Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors What are the advantages of a 99 over a Winchester 88?

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.