is not MY preferred caliber for that rifle I'd say that's a good deal and good investment.
Matter of fact if you decide to pass forward me the info as I would definitely be interested.
My 788's are in .223, .243, 6mm and 7-08. I bid $1300 on a .44 mag last week that went for $1450… always room for another 788.
FWIW the .44 mag and .30-30 seem to go for more due to rarity but any clean 788 with a scope for $650 is a good deal in my opinion.

been reported only 400 to 600.made in 44 mag.seems like a low number to me

 

[dobegrant.45]

I have had several and they were all very accurate rifles.

 

[Hankus]

Okay, I have to chime in on this one; My 788 in .308 has been my go-to deer and hog rifle since the mid-‘80s. I have taken literally hundreds of animals with it. I bought it used at a gun show when I was stationed in Texas. It wears a Nikon 3-9 BDC scope and I have literally never missed a shot with it, from 60 to 350 yards. The combination is so accurate that I take it to the range to verify zero with three rounds and don’t pull the trigger again all year unless I have something in my sights, so it only gets fired 6-10 times a year. With it being a .308 it’s the only bolt action I own other than my dad’s sporterized Springfield and Mauser. BUY IT!!
(Edit; I did buy a Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39 in January, to be a suppressor host and for range fun!)

 

[contender]

I spoke with my 788 collector buddy last night. He too said; "BUY IT!"

 

[weaselmeatgravy]

I have a 788 in .222 Rem. It was my dad's gun, he liked that caliber and also had a Mohawk in .222, which I also have. My notes say the Mohawk is rare in .222 but I suspect the 788 in .222 is also not all that common. Anyone know?

 

[Johnnu2]

I don't know their values or rarity anymore; but I still have my .222; .223; and 22-250..... They are going with me when I pass ;)

J.

 

[eveled]

Fine group of enablers here!

Thanks for the advice on this one guys. Came with 2 magazines Williams receiver sight, scope, and sling $650

 

[eveled]

Scope is a Bushnell Sportview, 3x8x32, 74-1393

Inexpensive scope but it is crystal clear, so we will see how it does.

 

[bedfordboy]

Looks like you picked up a nice one, don’t think I’ve ever seen peep sights and a scope together like that before… and some pretty tiger stripes in the wood too. Looks like a keeper to me, Congratulations!!!

 

[eveled]

Looks like you picked up a nice one, don't think I've ever seen peep sights and a scope together like that before… and some pretty tiger stripes in the wood too. Looks like a keeper to me, Congratulations!!!

Thankyou.

It has see through mounts which are polarizing. But honestly I don't like scopes much anyway. I will mostly use the sights.

I would be perfectly content to just have the receiver sights. But I will try the scope out.

 

[Threespears]

Fine group of enablers here!

Thanks for the advice on this one guys. Came with 2 magazines Williams receiver sight, scope, and sling $650View attachment 67651View attachment 67652

WOW

 

[contender]

You got a very good deal. My collector buddy said to buy it, even if it didn't have any sights, or scope, and only one magazine.

Once you shoot it,, you may understand why so many appreciate them so much.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Ditch the see-through mounts and you'll have a fine setup.

 

[wproct]

This is an after the fact post, but I can remember when the 788 was introduced. Was supposed to be an economy rifle but shooters quickly discovered that they shot very well and were quite durable. I always liked both the .243 and the .308.

 

[eveled]

Never too late to chime in. My research backs up your claim.

The 788 is known as "The Budget Tack Driver". I haven’t shot mine yet but I’m looking forward to it.

 

[Heliman]

When my youngest son turned 12 years old, I took him to a pawnshop and bought a 788 308 for $195. He still has it and hunts with it every year.
That 788 shot better than my model 700 30-06.
Now I have a 22-250 in a 788. My first trip to the range gave me sub-MOA accuracy.
All that being said, the 788 is the most accurate, out of the box rifle I have owned.

 

[eveled]

My son and I shot it yesterday, no regrets on this purchase. What a sweet shooting accurate rifle. Thanks again guys.