Models 88 & 100 From 1963
- Thread starter ronecol
- Start date
The pre 64 model 100s had cut checkering on the tang cheeks and forearm and the posts had an attractive basket weave pattern.
The rest of the gun was virtually unchanged.
The post 64 model 94s and model 70s were essentially different guns.
The machined receiver and cartridge carrier of the 94s were replaced by pressed sinter metal and a stamped carrier.
The control round feed of the pre 64 model 70s was replaced by a push feed action.
The companies customer base abandoned Winchester in droves.
Winchester hung on til 2006 when the New Haven CT plant closed.
The rest of the gun was virtually unchanged.
The post 64 model 94s and model 70s were essentially different guns.
The machined receiver and cartridge carrier of the 94s were replaced by pressed sinter metal and a stamped carrier.
The control round feed of the pre 64 model 70s was replaced by a push feed action.
The companies customer base abandoned Winchester in droves.
Winchester hung on til 2006 when the New Haven CT plant closed.
I came across an old (1963) Winchester catalogue. Here's a couple of page scans. Note the prices
1963 was the last year Winchester made "real guns" according to some.
We as Winchester purists won't have a post 63 Winchester in the house.
...and in 1992 with a new plant and modern machinery the M70 was returned to it's original design and superior quality with CRF. Officially launched 1994 as the "Return of the Classic"
We owned a couple of pre 64 100s and neither of them would take any prizes for accuracy.
My nephew bought a post 64 100 with the basket weave tang cheeks and forearm that I thought was a more attractive gun than our pre versions.
The post 64 100 was the prettiest commercially marketed centre fire hunting semi auto rifle that was ever built.
The Remington 74XX series of semi auto rifles "jamomatics" though still currently made are ugly in comparison.
My first rifle given to me new when I was 16 was a model 88. I used it for 20-25 yrs & killed my first deer, my 1st elk & my 1st moose with it. I gave it to my son who sold it. Wish I would have kept it. For me it all started 46 yrs ago & is still a very popular firearm.
I had an 88 in 308 and a 100 in 243. I traded the 88 For a roof on the cottage/ hunt camp. Good trade but I still regret it sometimes. Still have the 100, I want to work it over to get it sighted in. Has anyone worked with one a lot that can tell me what kind of results to expect. I do not want to waste a lot of ammo trying to make it better than it can be. Lots of people are critical of its accuracy. Probably not a long distance shooter but should be capable of deer at central Ontario ranges.
Those prices look great but in 1963 $155 was a lot of coin for the average working man.
Seve, while it is true that the 100s are not considered to be tack drivers they can be just fine for hunting. The simplest thing you can do is to find ammunition they like, more for function than anything else. I have seen more than one 308 model 100 balk at the 180 grn factory stuff due to the pressure curve.
To sight in, or practice, make sure each shot is from a cold barrel, the same as your first shot would be in a hunting situation. Multiple shots without a cool down cause the point of impact to wander and there is no simple cure for it.
Seve, while it is true that the 100s are not considered to be tack drivers they can be just fine for hunting. The simplest thing you can do is to find ammunition they like, more for function than anything else. I have seen more than one 308 model 100 balk at the 180 grn factory stuff due to the pressure curve.
To sight in, or practice, make sure each shot is from a cold barrel, the same as your first shot would be in a hunting situation. Multiple shots without a cool down cause the point of impact to wander and there is no simple cure for it.
I've had my share of 88's and 100's over time, then I got a Finnwolf, then the others went to new homes. Now I got a 100 in 284, put a Leupold on it and will play with it one of these days. Plan on using it fill the freezer this Fall. Also had a number of 94's some pre & some post and some AE. Still got my first hunting rifle, '49 94 30-30 and a '57 94 32 Spl. My favorite orange hunting cap says Winchester on it
Well, if that is what it takes count me in as well.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Looks like maybe 1963 was the year in which the Model 88 in 358 Winchester was dropped.
Shame, pretty good "Eastern" deer, bear & moose medicine.
Shame, pretty good "Eastern" deer, bear & moose medicine.
Some accuracy improvements can be had by glass bedding the barrel and action.
With the Winchester 100 the action takes up so much room there isn't a lot of spare wood surrounding it (very thin) so be careful when doing your fitting.
An original 100 stock is a rare commodity worth as much as the rifle.
If you screw it up Boyds makes stocks for Winchester 100s.
The rarest 100 is the 19" bbl plain stock carbine in 284 Win.
They quit making Winchester 88s and 100s in 1973.
88s were made from 1955 - 1973 and 100s were made from 1961 - 1973.
For some reason the 35 caliber rifles were never popular except for perhaps the 35 Rem which still enjoys a small but loyal following which includes me.
The 35 Win, 351SL, 358 Win, 35 Newton, 35 Whalen, 350 Rem Mag were unsuccessful in the market place.
Browning still makes the BLR in 358 Win and I think Remington had dropped the 35 Whalen from their 74XX and 76XX rifle series.
- Location
- West Quebec
Don't feel alone it was a gentler time
I'm young enough that I missed most of it. Loved pouring over the old school Outdoor Life and Field and Stream magazines when I was a kid though. McManus, Carmichael, and Zumbo in their prime made for some fine reading.
