Who hunts with a Winchester model 88 .308 and what ammunition/load are you using?
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Dorian Gray
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
My father has hunted with one in 308 for 4 decades and change. Same as yours. Post '64. He just hung it up this year and passed it down to me. It's well worn and he's taken a few moose and a few caribou with it. I'm not touching it as he's not dead yet and I want his rifle to remain his rifle for as long as he's above ground, just in case we end up going out for a few more hunts with it before he's no longer with us. Once he's gone, I'll play with it and take it out on fair weather days and see if I can bag something with it. Ammo for him has always been whatever was cheapest cup and core type ammo he could get his hands on. It's not glamorous but it works.
As an aside, a gentleman I hunt moose with shot a very respectable 50" bull with an 88 in 308 in 2020. Ammo for him was also the cheapest Winchester #### he could find. Distance was about 60 yards and while his marksmanship was definitely lacking, (don't get me started on that one) he most certainly killed the moose and the cheap cup and cores worked just fine.
As an aside, a gentleman I hunt moose with shot a very respectable 50" bull with an 88 in 308 in 2020. Ammo for him was also the cheapest Winchester #### he could find. Distance was about 60 yards and while his marksmanship was definitely lacking, (don't get me started on that one) he most certainly killed the moose and the cheap cup and cores worked just fine.
I am not a 308 Winchester person. [I recognize it is a fine round, quite capable to hunt N.A. game],
but I have always favored the 30-06, or for more oomph yet, the 308 Norma Magnum.
However, in 1963, I bought a brand new M88 Winchester chambered in 308 Winchester. With it I
shot Moose, Mule deer and Black Bear. It worked just fine if I did my part.
My ammunition of choice initially was the Super-X 180 Grain Silvertip of the day. I have 2 or 3 here
that I recovered. They all look "Classic" as to expansion, usually found under the hide on the opposite
side of entry. I think that bullet was well suited to the more modest velocity of the 308 class [c.2600 fps]
I started reloading a couple of years later, and sold the 308. I have owned several other 308's over the
years, and 3 were M88 Winchesters. While I prefer bolt actions, the 88 is a very well made and usually,
quite accurate, platform. I would have no qualms about using one to hunt big game here in BC if that was
the only available firearm. I would load a good 165 grain bullet in it, and hunt with confidence. Dave.
but I have always favored the 30-06, or for more oomph yet, the 308 Norma Magnum.
However, in 1963, I bought a brand new M88 Winchester chambered in 308 Winchester. With it I
shot Moose, Mule deer and Black Bear. It worked just fine if I did my part.
My ammunition of choice initially was the Super-X 180 Grain Silvertip of the day. I have 2 or 3 here
that I recovered. They all look "Classic" as to expansion, usually found under the hide on the opposite
side of entry. I think that bullet was well suited to the more modest velocity of the 308 class [c.2600 fps]
I started reloading a couple of years later, and sold the 308. I have owned several other 308's over the
years, and 3 were M88 Winchesters. While I prefer bolt actions, the 88 is a very well made and usually,
quite accurate, platform. I would have no qualms about using one to hunt big game here in BC if that was
the only available firearm. I would load a good 165 grain bullet in it, and hunt with confidence. Dave.
My Dad rotates between a Mod 88 Carbine (308) and a Win 94 (32Spl) as his walking/brush rigs.
The 94 has been around as long as I’ve been hunting (30+ yrs). The 88 is a more recent addition at least within the last Doz years or so.
180gr something’s in the Mod 88. The boxes are probably from the late 70’s or early 80’s. CIL or PMC’s possibly? Maybe Win Super-X’s? I’d have to ask him, cause now I’m actually curious about it. I do remember seeing them this past fall but can’t recall what they were.
Can’t say I’m honestly a fan of the 88, I find it’s a bit weighty for a carbine setup. I much prefer the 94 for a brush/dogging type setup.
This particular 88 is quite accurate at a 100yrds and it functions well, it also has accounted for a couple of Moose and Whitetails.
Clips for the 88’s can be a pia to find and purchase. They were commanding a pretty penny before CV19, so I can only imagine what a decent one is worth now.
**edited note**
As for optics, I wanna say an older B&L or Tasco in the 2.5-7 range, but will verify that along with the ammo.
The 94 has been around as long as I’ve been hunting (30+ yrs). The 88 is a more recent addition at least within the last Doz years or so.
180gr something’s in the Mod 88. The boxes are probably from the late 70’s or early 80’s. CIL or PMC’s possibly? Maybe Win Super-X’s? I’d have to ask him, cause now I’m actually curious about it. I do remember seeing them this past fall but can’t recall what they were.
Can’t say I’m honestly a fan of the 88, I find it’s a bit weighty for a carbine setup. I much prefer the 94 for a brush/dogging type setup.
This particular 88 is quite accurate at a 100yrds and it functions well, it also has accounted for a couple of Moose and Whitetails.
Clips for the 88’s can be a pia to find and purchase. They were commanding a pretty penny before CV19, so I can only imagine what a decent one is worth now.
**edited note**
As for optics, I wanna say an older B&L or Tasco in the 2.5-7 range, but will verify that along with the ammo.
Back when I hunted with the Model 88's in 308, I used the Winchester 180 gr Power Point (IIRC) ammo and worked just fine on deer, moose and black bear.
Today, my Model 88's have been rebarreled to 250 Savage, 7mm-08 and 338 Federal...way more interesting, IMHO. Having fun with them!
Today, my Model 88's have been rebarreled to 250 Savage, 7mm-08 and 338 Federal...way more interesting, IMHO. Having fun with them!
- Location
- Western Manitoba
My friend used a borrowed Win Model 88 for several years - got his first deer while I was with him - also got another in a different year when I was not there - would be very difficult to convince him there is something inadequate about that rifle for hunting - he spent decades, shooting at deer with various 303 British rifles - but he was able to connect with that Model 88, and was also able to play "royal hell" from his farm house step, on various marauding coyotes that did not actually read the email to "stay away" ...
Loads - for some reason, I did my research / made my decisions in 1980's - I had a Win 70 bolt action in 308 Win. For some good, and maybe some no longer good, reasons, I have loaded 165 Speer HotCor bullets over RL-15 powder for that rifle ever since - is / was always right around 2,800 fps if/when I verified on my Shooting Chrony, just like the books say it should be. Our son has had it at least 20 years - many, many dozens of mule deer and white tail have gone down to that load - and two elk - I got my first with it, and so did our son - with that rifle and about that loading. Looking through Speer and Nosler loading manuals - even today - not finding a lot of difference - their loadings for 165 grain 308 Win versus factory 30-06. Yet is no end of people that I have hunted with, who use factory ammo in their 30-06, that "poo-poo" my "little" 308 Win.
Loads - for some reason, I did my research / made my decisions in 1980's - I had a Win 70 bolt action in 308 Win. For some good, and maybe some no longer good, reasons, I have loaded 165 Speer HotCor bullets over RL-15 powder for that rifle ever since - is / was always right around 2,800 fps if/when I verified on my Shooting Chrony, just like the books say it should be. Our son has had it at least 20 years - many, many dozens of mule deer and white tail have gone down to that load - and two elk - I got my first with it, and so did our son - with that rifle and about that loading. Looking through Speer and Nosler loading manuals - even today - not finding a lot of difference - their loadings for 165 grain 308 Win versus factory 30-06. Yet is no end of people that I have hunted with, who use factory ammo in their 30-06, that "poo-poo" my "little" 308 Win.
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