A Timney trigger solved all my problems with my 788 . Accu Bond bullets in .243 made this quite the deer rifle , t's now a solid platform for many years to come. If you ever find a 788 buy it , many mods out there to pretty it up !
Two 788s here. A 222 and a LH 308. Eleven years South Saskatchewan, both got tremendous use. Taken about thirty deer with one, too numerous varmints taken with the other. Both Leupolds. No change in factory triggers. Useage loosened it up & smoothed it out. Road rattle loosened the safety in the deer rifle. Issue resolved. Be well.
I always keep an eye out for them. I have a 222, 223, 243, 6mm and 308. Like many others, I’d like to have a .30-30! I’ve passed on a few, 7-08 carbine that had been heavily customized, several 22-250. I’ve yet to find a decent carbine or left hand 308. Thanks for the note. 🙂
I purchased a 788 the first year of production. My gunsmith worked the trigger six times for me. 22-250 shot very accurately. I friend of mine gave me his 788 22 250 just 2 years ago the trigger on this one was a wonderful surprise. I grouped on sight in for him with two touching holes at 50 yards mounted with a weaver 1.5 power scope.
The Remington 788 is a Plain Jane rifle that is really a great shooting rifle. They are known for accuracy, reliability and if you're after a less expensive shooter, this deserves consideration. As for the fixed four power scope, Jack O'Connor would approve. He always maintained that a low power, fixed scope of light weight was the way to go on a hunting rifle. Benchrest shooters have different needs but hunters should go with simplicity. And 6mm Remington is one of my favourite cartridges. I prefer it to the .243 Winchester. My Ruger Model 77 in 6mm Rem is a tack driver (after a judicious application of bedding compound). And yes, it carries a fixed four power scope. Congratulations on the bonus Canjar trigger.
These 788 are one of the best rifle for being a classic budget gun. I have one in 308Win, which I love it a lot for being a classic rifle. It's still shoots better than today's modern rifle. the one and only issues I got was the factory trigger which was unsafe to try putting it into lock and unlock. Which I believe Remington had RECALLED on this rifle and a few others. if you paid attention their are two types of factory trigger, which I have the gen1. Let's call it Gen model. Because of the style of the trigger from the factory. I replaced it with a gen2 which is the newer version of the one I currently have. Now that I have swap it out it's more safer to deal with than before. Overall it's a compact bolt action rifle but kicks like a mule for being a 308. So far the ammunition I used is the Federal 150gr LEAD FREE that federal just came out about a year or so ago. That Walmart carries it, and it's a blue box like the federal Soft point box. I can Hit everything with it at 100yrd side by side with using the Remington standard 4-12x40.
The 788 and 541, 580, 581, 582, 541 etc triggers are essentially the same basic trigger. Bolt stop and safety lever are the primary difference. There are a couple ways to make them into pretty nice triggers. You can duplicate what you get with a Timney. If you come across a 541 trigger, they are already fully adjustable and can be swapped into a 788. You use the 788 safety lever, but cut the bolt release off it. The rimfire receiver is smaller in diameter and the safety lever will interfere with it.
I used a Timney in one of my other 788’s, it’s an improvement over the unsafe modifications that someone had made. I have experimented with some of the published trigger modifications - I haven’t tried a 541 trigger. Thanks for the note!
The other thing that were available are MPI and Pacific Research stocks. MPI is still available… maybe. I have a couple MPI stocked 788’s and they are outstanding. Timney triggers have a pin that moves out to the left when the safety is engaged and can interfere with the stock. Make sure that there is sufficient clearance. If not and the safety is forced on it can and will break the trigger stud off the receiver. Ram line made stocks for it too. They aren’t worth much.
I purchased a couple surplus Remington stocks that should clean up acceptably. I may attempt to contact MPI as well. It seems like planning for plenty of lead time is a good idea when shopping for a stock!
I worked with a guy that had a 6mm 788, it had a beautiful blond hardwood stock. for a 788 it wasn't the run of the mill. He said he got it in Colorado at a place called "Big Frank's discount hardware" when he was discharged from the army stationed in Pueblo at the Army Ordnance Depot there. It was quite the 788 of 788's. The dude at the store told him it was the perfect hunting rifle for the wife because of the low recoil of the 6mm. we were sighting in our rifles for deer season and he let me run a few rounds through it, @100 yards all the rounds were touching each other in a small ragged hole. for the most of the 6mm's i've seen they seem to have great accuracy in any make or model of rifle. People looked at it as a wussie round and it didn't have good favor with the hunting crowd, bunch of narrow minded slope headed fud's if you ask me. -Dave
I most likely will eventually shoot the 6mm, @Thor's Axe. For the most part, all of the 244 Remington / 6mm Remington items that I have acquired have been forwarded to one of my friends. I do have a LEE Zero Error Target Model Reloader in 6mm Remington! I may have a standard LEE Loader in the chambering as well. The cartridge has an interesting history - the final form in fast twist barrels compares favorably with .243 Winchester. In my eyes, anything that evolved from the 7x57 is worth a look.
@@WilliamCChapin Mine has been in its current owner’s family since new. Has a new target fluted barrel and a spare mag (which are very difficult to find here). Have to wait about 4 weeks for a permit. Keen to get it to the range!
I may get back to the 6mm Remington at some point. The .222 is interesting to me for the type of shooting that I do most often. Thanks for the comment!
If you are a reloader the 6mm remington does have some advantages over the 243win . Even though the ballistics are nearly identical I would give an edge to the remington cartridge mainly because of the longer case neck. This really helps when you are doing double duty between varmint and a light deer rifle. You also can gain a slight velocity advantage with the remington. The bullet seating depth can become a problem with 100 grain slugs because of the shorter neck of the 243. Both cartridges are great for ladies and young shooters where recoil may be an issue. Getting the 6mm to shoot under a half inch at a hundred yards is no big trick and it's mild recoil makes it a pleasure to shoot. As for the 788 rifle I grab them whenever I come across them. Nothing need be said.
This one is pretty much destined to be a paper puncher. I suppose it's possible that someday there may be an opportunity to solve medium range varmint issues with it!
I wanted a very light weight .223 that my wife could use in 200 yd off-hand matches. A brand new 788 with some Redfield irons, a Timney trigger a shorter LOP with a new butt-plate. It shot under 1 MOA with ever .223 load I was shooting at the time. Wife did pretty well. She even beat me once. I was shooting a very heavy 600 yd 03 Springfield DIY match rifle that day. When I wanted to take home a turkey, at the club's Thanksgiving prone match I won both years I entered, using the 788. I still have the 200yd centers 200-11x and 200-13x. That was before my eyes started to go. Irons started to go out of focus.. Since I'm really old, they allow me to shoot optics now.. Anyways, that super fast lock-time is one of the main reasons the 788 is so good for off-hand shooting. Another reason, is you can keep the factory barrel because it shoots so tight.. That means the rifle weight is not a problem for smaller shooters. I'll bet deer hunters have always done well with the Remington 788.
Thanks, Michael S. The parts are around to replace removed original sights, or something like a Williams receiver peep sight would be a good choice. Places like Apex often have them in stock www.apexgunparts.com/remington-788-follproof-receiver-sight-niw.html Thanks for watching!
I appreciate your reply and advice. I did tried calling Williams and couldn’t get thru. Sights are in the mail from skinner. Lord help me remember to post back and let y’all know how they worked out.
I can tell you without tearing it down, that’s a Canjar. Drive the pin out of the shoe and then take the bottom metal off. I have a couple I bought new.
I would like to find the dirt bag who stole my 788 in .243! That was a great rifle. I have another in .223 with a Canjar trigger in it. I need to get out and shoot that one a little more often.
What a bummer! I'd like to have one chambered in .223 to play with. I stop and look at each 788 that I stumble across - hopefully a .30-30 will appear eventually. Thanks for the note @Craig Vaughn!
@@WilliamCChapin they both looked like they sat in a safe the past 40 years... The 243 was scoped with an older Bushnell Banner 3x9... and once I held it I had to have it! It was produced in 1969 but looks brand spanking new!
William if that was my rifle I would go ahead and order another tigger . I thought I herd your 6mm cry out loud when you said it was a parts gun I think you should put a tiger back in that rifle just my thought’s great video
The 30-30, .44 Magnum, and 7mm-08 are certainly the darlings of the 788 line from a collectibility standpoint. Left hand (I’ve only seen .308 and 7mm-08) and carbines (I’ve only seen 7mm-08) are also desirable. Thanks for the note. 🙂
Hello, Steve! There are some well documented modifications for the 788 trigger, some include additional springs and set screws. It’s a simple trigger; it’s also easily made unsafe by improper modification. I had to discard one that had been honed to angles that allowed it to slam fire. Thanks for watching!
There are a couple different approaches to improving these triggers. One is to separate the sear spring and trigger springs and add overtravel and sear engagement set screws. Easier said than done because the lock nut for the trigger weight spring screw has to be very thin or it interferes with the bolt stop. The other is to move the trigger pivot location. Easier said than done because the trigger itself is extremely hard and you need a couple carbide drills. The easy thing is to replace the original spring with a lighter weight spring. I'm not in favor of the quick and dirty cut the original spring and reinstall it unless there remains enough length to ensure full sear engagement. The triggers are very simple, but a lot of people who work on them don't have a clue. I prefer moving the pivot location even though doing so complicates also adding a sear engagement and overtravel adjustment. Before anyone asks: NO!!!!!!! I do not and will not do any work on them for others. Period. Full Stop.
Theres a rifle called the norinco jw 105 and it looks the same. The bolt has 2 big lugs at the rear instead of 9 rear lugs. Or else a copy of bruno 22 lr . I want one because of how fast the 223 shoots. Im going to buy the norinco next week on monday. It has a red dot sight made from tasco. Id set the rifle for a 25 yards zero with the red dot. If I get a 4x scope id set it to 300 yards. Use it for deer and smaller animals. I like the wood stocked older rifles. check out tue norinco jw 105 and see the differences.looks alot more closer to the bruno 452.
Just got my hands on my first Rem 788 in .243. It's in great shape (bluing, wood, etc.). Trigger does feel quite impressive and measures 2.5-3 pounds. I'll follow your example in this video and remove my stock to see what kind of trigger I have. As a newbie to these 788's, is there any inherent weaknesses I need to look for or upgrades you would suggest? One of your followers commented earlier about changing the trigger. Not sure if I need to do that since this trigger feels pretty good "so far." Thanks for your very informative, interesting video. I'm a new subscriber...
I think the stock triggers are fine as long as yours is working correctly and you like how it operates. My only cautions are that the 788 locking lugs offer limited extraction camming action - if brass is difficult to extract, be gentle and avoid placing excessive force on the bolt handle - it could potentially break off if abused. Also, be aware that the bolt can fall free when it is unlocked and the safety is pressed forward. 🙂
@@WilliamCChapin Thanks for the insight! I've already noticed the limited camming action on this 788 compared to my 700, so I know I must not force it when loading a round. I also have learned how the bolt falls free (as it is designed to do so) when the safety is pushed all the way forward, so I will be careful there, too. Thanks again for your educational video. I'll enjoy learning more from you and your followers.
@@WilliamCChapin Upon closer inspection of my OEM trigger on my 788 I see a locking pin or screw that is holding the small tension screw in place, much like the receiver screws on an older Browning A5 shotgun. How can I send you a picture of what I'm talking about? I'm wondering how to remove that set pin (I see no slot that would make it a screw) so I can loosen the tension screw for trigger housing removal?
UPDATE: Just in case someone runs into the same situation, here's what I discovered. The locking apparatus that hindered the removal of the tension screw was neither a pin nor a set screw. Rather, the installer had drilled a very shallow pit next to the screw to keep the screw from moving. Needless to say, I was about to ruin the slot in the screw until I realized I could tap out the pin holding the entire trigger assembly to the receiver. So....10 minutes later and I have a new Timney installed. Now to carve a little wood out of the inside stock to make a bit more room for the new trigger, as explained by Timney and other 788 owners.
I have two 788s. My 243 is my baby. The 308 I’m looking to sell. What do you think a fair price would be? It’s in rougher shape than the 6mm you are working on, but shoots fine. Even has the open sights.
That’s a tough question to answer without looking over the rifle. If you’re somewhere near southern Michigan, I’d be happy to take a look at it - I’d like another in .308! Thanks for watching.
Hello Jay - the trigger in your rifle is frozen? It could be that the grease in the trigger has aged and become gooey, I have seen the sear stuck from old lube that has turned waxy.
Big time safety recall on these. Releasing the safety on many of them will fire the rifle. Fixable but a big time safety issue for those that aren't aware. I have 2 of these exact rifles in 6mm. Took 1 about an extra 15 years to develop the problem. I haven't finished watching yet so I apologize if you mention this.
Some people like the early trigger setup with the locking bolt, others don't. I own and use both types. I don't think the Remington trigger recall or the class action settlement applies to the 788, (it's an entirely different trigger than the 700/Seven/600/660) and it is not included in the safety modification program. I have heard mention of Remington offering a trigger swap out or a "trade up" to a 700 for owners that didn't like the locking bolt; I haven't seen any documentation. I'm interested in seeing any official (from Remington) trigger recall information covering the 788 specifically.
@@WilliamCChapin when I had my first one replaced the internet didn't contain close to the amount of info it does now. a quick Google search of rem mod r l 788 trigger problems lead me to several shooting related forums. it was there where I was reading about a recall that took place at one time. I couldn't find an active recall on the 788. there was enough people talking about it. wish I could send you a video of my other one now. trigger is locked in place and when you cycle the bolt it will release the firing pin. going to replace that with a new trigger when time allows.
Hello Joe West - The common chamberings are reasonably priced, while the .30-30 and 44 Magnum command a premium. If I remember correctly, I paid $399 for the 6mm Remington. Thanks for watching!
The 788 in the video now has a stock trigger installed, and I mounted a decent scope for the initial handful of rounds. It’s in line (with a matching 788 in .243 Winchester) for a bit of stock clean up. Thanks for the note!