| enfieldmauser |
| (.224 member) |
| 23/01/16 10:19 AM |
remington 788 in 222
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Hi all.
Been awhile since last on here.
I have just bought a rem 788 in 222 to replace my cz 223
So far it is a good shooter, just had to get another mag for it.
The one that come with it had had the feed lips sqeezes in and would
not load after the second round, other then that it is reliable.
Not pretty but a good meat gun.
Anyway does anyone know any pitfalls i need to know about this action
Or safety issues.
Thanks in advanced
| Ripp |
| (.577 member) |
| 23/01/16 10:50 AM |
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Re: remington 788 in 222
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From what I remember it is suppose to b very accurate with a very fast firing time..faster than the 700..developed quite an almost cult following for its low price and yet great accuracy..which was in part why Remington discontinued it..it was eating into the 700 market..I have had a couple through the years. .all have shot very well..
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 23/01/16 11:13 AM |
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Re: remington 788 in 222
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Fastest lock time of the 1980's, maybe still.
The chamberings were ALL very accurate, it seems. I had one in .44 Mag, and with a 2X scope, it would routinely make 1", 3 shot groups for me with Norma Carbine Ammo - (thin) steel Jacketed 240 HP's.
I've had friends with them in .222, .22-250 and 6mm - all sub MOA shooters.
| Rule303 |
| (.416 member) |
| 23/01/16 07:07 PM |
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Re: remington 788 in 222
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Strong action. Not many come up second hand for a reason. They shoot.
| Bidgee |
| (.375 member) |
| 23/01/16 11:19 PM |
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Re: remington 788 in 222
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I had one in 7.08 for a few years, bloody accurate and super reliable. I carried it on a motorbike where it got covered in red dust but never played up.
It was a great rifle, plain but great.
| Iowa_303s |
| (.400 member) |
| 24/01/16 02:19 AM |
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Re: remington 788 in 222
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I had on for many years in .243 Winchester.
To say it was accurate is an understatement!
With its favorite load, 5/8" groups @ 100 yards for 5 shots was easily repeatable. Even with factory loads it was still under 1 MOA.
It was no beauty queen but I miss it. Sure was hell on coyotes with a 75 grain HP.
Enjoy your new rifle!
| szihn |
| (.400 member) |
| 24/01/16 03:25 AM |
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Re: remington 788 in 222
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As a gunsmith I have learned a LOT about the 788.
Strong points were:
Super Accurate.
Super fast lock time.
Inexpensive.
The bad point is:
The bolt face is recessed for the typical Remington extractor, but the front of the bolt nose is very thin, so I have seen a few dozens of them break no the extractor, but the bolt face itself that is holding the extractor.
To get a new bolt is impossible. I have 3 customers that own them in 222 and 223 calibers and all have been trying to find bolts for about 5 years.
Of course you also get broken extractors now and then, which are also quite hard to find, but so far I have been able to replace every broken extractor on a 788 that has come through my shop.
As long as they are available they are not hard to replace, but those supplies are running low these days too. Someday I expect to not be able to get them either.
All these customers have replaced the rifles so they can have one to use and are just hoping to get parts sometime off the "used market" when they become available from some scrapped out gun.
Funny thing is that 2 of those customers replaced the 788s with CZ 427s. Did I read correctly that you went the other way?
If so, why would you do that?
Just curious.
| Rule303 |
| (.416 member) |
| 24/01/16 07:27 AM |
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Re: remington 788 in 222
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Bit strange about the extractor. My 308 had a broken extractor and as long as I worked the bolt fast it would still eject the case. Ended up replacing the broken extractor with a Rem700 extractor. Thought they were the same. It works fine.
| enfieldmauser |
| (.224 member) |
| 27/01/16 02:16 PM |
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Re: remington 788 in 222
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Thanks everyone, so far all good.
Hi szihn, yes it is replacing the cz.
I could not shoot it to save m u life.
It just did not feel right to me.
I found the balance out and just too small.
Funny considering i have a brno no.2 that i
shoot very well and it is smaller but a better
balance
NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 30/01/16 04:31 AM |
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Re: remington 788 in 222
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My first rifle purchased probably in 1980 was an original model 788 in .222 Rem.
Haven't shot it in many years, but have been thinking about resurrecting it. Still have handloaded ammo from back when to.
Was extremely accurate. Mine could shoot 3 shot one hole 5mm groups at 100 metre - if measured from centre of hole to hole. I was more patient shooting groups back then than now too. Most bullets loads grouped very well and all bullets I used shot to a similar point of impact. The barrel is quite heavy and the action very thick and heavy. Ugly very heavy rifle but functional.
I free floated the barrel and may have had the action glass bedded (???) but will have to check, as I can't remember!!!
Later models had a longer stock and shorter barrel, than the first model.
Used mine to shoot rabbits, hares, foxes, skippies (on permit), feral goats and some deer. With a bipod I used to head shoot hares in vineyards extremely competently and used to think I could shoot a running hare in the head if I tried ie they run for a period in a straight line away from one, until they dodge through the row. I used to be able to hold the reticle on their head as they ran directly away. Never actually tried though.
One problem with the 788 is the ejection of cases is at a high arc. I fitted a bridge mount so the ejected cases woukd hit the mount not the scope. I had trouble with the scope and mounts at the beginning but not since I fitted the right scope and mounts.
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NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 30/01/16 04:35 AM |
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Re: remington 788 in 222
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Second from bottom
Middle
| Rule303 |
| (.416 member) |
| 30/01/16 09:32 AM |
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Re: remington 788 in 222
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John that is a nice collection of fine looking rifles.
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NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 30/01/16 03:56 PM |
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Re: remington 788 in 222
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Thanks. None of them are anyhting particularly special but all useful and functional.
The photos were previously posted in the "Show us your .22's" thread on .22 RFs. Of course some of these are .22 centrefires. I actually have two more that should be in the line up, the .22 Mauser mentioned in another thread, and also the Tikka U/O combination barrel set in 12g/.223. And then very soon will be my other grandfather's .22RF, a humble Lithgow .22 RF single shot. The rifle I learned to shoot with.
| simonsaorsa |
| (.300 member) |
| 31/01/16 08:53 AM |
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Re: remington 788 in 222
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I think John Barsness or similar US gun writer - did a nice write up of the calibre and rifle a shortish while ago. I'll try and dig it up next week, once I am home.