I was given thatrifle in that caliber when I was 11, and shot my 1st whitetail (a 10 pointer!) with it the next Fall. I think I took 4 or 5 deer with it, all told.

I never shot it much outside of deer season, and hadn't shot it at all since I left for college. 20 years later, I got it out, & it prints some awfully nice groups. I had hunted with 100 grain Cor-Lokts, but it really seems to like the 80 grain Power-Lokt bullets. It's got less than 150 rounds through it in all these years, so I really can't speak to its longevity.

I've since acquired a 700 CDL that feels infinitely better in my hands, but that 788 was probably a great choice for a young boy.