Tell me about the Winchester Model 88
- Thread starter 41 Colt
- Start date
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
It'll work, was an innovative design of it's time.
Not a thing wrong with it.88's have downed alot of game.
They are also stylish to some, and a nice handling rifle.
Not a thing wrong with it.88's have downed alot of game.
They are also stylish to some, and a nice handling rifle.
My friend still swears by his and the friggin 9 lb trigger. Every time I pull on that thing, the muzzle lifts 2" before it even goes bang. I like the ergonomics, like said before, a little bit "full feeling" in the hands, unless you have big hands like mine. I doubt I'd own one personally, but my buddy sure has stuffed a fair amount of freezers with his.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
I have an 88, in the rifle form, it's reasonable accurate, not on par with a good bolt gun, but comparable to a BLR.
"Sticks cracking at the wrist", I've never seen one, the 99 Savage sometimes did this, and I think that's where the rumour came from. Even with the 99, it's not as prevalent as the stories would have folks believe.
The action likes to be kept clean, and lightly lubed. It will work fine when fairly dirty, but the trigger pull becomes very inconsistent.
You should have no issues taking game out to 300 yards with the 308 version, assuming you're up for it.
"Sticks cracking at the wrist", I've never seen one, the 99 Savage sometimes did this, and I think that's where the rumour came from. Even with the 99, it's not as prevalent as the stories would have folks believe.
The action likes to be kept clean, and lightly lubed. It will work fine when fairly dirty, but the trigger pull becomes very inconsistent.
You should have no issues taking game out to 300 yards with the 308 version, assuming you're up for it.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
I have an 88, in the rifle form, it's reasonable accurate, not on par with a good bolt gun, but comparable to a BLR.
"Sticks cracking at the wrist", I've never seen one, the 99 Savage sometimes did this, and I think that's where the rumour came from. Even with the 99, it's not as prevalent as the stories would have folks believe.
The action likes to be kept clean, and lightly lubed. It will work fine when fairly dirty, but the trigger pull becomes very inconsistent.
You should have no issues taking game out to 300 yards with the 308 version, assuming you're up for it.
"Sticks cracking at the wrist", I've never seen one, the 99 Savage sometimes did this, and I think that's where the rumour came from. Even with the 99, it's not as prevalent as the stories would have folks believe.
The action likes to be kept clean, and lightly lubed. It will work fine when fairly dirty, but the trigger pull becomes very inconsistent.
You should have no issues taking game out to 300 yards with the 308 version, assuming you're up for it.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
The Winchester 88 was the nicest looking of any lever guns designed to shoot modern cartridges loaded with pointed bullets. It was light enough and handy enough to make a great general purpose rifle chambered as it was for modern hard hitting cartridges. Its one downfall was it's miserable trigger which no self respecting rifleman could abide. But if you didn't know the difference it didn't matter, and probably wouldn't prevent you from putting meat in the freezer. This was another childhood rifle that put me firmly in the bolt gun camp.
The Win.88 has a dedicated following as does its cousin the Win. 100 which is the semi version of the same rifle design.
The 88 enjoys a better reputation than its cousin for dependability due to it's lever action design. Yes the trigger pulls are heavy, and that effects accuracy, yes a good smith can improve it some. But in it's original state it's well within 'Minute of moose, deer, and bear" accuracy for practical hunting purposes.
Yes the stock is thick through the pistol grip area, and personally I have never heard of one cracking in this area. On my M-100 I thinned the grip area on mine considerably to suit my smaller hands. It has had boxes of rounds through it since with no signs of cracking.
Yes you can mount see through type scope mounts, or tip off mounts to take advantage of the iron sights.
Personally I would highly suggest buying a good quality low powered variable scope, 1.5 to 5. Mount it low with a good set of mounts. And you will never have need for the iron sights. I have had such a set up on my M-100 for 20yrs and have never regretted it.
Win. M-88 a good old dependable no frills work horse of a gun.
The 88 enjoys a better reputation than its cousin for dependability due to it's lever action design. Yes the trigger pulls are heavy, and that effects accuracy, yes a good smith can improve it some. But in it's original state it's well within 'Minute of moose, deer, and bear" accuracy for practical hunting purposes.
Yes the stock is thick through the pistol grip area, and personally I have never heard of one cracking in this area. On my M-100 I thinned the grip area on mine considerably to suit my smaller hands. It has had boxes of rounds through it since with no signs of cracking.
Yes you can mount see through type scope mounts, or tip off mounts to take advantage of the iron sights.
Personally I would highly suggest buying a good quality low powered variable scope, 1.5 to 5. Mount it low with a good set of mounts. And you will never have need for the iron sights. I have had such a set up on my M-100 for 20yrs and have never regretted it.
Win. M-88 a good old dependable no frills work horse of a gun.
if you want a real sweetheart that looks very similar to the 88, but is much better in every way, look for a Sako Finnwolf. The Sako scope rings have see through holes in them so one can use the front iron site in a peep site method. They are rare, but they are out there. I sold all my 88's after my Finnwolf arrived, no regrets.
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I have both, 88 & 100 both .308, The 88 was my Dads and is in very good condition, was hunted only a few times. I found a sweet load of 42grs Varget, 165gr Rem CL and Rem brass (resized & trimmed) which will punch clover leafs @100yds (and I had fellow CGN "Hakx" as my witness 
).
Yeah the trigger could be better, I'm quite used to it now. But its a freaking hunting rifle!! Not a precision long range shooter!!
You'll either love it or hate it.
).Yeah the trigger could be better, I'm quite used to it now. But its a freaking hunting rifle!! Not a precision long range shooter!!
You'll either love it or hate it.
