Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Winchester 88 or Savage 99... school me.

I've looked at those two grand old levers over and over on GunBroker for quite a while.

I want one.

Is one 'supposedly' better than the other in fuction or design? I've never shot either one.

I do like the removable mag of the Win 88. Did some 99's have that too? I thought I saw one ad for a 99 that did have a drop out mag, but haven't seen anything since that.

I've been turned into a 358 nut the last couple of years, I realize I'd better get my piggybank out for either one in 358....

99.

88s have DMS which cannot be replaced.

BMT

All 88's have detachable magazine. Replacements here:
http://www.wisnersinc.com/rifles/winchester/88_100.htm

Some 99's have detachable magazines.

Shops around here appear to have about equal numbers of each, but there are many more rotary mag 99's than either.

Bruce

99C's have the detachable box magazine.

Are the 88's and 99's fairly similar in action design? Or totally different?

I do believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that the 88's use a design similar to that of the Browning BLR?

Totally different.

The 88 uses a rotary, front locking bolt.
http://www.wisnersinc.com/exploded_views/Winc_88.htm

The 99 bolts rear end lifts up into the receiver opening and locks at the rear of the bolt.
http://www.urban-armory.com/cart/blueprints/savst_m99.gif

Bruce

Get both. I've had both and prefer the 99, but the 88 has its virtues too, most notably its fast handling and ability to be easily scoped. Later 99's can be scoped as well, but the best of the 99's were not d&t'd.

Thanks for the pics! Does the 99 have a direct side eject, or is it more 'up and out'?

Which of the two has the higher stock for eye-to-scope alignment?

The 99 ejects to the side, but I believe the 88 is better suited for scope mounting.

I've got a 99, and it's well suited for a scope, although the earlier ones weren't d&t.

The 99 cocks on the closing stroke, and I think the 88 cocks on the opening stroke, if that matters.

Since you want a .358 it is not hard to have it rebarreled. I did that to my 88 saving a bunch of moneyan origianl would cost. Some have said the magazine for .308/.243 won't work well with the larger .358, but I haven't had a problem with mine.

Hard to go wrong with either one, they're both cool rifles. Asides from both having a lever that's about the only thing they have in common. Had a 99R in 300 Savage with a K4 Weaver on it that I used to take quite a few whitetails. Have never owned a 88 but would like to. Only thing I didn't like about my 99R was that it was heavy. I would recomend one of the lighter models.

If you are brave enough take this question over to the Savage Collectors forum. The 99s were factory DT'd starting with certain models in the mid-late 1950's. The early factory drilled guns are super desirable since they combine workmanship with scope accommodation. RP

Exactly my plan! Do you mean rebarreled, or rebored?

I see there are some 88 Carbine 308's floating around out there, and for a gun that I plan on USING and not sitting the safe or collecting value, I was thinking about having a 88 Carbine 308 bored up to 358 as a more economical way of getting there. Win 88's a simple screw-on barrel?

Of course, I would still love to find an actual factory 358 "just to have"....

Why did they put a barrel band on the 88 Carbines? What is different about that carbine model that required a barrel band?

I have both the 99F and a M88 and like them both. Although I have used the 99 since 1966 and just got the 88 a few years ago only to work it's lever I could have been happy with either one.

They both weigh the same scoped at 8#, 1oz.

The 99's lever is a little easier for me to use as it cocks on closing where we have hand strength. The 88 cocks at the end of its out stroke. Not a big deal. Both have so - so triggers.

Since I don't prefer detachable mags. we can't get along on that. My 99 has the famous rotary mag.

My 99's have a two position tang safety that locks the lever. Its a little better than the two position cross button on the 88 to use. That one is also just a trigger safety and it does not lock the lever closed.

They are both superb woods rifles. I would take either one and would not pass up a 308 for now if you can buy it right.

I would guess the barrel band was for looks, probably didn't do anything good for the accuracy though.

My thoughts too, just wanted to be sure that nothing notable changed for that carbine model.

I see the 88 Carbines do get a premium price. If I was buying a 308 for a rebore project to 358 (and I do like carbines), I'd just get the cheapest 308 88 I could find and then whack the barrel at 19" or so and rebore to 358.

Were the 99's ever available as a carbine model?

If you want to rebore a 99, go with a clip model. Much easier to not have to worry about the rotary or other internals.

As to d&t.. The Savage 99R was factory d&t starting in 1950, the 99F starting in 1955, the 99EG starting in 1957'ish, and every model made after 1960 was factory d&t. The pre-1960 rifles had rotary mags and lever safety, the post-1960 rifles were a mix of rotary and clip and all were tang safeties except for the 99E. Lots of after market d&t 99's available, and they have the bonus of being cheaper since their "collectibility" has been removed.

If you can find and afford a pre-1960 99F in 358, you'll love it far more than any clip model.

And don't overlook the 300 Savage as being a great hunting round. My 1945 99EG is now 15 deer down for 15 shots, and even Steelhead is a convert to that cartridge.

Good luck whatever your choice!

PS: The Savage 99's have FAR more class than those 88's. Jmho..

Great info! thanks- and a classic picture too, beautiful.



300 Sav has taken a LOT of whitetails over the years, great caliber. But I have four 358's now, and a good stash of the old Silvertip 358 ammo, so I might as well keep on going in that direction....

Can I ask what is special about the pre-1960 99F? Is that a drop mag or internal rotary?

1960 for Savage is kind of the equivalent of 1964 for Winchester. Quality and desirability went down afterwards, though the rifles are still great hunters. And all pre-1960 Savage 99's are rotary mags.