Author Topic: Any Win. 88 owners here? (Read 7898 times)

Davemuzz · « **Reply #30 on:** January 24, 2008, 01:36:58 AM »

Hey Mike....look...I'll give ya....oh....say 125% over your cost of what you paid for those really old crappy guns

You know....just to get them off your hands. There probably takin up too much space in your cabnet anyway.

You know us guys here on these forums.

Always tryin to help a fellow out!

Dave

Email me at you-r-a-sucker.com

Tennessee.Traveler · « **Reply #31 on:** February 12, 2008, 03:42:07 PM »

I bought my '88 in the mid-sixties. It was a .308 and I had it re barreled to .358 in 1971 for Wyoming elk hunt. Re barreled it with a medium weight 22" Douglas barrel and shortened the lop a 1/2". It was going to be my cold weather rifle.

Killed a ton of deer with it during the next 40 years. I mean that litterally, over 2000 lbs of venison! My largest deer only weighed 138 lbs so that translates to "SEVERAL"! In 2005 I did something pretty dumb. I sold it for $400.00. I bought a Marlin Guide in 2001 and have used it here in Tennessee ever since.

The guy that got my old standby is giving it a good home and I expect it to serve him well for the next thirty eight or so years. He won't sell it back anyway! I did have a #100 in .308 for a couple of years but I got rid of it first chance I got.

Take Care!

Huntsman1 · « **Reply #32 on:** February 29, 2008, 08:45:01 AM »

Quote from: Huntsman1 on January 11, 2008, 05:36:20 PM

Well since the last post I recently purchased a Williams FP88 peep sight from Brownells, it should be here hopefully next week.
My eyes aren't getting any younger so I may as well take advantage while I can.
Cheers

Well.....I put the scope (Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x40) back on after a range session and realized that with my loads (42grs Varget/165gr Sierra GK) that I was still *' high @50yds, still high at 100 and even still at 200yds. When I had a cheap Bushnell 4x fixed power on her she would punch clover leafs @100 so needless to say I have her scoped once again.......................anyone looking for a Williams Fool Proof peep sight?

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #33 on:** March 04, 2008, 06:01:17 AM »

Yeah, when you put a receiver sight on you generally have to put a higher front sight on also. If you check the Williams web site (or their catalog) there should be a table listing what height front sight to get. A peep sure makes for easier carrying than having a scope on though.

A couple of years ago I was out after deer with my 88. My son and I came up a draw at timberline (Prince of Wales Island, S.E. Alaska) when I saw a nice buck and a doe standing in the open. I ducked down and crawled to where I could get a decent shot from the prone position. When I tried to get on target, I couldn't see anything through the peep. There was a small leaf in the aperture! I unscrewed it, blew the leaf out from the front side, reinstalled it, and shot the buck who had been hanging out watching me at 120 yards.

-WH-

Huntsman1 · « **Reply #34 on:** May 05, 2008, 05:38:03 PM »

Here's my .308's. Of course my new 88, I'm thinking of putting a Boyds stock on her?

flhshvlhed · « **Reply #35 on:** May 06, 2008, 10:28:09 PM »

LOL - sorry Dave - uhh - I think I'll hang on to them for a little while longer, and see if you go up to 130% of what I paid for them.

Matter of fact, I picked up another 308 M100 at the Palmer show, about a month or so ago. This one was from a guy from Fairbanks, but the stock had been "worked" on. My uncle, after seeing my Dad's 243 M100, decided he wanted one, so I picked it up for him. The good/sad thing about this one, is that it's an 182XX serial number - just wish someone hadn't "worked" on the stock.

That makes 3 of them in the safe now - but one of them will have a new home in the family.

I'll try to post a pic of them, when I get a chance.

I just happened to look at this thread - I need to adjust the notification thing so I can respond more quickly.

Mike

Davemuzz · « **Reply #36 on:** May 07, 2008, 01:53:18 PM »

Quote from: flhshvlhed on May 06, 2008, 10:28:09 PM

I'll try to post a pic of them, when I get a chance.

I just happened to look at this thread - I need to adjust the notification thing so I can respond more quickly.

Mike

Mike.....pics would be good. Oh...since it took you so long to post, the market for the 88 has dropped like a rock. Your guns are now worthless. However, I CAN give you $.30 on the dollar of what you paid.

Dave

Country Boy · « **Reply #37 on:** July 20, 2008, 07:31:43 AM »

I'm supposed to pick one up tomorrow that I bought off the net for 400.00 but it looks like a real bea haveter in the pictures. Thing that puzzles me is it has a pre 64 checkered stock but a round recoil block not the cloverleaf like on the pre 64 rifles ? It doesn"t have a clip. or front sight hood and someone put a recoil pad on it. I worked in a gun store in St. Louis in 1961 and we had bunches of them for 129.00 new. I owned every make model and caliber you could want same with Winchester 100's But they are all gone. Heck I never thought they would discontinue them but I was young and dumb.
One thing I hear people talk about is the bad trigger, we just put a trigger shoe on and it "felt" much better. I also hear talk about broken firing pins on the 88, never knew anyone that had one on an 88 but the 100's had problems and a few years back Winchester had a recall on them. Actually they would send one and pay your smith to install it. I just had to have one more before I kicked the bucket thus the purchase on the net.

flhshvlhed · « **Reply #38 on:** July 20, 2008, 11:39:38 AM »

Davemuzz - here you go.

I finally pulled them out of the safe and took a pic for you. Here's the 88 w/ it's 3 "cousins".

1, 2 & 4 are 1st yr procuctions. #3 is 2d yr - it's about the best of the bunch, except for the recoil pad.

It's a shame those 88's have "dropped like a rock" - it must be those darn democrats!!

Guess I'll have to hold on to it then. However, if the price of diesel keeps going up - who knows!!

Davemuzz · « **Reply #39 on:** July 20, 2008, 03:40:41 PM »

Quote from: flhshvlhed on July 20, 2008, 11:39:38 AM

Davemuzz - here you go.

I finally pulled them out of the safe and took a pic for you. Here's the 88 w/ it's 3 "cousins".

1, 2 & 4 are 1st yr procuctions. #3 is 2d yr - it's about the best of the bunch, except for the recoil pad.

It's a shame those 88's have "dropped like a rock" - it must be those darn democrats!! Guess I'll have to hold on to it then. However, if the price of diesel keeps going up - who knows!!

That first one is a Lever.....the next 3 are all semi's!!?? Nice collection! Hey....if your lookin for a place to store 'em.....just let me know.

You can keep 'em right here in my safe.

Dave

Country Boy · « **Reply #40 on:** July 21, 2008, 05:05:32 AM »

A little off topic but how do those 100's shoot ? any problems with them.

flhshvlhed · « **Reply #41 on:** July 21, 2008, 02:32:58 PM »

Country Boy -

I've only shot the one of the far right. I changed out the firing pins on 2 of them. They still had the old pins. My Dad has had one for about 40 yrs, and it's a deer killing machine.

I recentlly bought him one in 243 for deer hunting, due to him getting up in years and it having less recoil.

flhshvlhed · « **Reply #42 on:** July 21, 2008, 03:53:27 PM »

My bad guys - I wasn't paying attention to what form I was on. AND... seeing as how someone was busting my stones

for posting an old nasty "semi", I thought I would attempt to pay my pentinence and see if I could be accepted back in y'alls graces!

Ok - let's try this again - I thought it was no larger than 1 MB ea.

1895 Winchester 35 WCF - Imported by Lloyd and Lloyd of Calcutta. The receiver and barrel are both polished.
1895 Winchester 35 WCF
1892 Winchester 38-55
1894AE Winchester 30-30
1894AE Winchester 45 Colt
1894AE Winchester 44 Mag
1894AE Winchester 44 Mag

flhshvlhed · « **Reply #43 on:** July 21, 2008, 03:57:19 PM »

Afghan Martini-Henry's 303 Brit.

The first one has the stock w/ bone inlays and the last one is completely engraved w/ bone inlay's also.

It's amazing what an Afghani, a chisel and a hammer can do, when they have nothing but time.

flhshvlhed · « **Reply #44 on:** July 21, 2008, 04:00:56 PM »

Marlin 39 Golden Anniversary edition - 1/500
Marlin 1895SS 45-70
Marlin 39A 22cal
Marlin 39 Mountie 22cal

flhshvlhed · « **Reply #45 on:** July 21, 2008, 04:04:38 PM »

Savage/Stevens Favorite Model 30 22cal
Puma/Legacy 454cal (Thumper!!)
Ithaca Saddle Gun 22cal (A snake killing machine for a 12 y/o w/ a box of shells!! Boy that was a few yrs ago!!

)

Country Boy · « **Reply #46 on:** July 22, 2008, 04:53:29 AM »

Got my 88 yesterday. I'm very disappointed. I shot it in the backyard and it won't eject the cases ? I don"t know how to take one apart but could anyone hazard a guess as to whats causing it ?
Coulld anyone tell me how old it is ? serial no. 37995. The rest of the rifle is about what I expected, lots of dings and scratches But it has a very nice dark figured stock a refinish job and it would knock your eyes out.

flhshvlhed · « **Reply #47 on:** July 22, 2008, 08:53:15 AM »

Country - as per the ser # - the book says early 1957.

Wish that I could give you a hand on the ejection problem, but I haven't shot mine, nor taken it completely apart for cleaning.

I "think" I have something around here ref disassembly, I'll look and see.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #48 on:** July 22, 2008, 09:00:28 AM »

When you say "it won't eject cases" exactly what do you mean? Do you mean the case is sticking in the chamber? Do you mean the case is not being "pulled" out of the chamber when you open the action...but the brass will "fall out" or "come out" when you hold the rifle in a vertical position? Do you mean the brass will be removed from the chamber when you open the action, but then it will not be ejected or "thrown out" of the gun? Details man....details!!!

Dave

Country Boy · « **Reply #49 on:** July 22, 2008, 12:24:38 PM »

Dave the last one. I cleaned the chamber and ejectors. Pulls them out easily but does't throw them out very sprightly.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #50 on:** July 22, 2008, 04:21:44 PM »

Ok...now I understand. Try this...and you can do it with an spent piece of brass (just the brass with no primer, bullet or powder).

1) put your clip (magazine) in the rifle....leave it empty.
2) insert the piece of brass into the chamber and close the lever.
3) SLOWLY open the lever (action) and look at the position of the brass as you are opening the action. The brass should be slightly cocked to the right....kind of "dragging" against the right side of the chamber. When the top of the brass reaches the action opening, the brass should "spring" right out of the guns action.

Perform the above and tell me what happens when you do this. I am suspecting that the ejector (that little button like gizmo that is found inside the bolt face (or in this case...the Lever face I guess) may be at fault. Perhaps it's bent, rusted, or the spring is just bad and the ejector isn't strong enough to "spring" the brass out of the action.

Dave

owenv · « **Reply #51 on:** August 05, 2008, 01:02:51 PM »

Just got a 88 .358 given to me by my father. Seams to be in pretty good shape but could use a good cleaning.
Found a web site that had allot of info about 88's and 100's.

The 100's have a firing pin recall and say not to fire the rifle until the pins are replaced. That's probably old news. Apparently the 100's have many issues.

The early model .358 88's say around 1956 through 1958 had feeding and magazine problems. The magazine spring was not stiff enough so to fix the problem you would re install the factory spring with a win. mod. 70 spring and that would fix the feeding issue. The magazine problem was that the sides would bulge out slightly. The fix for the bulge was to put the magazine in a vise and gently squeeze back into place.

I plan on using my new 88 dark timber hunting for elk this fall. Any body have any suggestions for base, rings and a scope?

OV

Country Boy · « **Reply #52 on:** August 06, 2008, 12:06:30 PM »

Get a Leaupold VXII 2x7 with a German No. 4 crosshair, mine is set up on a Weaver base abd Burris z rings. I've Shot many bear,elk and moose with my BLR .358 here is your load 48 grn/Tac/.250 speer or hornady vel. 2400 in a 22 inbbl. You lucky rascal to get an 88 in .358. If you decide you don"t want it let me know I will trade you 2-3 good rifles for it.

Country Boy · « **Reply #53 on:** August 07, 2008, 05:34:05 AM »

Davemuzz, I cleanedit up and it will eject but doesn't throw the empties very far or sprightly. Found a gunsmith in St. Louis and took it to him he checked it over(did the same thing you suggested) and said there was nothing wrong with it. When they changed the bolt they put two ejector pins in the bolt face. It will really fling them out. I'm discovering the newer post 64 rifles are better than the early pre 64"s

Davemuzz · « **Reply #54 on:** August 07, 2008, 09:28:54 AM »

Well, I'm glad you got it fixed. Now.....go shoot something!

Dave

Country Boy · « **Reply #55 on:** September 16, 2008, 12:45:30 PM »

Dave, I did shoot a BIG wild hog last Sat. I had been baiting him all summer. The .308 settled his hash in a hurry. 150 grn factory Rem. corlocks. I put it on the bench at the range and put 3 shots in less than an inch. Cant believe a l957 rifle will out shoot some of my new ones !
I liked it so much I bought a model 100, I know they have problems but I never did when I used them in the 70's. Don"t want to impose but how do you take one apart to put in a new firing pin ? The 100's serial no. is 27682. Thank you, Carl

Davemuzz · « **Reply #56 on:** September 16, 2008, 02:09:47 PM »

Carl,

I'm glad to hear your whackin some ham's with that gun. And those groups your shootin can be done with those guns. Congrats on the "hams and the shootin!"

Now, on the matter of that firing pin replacement....I have to tell you that your on your own there. I've been fortunate enough that my Win 88 has never broken....and my motto is....if it ain't broke....don't fix it!

I do know they are a bit more complex than your standard bolt action, but that's about all I can tell you. If you feel it's over your head, take it to a competent gunsmith and pay the bucks for the comfort level.

Dave

Country Boy · « **Reply #57 on:** September 17, 2008, 07:15:16 AM »

Thanks Dave my problem is there isnt a gunsmith within a 100 miles of here and I'm tired of shipping things. I guess I will shoot the 100 a little and see what happens.

Country Boy · « **Reply #58 on:** September 18, 2008, 11:32:26 AM »

Glkad

federali · « **Reply #59 on:** September 19, 2008, 05:50:16 AM »

Well, I hate to make all you grown men cry but among my many responsibilities, I was the firearms custodian for for my agency. In the 1980s, the Collection Division of the IRS seized two firearms: a Winchester Model 21 and A winchester Model 88, in .308. Both guns were in new condition. The 88's serial number was 47. Regrettably, the owner became a long-term fugitive and these two firearms were eventually shipped to our National Office and destroyed. I still lose sleep over this.

I recently acquired an 88 in .308 with three magazines. The gun was made in the early 70s and is in dead mint or like new condition. Got it with scope and sling for $350.00. Anyway, much of the Winchester product line was unaffected by the 1964 debacle. It was the Model 70 and 94 that suffered most.