I finally picked up a new to me .222 in a Remington 788. Lucked into this one as it had been shot very little. Mounted a one piece base, Weaver rings and Leupold 4-12x40 scope. Trigger isn't very good but have managed 1/2-3/4 " groups with factory and reloads. A Timney trigger and Boyds stock will be in the future, probably next year.

Very Nice! A 788 has been on my wish list for a long time. Yours looks immaculate! Congrats...

I’ve had that same rifle for years. Bought it for my wife. She shot a deer with it and decided not to do that again. Then a grandson came along who shot some deer and hogs with it. He’s now grown so it’s generally loaned out to friends wives and an occasional kid.

Congrats on your finding and getting that one.

Have 4 788s in the safe, 223, 7mm-08, 30-30 and 44Mag. Wish I had more, 788 was the last lower priced Remington that actually is a good rifle. Their later versions of entry level type rifles. They have their quirks but overall accurate dependable riles. Generally speaking i think they were more accurate than 700s.

Just IMHO....

I think Remington quit making them because they were cutting heavily into their 700 sales. A cheaper rifle & extremely accurate right out of the box. Easy buying choice decision!

I've heard that's why they quit producing them - nobody was buying the 700.

'Bought a .243 carbine a couple years ago. Love that little thing. Groups incredibly. Grandson shot it Sunday. He hit close to the bullseye at 50, even with him jerking the trigger!

I bought a 788 .243 8 years ago for my younger kids to use on whitetails. It was an absolute tack driver with no modifications whatsoever. But, it just felt cheap. The wood stock is plain looking cheap wood (I think birch), i didn't like the trigger at all, the action feels stiff & rigid, the magazine always felt like it was loose, and the plastic safety was not always easy to engage.

Great shooting gun and I don't believe it ever missed on its live target. I sold it here on THF 3 years ago for the exact same amount of money that I bought it for.

I have a 1979 .243 with the 22" barrel; it was my first deer rifle. I have a Timney in the gunchest but haven't had time to put it in. My niece used it to take her first deer, as well. I may have to break it out this year for a deer or two.

find the right .222 ammo and stock up.

I have a 788 in .222 and another in .223 Remington. I'm not sure which is more accurate, but with both I have gone out and shot four consecutive five-shot groups each measuring less than half an inch. I did put a Timney in each one. The factory trigger can be worked to a pretty good pull, but it can easily be screwed up too...I've done both. The Timney is worth it on a 788, IMO.

The one in .222 is slated to be sent down the road when I get ready to list it. It already lives in a Boyd's stock. I never thought I'd be willing to let it go, but I just don't shoot it anymore. I may or may not let the one in .223 go as well...I'm still undecided. I have a Model 70HV in .223 that shoots a little bit tighter, but it's awful heavy. Neither gets shot much, but once I settle into retirement one or the other is gonna get worn out. I have another barrel for the M70 waiting in the wings, so I guess I subconsciously have already decided which one I'll keep.

Here's my 788 in .222:

STOP THIS !!!!!

I posted it just to torture you, Buzz. It's not even my rifle!




No, not really. It really is mine and it really is slated to be sold.

Does that make your teeth itch?

My nephews call me "Mean Ol' Uncle."

LOL.

For quite a while the action was used on quite a few competition rifles for its accuracy potential and faster lock time than the 700. On of the fastest lock times of any bolt action rifle IIRC.

My oldest nephew shot a buck on thanksgiving morning with one of the 243s one year having no idea that is exactly the gun he was getting for Christmas. When he got it Christmas morning, he said something like I recognize this rifle and know it works. Now his son hunts with that rifle.

yup, mags leave a bit to be desired and some not all the lugs make full contact, stocks nothing fancy most being birch, one of mine is a bit different being maple. All in all though i pretty is as pretty does the 788 is very pretty if talking about shooting straight.

A friend ask the local gun shop in our small town to order him a 788 like mine. He said no you do not want that piece of junk and the 700 or Winchester M70 will be a much better and more accurate rifle. Ater he told me that I stopped by the snobs shop and ask him about that and he said it is true. I told him pick ny rifle in his shop and dollar or dollar my rifle will out shoot the one he picked and i it doesn't I will buy that rifle from him. In other words my rifle was 199.99 when I bought that one so if he shot a 400 dollar gun it better shoot .25 inch compared to my half inch groups. if I won he would quit badmouthing the 788. He would not go for that.

UGHHHH, I would look hard at a .223 as I'm ready to load for it. .222 was my FIRST centerfire rifle. Loved that thing, then the .223 showed up That BOYDS stock is really trick !!

I betcha my 788 .223 barreled action will drop right into that stock. In fact, that's not a bad idea at all.

I saw your rig on an earlier post and really liked that stock. I’m going with the brown laminate when I order from Boyd’s. Local gun shop in Abilene just got in a 243 carbine that is sweet. Stock has been refinished and trigger worked on. It ought to be a dandy.

If you haven't already ordered the stock, be aware that this one has a finger groove in the fore end just beneath the barrel channel. It starts just about where the barrel begins. You can see it if you look at the photo closely. I did not realize the stock would have this feature when I ordered it, and I was not too happy with that little surprise when I received it but it was no one's fault but my own...I guess I should have been paying more attention. It's really okay, but I'd have ordered the Platinum model had I known (I think that one has the more conventionally profiled fore end). Either way, it turns a rather ugly duckling into a pretty handsome little rifle. A good looking 788 lacks nothing.

Thanks for pointing this out. I looked on Boyds website, nice stuff for decent $$

"Lucked into this one as it had been shot very little. " this is a key point

Buzz when I got it I ran patches of Butch's Bore Shine through it. Absolutely no fouling of any kind from firing. It did have some brown rust residue which cleaned up quick. Ran Fiochii factory ammo and my pet reloads from a previous deuce. Shot great and both loads shot in same spot dead on at 100 yards. RR I'll order the stock next year and was also looking at the Platinum's classic lines.

Dang RiverRider; I had no idea that people sold guns just because they weren’t getting used. That would clean out my over filled safe.

Well Dave, my mindset has shifted a bit over the last few years. When I was just a kid, everything was out of reach. Then later, I could get some stuff but I couldn't feed it much. Then handloading came along and was just a means to feed my meager collection, but then it became a hobby unto itself and new firearm acquisitions were focused on what cartridge I wanted to fiddle with next and I stayed in that mode for decades...at the same time more went into the safe than came out and a second safe became necessary. During that time hunting opportunities increased and the focus shifted a little more toward that interest. A little while later retirement loomed and so did the realities of life---you can't stay in the middle of it forever. Having seen what is left on a widow's plate when there are tons of components, equipment, ammo, and firearms on the premises I do not want to leave my wife in that position. These days there are a handful of rifles I use for hunting, one centerfire and a couple of rimfires I'll shoot just to shoot, certain handguns, and a few heirlooms I want to hang onto and pass along to some younger relatives when I pass or maybe even before. The rest of it just takes up space. I'm sure most everyone's perspectives vary, but that one is mine. However, I reserve the right to change my mind at any time, for any reason whatsoever and maybe even no reason at all.

great post

Awesome pick up! I shot my first deer with a 788 .222 when I was 11. That rifle caused the hunting virus to take hold in me!