Can't say I have owned one, but what caliber is the rifle in question? Someone that has owned one, should be along...

 

Hi Littlemarlin, I bought a Remington 78 30-06 back in the late 1980's. I took deer with it. I love the way it shoots. For Me ( woman) the stock is too long. Since my arms are short I had to cut back on the rifle. Most men will not have to do that. It shot true.I use it for 100 yard and better ranges. My Ruger 44 Magnum carbine I use for short ranges. I hope this helps you .

 

I've owned two of them, the first one was a .223 that had a Bell & Carlson stock on and was a very good shooter.

The other one was a .243 that I bought for the action and used to built a .308 precision rifle.

The 78 is a model 700 action in a hardwood stock. It will drop right into any ADL stock and will fit a BDL stock if you use BDL bottom metal.

 

I've had several-still have one. Some have a smooth bolt handle, others are checkered. I like the smooth one. The 78 was even offered as a kit, unassembled, with an unfinished stock. It is as good as a 700 in my opinion.

Bruce

 

Thanks for your input and replies! This one is chambered for .30-06 with the smooth bolt surface, and what facinates me about the rifle is how tight and smooth the bolt operates for what was apparently a "low-cost" rifle. Initially, I thought it was a 788 and then realized it is the 78 model of which I know nothing about. About as plain-looking a rifle as I've ever seen but i'm always drawn to those overlooked "working guns"!

Seems most info I find on them in the forums indicate they are not worth much more than $200-$300 but I rarely see clean bolt guns going for those prices these days. :-\

 

Ooh, and anyone know if the triggers are adjustable on these?? I know they are on the 700 models.

 

Mine have had the same trigger as my 700's.

Bruce

 

Well, I think the price is a tad high but if you really want the gun, sometimes you have to pay the freight. As Col. Whelen once said, "The 30-06 is never a mistake."
Basically, the rifle is a lower price M700. It's the same gun without the frills like a super shiny stock that reflects light like a mirror and the ugly impressed checkering so common on the earlier guns. I don't remember if they came with a recoil pad but if I were looking at one, I'd probably put a Pachmeyr Decelerator on the gun and never look back. The flat out work. Then, if you feel ambitious, you could put the gun in one of he better class synthetic stock and have a nearly all weather gun. Put one of those coatings on the gun and it truly would be an all weather gun But that's me. I never leave a gun alone. ;D It would make a magnificent donor with the changes mentioned for use as an all abound rifle for everything.
If you can find a copy, read ONE MAN, ONE RIFLE, ONE LAND by J.Y. Jones. he decided he was going to hunt every species of North American big game and did just that. His rifle was a remington 700 (I got that part right) in I believe the ADL version, caliber 30-06. He had someone work up a handload for the rifle using the 180 gr. Nosler Partition. The man is not a rifle loony like most of us here so he only has that one rifle. It served him well. Other than putting on a scope, about the only thing he might have done to the gun was a trigger job. I don't remember what scope he used. He put in a lot of detail on the various animals he took and the actual hunting story for each one is a bit sparce. Still it's an interesting book, sadly out of print. Probably yoour local library has a borrowing process to where you can get a copy to read, or maybe hit the used book stores.
That's a good gun just as it is. You can make changes to make it better. ;D
Paul B.

 

Thanks Paul B!

I definitely have an interest in this rifle and may be able to negotiate some since it is, indeed, rather "plain featured" which I don't necessarily take to be a shortcoming.

The decelerator pad you suggest is something to consider since I think the rifle will give a good bite at only 7 lbs. Despite the very plain look to this gun, It is well built and would make an excellent mountain rifle me thinks. I have handled many of the brand new rifles produced by the top manufacturers and am amazed at the poor quality in fit, finish and function. These rifles are selling for $700 - $1000 in many cases and a better quality gun can be had for 1/3 to 1/2 the priced on the used rack! I love the older "Dupont" era Remingtons but the ones produced today just don't appeal to me. I've seen the reviews (mostly poor) from others but actually handled a Remington 770 myself for the first time and I won't even talk about that one. :'(

I'll keep my eye open for the J.Y. Jones book you mention - looks to be an interesting read. Seems many of these older gun writers spent more time honing their hunting and shooting skills than marketing particular products, brands or elaborate guide services.

 

Seems to me I remember that the 78's one big flaw was that it has a weak bolt handle. It seems to break off with little pressure. Especially if a shell is stuck in the chamber and you try to tap the bolt handle to pull it out. Other than that I've not heard anything bad about it.

 

Henry,

I think that was said of the 788 of which I have one - a very similar model finish-wise but a different bolt configuration. The 78 is (or seems to be) pure 700 action with two front locking bolts. I suppose the welding technology in use at the time was the same but haven't read of any problems with bolts breaking off of 700's in that era although I suppose it can happen with any gun.

 

Dad had a 78 .30-'06 for many years and now my brother owns it. It was a fine gun with no troubles noted. I recall it being heavy. I did recently purchase a NIB 700SPS for $349.00. This is the daily price on this gun at the ACADEMY stores in TX. Not sure what they would sell for elsewhere.

The 788 was a different action all together. Magazine fed, no adj trigger, bolt release in the safety and rear lock lugs on the bolt. 788s are fine shooters as are all variations of the model 700!!

Papalote

 

I actually like the blind magazine configuration on the ADL versions of the 700. Seems people prefer the hinged or drop magazines and, indeed, they are convenient but for me the less features the better when it comes to hunting rifles. I like to keep it simple. I've read that it was actually more expensive for Remington to machine blind magazines into rifles because the feed lips have to be part of the receiver and have to be just right for smooth feeding. Seems these "cheap" rifles aren't necessarily cheap!

 

Seems to me I remember that the 78's one big flaw was that it has a weak bolt handle. It seems to break off with little pressure. Especially if a shell is stuck in the chamber and you try to tap the bolt handle to pull it out. Other than that I've not heard anything bad about it.

That goes for all the Remington bolt actions. The 788's were th worst of he bunch as when I worked for a gunsmith, he made a pretty penny brazing those handles back on.

Paul B.

 

I have a 78 Sportsman that was purchased new in 1990 just after I finished college. It is indeed a plain jane version of the 700. I bought it because I wanted a "cheap" 223 and a buddy found it for me and said I could have it for a song. I have never regreted the purchase and would never sell it unless the kids were hungry and a lot of other guns would go first. It is easily the most accurate gun I own with five 52gr Sierra HPBT Match bullets going into 1/2" anytime you do your part. I refinished the stock on mine twice. The first round I darkened it and the second time I used one of those rough textured paints and then painted it black. It now has a textured feel and looks neat too. The bluing is not the greatest but with attention has held up well. I think the price is a little high but if you want it and can afford it, well it is YOUR money.
Goat

 

Thanks Goat,

The gun is still sitting on the used rack and I still have my eye on it (very much so). I'm going to see if they will move on the price at all. If they'll let it ride for $325 I'll grab it and be content. Still kind of high for that gun but I'd be willing to pay it. The action is very sound (tight and smooth) and the gun appears to have been used very little. I keep thinking it would make a great mountain rifle for elk based on the light weight and rugged build. Anyone who owns one and has commented online indicates they are very accurate rifles. Maybe add a recoil pad and good 2-7 scope and put it to work. Seems kind of lonely and rejected there on that rack of unloved rifles. :

 

I am a little late with this reply but I thought I would give my $.02. I have owed mine since 1989. It was my first hunting rifle. I bought one chambered in .30-'06 although wanted a .270. I paid $259.00 for mine from a local gun dealer who was willing to match the going Wal-Mart sale price at the time otherwise it would have cost me $284.00. They are simply no frills model 700's a nothing at all like a 788. They lack the jeweled bolt body, high gloss finish and checkered hardwood stocks of the 700 ADL and BDL.

I had a ventilated recoil pad installed on it but I later ditched the plain birch stock and had a gunsmith fit a Ramline fiberglass stock glass bedded to the barreled action. I also had the smith tune the trigger down to about 2 lbs. and fit a Qwik Klip detachable magazine assembly to it as well to replace the blind magazine. Other than that it is all stock and is a tack driver. I can routinely get sub MOA groups at 100 yds. with hand loads and certain factory loads. I use a Leupold VariX 3-9X-40mm scope on it with Leupold rotary dovetail mounts.

I do not go for shiny, pretty rifles for hunting and prefer non-nonsense hunting rigs that function well. $379 is way too high for one even in unfired pristine condition unless it has an expensive scope mounted on it. I believe they were chambered in .223, .243, .270 and .30-06. I would love to find one in .223.

 

Better late than never! :tee:

Ultimately, I ended up not purchasing the gun as I simply couldn't afford it at the time - Someone I worked with did buy it though - glass bedded and floated the barrel and brought a target in for show and tell. Very nice groups!! Definitely worth picking up if the price is right and I was pretty impressed by how smooth the action was on this one and I'm wondering if that is pretty consistent with this model? Is the action on yours tight and smooth?

 

Yes, the action on mine is still very tight even after sending over 700 rounds though it. I actually have some old milsurp rifles with smoother actions. I have an early 1930's vintage Persian M98/29 Mauser that has the smoothest action I have ever worked but it is also from a time period when craftsmanship was hands on and meant something. Oddly enough I also have a WW II vintage Soviet M44 carbine that has a very slick and smooth action as well.