Author Topic: Winchester 88 Scores Again! (Read 1299 times)

Winter Hawk · « **on:** September 07, 2005, 03:04:07 PM »

The first week of August I went out with Prince of Wales into the high country here on POW Island, looking for our little Blacktail deer. Dismal results, but it was a beautiful day. Later in the week, I went out with my 6 year old boy on a drizzly, wet day. We got about 200 yards from the truck, hiking up a muskeg bench when a doe and spike buck stood up. Since the freezer was empty, I took him with about a 30 yard shot from the .308 Model 88. We hauled him out after gutting him (Nat got to carry the heart and liver in his pack) and headed home.

The next day we went to the same area. this time we were probably 1/4 mile from the rig when I saw a deer up in a clear cut, watching us. I checked him out with the binoculars and saw a nice rack. That was at about 200 yards. I ducked into the trees and slipped up closer, stopping several times to check him out with the glasses. At about 100 yards and on the edge of the clear cut, we kicked up a doe who started walking up ahead of us. The buck started to act antsy so I aimed behind the shoulder and squeezed off. A clear miss. He just stood there looking at me, so I jacked in another round, aimed at his neck and connected. I purely like that neck shot, it puts them down like a sledgehammer!

Nat and I hiked up to where he was, and after a bit of searching found him. However, that nice rack turned into two small spikes! What had looked like antlers was dead branches in a bush behind him. We gave thanks to the Lord for the meat, and also that it really was a buck and not a doe (doe season doesn't start until mid October). We boned him out, the boy got to carry the heart and liver again and headed home. Quite a hunting partner. I can hardly wait until he is old enough to go up above timberline with me!

Rifle: 1956 Winchester Model 88, .308 caliber. Rust proofed in 1992 with Black-T finish over Parkerizing. Weaver 2 1/2 X fixed power scope.

-Winter Hawk-

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #1 on:** September 08, 2005, 03:42:24 AM »

Don't M88's have tube magazines? If so, where do you get flat point .308 win. rounds?

Cool story BTW.

CowboyEngr · « **Reply #2 on:** September 08, 2005, 04:09:42 AM »

No, M88's have "clip" or detachable magazines.

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #3 on:** September 08, 2005, 09:54:44 AM »

Ugh, shows how much I know. I thought the M95s had the detachable magazines and the 88s were tube fed. I thought the 88s were just the big brother to the 92s. Which one am I thinking of then? They began manufacturing a featherlight version in .45-70 not too long ago.

jd45 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 08, 2005, 03:43:24 PM »

Jaque, M95's do have box magazines, & the Winchester 1886 was the big brother to the 1892, JD45

TNrifleman · « **Reply #5 on:** September 09, 2005, 02:39:01 PM »

WH,

Congratulations on making meat with your 88. I have an 88 in 308 and love it. The 88 is a great HUNTING RIFLE. It sure sounds like you have yourself a fine little hunting partner there too.

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #6 on:** September 12, 2005, 09:35:12 AM »

Jaques Noir,

The Winchester 88 is a short throw, one piece stock, lever action rifle made from 1955 through 1976. It was available in .243, .308, and .358 Winchester calibers. My memory has that it was also available in .284 Win but that may be faulty. Sako made a similar rifle called the Finnwolf. No exposed hammer, clip feed with a rotating bolt face for solid lock up.

-WH-

NYH1 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 19, 2005, 06:10:11 PM »

My father gave me his pre-'64 ('62) Winchester model 88 308 Win. He bought it brand new when he was 16 (also in '62). I've shot two deer with it so far. It will shoot one inch groups at 100 yards with Remington's 150 gr. Core-Lokt Pointed Soft Point ammo and a cheap Tasco scope. I'm going to put a Leupold VX-II 3-9x33mm Ultralight Scope on it!

bajabill · « **Reply #8 on:** September 21, 2005, 11:29:13 AM »

how much to these guns go for. THere is an auction near me with a couple of 308s. One is the carbine 19" barrel. These cought my eye, are they likely to be bid up as a collector item? The auction has about 100 guns so there will probably be a lot of dealers/collectors and I doubt a gem will slip thru the cracks.

Keith L · « **Reply #9 on:** September 21, 2005, 03:20:46 PM »

Quote from: bajabill

how much to these guns go for. THere is an auction near me with a couple of 308s. One is the carbine 19" barrel. These cought my eye, are they likely to be bid up as a collector item? The auction has about 100 guns so there will probably be a lot of dealers/collectors and I doubt a gem will slip thru the cracks.

I never worry about dealers. Good ones will never bid near the value of a gun because they have to turn it around and make some money. Collectors are another thing, spending much more than market value for something to complete a collection.

Good luck!

bajabill · « **Reply #10 on:** September 22, 2005, 06:11:51 AM »

what is a good price for and average condition win 88, 308

400, 500, 600, or more

I am thinking less than 500 would be good, or are these commanding 600 easilly. I dont want one that bad.

NYH1 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 22, 2005, 07:22:48 AM »

I would like to get a model 88 in 358 Win. The problem is they didn't make to many of them and they cost an arm and a leg. I'll probably have to get a Browning BLR instead.

Idaho_Hick · « **Reply #12 on:** September 22, 2005, 01:37:03 PM »

BajaBill - for whatever its worth, there is a small gunshop near me whose owner loves winchesters and is very proud of his. He had a 88 in 308 that didn't look to be in the best of shape for a little less than 700. I would therefore assume that you could find one for less than 600.

Anybody out there with a book of gun values who can help us out? Thanks

winman · « **Reply #13 on:** September 30, 2005, 08:03:57 AM »

Quote:

"I purely like that neck shot, it puts them down like a sledgehammer!"

I agree. Take out both lungs, or get a good neck (or spine) shot and they don't go anywhere.

I have a 1958 model 88 and love it for deer hunting. I have taken whitetails and muleys with it in Montana and Wyoming.

The trigger pull on mine doesn't quite match that of a bolt action but the lever is much more maneageable in hunting situations. They are great hunting rifles.

I have seen good prices for 88's at gun shows until the last couple of years. they seem to be catching on.

Kivaari · « **Reply #14 on:** October 01, 2005, 06:14:11 PM »

I found one some years ago in Buffalo, Wy, which I bought and shipped home. It's not a pre-64 but it is in excellent condition; I paid $500. Most folks don't realize that they are Curio and Relic listed.... :shock:

There is some company in California which rebarrels these rifles with a normal bolt style lug and eliminates the forward screw. They are chambering this in the short magnums and using beautiful wood but they are 'spensive...like $3000... :shock:

I found it to be extremely accurate with Hornady factory 165 grain ammo. This sight-in target has one flyer, up high, which is me, a cold barrel, and oil residue in the bore. There is one "left" windage adjustment in this group, which is 8 rounds or two magazines. This was fired prone, 100 yards, with a 4x Leupold and a "narrow", sports style M1917 sling.

EDIT...and whoever located the carbine model should go get it as these are the rarest variation..

ba_50 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 03, 2005, 10:45:11 AM »

I wasn't aware that Winchester cheapened the 88 after 1964. Are you sure about that? I know they did the M94, M70, and M12Y Trap.

RugerNo3 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 05, 2005, 01:25:48 PM »

Winchester improved the Mod 88 as it went along. Older is better as far as mechanics goes. The basketweave embossing is a distraction to some, but checkering or basketweave doesn't make it shoot any better or worse. There was a recall on them as well. I don't remember the malfunction, but it was a dangerous condition. :?