by Jorlcrin » 07 Jul 2024, 12:45 pm
We wore out our 788 .223.
Might have bothered to get it re-built if we had easy access to a gunsmith, but simpler/easier to replace it with a Howa 1500.
And not sure our overseer would be prepared to swap it back, if I had the option to re-build the 788; he loves the Howa.
Our 788 was bought 2nd-hand in the late 1980's, and I didnt think much of it(or the calibre), until I spent some months using it.
A change in scope and a few other tweaks, and it redeemed itself, in my eyes.
We found we had ongoing issues with the firing pin punching holes through the primers, and while changing firing pin and changing primers helped, the issue never went away.
Had a gunsmith replace the failed ejector circlip thingey, with a sako-style one, and never had further issues with it.
Also occasionally had firing pin issues(2 parts?), but a good clean usually got everything back working.
Also found a Timney trigger vastly improved it.
It was a pretty decent reliable no-frills rifle, and paid it's dues many times over.
It handled a LOT of crappy, dusty conditions, in the time we had it.
But in the 4-5 years since we got the Howa, I cant say it's given any reason to regret the changeover.