Other than the history and the styling (important, but not what I'm looking for) what are the advantages of a 99 over a Winchester 88.

The best comparison would be a 300 or 243 Savage with a pre-64 Winchester 88 in .243.

Thank you in advance.

You have many more loonies to talk too?

A variety of different style options: A/C/CD/DL/E/EG/F/R.

Rotory magazine option.

Better pistol grip geometry/ergs.

Better trigger.

Only disadvantage is that the action isn't as "stiff/rigid" because of the difference in locking lug design. The 88 is sort of like a straight pull bolt action that uses a lever to cycle the action. Think Swiss K-31 with a lever, sort of.

Jeff

Well summarized Jeff.

I can see the trigger and the geometry/ergonomics as being major advantages.

The 88 in .308 beat me up.

Better aesthetics, better trigger, more accurate, more models with different features, rotary mag that won't fall out and get lost, I could go on and on. I own both, and like both, but I really can't name one area where the 88 is better than the 99.

I would also argue about the 88 action being stiffer, but thne most "stiffer" arguments are probably losers anyway.

Dual front locking lugs vs. a falling block wedge?

Jeff

ever tryed to disassemble an 88 compared to a 99 .ill take the 99 any day, reassembly 88

norm

Nice video on the disassembly of the 88.
I would not try this at home.

video on taking apart the Winchester 88

no one mentioned coolness yet... 99 has way more coolness

Ah yes, the debonair factor. Walking about in the deer woods carrying a 99 always makes one feel superior to someone carrying a wantabe mass produced failure. Winchester tried to rip off Sako and didn't succeed. The Finwolf (IIR the name correctly) was a decent rifle but the Winchester wantabe wasn't quite right. It coulda been and shoulda been but it wasn't. While the 99 pretty much always played second fiddle to the 94 IMO it was a price advantage rather than a quality advantage. The 99 was always a superior rifle. Some what like comparing a VW to a Triumph. Both will get you there but only one has style.

Right there...

The biggest thing to me about the 88 vs 99 it the 88 is so heavy, the stock is like a 2x4, expensive magazines to lose, and few caliber choices.

Jeff

I recall about 40 years ago I had a cousin interested in one. He had seen pictures and took a shine to it. He liked my Dad's M100 and the lever version appealed to him. He found one in a gun store one day. He hefted it, brought it to his shoulder, looked down the barrel... all was good. Then he worked the lever and right away said, "oh, I don't like that!"

The pistol grip ergs are why I like shooting the 100 and don't care for the 88.

Jeff

A Savage 99 doesn't remind you of a Winchester 100.

A Savage 99 is a real rifle.

Even though I just bought an 88 this is funny

Have acquired one 88, pre-64, in 308. It's been a good accurate rifle. Have acquired "12" model 99's and still looking for more...that's the best comment I could make.

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