Model 88.............?

Winchester was not one to waste too much, they used up the pre-64 M88 components until the bins were empty. . Same with some M12's that were assembled, post 64, using up pre-64 parts. But all that soon came to an end.
Some of the pre-64 M88's had very nice walnut stocks but by 62 and 63 it was hit and miss depending on what they had in stock. The machine checkering attempts were horrible and the walnut selection was poor so the impressed checkering was the post 64 standard.

Here's a few pictures of my M88, I believe 1959. It has a beautiful figured stock and still has the old 2x7 Scope Chief V1. It's in excellent condition and nice to shoot. When I first got the gun, some years back, I found the trigger was terrible. I removed the barrel and receiver, very easy to, and cleaned and lubricated the trigger assembly using ample Rem Cleaner and Rem Oil. Using compressed air I blew out all the excess Rem Oil and did this a number of times making a huge improvement.

One of the pictures shows the two Winchester magazines. The one on the left is pre-64 and the one on the right is post 64. I have two of the pre-64 mags and they both work flawlessly.

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Rod said:
Winchester was not one to waste too much, they used up the pre-64 M88 components until the bins were empty. . Same with some M12's that were assembled, post 64, using up pre-64 parts. But all that soon came to an end.
Some of the pre-64 M88's had very nice walnut stocks but by 62 and 63 it was hit and miss depending on what they had in stock. The machine checkering attempts were horrible and the walnut selection was poor so the impressed checkering was the post 64 standard.

Here's a few pictures of my M88, I believe 1959. It has a beautiful figured stock and still has the old 2x7 Scope Chief V1. It's in excellent condition and nice to shoot. When I first got the gun, some years back, I found the trigger was terrible. I removed the barrel and receiver, very easy to, and cleaned and lubricated the trigger assembly using ample Rem Cleaner and Rem Oil. Using compressed air I blew out all the excess Rem Oil and did this a number of times making a huge improvement.

One of the pictures shows the two Winchester magazines. The one on the left is pre-64 and the one on the right is post 64. I have two of the pre-64 mags and they both work flawlessly.

XXPctPM.jpg


BYovCnB.jpg


JwyCujh.jpg


ppaayXw.jpg
Click to expand...


Wow. Just, wow.

I’ve got a 1955 model 88. It’s nice... but not THAT nice. What a beauty.
 
Very nice wood on that 88!
After reading an article years ago on Craig Boddington's Model 88 chambered to 358 Win by Rogue River Rifles in California years ago, I called them. They informed me that the pre-64's had terrible triggers and that the post 64's had improved triggers. They also said that there was another trigger improvement after s/n 189,000 (IIRC) and that when doing custom rifles they tried to do so on rifles having s/n's higher than that. To bad they do n ot exist anymore. They also did away with the barrel tension screw in the forearm and replaced it with a recoil lug by the action, which improved accuracy potential. Could not find any info on the internet on this when I had my 338 Federal built though.
Have had a few Model 88's over the years and have always had a soft spot for these rifles. Have not yet owned a Model 88 in 243 or a 358 (haven't even seen one in 358, in person).
The triggers on my 284 and 7mm-08 are best I have seen on an 88 to date.
Hope to find a couple of blanks similar in grain to that above, to have full length stocks made for my two custom 88's (7mm-08 and 338 Federal).
I was inspired many years ago to have a FS 88 after reading an article featuring John Wooters' matched pair of FS 88's rebarrelled to the 7mm-08 Rem. Beautiful rifles!
Originally thought a matching rifle in 358 Win would be great, but later changed that to the 338 Federal, just because I didn't have a rifle chambered to that cartridge yet.
 
Mine is pre-64 and I have to concur the trigger is horrible or worse...... The wood is nice but nowhere as nice as the one pictured in this post !!! Too bad, it carries nice balances nice, it's quite accurate but I have to work hard to get nice groups because of the trigger.
 
Francois: My M88 had a terrible trigger when I first bought the rifle. . When I found some time I pulled the barrel and receiver off the stock and opened the action. . Soaked the trigger assy. with Rem Action Cleaner and let it soak for a bit and kept applying more and then blew it all out with compressed air. . When I thought the action was clean I did the same with Rem Oil and finished up by blowing it out with compressed air. .

My M88 had next to no use, when I bought it, and had sat unused for a quite a spell and as such the lubrication in the trigger assy. had dried and hardened up creating a terrible trigger. . I repeating the Rem Oil procedure a few more times and found it greatly improved the trigger performance making it quite tolerable and able to bring in decent groups. . The trigger would be comparable to my 1950's M99 Savage.

The stock and finish is original and all I've done, every few years, is lightly wipe the stock down with some artisit's linseed oil, they use to thin their paints, and let it sit for a couple of hours and then wipe it completely off and buff it lightly with a soft cotton cloth. . . I also do this with my main hunting rifle at the end of the season before I put it away.
 
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Rod, Ill take you up on this..... after deer season. I'll take a swing at it. Who knows the 88 might hit the woods in 2020. Thanks !!!
 
I have few Winchester 88’s and 100’s. I had a post 64 in 308 rebarreled to 338 Federal with no magazine modification and it feeds and cycles 210gr ammo with no issues at all. I can’t comment on reboring to 358 Whinchester tho.
Dan
 
Nice looking 88.
last 4 gun shows on Vancouver island ,pre and post '64 in .308 going for $ 450 to $1000. .308 mags $60+.
i have a 1971 in .284.... 2.nd.owner.....but mags for .284 and .358 cal. are almost impossible to find AND if you find one, cost is outrageous.
 
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