In .308 Winchester caliber. I haven't shot it yet. I may have paid a little much for what was an "economy" rifle, but it was about what they were going for on Gunbroker not looking as good or without scopes. Anyway, the wood only has a couple of barely noticeable dings, the finish on the metal is good, the chamber and bore clean. Some of the screws are boogered from a poor-fitting screwdriver some time in the last 40 or 50 years. It has a 3-9x scope of unknown make but usable (after I backed the focus ring almost all the way out) already on it. The ring screws are also a little bunged. I cycled the action with snap caps/dummy rounds. They fed just fine, the trigger is clean and the firing pin snapped home with authority and left its impression in the snap caps.

My question with it is extraction/ejection. It is very weak and sometimes not at all. I did find some crud, with a glint of brass, under the extractor and cleaned it up with a toothbrush and air, but it didn't seem to help. The spring-loaded ejector in the bolt face moves freely. I don't see anything obviously wrong with the extractor claw. It does the same with live rounds. With an autoloading action, this doesn't tell you much, but a bolt is manually operated.

I do have a three-day period in which to return it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,

Have you fired it with factory ammo yet? I’d try that, if problems, then consider sending it back.

As for the buggard screws, if you keep the gun you should be able to change them out. I don’t like buggard screws.

Another point, buggard screws on a gun that a novice shouldn’t be taking apart is a ‘red flag’ itself. A more competent smith shouldn’t mar the screws.

My worst was a used Browning lever I bought years ago, came with buggared receiver screws. When I got around to shooting it, there were serious issues that even the Browning repair facility in Arnold, MO couldn’t make right. I ended up letting them keep it, after they sent any useful parts, stock, etc..

quote:

Have you fired it with factory ammo yet?

Will be, in just a few hours, in fact. But any problems, and it's going back tomorrow. I won't be able to take the bolt apart, track down parts or consult a gunsmith in three days. There are other fish in the sea.

The 788 was designed and marketed as an "economy", "beater" hunting rifle, but has a reputation for shooting like a much more expensive one. Its rather plain looks have an appeal of their own. I went to YouTube to see how to remove the bolt (it's released by pushing the safety all the way forward), and the comments are almost universally in praise of it.

Try it with the scope off the gun.
My 788 .30-30 was trapping empties and it turned out they were hitting the scope windage knob cap. I rolled the scope 90 degrees and it did fine. Swapped the adjustments but that was not a major problem with a hunting rifle.

^^^ The cases are definitely not bouncing off the adjustment. The failures (more later) follow a pattern. The fired case is barely pulled out of the chamber and just lies on top of the magazine follower (if the mag is empty) or the top cartridge. I have to either roll the rifle on its side and shake it out, or remove the magazine and let it fall out.

In live fire I did get 11 or 12 of the box of 20 cartridges to extract, eject and flip clear nicely. Still not good enough, but I have one more day to fire it before the return-by date. I'll give it one more chance. Once sighted in (the zero wasn't even on the paper), I put enough shots close enough together that I think this is capable of good accuracy.

When I buy a used car for a daily driver, I have no problem with, for example, changing its fluids, replacing its tires and checking and replacing wear items like brakes. I don't want to have to, say, rebuild the engine or transmission before I can use it. Same with used guns.

How aggressively are you working the bolt? A lot of people do not work a bolt properly. Rip on that bolt like you are going to tear it off.
Most people are WAY too delicate when working a bolt.
If you are working the bolt with enthusiasm, from your description sounds like a worn damaged or improperly assembled extractor

I love my 788's. If you have a "real gunsmith" in the neighborhood I would have them examine. By real gunsmith I mean someone at least sixty years old .
These are great rifles. Mine are deadnuts accurate and are a joy to shoot. It may need a little tweaking. Does the bolt and gun have matching serial numbers? If so, unless your overpaid for it I would not return. No reason it cannot be a great rifle for you.

I've got better things to do than trying to find a gunsmith or parts. Returned for full refund.