- Location
- Chilliwack,BC
I am planning to purchase either a Winchester Model 88, but am also looking at the model 100 in 308. I will be using it for deer hunting.
Which is the better of the two?
Which is the better of the two?
Winchester Model 88 or 100?
- Thread starter Moose Stalker
- Start date
I have owned both of these guns and I like them both. I would recommend the 88 simply for the reason that it is more reliable.
The Model 100 is a fine rifle but it has to be kept clean to stay reliable. I'm sure somebody will chime in and say they never cleaned their Model 100 and it shoots fine, but that's not a risk I'm willing to take. My dad had his Model 100 jam while taking a follow up shot at an 8 point buck. Something else you should know, the Model 100 had a firing pin recall some years ago. So if you do decide on the Model 100, be sure that the one you purchase has had the firing pin recall completed.
The 88 on the other hand is a fantastic rifle. My favourite lever out there and my go-to gun. It is smooth, fast, and reliable. .308 is a great caliber as well. I have had an pre-64, two post-64s, and a carbine model and they are all consistently accurate. Ignore any BS about finger-pinching in the lever and heavy triggers. The 88 is not a target rifle, so if you are using it for hunting these factors will be irrelevant. I really like the look of the one piece stock and I like both the checkering of the pre-64s and the basket-weave pattern on the post-64. Some will tell you the one-piece stock is prone to breakage, which is technically true, but it's not going to fall apart when you shoot it. I have had no problems with cracks in any of mine. If you can, go for the pre-64, I think they are a little nicer myself. The 88 did not undergo the same extent of quality changes as did the 94 following 1964, so the difference is mostly cosmetic. You won't notice a change in quality like you do in the 94s (flaking finish etc). If you like levers then go for the 88, you won't regret it.
Check out the EE, I believe there is a pre-64 on there for around $600 that hasn't sold. I believe this is a fair price. Expect to pay about $475-$550 for a nice post-64 and maybe $600-$650 for a pre-64. Good luck!
The Model 100 is a fine rifle but it has to be kept clean to stay reliable. I'm sure somebody will chime in and say they never cleaned their Model 100 and it shoots fine, but that's not a risk I'm willing to take. My dad had his Model 100 jam while taking a follow up shot at an 8 point buck. Something else you should know, the Model 100 had a firing pin recall some years ago. So if you do decide on the Model 100, be sure that the one you purchase has had the firing pin recall completed.
The 88 on the other hand is a fantastic rifle. My favourite lever out there and my go-to gun. It is smooth, fast, and reliable. .308 is a great caliber as well. I have had an pre-64, two post-64s, and a carbine model and they are all consistently accurate. Ignore any BS about finger-pinching in the lever and heavy triggers. The 88 is not a target rifle, so if you are using it for hunting these factors will be irrelevant. I really like the look of the one piece stock and I like both the checkering of the pre-64s and the basket-weave pattern on the post-64. Some will tell you the one-piece stock is prone to breakage, which is technically true, but it's not going to fall apart when you shoot it. I have had no problems with cracks in any of mine. If you can, go for the pre-64, I think they are a little nicer myself. The 88 did not undergo the same extent of quality changes as did the 94 following 1964, so the difference is mostly cosmetic. You won't notice a change in quality like you do in the 94s (flaking finish etc). If you like levers then go for the 88, you won't regret it.
Check out the EE, I believe there is a pre-64 on there for around $600 that hasn't sold. I believe this is a fair price. Expect to pay about $475-$550 for a nice post-64 and maybe $600-$650 for a pre-64. Good luck!
He should be along any minute now............
As mentioned on other posts, there is a recall
bulletin out on the model 100 re the firing pin.
Out of the two and I have owned both, I would
choose either the BLR or the Marlin.
As mentioned on other posts, there is a recall
bulletin out on the model 100 re the firing pin.
Out of the two and I have owned both, I would
choose either the BLR or the Marlin.
The BLR is definitely the superior rifle, but there's just something about the 88 I love though that keeps me coming back to it. Here's an 88 on the EE:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=690785&highlight=winchester
I have a model 100 that I picked up off the exchange last year. It jammed on every third shot with Federal shells but once I started shooting Winchester white box I haven't had a hiccup. Filled my tag with it this year and like it so much I'm selling my Remmington 760. Will it jam if it's dirty? I couldn't tell you as I clean my guns. A buddy of mine has a model 88 which is also a great rifle and I really like the looks of the Winchester model's 100,88 and 77. I plan to pick up an 88 one day so I'll have all of them
dgradinaru
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- British Columbia
I had a post 64 Model 88 long ago. Shot my first two bucks with it. It shot tight groups with 180 grain bullets. I seen some really nice ones a local tackle shop for $500-600.
ninepointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
I've owned both in .308 Win.
The 100 was the purtiest most streamlined semi made and I traded mine in part payment for a Sako "Hunter" that I wanted.
Kept the 88 years after I dumped the 100 but despite several efforts could never reconcile myself to it's crappy trigger.
I bought a Marlin 336 in .35 Rem with the money that my nephew has now and harvested a buck with last fall.
I'm not a very big gal and I'm back using my old fallback, an original Remington Model 7 in .308 Win with an 18 1/2" barrel with a 2-7x30mm Leupold scope on top which has been customized to "fit" me. It has a Timney trigger and has been pillar and glass bedded and is lethally accurate.
The 100 was the purtiest most streamlined semi made and I traded mine in part payment for a Sako "Hunter" that I wanted.
Kept the 88 years after I dumped the 100 but despite several efforts could never reconcile myself to it's crappy trigger.
I bought a Marlin 336 in .35 Rem with the money that my nephew has now and harvested a buck with last fall.
I'm not a very big gal and I'm back using my old fallback, an original Remington Model 7 in .308 Win with an 18 1/2" barrel with a 2-7x30mm Leupold scope on top which has been customized to "fit" me. It has a Timney trigger and has been pillar and glass bedded and is lethally accurate.
patricksbb391
CGN Regular
- Location
- Ottawa & WMU 62
I'd go with the 88. My father has used the one he purchased back in the mid-'50's with great sucess. There was a recall on them at one point. I picked up another a year or two ago and have had great luck with it. Only gripe may be that the trigger is not as good as a bolt action.
Pre-64 Model 88 . . . Keep the trigger assy clean and use the correct gun lubricant sparingly . . Rem oil used very sparingly, in the spray can, will maintain a decent trigger pull. . Also; use the correct magazine and not the aftermarket cheap ones. This goes for the Model 100 as well. . The correct magazine will have "WINCHESTER" in bold script on the bottom and made from thicker metal.
Another positive point of the Model 88 . . a bolt action functioned by a lever. . . you'll notice the Model 88 is considerably thicker than other Winchester lever guns . . the bolt has a unique design to it with the front of the bolt having locking lugs that turn into slots in the receiver. . When Winchester re-designed in 1964, some experts of the day had wrote that "Winchester's New Design Team" should have employed this bolt locking mechanism with post 64 Model 70's.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Two model 88's in my deer camp, and a 100 in my moose camp. No issues with any of them. Mine froze up this year, because I didn't strip clean it between moose and deer camps. Moose camp was rainy and I was out every day. So one cold day I got a click instead of a bang. I waited , cleared the round, and the next went bang. (got the deer) The original round went bang the second try.
Strip cleaning an 88 is a bit more technical than some guys are willing to do. But after you make a few slave pins, it's no big deal at all.
I do find the trigger a bit heavy, but generally a good cleaning helps considerably in that department.
Someone mentioned the BLR, and I think it's trigger wins no prizes either. I find it to be inconsistent.
Strip cleaning a BLR is also a challenge to be left to the experienced, unless your up for it. There are timing issues with reassembling the BLR.
As far as the trigger goes, I think it's mostly just a matter of adjusting to it.
My personal 88 version is the rifle version, the other guy in deer camp has the carbine. I like mine better, but that's mostly aesthetics. I don't like the way the carbine band looks on his. Like an afterthought.
Can't argue with it's shooting ability, he shot two running deer as they ran up to him during a chase a few years ago. Just the kind of thing a lever gun was designed for.
The 100 at moose camp doesn't see a lot of action, the owner uses it solely for moose hunting. But he has never failed with the rifle.
I've shot moose, bear, coyote, rabbits and deer with my 88 in 308. I'll continue to enjoy it.
Strip cleaning an 88 is a bit more technical than some guys are willing to do. But after you make a few slave pins, it's no big deal at all.
I do find the trigger a bit heavy, but generally a good cleaning helps considerably in that department.
Someone mentioned the BLR, and I think it's trigger wins no prizes either. I find it to be inconsistent.
Strip cleaning a BLR is also a challenge to be left to the experienced, unless your up for it. There are timing issues with reassembling the BLR.
As far as the trigger goes, I think it's mostly just a matter of adjusting to it.
My personal 88 version is the rifle version, the other guy in deer camp has the carbine. I like mine better, but that's mostly aesthetics. I don't like the way the carbine band looks on his. Like an afterthought.
Can't argue with it's shooting ability, he shot two running deer as they ran up to him during a chase a few years ago. Just the kind of thing a lever gun was designed for.
The 100 at moose camp doesn't see a lot of action, the owner uses it solely for moose hunting. But he has never failed with the rifle.
I've shot moose, bear, coyote, rabbits and deer with my 88 in 308. I'll continue to enjoy it.
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I liked the Winchester 88 rifle but that trigger was beyond salvation.
I've had it looked at by a couple of good gunsmiths both in the USA and Canada but it was never adjusted to my satisfaction and I like a light, crisp, clean breaking trigger so after a few years someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse and I let the gun go.
I would have to say that I preferred the 88 to the 100 which I only kept for a couple of years.
I'm was never big on semis and much prefer bolts and levers.
I've had it looked at by a couple of good gunsmiths both in the USA and Canada but it was never adjusted to my satisfaction and I like a light, crisp, clean breaking trigger so after a few years someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse and I let the gun go.
I would have to say that I preferred the 88 to the 100 which I only kept for a couple of years.
I'm was never big on semis and much prefer bolts and levers.
I've heard tell about the Model 88's lousy trigger pull but I must have a different Model 88 than some folks because the trigger pull on mine is very nice . . it is a different mechanism and as such, keeping it clean and properly lubricated is important. . It reminds me a bit of the Luger P08.
RememberTheSomme
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
