The general shooting public has always tried to get better value for their buck. Occasionally, these “value” guns are so cheaply constructed that they inspire little to no confidence and have limited longevity. On the other hand, quality-made guns, though more pricey, will look great, shoot great and last for generations. Every once in a while, you get lucky enough to have both inexpensive and top-notch.

In 1948, Remington released the Model 721 and 722 rifles, which incorporated design features never before seen in mass-production firearms.

Of course, they followed the basics of the Mauser turn-bolt design, but rather than requiring hours and hours of expensive machining and fitting, such as was seen with rifles like the Winchester 70 or Savage 99, the Remington was more basic and yet still shot with wonderful accuracy.

To a working-class man looking to buy himself a new hunting rifle, a Remington 721/722 could be had in all of the popular choices of calibers but at almost half the price of a Model 70. Remington struck gold again in 1962 with the debut of an improved version of the 721/722 rifles called the Model 700.

Winchester, desiring to cut in on the affordable rifle market, released the Model 670, a plainer version of the flagship Model 70, in 1966, available in both long- and short-action calibers. The barrel and action were basically the same, but the 670 featured plainer wood with a thin lacquer finish, a blind box magazine and a non-jeweled bolt. Like the post-64 Model 70s, the model 670s were met with some skepticism amongst the cognoscenti, but John Q. Public bought them right up.

Not to be outdone, Remington had another trick up its sleeve. In 1967, looking to provide yet another inexpensive rifle design that still shot lights out, Remington introduced the Model 788 in .222 and .22-250. A little later it was also available in .223, .243, 6mm, 7mm-08, .30-30, .308 and .44 Rem Mag — all of which came with a 22-inch sporter contour barrel. A plain, uncheckered stock, complete with sling swivels, adorned the barreled action.

Perhaps the most interesting and unique feature of the Model 788 is the rear locking lugs on the bolt. Although not typically an endearing feature where accuracy is concerned, the 788 is exceptionally accurate in spite of it. This is also in part due to the fast lock time of the firing pin.

Rather than a staggered integral box magazine, the 788 featured a detachable single-stack three-shot magazine for all calibers (the .222 and .223 held four shots). Though drilled and tapped for easy scope mounting, these rifles also came standard with open sights.

Left-handed versions came in 6mm and .308. In 1980, the carbine version with its 18.5-inch barrel was released in .243, 7mm-08 and .308.

Sales were through the roof. The 788 Remington sold nearly twice as many units as its Winchester 670 counterpart during its run. Whether it was greed or ignorance, both firms discontinued their affordable rifles as sales had declined on their flagship models. The Winchester 670 was discontinued in 1979, the Remington 788 in 1983. Both bring several times their original sales value to niche collectors and shooters alike.

The first centerfire rifle I ever fired was my sister’s Remington 788 in 6mm Remington. My own is chambered for the .308 Winchester and sits in the most beautiful stock I have ever seen on any model 788. For a lightweight sporter rifle, superbly accurate due to a quick lock time, available in a bunch of quality short-action hunting cartridges, it is hard to beat the Remington 788.

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