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Author
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Topic: Remington 788 - .22-250
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Baldknobber
Knows what it's all about
Member # 514
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posted January 22, 2005 04:19 PM
Just wondered if there was anyone left out there hunting with the Rem 788 in 22-250. I found a used one in great condition and purchased it today. Thought you might let me know how yours shoots. Also was wondering what type of handloads shot well in your guns. I've had one in .243 for years and loved it. Couldn't sight my new stick in today though,....35mph winds here in southern Mo. Let me know how you like yours and any info on handloads.
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JTBMO
Posts: 202 | From: Missouri | Registered: Jan 2005
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DAA
Utah/Promoted WESTERN REGIONAL Hunt Director
Member # 11
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posted January 22, 2005 07:21 PM
One of my main calling rifles for the last several years has been a 788 .22-250. Good rifle. Shoots well. Never spent any time trying to work up loads for mine, just threw some together and they shot plenty good enough for coyotes so that was that. Using Sierra 1365's and Varget in it.
My only complaint is the detachable mag. Kind of a pain, compared to a box magazine with a floorplate. But no big deal, really.
- DAA
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"Oh yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em." -- George Hanson, Easy Rider, 1969.
Rocky Mountain Varmint Hunter
Posts: 2676 | From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Jan 2003
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
Member # 209
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posted January 22, 2005 08:19 PM
I used one for a calling rifle a couple of years ago and loved it. Been thinking about buying another one.
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Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take
an ass kickin'.
Posts: 3160 | From: Five Miles East of Vic, AZ | Registered: Jun 2003
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Jack Roberts
Knows what it's all about
Member # 13
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posted January 22, 2005 08:59 PM
Back in the 60's I bought a top of the line 700 BDL Varmint Special with the heavy barrel for $120, which was equivalent to maybe $1000 or more now. My friend liked the caliber but would not spend that much money so he bought the 788 for about half that.
That 788 shot every bit as good as my 700. I think that is why Remington discontinued them. They were loosing 700 customers to the 788 which they were making less money on.
Jack
Posts: 499 | From: Elko NV formerly MD | Registered: Jan 2003
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varmit hunter
Knows what it's all about
Member # 37
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posted January 23, 2005 06:15 AM
Jack, I think you hit that one on the head. I ever never heard of a 788 no matter the caliber that did not shoot good. I have one in 243 that groups 5/8" with factory ammo.
Ronnie
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Make them pay for the wind.
Posts: 932 | From: Orange,TX | Registered: Jan 2003
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted January 23, 2005 10:12 AM
I remember when the 788 first came out, not as well as Jack, cause I was just a pup, at the time. But, being a Model 700 snob, I didn't pay much attention, at the time.
That began to change when I started hearing of the accuracy, and witnessed a few, in action. I never owned one, as has been mentioned above, I also dislike removable magazines. But, under the right circumstances, I could easily ignore that dislike. In fact, to be clear, I'd buy one. I'd love to own one, in just about any chambering. (please, no 308s)
There does seem to be an issue with very high pressure loads on the rear bolt lugs, don't know if it is a valid criticism, as long as we are talking about a hunting gun?
For a cheap (at the time) rifle, Remington certainly "broke the mold", it will be difficult to surpass, anytime in the forseeable future. An excellent choice, in a calling rifle.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31449 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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JoeF
resides "back east"
Member # 228
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posted January 23, 2005 03:48 PM
Baldie,
Decent rifle. A 22-250 was one of my last additions to a modest but cherished group of 788's.
I haven't done a lot of loading for my 22-250 yet, I've had it maybe 3-4 years, but the 40, 50, 52-53's, and 55's I loaded for it were each unremarkable... that being a good thing.
Good functional rifles, now I'm tring to understand how you could ever have a more functional magazine than a "clip"...
I'd kill to have back the 6mm 788 that I shot in the early to mid 70's. I was just a kid and didn't appreciate what it was. It kicked a$$, detachable magazine and all!
Posts: 646 | From: Midwest | Registered: Aug 2003
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DAA
Utah/Promoted WESTERN REGIONAL Hunt Director
Member # 11
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posted January 23, 2005 04:18 PM
Joe, in Utah, and most of the other states around here that I'm familiar with, a rifle in a vehicle is considered unloaded and legal as long as there isn't a round in the chamber. A full magazine is no problem. So, it's a lot easier "unloading" between stands with a box magazine. For me anyway. Just push the round down and close the bolt. As opposed to fully ejecting the loaded round, taking out the clip, putting it back in, then putting the clip back in. Also, when I'm out popping jack rabbits (which I've done a ton of with my 788), frequent reloading is more hassle with the clip. Again, for me anyway. Just easier to stuff cartridges into a magazine from the top, than removing the clip and putting it back in. And I've dropped the durn thing in the snow quite a few times, and that always pisses me off. A couple times it took several minutes of carefull moving snow to find (deep, fresh fluffy snow).
Really a pretty minor detail, not a big deal to me. But, I'll take the box magazine over the detachable if all else is equal.
- DAA
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"Oh yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em." -- George Hanson, Easy Rider, 1969.
Rocky Mountain Varmint Hunter
Posts: 2676 | From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Jan 2003
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Doggitter
Knows what it's all about
Member # 489
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posted January 23, 2005 05:31 PM
Shucks Dave, wish this had come up before I got the CZ. That's the only thing I've found about it I don't care for. What I've been doing so far is just opening the bolt and retracting about half way between stands. If I have to do some distance on the hiway I'll take it out and reload the clip. Loren
Posts: 273 | From: Oregon rain forest | Registered: Dec 2004
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JoeF
resides "back east"
Member # 228
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posted January 24, 2005 05:56 PM
Dave, I'm with you on the topping off part, you can't do it with a 788 mag. without dropping it in your hand. Beyond that, you can certainly do the "unloading" part.
I'm still stuck on the "drive up to where you're hunting and slide a magazine home" part... Hard to beat, methinks....
Posts: 646 | From: Midwest | Registered: Aug 2003
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aushunter
PAKMAN
Member # 556
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posted February 07, 2005 01:52 AM
I GOT MINE SECOND HAND ABOUT 17 YEAR AGO,I HAD IT BEDDED IN DEVCON AND THE BARREL FLOATED, I'VE ALSO HAD A TARGET CROWN TURNED ON THE BARREL.IT USED TO SHOOT ABOUT 1 1/2'' GROUPS WITH FACTORY LOADS. I STARTED RELOADING 18 MONTHS AGO,HAVE NOT FOUND A SUITABLE LOAD YET,BUT TRIED 36 GRAINS OF ADI BM2 POWER UNDER 45 GRAIN SIERRAS LAST WEEKEND, IT A SHOT 5/8 X 7/8'' GROUP. DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN GET THIS POWDER IN U.S.A. IT MAY BE CALLED VARGET, UNLESS ADI AR 2208 IS CALLED VARGET THERE, SORRY I CAN NOT REMEMBER. HOPE THIS HAS BEEN SOME HELP.
Posts: 2 | From: geelong ,austraila | Registered: Feb 2005
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted February 07, 2005 08:40 AM
Welcome to the New Huntmasters, aushunter. Glad to have you on board.
I don't know the powder you are refering to, by the description, but it is likely we know it by another name, since quite a few of our domestic powders are now produced offshore?
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31449 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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aushunter
PAKMAN
Member # 556
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posted February 08, 2005 01:59 AM
ADI IS AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRIES. I KNOW SOME OF THE POWDER IS EXPORTED AND MARKETED UNDER DIFFERENT NAMES. BENCH MARK 2 IS AN ACCURACY POWDER SOMEWHERE BETWEEN IMR4895 AND IMR4064 ACCORDING TO SOME OF MY RELOADING DATA, LISTED AS IDEAL FOR THE 22/250.I WILL TRY TO FIND MORE INFO ASAP FOR YOU. IF ANY BODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SHOOTING SPORTS IN AUSTRALIA PLEASE EMAIL ME AT THEGNOME58@HOTMAIL.COM JUST OF INTEREST TO ANY ONE, GEELONG IS CITY OF 180000 45 MILES SOUTH WEST OF MELBOURNE IN SOUTH EAST AUSTRALIA.
Posts: 2 | From: geelong ,austraila | Registered: Feb 2005
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Z
Knows what it's all about
Member # 303
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posted February 08, 2005 02:22 PM
I have to say I'm with JoeF on this one. When I first started coyote hunting in the early 70s I bought one in 222. Loved it, but traded it off for a 26 inch semi-bull barrel Ruger 220 swift that had "made in the 200th year of our liberty" stamped on the barrel because I thought I needed more punch. Then I traded the swift off. I would love to have the 788 back. I guess I could buy a used one on Gunbrokers. I wish I had the swift back also.
As far as the clip(magazine) goes, that is what I like about the gun. I got frostbite on my fingers about a month ago up in Montana hunting coyotes in 20 below. Everytime I came back to the vehicle my hands were cold enough that it would seem to take forever pushing the ejected round back in the top of the magazine. I always had to take my mittens off to do it and I did it enough times that I frostbit the tips of my index finger and thumb on my shooting hand.
Even if I wasn't hunting in cold weather I still like a clip(magazine for you purists).
Posts: 51 | From: Bluffdale, UT | Registered: Feb 2004
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Reachout
PAKMAN
Member # 592
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posted February 27, 2005 10:24 PM
Baldknoberr I hate to belittle the 788 but I had one about 12 years ago and couldn't put 5 rounds into a 5 gallon bucket at 200 yards even tryed reloading for it didn't do any good. I really think the guy that had it before me had run some very hot loads though it and wasted the rifling in the barrel. Any way I was using 34-35grs. IMR 4895 powder in WW. casses, WW.120 primers, 52 gr.Hornday BTHP bullets. I think if you reduce this load to 33.5grs and work your way up .2-.3grs at a time you should find a fairly accurat load. DO NOT!! I repeat!!!! DO NOT!!!! go above 36grs. My bolt jamed and the case got stuck with that load and it really slamed my sholder!!!!!
Posts: 1 | From: Kewanee IL | Registered: Feb 2005
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted February 28, 2005 07:01 AM
Welcome to the New Huntmasters, Reachout. Glad to have you on board.
Well, your experience with a 788 only proves that it is easy to buy a gun with a washed out barrel, especially if it is in a hot chambering, which should be the first clue.
So, don't buy used Weatherby's or 220 Swift's, 25'06's, or any other overbore small calibers, unless you first visit Jack with his borescope. Remember, they are only worth what the action is worth.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31449 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Baldknobber
Knows what it's all about
Member # 514
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posted February 28, 2005 02:16 PM
Reachout, welcome to the website and thanks for the input. Since I posted this, I have sighted mine in and it shoots slightly less than 1 inch at 100 yds, which is good for me.
Leonard, about the time you think a thread is dead someone posts some more stuff. I appreciate all you guys and you too Leonard.
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JTBMO
Posts: 202 | From: Missouri | Registered: Jan 2005
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