I have someone that wants to trade a Winchester 88 in .308 serial number in the mid 15,000 range for a new unfired Browning BLR straight grip in .308. I picked up the Browning in a trade. No box or anything. I love a Model 88 and wondered if you all think the trade is good. 88 is all original with 80-85% bluing and original condition stock. The butt pad has been replaced. Any thoughts?



Here is the 88.

It's all about what you want really. Is the BLR steel frame or alloy? I assume alloy. I personally don't like alloy framed nearly as much as the steel framed BLR's. I would go for the 88. You can always just buy another NIB BLR. Then again, that might be the answer too.

Having had both I would go for the 88.

If it were a Belgium-made BLR AND I liked the way the BLR handled then I might consider it.

Otherwise, no way. I have an 88 and it is a quality firearm in manufacture and materials. The newer BLR's can't hold a candle to them, IMHO.

keep the 88. oops let me update this trade him!

He wants to trade me an 88 for the BLR and it sounds like I need to do that.

I've had both, still have the 88 Winchester, the BLR went down the road. The only lever gun I'd consider trading the 88 for, would be a Sako Finnbear. Those are cool.

DF

Check the 88 stock for cracks on the receiver sides. The wood is thin there and I have seen several that had cracks there. Real Winchester replacements are not to be found.
I know this :-(

P.S. NEVER take it apart... :-)

Think you mean a Finnwolf, the Finnbear was a bolt gun. This is mine, albeit in a Bishop stock.

Big +1

The pad has killed the collector value of the 88, also the most common caliber.

It was never as good a rifle as a 99 EG, R or RS.

If you want a rifle that will work, you can get fixed and plan to hunt hard, stick with the BLR.

Too bad the 88 isn't a .284, swap and flip !

I couldn't disagree more. You can get an 88 fixed, although it's less likely to need fixing, as it'll hunt a lot harder than a BLR (compare the quality of materials).

If you say so, too many stamped parts for my taste. It'll never be a Savage 99 and if the name on it were not Winchester, it might not command the prices it does.

True Winchester does command more than others, but of the four 88s I have had all shot better then the one BLR I had and the triggers were equally bad. I did have the 88s trigger worked on and they became better. Having said thet I did like the BLR I just like the 88s better.

He backed out after his wife talked to "someone that knows a lot about guns". LOL! I think he envisions it being worth $1000+.

Triggers are hard to adjust on both the Win 88 and BLR. Of the two, I like the Win 88 better. The ones I've fooled with have been accurate. Not a betting man, but if I was, I'd put money on the average Win 88 shooting tighter groups than the average BLR.

DF

Stick with the 88.......BLR's are a dime a dozen!!!

Stick with Savage 99s. Better made and worth more every year.

once again it's all a personal preference. I would not own any lever action but a winchester.

I have had a fondness for the 88, but some of them had a problem, a trigger problem, they just went off for no apparent reason, the only close encounter with this problem I had , close, not me, had his 88 slung on his shoulder, safety on , chambered round, we were walking, not over particularly rough ground, and it fired, this was in the mid 70's, we, and several smiths, and ww, never figured why, I heard of similar ocurrances, with other 88 winnies, mint ones, worn ones, as far as I know, it was a problem a cure was never found for, not sure if design or tolerances were the problem, but for some reason, Winchester stopped production of it and the 100

I like the 88, plus they grow in value every day!

The 358 winchester is tough to come by as well.

I'd take the 88 in a minute. The Browning is just too ugly for me.

Never cared for the looks/feel of the BLR, but I hear good accuracy reports. The 88 is overly complex on the inside. Vote Savage 99, but that was not on OP's ballot! jack

I like the feel of the Win 88 much more than the BLR. The front locking action action of the 88 leads to less case stretch than the 99 also. The early BLR stock design did not seem to fit me well with a scope, the later BLR stock was different.