Remington Model 788 help - The Firearms Forum

donnie lee · 06-18-2012, 03:45 PM

Let me try to explain this, I have a Rem Model 788 that I put a new safety lever on for a friend. The only way I can get the safety on, is with the bolt up. If the gun is cocked, and you push the safety off, it will not go back on until the gun is fired or the bolt is raised to cock the gun. Does anyone know if this is correct? If so, it is a poor design and not very safe. If not, any ideas on what might be wrong? Thanks to everyone for all their help and knowledge!!

Jim K · 06-18-2012, 07:00 PM

It is not a poor design, it is poor "gunsmithing". I strongly suggest you either learn how to install that safety or have your friend take the rifle to a competent gunsmith. Favors for friends are OK, but not when they could result in a fatal accident.

Jim

donnie lee · 06-19-2012, 12:00 AM

Private for you Jim.

donnie lee

Zane71464 · 06-19-2012, 04:25 AM

The way they came from the factory, is that once you cock the hammer (raise the bolt to chamber a round) the safety lever can be switched onto safety.

donnie lee · 06-19-2012, 10:16 AM

Thank you Zane, but should you be able to put the safety back on without having to raise the bolt again if you decided to not fire the gun, this one will not go back on and the safety lever itself IS installed properly. Is there something in the trigger mech. that could be wrong, or is this factory?

msheff · 06-19-2012, 09:05 PM

I don't have any trouble putting mine back on safe. I have no idea what could be wrong yours.

Bindernut · 06-19-2012, 09:20 PM

The 788 has the same basic safety/trigger design as the 700. Remington cut a few corners for the "bargain rifle" version of the trigger by eliminating the adjustments though.
But this is how they operate: If the action is not cocked, you shouldn't be able to engage the safety.
If you can engage the safety lever on an uncocked 788 action, then there is something wrong and the safety is not to be trusted.
Since there is no exposed cocking piece on the 788 (it's completely enclosed by the bolt shroud), not being able to engage the safety is a very good way to determine if the action is cocked or not.
Another portion of the safety lever also locks the bolt closed when the safety is engaged. If the safety was engaged and then the action was closed, that top of the safety lever that locks the bolt will get bent out of position and it will jam up the safety lever (and usually the bolt as well).

Now...if I am understanding you correctly and you can't re-engage the safety with a cocked action after moving the safety to the FIRE position but not firing the rifle, then there is something wrong with the trigger/safety group also.
Either someone was in fiddling with the sear engagement surfaces or most likely the take-up and overtravel of the trigger or it's just packed full of crud inside the trigger assembly and the parts aren't moving freely like they should.

788 trigger parts are pretty scarce these days.
My suggestion is still to search back a few weeks to your previous thread asking for where to locate a safety lever for the 788 and follow the links to find a Timney replacement trigger/safety.
It's a much better trigger than an out-of-the-box 788 unit and is fully adjustable. Well worth the cash as opposed to the time/money you'll spend getting the factory unit back in safe working condition.

donnie lee · 06-19-2012, 11:30 PM

Thanks to all, for your help! I will see about gettting a replacement trigger assembly. I guess the reason the original was broken was by someone trying to force the safety back on. Rest assured all that it will be fixed properly or taken out of service, now that I know how it is supposed to operate.

donnie lee

Zane71464 · 06-21-2012, 09:33 AM

Binder nailed it.
On the one I have and have had for years, it was in the hands of another person
as I was living in the city at the time and also didnt have time to use the 788.
Once I'd gotten it back, the plastic piece on the thumb safety lever was missing and
a "bit" jammed. I reckon the guy forced it and broke the plastic off and also bent the lever as well. He didnt understand that it didnt work like a 700, or a 700BDL.

I took it off and done a bit of work on it and got it back in working order.
The one I have is in .243 WIN and as accurate as heck! It'll out-shoot my .243, 700BDL
The best groups, if I recall right, was 1/4"- 3/8" groups @ 100 off the bench. Awsome-Accurate!

06-18-2012, 03:45 PM	#1
donnie lee Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 14	Remington Model 788 help Let me try to explain this, I have a Rem Model 788 that I put a new safety lever on for a friend. The only way I can get the safety on, is with the bolt up. If the gun is cocked, and you push the safety off, it will not go back on until the gun is fired or the bolt is raised to cock the gun. Does anyone know if this is correct? If so, it is a poor design and not very safe. If not, any ideas on what might be wrong? Thanks to everyone for all their help and knowledge!! -->

06-18-2012, 07:00 PM	#2
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Remington Model 788 help It is not a poor design, it is poor "gunsmithing". I strongly suggest you either learn how to install that safety or have your friend take the rifle to a competent gunsmith. Favors for friends are OK, but not when they could result in a fatal accident. Jim

06-19-2012, 12:00 AM	#3
donnie lee Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 14	Re: Remington Model 788 help Private for you Jim. donnie lee

06-19-2012, 04:25 AM	#4
Zane71464 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio NRA Member Contributor Posts: 5,369	Re: Remington Model 788 help The way they came from the factory, is that once you cock the hammer (raise the bolt to chamber a round) the safety lever can be switched onto safety. __________________ Two Words; "Simple Man", song by Charlie Daniels sums up my thoughts on a "few things"!

06-19-2012, 10:16 AM	#5
donnie lee Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 14	Re: Remington Model 788 help Thank you Zane, but should you be able to put the safety back on without having to raise the bolt again if you decided to not fire the gun, this one will not go back on and the safety lever itself IS installed properly. Is there something in the trigger mech. that could be wrong, or is this factory?

06-19-2012, 09:05 PM	#6
msheff Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 20	Re: Remington Model 788 help I don't have any trouble putting mine back on safe. I have no idea what could be wrong yours.

06-19-2012, 09:20 PM	#7
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,453	Re: Remington Model 788 help The 788 has the same basic safety/trigger design as the 700. Remington cut a few corners for the "bargain rifle" version of the trigger by eliminating the adjustments though. But this is how they operate: If the action is not cocked, you shouldn't be able to engage the safety. If you can engage the safety lever on an uncocked 788 action, then there is something wrong and the safety is not to be trusted. Since there is no exposed cocking piece on the 788 (it's completely enclosed by the bolt shroud), not being able to engage the safety is a very good way to determine if the action is cocked or not. Another portion of the safety lever also locks the bolt closed when the safety is engaged. If the safety was engaged and then the action was closed, that top of the safety lever that locks the bolt will get bent out of position and it will jam up the safety lever (and usually the bolt as well). Now...if I am understanding you correctly and you can't re-engage the safety with a cocked action after moving the safety to the FIRE position but not firing the rifle, then there is something wrong with the trigger/safety group also. Either someone was in fiddling with the sear engagement surfaces or most likely the take-up and overtravel of the trigger or it's just packed full of crud inside the trigger assembly and the parts aren't moving freely like they should. 788 trigger parts are pretty scarce these days. My suggestion is still to search back a few weeks to your previous thread asking for where to locate a safety lever for the 788 and follow the links to find a Timney replacement trigger/safety. It's a much better trigger than an out-of-the-box 788 unit and is fully adjustable. Well worth the cash as opposed to the time/money you'll spend getting the factory unit back in safe working condition. Last edited by Bindernut; 06-19-2012 at 09:24 PM.. Reason: typos

06-19-2012, 11:30 PM	#8
donnie lee Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 14	Re: Remington Model 788 help Thanks to all, for your help! I will see about gettting a replacement trigger assembly. I guess the reason the original was broken was by someone trying to force the safety back on. Rest assured all that it will be fixed properly or taken out of service, now that I know how it is supposed to operate. donnie lee

06-21-2012, 09:33 AM	#9
Zane71464 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio NRA Member Contributor Posts: 5,369	Re: Remington Model 788 help Binder nailed it. On the one I have and have had for years, it was in the hands of another person as I was living in the city at the time and also didnt have time to use the 788. Once I'd gotten it back, the plastic piece on the thumb safety lever was missing and a "bit" jammed. I reckon the guy forced it and broke the plastic off and also bent the lever as well. He didnt understand that it didnt work like a 700, or a 700BDL. I took it off and done a bit of work on it and got it back in working order. The one I have is in .243 WIN and as accurate as heck! It'll out-shoot my .243, 700BDL The best groups, if I recall right, was 1/4"- 3/8" groups @ 100 off the bench. Awsome-Accurate! __________________ Two Words; "Simple Man", song by Charlie Daniels sums up my thoughts on a "few things"!