winchester model 88 in 308
 

My dad bought a new model 88 in 1955. I believe the cost of this rifle was $110.00 which was a whack of cash for a gun in those days. As kids we never had much to do with the gun other than look at it in awe as it was "dad's gun".My dad willed me the gun and now I have discovered all over again what a beautiful rifle this is. My dad used it soley for whitetail hunting in Eastern Ontario and this rifle is mint. My oldest boy was lucky enough to draw the only resident tag for Dall sheep in the Kluane Game Sanctuary in the southwestern Yukon. This borders on Kluane National Park and is a draw that takes place every year. There is one more tag which is auctioned and guided by the Kluane First Nation. He asked me if he could use "grampa's rifle". He shot his first sheep on this hunt which was a 7 year old ram which scored 171 & 5/8. The ram was 42" on one side and broomed off 4" on the other. The bases were 14 & 7/8. The ram was one in a million to be so heavy at just 7 years. You don't have to ask him what he thinks of the ole 88.

the ole winnie 88 is a treasure to keep and enjoy ... good for you guys .. history and heritage

Nice firearm! Even nicer story:)

Great story,I had one in about the same year,it had a fair bit of pitting in the barrel so I had it bored out to 358 it was a great rifle but never used it so it got sold.They are one of my favorite levers.

I have one, beautiful rifle. Will be going to my son. I don't shoot it so it will be almost as good as the day I acquired it!

Win 88/308
 

I too inherited a Win 88/308. My Dad bought it through Canex up in Cold Lake in the mid 70's. He bought for moose hunting and since lefty bolt actions were rare the lever 88 fit his needs and the fact that at the time the 7.62mm was the Std NATO ctg at the time for the FN C1/C2 he knew of its capabilities.
He never got a moose or a deer with it, but whilst on a moose hunt he bagged 3 Ruffed grouse with it, his hunting partners weren't too amused as they thought he was firing three shots at a moose.....:):)

I was finally able to kill a moose with it 2yrs ago :sHa_shakeshout:. My Go To rifle even though I have many others.
Enjoy every bit of yours :)

Cow moose was taken with a Lee 200gr gas checked castboolit in front of IMR3031, Lapua brass.

http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/...psff0a8e1d.jpg

My first rifle when I was 16 yrs old. Wish I had not sold it.

Worth looking for.
 

Great story. Even better guns. Three of the four are hard to find.

I also was given my dads model 88 308 rifle a couple years back he had barley used it less than a box of ammo through it
It has been my primary deer hunting rifle since I started hunting 3 years ago

There is a great video on Utube on how to take the 88 apart and put it back together. Joe Billy Bob Yankee gunsmith from Maine does a stellar job explaining how to break this rifle down. Pay Attention!!- there is a reason this action is so slick!

When I was young, my best friends uncle had a scoped 88 in .243. I remember going out hunting for the first time and a deer stepped out at about 175 yards. I had an old open-sight .303 Enfield and he handed me his 88 and said "use mine". Bang... drop! My first deer. To this day, it's still one of the most beautiful firearms I have ever used.

Model 88
 

I also have a .243 in model 88 that was my father,s nice handling and looking. The stiff trigger pull/creep plus sentimental value keeps it in the vault for me though.

Win 88
 

I had one... the recoil was not manageable.
Very well balanced,,,but that recoil...ouch !