Dad's new Winchester Model 88

SoonerFan · November 16, 2009, 09:51 PM

My dad recently got a Winchester Model 88 in 308 from a family friend. Anything he should know about the Winchester model 88? I don't know much about them, and I don' think he's hunted with it yet. Thanks!

trooper3385 · November 17, 2009, 12:19 AM

I've never really heard anything bad about them. Probably not going to be an absolute tack driver, but should be plenty accurate for hunting. A guy on our lease hunts with one in a 243 and puts a deer down just about every year. He shot a 12 point with it last year at about 220 yds.

Ps
UT 16 OU 13
Hook em horns
Better luck next year

dgludwig · November 17, 2009, 06:56 AM

I've always liked the 88. The only negative thing about the rifle imo is that the trigger pull leaves a lot to be desired. Oh, and be sure to tell your dad to be careful to not lose the magazine. Replacements can be very hard to come by.

GeauxTide · November 17, 2009, 09:06 AM

A very excellent rifle that was way ahead of it's time. The .284Win pieces go into the $thousands. As mentioned, trigger is rough. My old BIL had one in 243 and killed pickup truck loads of deer over a long life.

thekyrifleman · November 17, 2009, 11:57 AM

He might want to put it in the safe and forget about it. the value of the 88's are appreciating faster than any bank account. I have one in 284 that is in my safe gaining value everyday...

gak · November 17, 2009, 12:53 PM

It's more of a bolt action mechanism actuated by lever--than a pure" lever action...and some say it's a complex or at least different leverworks. Have a smith check it out before hitting the field or range and you'll be good to go. I always liked them as the "ultimate" compromise or combo--a long(er) range, harder hitting but still handy lever--and passed on a Pre 64 .308 awhile ago I want back!

oneoldsap · November 17, 2009, 07:15 PM

A prettier lever action has yet to be built . Only the Sako Finnwolf matches it and they are in the thousands of dollars . You can manage the trigger with some practice . Most people don't shoot enough anyway .

94bluerat · November 17, 2009, 07:49 PM

Wow, lucky him. I hunt w/ one every weekend. Experiment w/ ammo. I'm shooting 168gr win sup ballistic tip in .308. It shoots decent groups and hits strong past 200yds.

Good luck!

jrothWA · November 17, 2009, 11:32 PM

for .308W, use the 165gr@ about the 2500fps.

Also, if you want to improve accuracy, try bedding the front of action where the mag release is located.

check the barrel & stock for any rubbing and relieve.

rough-up the back half of the C'bore for the barrel screw& ferrule, the bed the rear of that area, use a business card @ the stock tio and barrel, until the bedding is cured.

Do this you'll be able to group your shots inside the X-ring on a standard 200 yd target from the prone position.

72gator · November 18, 2009, 12:52 AM

The values of the guns has sky-rocketed. My father-in-law has them all but the .358... he REALLY wishes he had that one! I have seen these guns since I was a kid, and I like them very much. I would love one in a .308, but I'd settle for a model 99 Savage in the same caliber. I think your Dad will love his new toy.

bamaranger · November 18, 2009, 01:05 AM

M88's used the same bbls as M70's, very high quality. Mine shoots better after I shimmed the forearm just ahead of the front bedding screw, prior that it was prone to shift zero season to season.

Also, my rifle likes 150 gr better than anything heavier, and W-W factory shoots as well as anything else I've tried.

You don't mention what era the rifle is. Pre-64 has cut checkering and all I've seen have pretty dark walnut. Post 64 is stamped checkering and blonder wood to my eye than the early rifles. VERY early M88,s had a tang at the rear of the receiver, later rifles did not.

The classic stock points great for me. Three generations have carried mine, and my boy will get it next. I have the note my grandad wrote insuring the rifle would come to me.

November 16, 2009, 09:51 PM	#1
SoonerFan Member Join Date: April 25, 2009 Location: Sooner State Posts: 21	Dad's new Winchester Model 88 My dad recently got a Winchester Model 88 in 308 from a family friend. Anything he should know about the Winchester model 88? I don't know much about them, and I don' think he's hunted with it yet. Thanks! Last edited by SoonerFan; November 16, 2009 at 10:05 PM.

November 17, 2009, 06:56 AM	#3
dgludwig Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2005 Location: North central Ohio Posts: 7,486	I've always liked the 88. The only negative thing about the rifle imo is that the trigger pull leaves a lot to be desired. Oh, and be sure to tell your dad to be careful to not lose the magazine. Replacements can be very hard to come by. __________________ ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member

November 17, 2009, 07:15 PM	#7
oneoldsap Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2009 Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont Posts: 1,602	Win. 88 A prettier lever action has yet to be built . Only the Sako Finnwolf matches it and they are in the thousands of dollars . You can manage the trigger with some practice . Most people don't shoot enough anyway .

November 17, 2009, 07:49 PM	#8
94bluerat Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2007 Location: South of Canada Posts: 204	Wow, lucky him. I hunt w/ one every weekend. Experiment w/ ammo. I'm shooting 168gr win sup ballistic tip in .308. It shoots decent groups and hits strong past 200yds. Good luck! __________________ "Got a shotgun, a rifle and a four wheel drive" - HW Jr. Rifleman BSA Eagle Scout

November 17, 2009, 11:32 PM	#9
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	You have one of the finest medium caliber lever-action for .308W, use the 165gr@ about the 2500fps. Also, if you want to improve accuracy, try bedding the front of action where the mag release is located. check the barrel & stock for any rubbing and relieve. rough-up the back half of the C'bore for the barrel screw& ferrule, the bed the rear of that area, use a business card @ the stock tio and barrel, until the bedding is cured. Do this you'll be able to group your shots inside the X-ring on a standard 200 yd target from the prone position.

November 17, 2009, 12:19 AM	#2
trooper3385 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2005 Location: South Texas Posts: 814	I've never really heard anything bad about them. Probably not going to be an absolute tack driver, but should be plenty accurate for hunting. A guy on our lease hunts with one in a 243 and puts a deer down just about every year. He shot a 12 point with it last year at about 220 yds. Ps UT 16 OU 13 Hook em horns Better luck next year

November 17, 2009, 09:06 AM	#4
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,423	A very excellent rifle that was way ahead of it's time. The .284Win pieces go into the $thousands. As mentioned, trigger is rough. My old BIL had one in 243 and killed pickup truck loads of deer over a long life.

November 17, 2009, 11:57 AM	#5
thekyrifleman Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2007 Location: Northern Ky Posts: 254	He might want to put it in the safe and forget about it. the value of the 88's are appreciating faster than any bank account. I have one in 284 that is in my safe gaining value everyday...

November 17, 2009, 12:53 PM	#6
gak Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Location: Aridzona Posts: 2,767	It's more of a bolt action mechanism actuated by lever--than a pure" lever action...and some say it's a complex or at least different leverworks. Have a smith check it out before hitting the field or range and you'll be good to go. I always liked them as the "ultimate" compromise or combo--a long(er) range, harder hitting but still handy lever--and passed on a Pre 64 .308 awhile ago I want back!

November 18, 2009, 12:52 AM	#10
72gator Member Join Date: September 17, 2009 Location: Bedford Co, Pennsyltucky Posts: 56	The values of the guns has sky-rocketed. My father-in-law has them all but the .358... he REALLY wishes he had that one! I have seen these guns since I was a kid, and I like them very much. I would love one in a .308, but I'd settle for a model 99 Savage in the same caliber. I think your Dad will love his new toy.

November 18, 2009, 01:05 AM	#11
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,295	a classic M88's used the same bbls as M70's, very high quality. Mine shoots better after I shimmed the forearm just ahead of the front bedding screw, prior that it was prone to shift zero season to season. Also, my rifle likes 150 gr better than anything heavier, and W-W factory shoots as well as anything else I've tried. You don't mention what era the rifle is. Pre-64 has cut checkering and all I've seen have pretty dark walnut. Post 64 is stamped checkering and blonder wood to my eye than the early rifles. VERY early M88,s had a tang at the rear of the receiver, later rifles did not. The classic stock points great for me. Three generations have carried mine, and my boy will get it next. I have the note my grandad wrote insuring the rifle would come to me.

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