Rem 788 carbine 7-08 value help needed

[brewster29]

I have come across one of these in good condition. Sights are missing, lop has been shortened but a recoil pad would fix that, comes with one mag.

I have a well loved 788 in 6mm I bought 40 years ago but am not current on pricing.

[Pioneer2]

Sight unseen with shortened stock at $500 tops. A buddy has all of them even a 30-30 and .44 mag

[duceman]

if it’s a true carbine snd not chopped; pioneer is dead on; only because it’s somewhat rare in that configuration.
more if minty and not molested.

[graybeard]

Originally Posted by brewster29

I have come across one of these in good condition. Sights are missing, lop has been shortened but a recoil pad would fix that, comes with one mag.

I have a well loved 788 in 6mm I bought 40 years ago but am not current on pricing.

I recently sold one and it was 9/10 with steel sights and an extra magazine....no alterations or repairs + Leupold scope.
Extra magazine (if you can find one)....$125
Both sights....$100

You state it is in good condition...I will estimate good condition for $400....

They have an inherent problem of the bolt not locking when the safety is on.

I have owned 3, 788's and all were the same. Some guys use those big thick broccoli rubber bands; over the bolt through the trigger guard, to keep the bolt from opening and ejecting your chambered round.....

Anyway, I have an extra set of steel sights if you are interested?

[brewster29]

Thanks to all who responded. Rifle was at my lgs yesterday, gone when I went back today. They said there was lots of interest in it. Asking price was $475, with some wiggle room possible. I thought this was at the very upper end of the range, so I took the evening to do some research and price checking.

I have a 6mm lefty. This was supposedly the rarest model. As stated, the safety doesn't lock the bolt on mine either. I have however seen several 788's that did lock on safe.

FWIW repro magazines are available from Numrich for about $33 US.

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by brewster29

Thanks to all who responded. Rifle was at my lgs yesterday, gone when I went back today. They said there was lots of interest in it. Asking price was $475, with some wiggle room possible. I thought this was at the very upper end of the range, so I took the evening to do some research and price checking.

I have a 6mm lefty. This was supposedly the rarest model. As stated, the safety doesn't lock the bolt on mine either. I have however seen several 788's that did lock on safe.

FWIW repro magazines are available from Numrich for about $33 US.

I would say it was $100 bucks to high.

[Dean2]

Apparently it was priced just right, because it is gone now. You guys are forgetting the Covid pricing effects. Stuff I sold in the past 15 months sold for far higher, some as much as triple, what they were going for pre- Covid. Long and short, if it is a gun I really want, 100 bucks one way or the other would not determine whether I bought it or not.

[obsessed1]

These days it's not about something's worth. It's truly about how much your willing to pay to have it. Items all across the board are selling much higher than actual value sometimes 3x. Obviously some one is willing to pay the price....you just have decide if it's a price you are willing to pay. What I see is things are no longer sold based on what they are worth..what they are worth is dictated by how bad people want them and things are selling way higher than they would have 2 years ago.

[6.5 shooter]

I agree with both you and Dean. However a bubba rifle to me is still a bubba rifle, so I pay on that bases. There will be thousands of rifles that will come up for sale in the next 10-15 years, which the now proud owners will lose their collective shirts on. To bad I won't be around to see it.

[brewster29]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Apparently it was priced just right, because it is gone now. You guys are forgetting the Covid pricing effects. Stuff I sold in the past 15 months sold for far higher, some as much as triple, what they were going for pre- Covid. Long and short, if it is a gun I really want, 100 bucks one way or the other would not determine whether I bought it or not.

I agree someone thought the price was right because it went quickly. Current pricing is way higher than most of us are willing to accept. Average US selling prices for 788's for the past year are in the $640 USD range. Is it worth that? Not to me...but who'd a thunk a JM Marlin 336 would be fetching $900 easily?

I was looking at it as a trainer for my grandsons. I have two 7-08's myself, so brass and dies are plentiful, and I can load to pop gun levels to start. I was a bit hesitant since I can buy a new Ruger American compact for $650 ish, that has a good recoil pad and trigger, mags available everywhere, weighs several pounds less, and requires zero work. I really was only interested because I have one in 6mm ($200 in 1982) that shoots very well, but then so do the Ruger American rifles that I have tried.

Another one that got away!

[duceman]

a completely butchered 788 is worth twice what ruger american is!😂😂

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by duceman

a completely butchered 788 is worth twice what ruger american is!😂😂

true dat

[saskbooknut]

The open market established the value for that gun.
Tomorrow may, or may not be the same.

[Steelhorse Cowboy]

Have a 243 carbine with the 18.5 inch barrel.
Shot 15 + mulies with it and my buddy used it for at least 4 more, after I bought it from a friend how plunked a dozen down himself.

Rebarreling it this year with a new take off from a model700 24" 243.
Figure I'll get another 200fps with .the extra 6"

Have a 3x12 Sightron on it and MAY put a Boyds laminated praire hunter on it.
FUN FUN FUN

[coyote_man]

Have had a variety of them over the years but slowly dispersing. 7mm 08 ,222 and a rechambered to 223 have shot as well as custom barrels ive owned.Triggers all needed work.Paid 350 to 450 for them in late 80s and early 90s if I recall correctly.