Tell me about the Winchester Model 88
- Thread starter 41 Colt
- Start date
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Seriously?
My rifle wears it's original stock, and those who know me will tell you it's been through hell. It's fallen over many times, sometimes with me attached.
Your statement would lead folks to believe the factory stock is as fragile as glass, and my experience says that is BS.
How about elaborating a bit on these breakage stories.
As much as I love these guns, it is not complete BS that the one-piece stock with the detachable mag is technically weaker than other levers. Having said that, they shouldn't break for no reason and I think there is more to the story than it simply falling over. The only time I've ever heard of anybody breaking one was somebody who fell on their model 100. I have never had any problems with an 88 or 100 cracking and I have owned several. It shouldn't be a factor in whether or not to get an 88. The stocks are plenty sturdy.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
That's pretty much what I was thinking, the stock on an 88 isn't that far off the stock on a bolt gun with a detachable mag.
Not to Hijack this thread about model 88's, but i'll put in my 2cents on my model 100 carbine as the stocks are built "similarly". This gun had been "checkered" by bubba and had a repair near the mag when i bought it. After 3 rounds in -10 weather this happened. Not sure what caused the original break, but was told by my gunsmith that this can happen if you try to remove the action from the stock without the action all the way back. But to put it in context we have 2 other pre 64 100's and one post 64 model 88 in our camp that are in the original stock.
In the last 5 yrs I have sold about 25 replacement model 88 stocks.The cracking usually starts if the recoil lug/stock adapter comes loose.It's held in place with a bolt through the butt stock like a 2 pc stock.It seems the stock dries out a little and the bolt works loose.The same applies to the model100.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
That's some serious stock damage!Not to Hijack this thread about model 88's, but i'll put in my 2cents on my model 100 carbine as the stocks are built "similarly". This gun had been "checkered" by bubba and had a repair near the mag when i bought it. After 3 rounds in -10 weather this happened. Not sure what caused the original break, but was told by my gunsmith that this can happen if you try to remove the action from the stock without the action all the way back. But to put it in context we have 2 other pre 64 100's and one post 64 model 88 in our camp that are in the original stock.
Looks very much like what a friend of mine did to his BAR, when he hit a tree with the gun in the scabbard of his ATV. Not a mark on the rifle, but the stock split pretty much end to end, like yours.
RememberTheSomme
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Everytime I see an Model 88 with the lever dropped,..it makes me think, that looks like it would take a roll of caps. 
I have my old mans Model 88 he bought in 1971. Was his primary hunting gun for deer and I seem to recall the odd moose. Aside from some internal wear from grit and the bluing rubbed off it's still reliable. And it was free so...
Long story short... he never clean much more than the barrel. I took it upon myself to open the whole thing up to get the grit, sh!t and grease that was as thick as candle wax out of it. And I tell ya... that is that one monkey motion type of mechanism I don't want to tangle with again. I got it back together but it took a lot of studying the exploded diagram to get it to go.
Long story short... he never clean much more than the barrel. I took it upon myself to open the whole thing up to get the grit, sh!t and grease that was as thick as candle wax out of it. And I tell ya... that is that one monkey motion type of mechanism I don't want to tangle with again. I got it back together but it took a lot of studying the exploded diagram to get it to go.
I guess you have never used one
Tear one completely down for hours of reassembly entertainment!
Its actually not that bad once you do it once or twice. I posted a youtube link with gunsmith Jim Green who shows how to field & detail strip.
Doo-hickeys,thingama bobs and gizmos are just that...parts! Until you understand the theory behind the parts and why they're named as such and how they work with each component its all gravy after that. The biggest thing with the 88 is the use of "slave pins". Things can get frustratingly miserable without 'em!!
True, however those of us who by either profession keen interest or curiousity like to tear things apart and see the mechanics of things work
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