Win Mod 88 in .308

[jkbrea]

Is $850 a good deal for a pre 64? Ad says excellent condition....

[windy]

Would be around here. What kinda mounts it got? Or are you an "au naturale" guy?
windy

[ollogger]

At todays prices i would say thats a good buy, it would be hard to find a pre 64 94 at that price
my uncle gave me a post 64 model 88 in 308 it is slick & a good shooter


ollogger

[COSteve]

Absolutely, however, you really need to see it in person if you can. The trigger group cycles out of the stock with the lever and the action can get a bit lose. Also, look for any cracks in the stock around the pistol grip as they were a bit weak there.

I looked for 20 yrs for one in .308 that was in excellent condition and finally found a 1959 in .308 with a great action and excellent trigger for the design. Turns out the widow I bought it from, gave it to her husband for Christmas in 1959 (she still had the receipt).

He thought the stock was too pretty looking to hunt so he put it in his safe where it sat until he died of Parkinson's Disease a few decades later. I agree that the 88 is one of the most beautiful rifles I've ever seen.

By the way, it's a decent 2+ MOA shooter with the right ammo. Mine seems to like the 165 grn Hornady SP bullets over W760 or H335 in Winchester brass best of all the powders I use (not a Varget fan).

As I got it. (She ordered it from Winchester with the recoil pad installed as back they we could custom do rifles at will.):

DSCN4030.JPG

As I have it now with a Redfield scope and vintage mount:

DSCN4040.JPG

EDIT to Add: BTW, I still have that box of ammo my wife got me for Christmas after I brought it home. It's never seen a commercial round because when I got it it was clear that it was . . . unfired!!!

[Ray Newman]

CO Steve: now that is a really nice looking and well preserved rifle!

[jeepnik]

Beautiful rifles but hens teeth around here. That would be a great price. By the way, I always thought Ruger stole that styling for their 96.

[COSteve]

I forgot to give you a couple of website links that might help you. Good information in each one.
https://www.leeroysramblings.com/Gun%20 ... _info.html
https://www.ogca.com/WRM_collecting_winchester_pre.htm
https://winchestercollector.org/
Once you get one, you might find these helpful too:
Win 88 Disassembly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1ceRdhLG0c
Win 88 Assembly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrsEOediSkQ
And you may need some parts or magazines from Wisners:
http://www.wisnersinc.com/model/winches ... ls-88-100/

[JBowen]

Sounds like a fair price. I would like to stumble on to one. They are pretty rare here in my neck of the woods.
I have two of its cousins, Model 100’s. A 308 and a 243.
They are respectable shooters.

JBOWEN

[AJMD429]

Beautiful rifles but hens teeth around here. That would be a great price. By the way, I always thought Ruger stole that styling for their 96.

I always think it's funny when someone says the Rugers 'look way too weird to be taken seriously' as leverguns, then hold up the Winchester 88, or Savage 99, as 'classic works of art'. Now the choice of wood for the stocks, and the general level of hand-craftedness is greater in the pre-VietNam era guns across the board, but the designs as you say are pretty similar....and practical ..!

[jeepnik]

Beautiful rifles but hens teeth around here. That would be a great price. By the way, I always thought Ruger stole that styling for their 96.

I always think it's funny when someone says the Rugers 'look way too weird to be taken seriously' as leverguns, then hold up the Winchester 88, or Savage 99, as 'classic works of art'. Now the choice of wood for the stocks, and the general level of hand-craftedness is greater in the pre-VietNam era guns across the board, but the designs as you say are pretty similar....and practical ..!

That's because a lot of folks have never seen or heard of the 88.