Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors What are the advantages of a 99 over a Winchester 88?

It shouldn't be that hard to find a 99 that shoots well.

Savage lever guns are dripping of old school Americana!

Consider this, when your in deer camp with your buddies, which gun do you want on your shoulder? Which one are your buddies gonna want to hold, look at, and wish they owned? Anybody can own a Winchester, above average people own Savages.

One day at my old lease in south Ga, dad and I were sitting on the porch having a beer. One of our first year members arrives in camp,, unloads his truck and puts his rifle in the gun rack. he stands there for a couple minutes, Dad asked " you alright". He answers, "yeah, just looking at y'alls rifles. Never seen one.
We proceed to chuckle and have him 'throw up' dads 300F, I was hunting with a DL at the time. "This is the sweetest rifle Ive ever held. Better than my Winchester" His Winchester was an 88.

My only first hand experience with them side by side. Savage 1, Winchester 0.

The 88's are a POS.
I wouldn't carry one across the street.

Fewer moving parts = less complicated.

The 99 appeals to traditionalists while the Model 88 was an attempt to incorporate modernity in a lever action. I own a Model 88 and I've owned three 99s, a .308 and two .243s. My M88 in .308, is hands down, far more accurate and it will group with many bolt actions. Using ordinary factory loads and handloads made from leftover bullets and powders, I have no trouble putting three rounds in a half-inch group from the 100 yard bench and using a scope.
Fortunately, you shouldn't have to choose one over the other when you can own both. 88s in top shape are fetching around $1000.00 while you can double that for one in .358 Win.

No love for the 88.

Its hard to warm up to.

BMT

For me the biggest advantage is that I have 18 99's/1899's and no 88's!!!

I've owned several 88s a decade or more ago, before I got into Savages. The are trouble-prone, easy to jam, and hard to cycle in cold weather. Just working the lever on one side by side with a 99 (or even a REAL Winchester lever gun) will tell you all you need to know. The pivot point on the "short throw" lever, with all of its itty-bitty parts, is an overly complex design just begging for trouble.

Every so often, some gun writer will start to wax nostalgically about the 88 as "Winchester's last great design," or "an unappreciated classic" and will question why the model went out of production so quickly. The reasons for this that they will usually mention are the weight, the mushy trigger, the "fact" that Americans don't like clip magazines (really? 10/22?). The real reason, IMHO that the 88 died young is that it just couldn't compete with the Savage 99.

Rod

I think your question would be less formidible if it stated, "What are some of the advantages of a 99 over a Winchester 88?"

I've owned both, and the 99 is hands down my choice. I don't like the feel of the way the lever operates on the 88, and the one I had had a terrible trigger pull. As for accuracy, my 99's all outshot that 88. For me there just is no comparison.

The EGs and some of the other Model 99s have the classic "schnabel" forearm, the 88s don't.

Let's face it... the Model 99s are just plain "PURDIER"!~!~!

I've had 2 win 88's one in 308 and one in 243 both of them had mushy triggers, I've got three savage 99's 250/3000 a 300 savage and a 30/30 I'll never buy another 88, SAVAGE 99 RULE!!

now that would turn my crank if i could get a grand for ,mine ,308 brand new .1 shot throught it

norm

Prices as high up in Canada?

What did you do to your rifle? My 88 shoots patterns; not groups.

I have heard the 88 described as "a good idea that never quite panned out" for many of the reasons others have described. Sounds like the gun was "a bit of a dog" as they say. Whereas the 99 was a good idea that panned out beautifully...

top dollar in canuck land 650.oo

norm