Savage 99 vs Winchester 88 or Blr 81 ?

[Country Boy]

Which would you buy and why ? Looking for a lever that is simple, rugged ,accurate and easy to use.

[eod20]

marlin    for your stated reasons -- Looking for a lever that is simple, rugged ,accurate and easy to use

[Davemuzz]

I own both. I have a Win Model 88 in .308 and a Marlin 1895XLR in 45-70. The Winchester was my first rifle that I bought back in 1972. It's accurate as all get out and everything I have pointed it at and squeezed the trigger has fallen over.

Same for the Marlin.

But I'd have to agree with CB on this one. I think the Marlin would get more points for the rugged department.

Dave

[Siskiyou]

I have a Marlin 336 and I like it.  With the new Hornady flex-tip load it is now in the completion to be used.  It is a fine rifle that I like owning.  I will be carrying one part of the upcoming hunting season.

For years there was a Savage 99 carbine in the family.  It had a 20-inch barrel, and was fitted with a new 2.5 power Weaver Scope.  When Dad offered up his three .300 Savage rifles to us boys I let that rifle go to the brother who used it the most.  What a mistake, he traded it off.
I was surprised he had killed a number of bucks with it, and couple very nice bucks.  The favorite load was a 150-grain Remington PTCL or a 150-grain Remington Bronze point.
I favor the Savage 99 over the Marlin 336.  I would take a Savage 99 over a Marlin 336 in the same condition in the .300 Savage, or 308 Winchester would be my preference.  I would not shine on a .358 or 284. 

A 308 Marlin with ammunition, or 500 cases would be of interest.  At this time I would not consider it a good investment.
 
A good Winchester 88 lacks a great trigger, but it is a deer rifle not a target rifle.  It is chambered for good flat shooting rounds.  I would take it over the Marlin 336.  I have fired an 88, but I have never hunted with one.

The advantage goes to the M99 and M88 because of the commercial ammunition loaded for them and the country I hunt.

[Rangr44]

[Savage 99 vs Winchester 88 or Blr 81- Which would you buy and why ?]

None of the above, since none of them meet all the requirements listed below.



[Looking for a lever that is simple, rugged ,accurate and easy to use.]

The very definition of a Marlin 336, in .30-30 or .35, especially.

.

[mannyrock]

Countryboy,

   If one of the requirements for your lever rifle is that it is in .308 Winchester, then reducing the choice to the three rifles you listed makes some sense.  Out of those three, the hands down winner is a Savage 99 Delux, made in the late 1950s or early 1960s, with the internal rotary magazine, in at least 98% condition.  Savage 99s were made for almost 100 years! and were and are regarded as highly reliable, and durable and trouble free, with reasonable accuracy.  Comparatively speaking, the Winchester 88 was only made for a short time, and was NEVER regarded as a durable or trouble free rifle.  (It also achieved the mechanical miracle of having a trigger pull that exactly duplicates that of a $15.00  Daisy Red-Rider BB gun.)

   The BLR is a hit or miss affair.  The early ones were pretty darned durable, but often had accuracey problems.  The later ones aree more accurate, but seem to have durability problems.   And, if you lose or damage that detachable magazine, you will be a goner.  They are dang hard to find even now, and the older ones cost hundreds of dollars if you can even find one!

   So, splitting the difference, if you live west of the Mississippi, then go for a Savage 99 in .308. If you live east of the Mississippi, then go for a Marlin 336C in .30-30.  The funny part is that you could buy TWO Marlins in excellent condition for the same price that you would have to pay for one Savage 99 VG+ condition.   (And, if you have some real big fear that the magazine tube of a Marlin might get damaged in some "end of the world" scenario, then just buy a spare magazine tube in advance, and keep it with your other gear. No big deal.)

Regards,

Mannyrock

[mangulator]

Marlin 336, in .30-30 or .35 would be my choice!

[.450Marlin]

 All are, obviously, proven guns with good track records. I always liked the styling and quirkiness of the Savage and Winchester rifles, but good used examples aren't getting any easier to find (or any less expensive). Marlin makes, and always has made, an excellent rifle for the money. Overall, I think the Browning BLR is the nicest of the bunch; the quality is top notch, it is still being made (albeit on the expensive side), it can use any bullet type you like, and is chambered in a bunch of really great rounds I have a '81 Lightweight in .450 Marlin, and while it kicks more than it should (I blame that on the low quality, dried-up recoil pad. Newer rifles seem to have better pads), it is a first rate rifle. The bluing, action, trigger, and overall feel are head and shoulders above any of the other guns mentioned here (at least to me). These rifles are accurate, beautiful, and reliable; I have heard of any durability issues with these guns, though I have heard that early models, if over-lubed, would lock up in very cold weather. The only real drawback to a BLR, if you could call it that, is the limited capacity of it's boxed magazine. Look at everything you can, and buy what you like....life is too short to do anything else To me though, the BLR is the nicest lever action rifle ever made, at least of any I've seen.

Kind Regards,

~450 Marlin~

[dpe.ahoy]

Of the 3, I'd say the BLR.  Why, cause I like em enough I now own 2, 7mm-08 and 358 Win that is just waiting to come home to Poppa.  With my son's discount, the price went from $800 to $675, and I couldn't pass it up.  DP

[Savage .250]

Which would you buy and why ? Looking for a lever that is simple, rugged ,accurate and easy to use.

  Like most I`d go....Marlin.  But for pure collector valve, I`d go ...Sav 99, Pre-mil.
    The Marlin is really a fine lever.  As I own 2 out of the 3 , I`m happy either way.   
   

[mogwai]

The Savage 99 w/ tang safety is my favorite set up.  I had a win 88 for a couple years and never could get used to the Win safety in front of the trigger.  Also that 88 had a longer length of pull than I preferred

[Blowtorch53]

CB,

IMHO you can't own a new 88 or 99 so it's really not a good comparison.  I have 1-88, 3-BLR's, 5-99's, and a covey of Marlins.  An 88 or 99 is strictly a used gun proposition so you really don't know what you are buying, especially on an auction.  Mine all shoot great, some a little better than others.  I have a beat up old 88 that is lights out!  It shoots better than most of my bolts but looks like hell.  All of my Brownings shoot like shotguns no matter what I load or how little or much I spend on the glass.  No luck with BLR's for me and I am not exactly a novice.  All my Marlins are deadly accurate and not too particular about loads or scopes.  I'd vote Marlin since the valid comparison is only against the BLR.  To steal a line,  only accurate rifles are interesting.

BT

[sixgun_symphony]

Of the three choices, I would pick the Savage 99 rifle.   

[T.R.]

I faced the same question over 35 years ago. 

    -  the 88 had a cheapy plastic-ized finish and the safety was loud

    -  the Browning had a weird stud coming out of the forend and the magazine stuck out like pregnant mare

    -  SAKO was too spendy for my income

    -  Savage 99 had the BEST features:  slick clip magazine, quiet safety, terrific trigger, nicely finished walnut stock

I've hunted with this Savage .308 ever since and it's a KEEPER!

Good hunting to you.  The NEW Brownings look better than ever.

TR

[jbmi]

I own three of the four talked about here. I was never a fan of the Browing BLR because of the rack & pinion lever mechanism. I do own other Brownings though.
The Marlin 336 is an excellent rifle, until recently limited by the fat slow calibers offered 30/30, 35rem, 45/70. It is now offered in some hotter calibers and would make a decent medium range rifle. The one show is in 35rem.
The Winchester 88 is a bolt action rifle operated with a lever. It came in some great calibers and had fine long range accuracy. Biggest complaint was the trigger, many say it's to mushy, mine is fine once you get use to it. You do not want to loose the clip, hard to find and expensive, maybe it's other drawback. The one shown started out as a 308 and was rebored to a 338-08 (338Federal)
The Savage 99 to me is the best made of the three. Even thought it maybe 50+ years old it's solid, well built and just a pleasure to shoot. The internal rotor is a thing of beauty, accuracy is equal to many bolt actions. Takes a scope well and is easy to carry. Mine is a 358win.

[BLRNut]

As you can tell from the name, I am a BLR NUT.  Have several, all are 1 MOA or better with Winchester NBST, and never  had any problems with any.  They are easily carried, slick actions, stay on target year after year, and easy to scope.  I have never had feed, failure to close, or any other of the "so-to-be" problems.  The stainless with laminated stocks are very nice IMHO.  Wouldnt sell or trade any one of them.  By the way, I have extra mags for all and have yet to pay more than $40 apiece.  Don't know where these "reported" prices came from for the mags but a quick check of GB, GA, or the net won't support them.

[Country Boy]

I have one blr in .358 and have taken 23 bears with it. Sometimes I question my sanity as to getting an 88 but I would like a little more bbl for vel. Although with 48 grns of TAC and .250 bullets I can get an honest 2340 from the 20" blr tube.  I've got a .22/250 clip I would like to trade for a .308/.358 clip.
  Browning will not repair the blr81 anymore and keeps no parts for them. I had one with a broken gear tooth, they wouldn"t fix it !
  But, like you I think they are the slickest lever gun going.

[Savage_99]

I would only consider the 99 and the 88.  One reason is that I don't like external hammers on woods rifles.  They are not that easy to reach under a scope for instance with gloves on. 

I have owned a 99f (358) since 1966 and its been my main woods rifle.  I had shot and handled 88's in years past and I own one in 308 more as a collector than anything.

The 99 is a better gun for me.  The 88 is not as easy to cock as the force is at the end of the lever stroke.  The 99 is much easier to cock and easy to feel  as the lever is closed.  The safety on the 88 is noisy if pushed off.  If let off with two fingers its not easy to do  and still makes a noise.

The pre 64 88's trigger is 'soft' but I could get used to it.   I prefer the feel, effect, history and operation of the 99. 



Some .358's.

[Hank08]

Of the 3 mentioned and even if you include the Marlin, the Savage 99 will come out way ahead.  Go ask that question of your local gunsmith and he, most likely, is going to tell you,
Gee, I don't know about the 99 because I've never worked on one and that's because they have been and still are the most trouble free rifle ever made. SIMPLE, RUGGED, ACCURATE, EASY TO USE, the 99 has it all.  The Marlin might be 2nd the 88 3rd and the BLR definately last.  Much to complicated, working the lever hard can break gear teeth shutting it down completely. IMHO
H08