I have a Classic! - Pre ‘64 Winchester Model 88

[Chiro1989]

I like that Winchester, I think the stock looks good, looks nice enough to be careful with it.

[Zee]

I like that Winchester, I think the stock looks good, looks nice enough to be careful with it.

I plan to baby it.

[Bigslug]

Nice!

Looks like you have about an inch and a half on the scope to pull back for eye relief, but the white line waffle-cut recoil pad probably needs to go regardless. . .

Pachmayr does their leather-texture Decelerator pads in a few different thicknesses. My P-17 sporter came with a pad like yours screwed on as an afterthought & it made the L.O.P. too long. I put one of the thinner Decelerators on and all is right with the world. Black or brown would be the next question. Another choice would be the red rubber reproduction Winchester logo pads you can get from Galazan / Connecticut Shotgun, or maybe even Brownells. Not that it matters for a custom stock like yours, but it's about the best call you can make for an old Winnie that's lost its original buttplate.

I know Barnes ain't your thing, but my Ruger Scout load of a 130gr TTSX in front of a max load of Varget (3.000 fps ish) zeroed at 225 yards would be very, VERY at home in that rifle. That short magazine probably won't let you take full advantage of a heavier slug, and the solid copper weight retention makes pretty good use of what you have.

And you can plink with your shoe-factory rounds.

[Jayhawker]

That is an excellent rifle! Don’t loose that magazine!!’ They are expensive to replace!

Beautiful rifle!

That’s what my LGS friend said. May order one as a spare just in case they go up even more down the road.

Very nice! The last of the Winchester lever actions.

I have one of those in .243 and I couldn't be happier with it...
Mine is also a pre-64 action in a post-64 stock...which I'm looking to rectify...

As far as magazines are concerned...mine came without a mag and replacing it was a bit ouchy but not particularly hard...the Model 88 and the Model 100 share a common magazine...just so you know
..

[bullsi1911]

That is so sweet. Like you, I am always on the lookout for a 99, since I shot my first deer with a borrowed one.

But that is an acceptable substitute! Very nice score.

[Zee]

Nice!

Looks like you have about an inch and a half on the scope to pull back for eye relief, but the white line waffle-cut recoil pad probably needs to go regardless. . .


And you can plink with your shoe-factory rounds.

Hopefully, the recoil pad is not glued.

Don’t particularly want to handload for this rifle if I don’t have to.

As I typically do with a new (non-precision) .308 in the fold, I’m going to try my Federal Premium 150gr NBT and Federal Tactical Bonded 165gr TBC ammo first. Always looking for a rifle that likes that ammo as it’s few and far between. Besides, with the 12T barrel, maybe it will love the 150gr bullets.
Always want the greatest accuracy I can get. But in reality, for this gun, I’d be happy with a consistent 2” or less to kill a deer. If I tell myself that, I hopefully won’t be disappointed.

[Zee]

That is an excellent rifle! Don’t loose that magazine!!’ They are expensive to replace!

Beautiful rifle!

That’s what my LGS friend said. May order one as a spare just in case they go up even more down the road.

Very nice! The last of the Winchester lever actions.

I have one of those in .243 and I couldn't be happier with it...
Mine is also a pre-64 action in a post-64 stock...which I'm looking to rectify...

As far as magazines are concerned...mine came without a mag and replacing it was a bit ouchy but not particularly hard...the Model 88 and the Model 100 share a common magazine...just so you know
..

You been holding out on us?!? I didn’t know you had one!
Pics or it doesn’t exist!

[Zee]

That is so sweet. Like you, I am always on the lookout for a 99, since I shot my first deer with a borrowed one.

But that is an acceptable substitute! Very nice score.

Grats.

[GrapeApe]

Sweet score

[Big Al1]

Nice find! You don't see many 88's/100's anymore. I have a couple spare magazines and no rifle! Emagine that!!

[Zee]

Nice find! You don't see many 88's/100's anymore. I have a couple spare magazines and no rifle! Emagine that!!

Hey there, Bestie! How you been?

[Zee]

Sweet score

[Big Al1]

Nice find! You don't see many 88's/100's anymore. I have a couple spare magazines and no rifle! Emagine that!!

Hey there, Bestie! How you been?

It says M100 .308 but I think they are the same as the 88. I still have your address, if it hasn't changed!!

[Freezer]

I always wanted a BLR Pistol grip in 308. I found this 99f for a price I couldn't pass up, but it was ridden hard and put away wet. I cleaned it up, replaced the stock and had the inerds cleaned, polished and trigger touched up. Then I found a BLR saddle stock in 7-08. The BLR was a great rifle and had its advantages, but the saddle stock didn't work well for me, I sold it. A friend had an 88 in 308, and it was the only lever gun I shot that worked better than my 99f.

With that stock and graceful lines, I'm jealous!

[Zee]

I’m not saying I’m done with my interest for the 99. But, I am seriously satiated.

[Ernie]

WOW, WOW, WOW!!!

[Jayhawker]

..
[/quote]

You been holding out on us?!? I didn’t know you had one!
Pics or it doesn’t exist!
[/quote]

Here you go...It was gifted to me by a friend...it's a pre-64 action in a post-64 stock...this occurred because the rifle originally belonged to my friends grandpa who was quite short so he lopped a chunk off the stock so it would fit him. After he passed, the stock was so short, one could shoot it.,so my friends dad ordered a replacement stock...

It's a .243 and it has a Bausch & Lomb BALVAR 8 2.5 - 8X scope one it...vintage 1956...There are no internal adjustments on the scope...everything is done by adjusting the windage and elevation screws on the mount...I had thought to replace it but it still works and I'm not sure I want to mess with it.

[Zee]

Nice!




And what’s wrong with short people?!?

[breamfisher]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8UVBgUd9GE

[Zee]

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[Elk Creek]

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[breamfisher]

First time I've ever been flipped a finch....

[Orchidman]

I was looking for a '94' cos I dont have a lever action.....Now I want one of these damnit.
Love the whole look of the rifle.
You suck!!!

[Bigslug]

Joe and I discussed and he was able to get the seller to swap the modern matte scope in the pics for a vintage 3-9x40 Redfield Accuview w/ ranging reticle and target turret!! A much more fitting optic for the rifle.

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"But we cannot forget who we are, or where we come from" - Emperor Meiji, The Last Samurai

Yeah, I've got a sentimental streak - sue me. Assuming all tracks true, that scope is absolutely the right call. Had some second thoughts on the recoil pad too. Assuming it's not dried up and crumbly, it pretty much is the original AM radio the car came with.

[Zee]

Finally got around to working on the Winchester! There were issues with the original rings and bases. Had to go modern, but I was able to rectify the base and ring issue as well as the length of pull issue. Got the scope mounted and able to get it back far enough for a sight picture. The long LoP was making that impossible. Not anymore.

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Cleaned the action and bluing up and discovered the stock is full length bedded. Maybe that will help?
Need to clean the bore and test some various rounds in her.