Browning BLR/Savage 99 or Win88

[Sitting Bull]

I thought I could go down to one rifle, but every time I reach in the cabinet to start selling I handle them and I just can't do it. So the heck with it I want another lever.
I have Winchester 94 and 3 Marlins so they are out of the picture this time around. I have been looking at the
1) Browning BLR in .308 because I have all the reloading components for it but no rifle.
2) Savage 99 in .300 or .308
3) Winchester 88 .308
What do you all suggest ? and what advantage does one have over the other?
I think adding some picture of your rifle would help me decide.
Thanks for the help.
I also have been thinking about a BAR for the heck of it cause I have never shot a semi auto before.

[NinjaHunter]

If you're going to hunt, get a BAR. Good for follow up shots.

[Dick284]

I've owned all 3.

-All 3 have sketchy triggers, that cost a fortune to get tuned.
-The Browning and Savage have 2 piece stocks. The 88 is a 1 piece stock, yet uses a dovetailed lug as an means of attaching the stock to the action.
-Older 99's aren't a scope friendly combination, but the ones with the raised comb are much better.
-Newer Brownings with the alloy receiver are very cheaply made(pot metal feel) the take downs have all sorts of issues.

If I had it my way I'd buy an original BLR(pre 81) just don't lose the magazine.

[gtr]

Originally Posted by Sitting Bull

I thought I could go down to one rifle, but every time I reach in the cabinet to start selling I handle them and I just can't do it. So the heck with it I want another lever.
I have Winchester 94 and 3 Marlins so they are out of the picture this time around. I have been looking at the
1) Browning BLR in .308 because I have all the reloading components for it but no rifle.
2) Savage 99 in .300 or .308
3) Winchester 88 .308
What do you all suggest ? and what advantage does one have over the other?
I think adding some picture of your rifle would help me decide.
Thanks for the help.
I also have been thinking about a BAR for the heck of it cause I have never shot a semi auto before.

I have a few of all three and like using them all. The BLR 308, I would get the Lightweight pistol grip model over the Belgium made. I have the straight grip BLR made in Belgium, as well as the straight grip made in Japan. I have most calibers in the short action 81's. I have a 325 WSM in the 81 lightweight that has seen a pile of rounds, and works as good as new. Don't be scared of the aluminum frames. In the Savage I have the C model 99 that is clip fed. I find they don't handle to me as good as the BLR, but only my opinion. The Winchester 88 is fun to shoot, and quite different from the other two models you mentioned. Try tem out and see which one fits you the best, as you won't go wrong with any of the ones on your list.

[Sitting Bull]

Went to Cabela's tonight and was able to handle a BLR pistol grip. Shouldered nice. It really ticks me off that the want you to spend your hard earned money but you can't operate any rifles to get a feel for it. I would of liked to feel the trigger and throw the lever to see if I even like the handling of it.
I will be being used thats for sure.
In the gun library I was able to handle a BAR as well as a Remington 742 woodsmaster. Very different rifles!

[Huntsman]

Did you look at the Henry Long-Ranger. It comes in 223,243 & 308.
I handled one at P&D and would’ve walked out with it had it been in 308.

[bubba300]

I have had a few BAR's,BLR's and a win 88 in 308 that I had Ron Smith bore to 358 win.I preferred the 88 to the BLR,but the BAR's always shot better than any of my levers.I reloaded for them all.

[Diesel_wiesel]

Sako finnwolf lever action
if you can find one

[Sitting Bull]

Originally Posted by Huntsman

Did you look at the Henry Long-Ranger. It comes in 223,243 & 308.
I handled one at P&D and would’ve walked out with it had it been in 308.

I had no idea you could find it in Canada let alone Alberta. I'll give them a call.
Thanks

[Sitting Bull]

Originally Posted by Diesel_wiesel

Sako finnwolf lever action
if you can find one

Been looking for one for years.

[Parker Hale]

Winchester 88 for me. I have my grandfathers, manufactured in 1958, it was my first hunting rifle and it still shoots like new.

[Diesel_wiesel]

Originally Posted by Sitting Bull

Been looking for one for years.

there is one listed on guns international, but the price tag is pretty high

[Phil]

I had a Savage for a short time but it wasn't for me. Lever throw is a little too long.

Used a BAR in 30-06 for a couple of years but then went to a Pre81 BLR in 308 in the mid 1970's and have never looked back. I use bolt actions as well but always find myself going back to the BLR. I love the compactness of the rifle and the action. Easy handling in the bush and better accuracy then I can shoot if I wish to reach out with it.

The BAR is a lot less compact then the BLR and you need to be careful with cleaning and lubing to ensure 100% reliability. I never had an issue with it and while I enjoyed the ease of follow-up shots I have never felt handicapped with any of the levers or bolts either for that matter.

I also have a Model 88 in 308 that my Dad bought new in 1957. I like the rifle and try and take it out at least once a year. It shoots very well but is definitely not as compact as the BLR.

Phil

[nastycanasta]

Cabela's has the long ranger on sale. It's in stock at Edmonton south.

[Sitting Bull]

Originally Posted by Diesel_wiesel

there is one listed on guns international, but the price tag is pretty high

WOW!!! $2750.00 is too much for this cowboy.

[Huntsman]

Boxing week sale.
https://www.cabelas.ca/product/87538...-action-rifles

Just bought the Henry H010 45/70 steel round barrel, I considered the 308 Henry but my Dad’s 88 he gave me works fine

[gitrdun]

Originally Posted by Huntsman

Boxing week sale.
https://www.cabelas.ca/product/87538...-action-rifles

Just bought the Henry H010 45/70 steel round barrel, I considered the 308 Henry but my Dad’s 88 he gave me works fine

Very fine choice by my books. I'm a sucker for Marlins and Henry's. As far as I'm concerned, a true lever ought to wear a tubular magazine. But, that's just me.

[cody c]

I have a 99 savage in 308 with the drop mag. They are a fine rifle, a little heavy next to a 1894 or 1892 obviously, and they seemed to have pushed the trigger a bit far back IMO.

Nothing wrong with it, personally a BLR takedown in 358 win would be more appealing to me, or actually the 88 looks like a nice rifle to handle, there has been a few of the 88's on here and CGN in the $600 range, though you may have to be patient.

It looks like lots of win and marlin levers have been popping up for sale lately, I think people are wanting other toys so they are purging some of the classics they aren't using to make money for other toys, but if you wait a bit you will likely be able to get your hands on a nice 88. I don't know too much about them, but they do look like a nice rifle to carry.

[struff55]

The blr will shoot 1" groups the action is as strong as a bolt gun because the bt head locks into the bbl so it will handle 52000 psi . The triggers are not great but one can over come that . The 99 and the Henry are the poorest quality of the mentioned . 88's are ok . I have worked in the firearm industry for 35 yrs you get to see which rifles have issues and which ones don't .

[rugerjack]

Had the 99 in 284 Win. removable mag and in 300 Sav. rotary mag, both in beautiful shape but had issues and didn't fit properly .

The 88 in 308 was really nice shot well just didn't fit quite right .

But I think the biggest problem they all had was the Browning BLR 81 in 257 Roberts already in the cabinet it was just all around great !

Prophet River has some 88's on their consignment list even a 284, as nice as it looks Ouch!

[Dean2]

Of the list you have, clearly the BLR. The ones I have owned all shot great, guns are short, handle well and have a strong action. I wouldn't take a Henry, too much plastic, I want guns that last generations. The Savage and Winchester 88 are long out of production so parts are already an issue and will only get worse.

[Huntsman]

The only plastic i found on a Henry was the front sight/barrel clamp on my .22 lever. And maybe the butt pad.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by Huntsman

The only plastic i found on a Henry was the front sight/barrel clamp on my .22 lever. And maybe the butt pad.

Look at the inards, there is some in there, at least on the ones I looked at. To be fair, I did some checking, apparently Henry has now swapped out the plastic carrier, feed, mag button etc for metal parts, are at least that is what Henry says. They should be a bunch better gun than they were. They will also change out the old plastic parts at no charge for owners of older guns.

[Fwee6]

I have the BLR in 308, pistol grip. It's by far and away my favourite in the whole safe. Shoulders very well, great balance, and has taken plenty of big game animals already. Also love that it's a little more compact for carrying through the timber. Never had an issue with accuracy, loading, etc.