I've owned several 788's in different cals. over the years, and all were good. My mother and i bought one in cal. .243 Win., for my dad many years ago. He used it a huge amount includeing carrying it all over on his ATV. He even once tipped over backwards pulling out a "huge buck" with a Honda 90 3 wheeler, (many years ago, as he has a Yamaha Kodiak today) that he shot with the 788, and broke the stock off it!! Today at age 90, he still sometimes hunts with it, and in fact he shot a big doe with it last year!! It's never failed to function, and as was already said above, they are quite accurate, and a great inexpensive rifle at the time they came out!!

I kind of wish i had kept one in 44 mag, but i shoot left hand, and that's the reason i didn't.

Drilling Man