Small base sizing die needed for Winchester Model 88?

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Why not?

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Thinking about a Model 88 Winchester in 308, and wondering if anyone here loads for one? I have always been told that one must use SB dies for levers, pumps, and semis, but have never needed them yet.

However, I have not loaded for an 88, and would appreciate your experiences in this regard.

Thanks,
Ted
 
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I use SB dies for all of my .308's. I'm assured I won't have chambering problems.

For levers, generally, it's not a bad idea.

A friend had an 88 and it was fussy.
 
My old mentor used one in .308 and it needed full length resizing (with a regular FL die, not a SB die) before I would chamber new brass. (If you just bought a bag and tried to neck size it and load it up, it often would not chamber) , also if the gun wasn't clean, it sometimes needed some "extra mustard" put into the lever before It would fully chamber. Plus that 9 pound trigger made me wince the few times I got to shoot it. :puke:
 
I loaded 308 for Model 88's and some did have feeding issues that were solved by the use of small base dies.I also ran into some problems with some,but not all,Savage 99's and Browning BLR rifles in 308.Your rifle maybe fine with regular dies,just have to try them to see.
 
I have a very simple answer because we live in a plus and minus manufacturing world, buy a standard full length resizing die and see if it works. I have small base dies and they only size the case less than .001 smaller in diameter "BUT" they size further down the case and bring the case back to minimum factory dimensions. In 46 years of reloading I have never needed a small base die for the cases fired in my rifles. I have small base dies because I buy once fired brass fired in other rifles and resize these cases once with a small base die before firing them in my rifles.

The majority of pump and lever rifles already have a larger diameter chamber than a bolt action rifle has, the problem is "some" full length dies are on the large size and the brass springs back after sizing. This normally can be compensated for by pausing at the top of the ram stroke for a few seconds which greatly reduces the brass spring back of the case. Meaning by pausing you are letting the brass know who the boss is and to stay put after sizing.
 
Okay, my buddy came over with his Model 88. We partially resized his fired 308 brass using my FL sizer. Set the die so it did not touch the shoulder, and a case chambered fine. So, resized the rest, loaded up a bunch of 165 gr Partitions with 47 gr of 748 and headed to the range.

BINGO! Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner!

Ted
 
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