Rem. 788 in 30-30 win,

doceaux · March 7, 2013, 09:05 AM

Was looking for some brass for a project and found an interesting gun that followed me home. It's a Rem 788 in 30-30 in mint condition only missing the rear sights. It is scoped and previous owner did not have sight. If any one has rear sight I'd love to set it back to original condition. Does any one have any load data to share for a bolt 30-30 or experience with this rifle. Best regrds doceaux

Dan Newberry · March 7, 2013, 09:35 AM

that's a rare 788... only the 44 mag is rarer...

It shouldn't be any trouble finding that sight... I'll scrounge through my junk and maybe... maybe... but not promising.

Dan

doceaux · March 7, 2013, 09:57 AM

Thanks Dan, I'm thinking a Leupold M-8 4x or a VXII 4x would be a nice scope for this gun. Any thoughts?

Dan Newberry · March 7, 2013, 10:34 AM

a 4x would be a good scope, for sure... you'll probably not need a rear sight if you're going to scope it... the sight would have to be removed anyway...

I'll still look for a sight... I had one, but can't remember if I sold it on ebay a while back or not...

doceaux · March 7, 2013, 12:19 PM

Was thing about wanre quick releases, I have a pair. It would be sweet to be able to have both possibilities. Thanks for looking.

PVL · March 7, 2013, 01:00 PM

The 788's in 30-30 have a reputation for being flabbergastingly accurate. - Thus the use of a scope by a former owner.

Lots of fun at the range, do not dismiss it as being just a deer gun, it's much more than that.

wooly booger · March 7, 2013, 01:08 PM

I have never seen a 788 in 30-30 but my best friend when I was a teen had a Savage 340 in 30-30 that was stupid accurate. His dad would load Speer 150 Speer Spirepoints in it with great results.

kahrguy · March 7, 2013, 01:38 PM

Guess you start here for rear sight- http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...788+rear+sight
http://www.gunsamerica.com/995429904...ington_788.htm

DnPRK · March 7, 2013, 03:27 PM

Great find!

eastbank · March 7, 2013, 03:29 PM

do not feed a single case into the chamber and close the bolt,they have a habit of breaking the extractors, always use the magazine to load and shoot the rifle,44 mag and 30-30 both will do this,don,t ask me how i know. eastbank.

McShooty · March 8, 2013, 12:11 AM

See "Factory Loads for the .30-30 Winchester" at http://ataleoftwothirties.com/. Velocity and accuracy data is reported for 13 factory loads using a Model 788 and a Savage Model 340 as two of the test rifles.

I have done a lot of single loading with a .30-30 and a .44 Mag without incident.

eastbank · March 8, 2013, 01:40 PM

do what you like, but it will happen sooner or later. eastbank.

Boomer58cal · March 11, 2013, 12:29 AM

My oldest friend has a 788 in 30-30. It is superbly accurate with 32g IMR 4895 and a 150g SST and 35g IMR 4895 with a 110g V-max.

Good find. The 150g SST can be a snug fit in the mag though. As always if you get load dada from yahoos on the net double check the load with a reloading manual and start low before working up to the load.

shootniron · March 11, 2013, 12:46 AM

Nice and unusual rifle, but be careful with the safety...very easy to bump it into the fire position...weakest link in the rifle, including the somewhat fragile bolt handle.

doceaux · March 13, 2013, 07:08 AM

Here we go got the 788 cleaned and ready for range. Thanks for the feedback, will post results.

mxsailor803 · March 15, 2013, 06:21 AM

+1 on the safety. I've got 2 788's (308 and 243) and recently had to swap the trigger groups on both. If you decide to swap, look at the Timney. I am really happy with pull and feel of both. Now you got me wanting 2 more lol. Looks like I need to start looking for a .44 and .222

doceaux · March 19, 2013, 07:59 AM

Took the 788 to range and shot it as purchased with Win. RN 150gn ammo grouped 1.5 inch at 100yards on 4x. Had trigger set to 3lbs. and recrownded going to shoot last box of Win. 170gn before reloading begins. Has anyone used wearver 75&76 bases (2 piece set) on their 788?

mxsailor803 · March 19, 2013, 08:23 AM

Both of mine had the weaver bases, can't remember which ones though. I later on swapped them out for some NOS one piece Redfield bases. Nothing against the weavers just felt better with something more solid feeling. Out of curiousity, was the 30-30 considered the long action for the 788? Found out the hard way that the 788 has different action lengths ie: .308 is a LA while .243 is a SA.

doceaux · March 19, 2013, 01:10 PM

The weaver 75&76 are 2 piece set up and I'm going to use milliett angle lock rings weaver style. Weaver bases were $3 each and had rings. Base size is same as .222 according to Weaver Chart.

taylorce1 · March 20, 2013, 07:00 AM

My 788 in .30-30 is one of the most accurate rifles.in my safe. With most 150 and 170 grain loads it shoots under an inch for three shots. With Leverevolution ammunition it shoots cloverleafs that would make my varmint rifles jealous. I tried 125 and 135 grain spritzers in reloads but it doesn't seem to like those bullets. I guess I'll have to buy a box of flextips to try the next batch of reloads.

doceaux · March 21, 2013, 07:13 AM

Dilimma original plan for 4x Leupold VXII, Found a Leupold VX-II 2-7 and Compact 3x9. all close to same lenght what's your vote.

taylorce1 · March 21, 2013, 06:36 PM

I have a 2-7 Nikon Monarch on mine and it works great, but I wouldn't hesitate to put a 3-9 on. I pulled the 4x Leupold from mine.to.send it in for a checkup since it bad a wandering zero. Erector was replaced but I'm not going to put it back on the rifle, I like the 2-7 much better.

March 7, 2013, 09:05 AM	#1
doceaux Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 124	Rem. 788 in 30-30 win, Was looking for some brass for a project and found an interesting gun that followed me home. It's a Rem 788 in 30-30 in mint condition only missing the rear sights. It is scoped and previous owner did not have sight. If any one has rear sight I'd love to set it back to original condition. Does any one have any load data to share for a bolt 30-30 or experience with this rifle. Best regrds doceaux

March 7, 2013, 09:35 AM	#2
Dan Newberry Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Location: Wytheville, VA Posts: 216	that's a rare 788... only the 44 mag is rarer... It shouldn't be any trouble finding that sight... I'll scrounge through my junk and maybe... maybe... but not promising. Dan __________________ *www.BANGSTEEL.com* Practical Long Range Rifle Courses... Optimal Charge Weight handload consulting

March 7, 2013, 09:57 AM	#3
doceaux Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 124	Rem 788 30-30 Thanks Dan, I'm thinking a Leupold M-8 4x or a VXII 4x would be a nice scope for this gun. Any thoughts?

March 7, 2013, 10:34 AM	#4
Dan Newberry Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Location: Wytheville, VA Posts: 216	a 4x would be a good scope, for sure... you'll probably not need a rear sight if you're going to scope it... the sight would have to be removed anyway... I'll still look for a sight... I had one, but can't remember if I sold it on ebay a while back or not... __________________ *www.BANGSTEEL.com* Practical Long Range Rifle Courses... Optimal Charge Weight handload consulting

March 7, 2013, 12:19 PM	#5
doceaux Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 124	scope and rings Was thing about wanre quick releases, I have a pair. It would be sweet to be able to have both possibilities. Thanks for looking.

March 7, 2013, 01:00 PM	#6
PVL Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2013 Posts: 169	The 788's in 30-30 have a reputation for being flabbergastingly accurate. - Thus the use of a scope by a former owner. Lots of fun at the range, do not dismiss it as being just a deer gun, it's much more than that.

March 7, 2013, 01:08 PM	#7
wooly booger Junior member Join Date: February 22, 2013 Location: on the edge Posts: 143	I have never seen a 788 in 30-30 but my best friend when I was a teen had a Savage 340 in 30-30 that was stupid accurate. His dad would load Speer 150 Speer Spirepoints in it with great results.

March 7, 2013, 01:38 PM	#8
kahrguy Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2012 Posts: 561	Guess you start here for rear sight- http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...788+rear+sight http://www.gunsamerica.com/995429904...ington_788.htm

March 7, 2013, 03:27 PM	#9
DnPRK Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2001 Location: LC, Ca Posts: 1,917	Great find!

March 7, 2013, 03:29 PM	#10
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	do not feed a single case into the chamber and close the bolt,they have a habit of breaking the extractors, always use the magazine to load and shoot the rifle,44 mag and 30-30 both will do this,don,t ask me how i know. eastbank.

March 8, 2013, 12:11 AM	#11
McShooty Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2012 Location: Northern Missouri Posts: 480	See "Factory Loads for the .30-30 Winchester" at http://ataleoftwothirties.com/. Velocity and accuracy data is reported for 13 factory loads using a Model 788 and a Savage Model 340 as two of the test rifles. I have done a lot of single loading with a .30-30 and a .44 Mag without incident.

March 8, 2013, 01:40 PM	#12
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	do what you like, but it will happen sooner or later. eastbank.

March 11, 2013, 12:29 AM	#13
Boomer58cal Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2013 Location: closer than you think Posts: 967	My oldest friend has a 788 in 30-30. It is superbly accurate with 32g IMR 4895 and a 150g SST and 35g IMR 4895 with a 110g V-max. Good find. The 150g SST can be a snug fit in the mag though. As always if you get load dada from yahoos on the net double check the load with a reloading manual and start low before working up to the load. __________________ The number one cause of death in the 20th century. 290,000,000 citizens were first disarmed and then murdered by their own governments. This number does not include those killed in war. We're from the government, we're here to help

March 11, 2013, 12:46 AM	#14
shootniron Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,599	Nice and unusual rifle, but be careful with the safety...very easy to bump it into the fire position...weakest link in the rifle, including the somewhat fragile bolt handle.

March 13, 2013, 07:08 AM	#15
doceaux Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 124	Range day Here we go got the 788 cleaned and ready for range. Thanks for the feedback, will post results.

March 15, 2013, 06:21 AM	#16
mxsailor803 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2010 Location: SC Posts: 1,344	+1 on the safety. I've got 2 788's (308 and 243) and recently had to swap the trigger groups on both. If you decide to swap, look at the Timney. I am really happy with pull and feel of both. Now you got me wanting 2 more lol. Looks like I need to start looking for a .44 and .222

March 19, 2013, 07:59 AM	#17
doceaux Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 124	range report Took the 788 to range and shot it as purchased with Win. RN 150gn ammo grouped 1.5 inch at 100yards on 4x. Had trigger set to 3lbs. and recrownded going to shoot last box of Win. 170gn before reloading begins. Has anyone used wearver 75&76 bases (2 piece set) on their 788?

March 19, 2013, 08:23 AM	#18
mxsailor803 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2010 Location: SC Posts: 1,344	Both of mine had the weaver bases, can't remember which ones though. I later on swapped them out for some NOS one piece Redfield bases. Nothing against the weavers just felt better with something more solid feeling. Out of curiousity, was the 30-30 considered the long action for the 788? Found out the hard way that the 788 has different action lengths ie: .308 is a LA while .243 is a SA.

March 19, 2013, 01:10 PM	#19
doceaux Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 124	Base The weaver 75&76 are 2 piece set up and I'm going to use milliett angle lock rings weaver style. Weaver bases were $3 each and had rings. Base size is same as .222 according to Weaver Chart.

March 20, 2013, 07:00 AM	#20
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,242	My 788 in .30-30 is one of the most accurate rifles.in my safe. With most 150 and 170 grain loads it shoots under an inch for three shots. With Leverevolution ammunition it shoots cloverleafs that would make my varmint rifles jealous. I tried 125 and 135 grain spritzers in reloads but it doesn't seem to like those bullets. I guess I'll have to buy a box of flextips to try the next batch of reloads. __________________ NRA Life Member

March 21, 2013, 07:13 AM	#21
doceaux Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 124	scopes Dilimma original plan for 4x Leupold VXII, Found a Leupold VX-II 2-7 and Compact 3x9. all close to same lenght what's your vote.

March 21, 2013, 06:36 PM	#22
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,242	I have a 2-7 Nikon Monarch on mine and it works great, but I wouldn't hesitate to put a 3-9 on. I pulled the 4x Leupold from mine.to.send it in for a checkup since it bad a wandering zero. Erector was replaced but I'm not going to put it back on the rifle, I like the 2-7 much better. __________________ NRA Life Member