6mm Remington

The 788 was, is, and always will be a cheap budget rifle made with lots of shortcuts. They shot better than expected, but the same could be said of lots of current rifles. It was the 710/770 of years past. For all the negative claims about the 710/770 series, they shoot just fine, as does the 788.

The OP is left handed, and options, especially budget priced options for lefty's are few and far between. In this case, and at this price it is a good choice and I think it will work for him. Generally speaking the 788 is overpriced and over rated because of a small cult like following though.

One thing to be aware of. Magazines for these are the weak link. Many of these older rifles no longer have working magazines. Finding working mags for the 788, can be challenging, and quite expensive. It is quite possible to end up with an expensive bolt action single shot.
 
I done did it. Well, I called the LGS, which owner is a friend, and told him to set it back for me. It really is a pretty clean gun. I checked the bore the day I found it, and it is nice and shiny. Wood is good and not much wear on the bluing. No rust at all.
 
Thanks man, I'll get one. Along with a lifetime supply of Remington Cor-lokt ammo, since it's about the only game in town. You guys got me all excited now. I had no idea that the 6mm 788 was so cool. Being left handed, I have a habit of asking if there are any left-hand rifles in stock when I visit a gun shop. The shop where I found this rifle is my regular haunt, but I have been out of town for several weeks.
 
Hornady makes some great 6mm rem ammo as well. Whether you prefer the run-of-mill 100 gr Interlock load or the 95 gr Superformance ammo with a rated MV of over 3200 fps. I've also shot Winchester power-point, Federal blue-box, and the good ole green & yellow core lokts. They all did well, but I reload now for all 3 of my 6mms. 85 gr Partitions in a Remington 660, 80 gr TSX's in a Ruger M77, and 60 gr Sierra HP's in a 700 varmint special
 
FWIW I've handloaded for two of the 788 in 6mm and both preferred the Hornady 87 grain or Remington 90 grain bullets for deer ammo. Preference was 75 Hornady HP for coyote/varmint loads.
 
I got the rifle for $325.00. I'm going to put a 3-9x40 Nikon Buckmaster on it. Inexpensive scope, but I've had good luck with them.
 
Mine was $160ish in the early 80's... + cheap scope + mounts + tax and I was out the door with a $208 tack driver... everybody at the range was impressed except the folks who had bought their 788 years before and thought I paid too much.... Unless you can time travel you did good on the deal..
 
Thanks. Can't wait to try it out. My first centerfire rifle was a Remington 700 BDL 270 Win. I bought it in the early '80s too. It and a $50.00 Tasco scope brought down a lot of deer. I don't remember how much I paid for the rifle, I think around $200.

SteveNChunter, what kind of MV are you getting from those 60 gr Sierras? I would think they would be screamers.

If the guns like the lighter bullet weights, I might have to start reloading.
 
In that caliber it might be hard to find ammunition & brass... IMHO a .243 Wincehster would be a better choice.
 
You are probably correct. I really bought it because it was a neat caliber and most importantly because it was left hand.

The only right hand rifles I own are classic military rifles.
 
You've done well, indeed! I got a .308 788 with an old El Paso Weaver on board for $375 about a year ago. Looks like a telephone pole but shoots like a laser.
 
cmdc

I shoot left handed as my left eye is dominant yet I am right handed...no problem with a bolt action rifle. All my rifles are right handed..
 
One of my shooting buddies is left handed and only shoots right handed. He prefers it. I would've been better off if I'd gone that route; the selection of right handed rifles is MUCH better, and the resale of lefties is lousy. Now I'm so far down the rabbit hole it's too late to turn back. Besides, I prefer the lefties. I have several left-hand Stag ARs, a left-hand Benelli SBEII and BAR. I actually don't mind right-handed semi-autos, and have a whole bunch of them as well. Oh, well.
 
SteveNChunter, what kind of MV are you getting from those 60 gr Sierras? I would think they would be screamers.
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cmdc- I'm only pushing the 60's about 3650 or so under a mild load of H335. But that load is oh-so-accurate in my particular rifle and with a blow-up bullet like the 60 gr HP velocity doesn't play a huge factor in performance. Also it cuts down on throat erosion if you stay away from those max loads with light bullets.

A 60 gr in the 6mm remington is very capable of 4000-4100 with powders like Ramshot Big Game or H4895.

I personally have never pushed one that hard, I doub't it would be as accurate and I'd say it would never even make it to the target in one peice out of a 1:9 twist barrel.

The 1:12 .244 rem would be better suited for that role.
 
I have the ruger m77 mkii in 6mm rem, barrel heats up quick and throws fliers. If used in a bull barrel for target shooting the round has a lot of potential with those 107 gr matchkings
 
Any Remington rifle marked 6mm Remington will have a twist sufficient to stabilize 100-gr bullets.

It took Remington a LONG time to figure out that shooters wanted their 6mm to be a dual purpose cartridge, varmint AND deer, not just varmint.

Winchester realized that from the beginning with the .243, so that cartridge ended up becoming the dominant seller.
 
I like the 6mm Rem but the crowd loves the 243 Win better and so everything 243 is available and everything 6mm Rem is scarce. Another great cartridge that has to sit in the cheap seats because another of equal capability wowed the crowd first.

To wit: 280 Rem and 270 Win.
 
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