Remington 788: Thread or Sell?

[Bratch]

I’ve long been interested in 7-08 for no understandable reason. Last fall a really nice 788 Carbine in 7-08 popped up locally and I picked it up.

I’ve only had one range trip with it shooting a handful of factory ammo, it looks promising but nothing was amazing from what I shot. More ammo testing needs to be done.

I should be getting my first rifle suppressor in a couple weeks once it gets out of jail and plan to move to primarily shooting and hunting suppressed.

Which gets me to my question, should I get this 788 threaded with the 18.5” barrel it would be a great host or leave it as an unmolested classic and sell it and either buy a factory threaded 7-08 or just shoot one of my other rifles that does the same thing?

 

[tstowater]

My vote would be unmolested classic to use as is, become a safe queen or sell and fund a different project. Cool looking 788. My first centerfire rifle was a 788 in a 22-250. Still have it. Don't know the last time I saw it let alone shoot it. Good guns.

 

[gbflyer]

Those have become fairly valuable. I'd leave it and sell as-is if it isn't your cup of tea.

 

[KenLee]

Sell or keep as is. My two 788 in 22-250 are crazy accurate

 

[Hillstyle]

If it's not super accurate, which most are pretty good, its value has gone way up. You could sell it to buy another rifle that's already threaded. By the time you put money into getting it threaded, you could probably just put that toward a new rifle. I love a 788. They aren't the prettiest rifles, but that's a damn fine rifle. I have one in .223 and one in 6mm and that looks nicer than mine. I like a classic wood and blued gun over a synthetic one so I'd thread it and shoot it.

 

[EastHumboldt]

Once you modify an antique you generally wreck its collector value. I see this all the time with vintage guitars. If it was mine I’d either sell it or put it in with my other collectors guns. As mentioned the sale price would go along ways towards another gun. I just bought a Tikka 7-08 two years ago which is now my main squeeze.

 

[Chris in TN]

I can see going either way with that one.

 

[Thehillbillee]

Personally I’d keep it as is. I’d love a 788. My dad had one I used on deer and coyotes when I was a kid. I know shooting suppressed is the thing to do nowadays, but a gun like that shouldn’t be imo.

 

[S.Clancy]

I've got a lefty in 6mm. Tack driver.

 

[Truck24hr]

I doubt it's going to ever be super accurate if you're wanting to shoot heavy.

I'd keep it and buy a Tikka, or sell it, buy a Tikka, and have enough left over for nice rings

 

[MallardSX2]

Sell or keep as is. My two 788 in 22-250 are crazy accurate

I got one too. Its a ugly, but its a fricken laser beam and a woodchucks worst nightmare.......

 

[Hillstyle]

The only rifles I have that are threaded are a 22 some ar's. If I had one rifle, or the majority were threaded, I'd think about it. I have friends with really nice old guns, but they will not shoot them because they shoot everything suppressed and don't even want to shoot with someone who doesn't. I just try to be vigilant with hearing protection. I was a firearms instructor for years in LE, and my hearing is suffering. I shot a hog a few years ago on a snap shot with my AR and did not put my muffs on, and since then, I don't want to chance it. You might be surprised what that 788 will sell for.