Are There Winchester Mod. 88 Shooters Out There?

[Winter Hawk]

Are there any other Winchester 88 shooters out there?  Are there any forums for that rifle?  

Thanks! -Kees-

[Enforcer]

Yes,i have a Win M88 in 284win and one in 358Win.I had a 243Win and a 308win,but sold them to purchase my 2 Sako Finnwolfs in 243 and 308Win.To my knowledge there in no web site for them.But they and the Sako Finnwolf are the best of the lever actions,no doubt about it.I have every kind of lever action known to man.And they are my favorites.Followed closely by the Savage M99.They are clip fed so use spitzer bullets.Longer than 20in barrels for velocity increase and better sight radius(22in Win M88,23in Sako Finnwolf).They a AOL is 2.825(most levers are 2.56).One piece stock stiffens up whole assembly for added strength,and gives superior accuracy over other lever actions.Handles pressures up tp 65,000psi without a hiccup.No hammer,so what.It certainly doesn't get hung up on anything,and you don't half to worry about that half cock crap and stupid cross bolt safety.

In the world of the lever actions the Winchester M88 or Sako Finnwolf stand alone as the true kings!!!!!Bank on it!!!

[rednekhuntr]

I've had my 88 in .308 for 15 years.  I've taken 18 whitetails, 12 moose, 5 black bears, and shot the heads off of countless grouse, and rabbits.  It is by far my favorite levergun.  Heck, it's my favorite firearm period!

[Winter Hawk]

Enforcer,

Since you have both the Finnwolf and the 88, how do the actions compare?  Your statement that the 88 has no hammer is not totally true, since it has the internal hammer.  I was wondering if the Sako was the same or if it has a spring on the firing pin like a bolt action.

I have had my 88 since '85, in .308.  The stock was cut short so I scabbed on a piece of ash to bring it back to normal length, but it isn't pretty.  I just bought a laminated stock from Boyd's Gunstocks for it, hope to get that finished and ready to go by the time hunting season starts next month.  Real reasonable price on the stock, by the way.

-Kees-

[Blackhawk44]

Good friend just sneaked up on one.  Wonder where a man might find magazines without having to trade body parts??

[southernbythegraceof]

Had one in .308 since 1964. Borrowed it (okay, stole it) from my Pop. Has killed dozens of whitetails, 12 bear, without a glitch.
Yeah, the trigger is still a mess, but a good gunsmith can clean it up a bit for you.
Only thing it ever needed was a replacement sling and a new scope.

[Enforcer]

keesvw2002,of course you know and we all know that when i said it had no hammer,I meant external hammer.Right,as I gave some reasons for its benefits.Like about not catching on things,and half cock.Come on.

The Sako action is the same as the Win M88.Just for record their is a newer Sako Finnwolf,stamped Model 73.It differs from the Finnwolf,first by being made from 1973-75,instead of 1963-72.Second it has flush floor,hence holds 3 cartridges instead of the Finnwolfs 4.Third it does not have the monte carlo stock as the Finnwolf has.

Just for the record the Savage M99 also has a internal hammer,as well as the Marlin M62 in 256Win Mag and 30 Carbine.Also the Marlin M56,M57 and M57M also have internal hammers.Good Day

[Winter Hawk]

Blackhawk44, try this link: http://www.gunpartsspecialist.com/rifles/winchester/88_100.htm  I bought a second magazine from them for mine.  There is a difference somehow between the older 88s and the newer ones.  Mine has a 1956 s/n and I had to do some filing on the new magazine to it to fit.

Enforcer, my apologies if I sounded smart alec.  Didn't mean to come on that way.  I had a Marlin .22 lever years ago which had a short throw, one piece stock, and the firing pin had its own spring so no hammer at all.  I have never seen the insides of the Finnwolf and wondered if it was made that way also.  Guess not, from what you sent.

Have a good evening,
-Kees-

[NYH1]

I have a pre '64 model 88 in 308win. I love it. I shot two deer with it last year, nothing yet this year.  :-D

[Bear Wallow]

I have a model 88 in .308.  It's a post 64 that was my dad's.  It was my first rifle and it wil be my sons.  It's accurate as hell with silvertips and points like a wand.  

[Jim M]

I have a model 88 in 308 that I bought new in 73.  I havn't hunted with it since 89 because I hate the trigger pull. I've heard that it can be improved but depending on the gunsmith it can be made worse. Anyone have any info on trigger improvement.  The only other problem that I have with it is stiff recoil, but that doesn't bother me when hunting.

[Doc T]

I have one that started as a .243 Win.  I had a local gunsmith re-barrel it with a stainless Douglas 23" barrel in 7mm-08.  He then blackened the barrel so it looks blue.  No sights, but has a Nikon 3X9 on it.  The trigger is a little rough.  I took it to Clark's Custom Guns for a trigger job.  He was able to slick it up a little but it wasn't to his satisfaction so he didn't charge me a dime.  It is one of my all-time favorite rifles (and caliber, for that matter).

[jbmi]

Top one is a post 64 (suppose to be the better model). I restocked it and had it rebored to a 338-08. MOA rifle with 200gr. ballistic tips.

Bottom one is a pre 64 (5 diget SN) in 308 with a great Williams Receiver Sight on it.

The 308 kicks the snot out of me, I should put a recoil pad on it, the 338-08 is a pleasure to shoot.

When I go deer hunting I'll either take the 338-08 or my Savage 99 in 358. Deer can't tell the difference and neither can I.

[Jim M]

You are right about the 308 recoil.  I have a Winchester model 70 in 338 win mag and it's easier to shoot than the model 88 in 308.