The magazine is a steel, single stack, detachable box. To remove the bolt, one opens the bolt and slides it back while holding the safety all the way forward. The bolt handle is low temperature brazed to the side of the bolt body. The down side to this is the same as other rear locking actions in that it increases the potential for case stretching over time. The spacing of the locking lugs allowed for a short, 60 degree bolt rotation and the lack of lug raceways in the receiver allow for a smoother action. The trigger group is simple, enclosed in a cast aluminum housing and not adjustable. On 1975 and later models the design was changed, removing the bolt locking feature. On pre-1975 models, the safety position also locks the bolt, requiring the safety to be disengaged to unload the chamber. The safety has two positions and is located on the right side of the receiver, behind the bolt handle. In addition, the lock time was unusually fast.

The 788's bolt lugs are located in front of the bolt handle and lock into the rear of the receiver. The multi-piece bolt featured nine rear locking lugs in three rows of three, as opposed to the front locking lugs found on the vast majority of bolt actions designed since the late 19th Century. The model 788 included some notable design features. Introduced in 1967, it remained in production until 1983, with over 560,000 produced in various calibers and barrel lengths.

The Model 788 was designed from the ground up by Remington's Wayne Leek to compete in the growing economy rifle market of the 1960s. An Overview of the Remington Model 788 Rifle

Remington rifle review