Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Winchester 88's, info please

I finally got to be the guy who stumbled into a good deal. Part of that deal was an 88 in 284 Win. I'm no stranger to lever guns (have both Sav 99's and Win 94's) but an 88 is a new critter in the stable. I don't have the actual rifle in hand yet but do have a picture. It's definitely seen some use and has some marks but it doesn't appear horrible.

Serial number is 1509XX and there might be an 'A' after the last number. Something is stamped there but I can only see the top of it. 1964 if I'm looking at things correct? Has a scope labeled Scopechief 4X on it. Weaver mounts. I don't see Bushnell on the scope but it's most likely there somewhere. I've got a Bushnell Scopechief IV and a Scopechief VI from the mid to late 70's so I assume this one predates them.

I'll be handloading for it, any suggestions for bullets, powders etc? Primary use will be deer and maybe bear in Northcentral Pa. It would be kind of cool to hunt elk with it here in Pa. if I ever get drawn but already have a 99 in 358 Win for that. Mix of farmland, woods and utility right of ways. I've shot deer as close as 5 yds. and as far as 350.

So anyhow, I'm looking for info on the care and feeding of my new to me rifle. Thanks,

Dale

I've owned a couple Win. M/88's, a .308 and a .358, it's easy to tell a pre'64 as they have checkered stocks. Post '64 have pressed basketweave with an oakleaf in an oval also the grip cap has a red Winchester W. As for loading info for .284 I can think of no better source than the late Ken waters' Pet Loads. Ken was the dean of handloaders, no armchair data from Ken he tested his loads carefully and thoroughly. His info has produced several loads that have shot exceptionally well in my rifles. I have in my files several letters from Ken from back in the day when he would personally answer questions posed to him from readers of Handloader magazine.

This one belongs to my wife, past down from her father.

Custom stock

Yours is older than this one.

I have had win model 88s for years in all calibers. Have two 284 win. They work best with bullets 150gr or less. Also, Try 139 Hornady or 145 Speers or 140 sierras. Flat base bullets seem to work best in mine. You can PM me for actual load data any time. I typically don't hot rod lever guns when reloading. They are fun guns to hunt and shoot. Good luck.
Daryl.

Agree with DLSguide. I've owned several M88s. They have one of the strongest lever actions, but still don't hotrod them. They aren't known to have the most comfortable stocks for a lot of bench time, nor fast enough twist for the heaviest pills. The triggers aren't perfect either. But still a really nice Winchester. Enjoy!

Enjoy my 88 carbine mfg in year of intro 1968; pix below. In .308 with 19" barrel, plain stock & barrel band forend. Triggers on these guns as genre, so-so at best. Just something you buy-into with the Model! Just the aside observation that the Win 88 Model didn't fall over the cliff beyond "pre '64". The model as intro'd in the latter fifties, largely unchanged beyond as above noted the bit 'tacky' aesthetics stock. After 1968, the Federal Gun Control Act had Winchester putting an "H" prefix on the serial numbers. Winchester used such as "A" serial suffix typically to indicate engineering changes. 'If' I knew, I don't recall concerning it! My '68 Carbine has it too!
Congrats on your 88 and in the rare & desirable .284 Win!
Best!
John

One of the few "did not purchase" at a gun show regrets I have a carbine. It really was in mint condition (and not just for its age, it looked like the gentleman had just taken it from the box). This was several years ago, but the price tag was $1000 and he'd have taken $875. Unfortunately I left it on the table and didn't make it back the next day.

Currently I own 2 pre-64 88s. One in 243 and another in 308. Enjoy them both. Good luck and enjoy yours.
Rob

I had a 100 in 284. It was a decent rifle. If you're needing a crisp trigger you might want to pass.

We have had a Model 88 .308 Win in our family since 1957. My dad bought it that year, though it was manufactued in 1955 based on its serial number of 910XX.

I had it for a while, gave it to my son and he has since given it to his left handed son. We changed the safety over for left handed use a simple task.

A few points:

The trigger can be improved dramatically by a good smith.

Accuracy on ours was improved by glass bedding the tang and front screw.

Wisners bought the molds to make magazines and parts when the local Winchester rep sold out. They still make them. http://wisnersinc.com

I have a pretty large file on the Model 88. If you want a copy, PM me and I will e-mail it to you.

Gary

iskra mentioned the A suffix. My .284 carbine has that as well. In fact, most of the carbines I’ve seen have it. I can’t recall the significance. Does anyone remember the story with the A suffix on the 88s and on the carbines?
Post ‘64 88 in 308 doesn’t have the suffix.

I think the A suffix means rebarreled in the pre 64.

The 358 sold so, poorly they made them into 308s.

The letter designation post 64 is H for the model 88

A for the model 100.

I don’t it started right a 1964 .

I dunno about the 284;post 64. I have one .It seems to have less recoil than the 308. I reload 4 it and can share data also. Sizing the brass was a challenge for me at first. I got a bunch I think I ruined.

I agree with iskra as for the "A' designation after the serial number.
Absolutely was Winchester denoting a Design or Production change.
Great proven Rifles in all Calibers.
My Favorite is the .308!

Dale K
Congrats on your great deal!!!

HS 58

I call BS on the story that the "A" suffix represents Winchester's rebarreling .358's to .308. The .358 was not a marketing success whether in the 88 or M/70 nor the Savage 99, same with Remington's .350 Magnum. The .358 enjoyed something of a rebirth when Ruger chambered it in the M/77 but even that was short lived. It's my understanding that the suffix represented a design change possibly addressing firing pin breakage which I understand was problematic in early 88's. I agree with the statement that 88's had poor stock design, excessive drop at the heel intensified felt recoil not a comfortable design for shooting at the bench.

I used IMR-4350 and H-4831 powder and 130 gr. Speer spitzers and 150 gr. Winchester PP bullets in my .284. Like Bugger's mine was in the model 100. The reason I went with the above powder is because in 1967 that was about the only powder available....I just remembered that I also used some of the "new" Hercules Reloader 21 but, went back to the slower two. My rifle liked the 130 Speer and I killed my first deer with it at the longest distance of my hunting career. Now you will have greater choices!

I love model 88's

Thanks for the info so far. I found brass from someone on the forum and picked up a pound of H4350 at the local shop. Need dies and bullets yet. Also need the rifle, it’s at my son in laws, will get it at Christmas.

Dale

I have 4 Winchester 88s in 284 WIN, 2x carbines and 2x rifles. The 150 grain Winchester factory load produced the same performance as their 150 grain factory load for the 308, so the 284 has to be handloaded for if you want to get the level of performance that you're expecting and paying a premium for.

I don't shoot any 284s these days, but when I did, I shot 139 and 140 grain bullets over H4895 in Winchester cases. I've never had any trouble with Winchester 284 brass, but I've read that Winchester let the dies wear out, so some production lots were at or over SAAMI maximums. The Winchester 88's dual front locking lugs makes for a strong action and longer case life if you can back off from the maximum loads a little bit.

Good luck with your 88!

4064 and 165v gr Game Kings or about anything in that weight. Step up to 180gr RN for elk if you can find them.

The Model 88 had quite a lot going for it as noted across this whole Thread. It died quietly as sa combo of external factors. From Winchester missteps in "economizing" in other Models as Corporate downturn bringing continuing economic grief. A second factor as Winchester found themselves essentially "competing with themself". As advocating the true, factual advantages of the 88, also functionally pointing up accumulated 'age' deficiencies inherent of its other classic lever models. The remained 'safe bet' by default. The 'new & improved' 88, lacked that very "classic" dimension upon which Winchester had built its central surviving lever reputation. The so-called "business decision".
I call those of us who have surviving examples, "lucky"!
Just my take
Best! John