savage 99 vs Browning BLR and now vs win. 88

I like the Savages, my .243 is definitely a keeper and I would like to eventually add one in 30-30 and 375 winchester down the road. I've tried to love the BLR, but theres just something about the way it shoulders that makes it feel like a poorly made prosthetic limb. The 88 is another that I would like to give a home to, especially a carbine length model.

Sean
 
I have never seen a carbine Winchester Model 88 for sale here in Canada but there was a carbine Model 100 for sale about two months ago for $695. I was tempted but I'm a lever lover man.;)

I'll post some pics (if I still have em) in another thread.
 
This is what they look like -

3270711_Carbine_1
 
if any of you fine folk is interested in a Sako Finnwolf, 2 have popped up in the EE, one 243 and one 308. Rare they are. These ones don't sound minty, though.
 
fugawi said:
I have never seen a carbine Winchester Model 88 for sale here in Canada but there was a carbine Model 100 for sale about two months ago for $695. I was tempted but I'm a lever lover man.;)

I'll post some pics (if I still have em) in another thread.
Click to expand...

I bought one from my Uncle's neighbor in Sask a quite few years back. An 88 carbine. It showed a slight bit of neglect. Some light surface rusting with a couple of pits. It cleaned up fairly well. I ended up selling it when I finally got my Finnwolf.
 
Everything Sako is expensive. Does that mean they are better made/fitted/designed? Not really. If anything, the price of the Finnwolf rifles speaks to their rarity in Canada. The Finnwolf rifles I have shot didn't shoot any better than the average Savage 99 in .300 Savage IMHO and the Savage can be had for a fair bit less if you look around.

Ask yourself - does a BMW 3 series (Sako) do the job a lot better than, say, a Cadillac CTS (insert high-condition contemporary domestic lever action here)? IMHO it's a status symbol to own a european-produced Sako - nothing more.

YMMV.
 
jogforfun said:
I own my old mans old 99c in 308 and it is a better rifle then most new guns on the market today, its a shame they are not still in production. what I want to know is how does it hold up to the BLR?
Click to expand...

I have had a couple salvage 99 c's and they are NOT the quality of rifle the BLR is ! the Win M88 is a very Nice lever rifle too BUT i like the BLR's better then any other lever rifles. I have 2 now one in 358 Win and a 450 Marlin one as well ! RJ
 
I looked a a blr the other day and think I should have had a closer look before I started this thread, I'll stick with my 99.
As to the finwolf I have never held one I do have a sako 85 and nothing on the N.A. market compares it by far the best gun I have ever shot. I would love to try one out, but not going to rush out and pay over $1500 for one missing parts.
 
you have to remember the 99 was brought out with the idea of competing against the 94 and the marlin 336 or whatever- better than 100 years ago- the finnwolf and the blr both benefit from the last century's development in steel and technology- what I see here is " whatever I've got is better than yours syndrome" which even if it is true, is a jaundiced pov
I have both the 94 and the 99 , and use the 94 as my short range brush gun- the 99 is my game getter
 
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Sav99 vs. BLR vs. Win 88.....

My order of preference would be:

1. Savage 99 [must be a pre mil]
2. Browning BLR [prefer the model with the flush mag]
3. Win 88 [must be a pre '64]

Having now owned examples of all three.

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NAA.
 
If you ever have to take a Finnwolf apart and put it back together, you will realize how complicated they are. [Picture above shows it all]

I would rather take apart 10 M88 Winchesters [or 99 Savages, BLR Brownings] than a Finnwolf.

I have owned 3 Sako Finnwolfs over the years, and all are long gone. I might be persuaded to buy a M88 in 284 Winchester.

As to the OP's question. The M99 Savage appeals to me more than does the Browning BLR.

Regards, Dave.
 
after having many different lever rifles over time, I now own a good half dozen or more short action BLR's and a few pre '64 94's. Oh yeah, and a Ruger 96. The rest are all gone.
 
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