Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General model 88 jamming on repeating cycle.

I have two winchester model 88s (both pre 64). One was my Dad's (and I'm 61 years old!)and they both jam very frequently (almost every time) after firing. Dad's did this from the day he bought it. The cartridges cycle through perfectly, until they are fired - then either the empty doesn't eject properly, or when it does, the next cartridge either hangs up on the front of the clip, or feeds too high and jams against the top of the chamber entrance. It's almost like the clip ramp is too steep? Loading just 3 cartridges solves the ejector problem (mostly)but not the feed problem. These guns are very accurate, and have both taken many whitetails - but any running shots are out of the question with a gun that turns into a single shot when you least want it to! Can anybody out there help?

I found that same problem with my 88 after I restocked it with a new Fajen stock. Tried a nubmer of things mostly with my reloads and their OAL but that didn't work.
After sitting down and really looking at the problem I noticed if I pushed the clip up while I cycled the action the problem went away.
I took the action out of the stock and started to shave a little at a time the wood under the front part of the receiver, trying to lower it in the stock, just enough that I could not push the clip up. After a few fittings it felt just right and my problem was solved.
See if pushing the clip up helps, you may also look at releaving some wood at the base of the triggerguard, this too may allow the clip to push closer to the action.
I hope I explained myself here.
wood under

If you can get your hands on another magazine (especially a newer one with the two-step bottom metal) try it. My M88 in .308 WIN was a little rough feeding and I found a new magazine - slick as glass now. I cannot tell any visual difference the two mags, but according to one website (link below) I read that Winchester kept tinkering with the mags, and the new one sure made a difference in my 308 WIN's feeding.

http://www.wisnersinc.com/additional_info/winchesterl_88_100.htm

It's the magazines.The ears get bent.Go to the web site mentioned above and the have an explaination as to how to fix them.