Has the Win model 88 lever action ever been chambered in 358win?

Yes it was, in fact if I remember right the Model 88 was the first production rifle to be chambered in the 358 Win. It was also chambered in .243 Win, .308 Win, and .284 Win.

Boilerroom, If you are thinking of a lever action in .358, I've owned both the 88 and the 99. No doubt about it the Winchester is the better looking of the two but for reliability, toughness, accuracy and pointability I think you'll be happier with the Savage and not just because I like them. I wish they still made them.

Savage

I'm keeping my eyes open for any lever in 358. I like both the 88 and 99. I'd take the BLR as a third choice.

Hey boilerroom, I pretty much agree with Savage's assessment with perhaps "accuracy" being a toss-up. And the Savage is much less complicated internally which helps achieve it's excellent reliability.

One thing he didn't mention is cost of the M99 is significantly less. I'd spotted an original M88 at a C&E Gun Show in Charlotte and the guy has raised the price $100 every year since. Last time I saw it, he was asking $1500.

A simple alternative is to buy one of the more common calibers and just have it rebarrelled to 358Win. You can find a decent 308Win M88 for less than $500 at that same Show. And Savages run a bit less when you can find them.

Absolutely an outstanding cartridge that you will not be disappointed with. The 200gr Hornady SP is excellent on Deer, Hogs and Black Bears. Just include a shoulder going in on the Deer to ensure good expansion. The 180gr Speer Hot-Cor is also a fine Deer bullet and as a bonus even looks bad when loaded.

For a person who's shots are under 400yds and who "eats" what they hunt, this cartridge is extremely difficult to ignore.

...

By the way, I understand your desire for a Lever Action, but just letting you know the 358Win is also very handy in a M7.

[ 07-04-2003, 15:48: Message edited by: Hot Core ]

i got to agree with hotcore. the 358 is a great deer cartridge at real ranges here in eastern pa. i converted a remington 760 years ago from 308 and never regreted it.

The .358 Win like other small production calibers reached collector status and the prices are too high for a shooter in the 99's and 88's. There are some around in Ruger 77's but also rare. I have seen them in BLR's at reasonable prices.

Just as posted above there was a 88 in a shop here for about $1,500!

When I carry a .358 Win in the forest it feels special. I know that many other rounds would do well also but due to the coincendence of of my hunting life the 358 Win is an integral part of it.

I hunt with the 180 Speer. If I hunted black bear over bait or something really big like moose I have 225 Partitions.

If any of you find an original Winchester 88 in 358, in 98% or better condition, for $1,500, you better buy it. Minty ones are now over the $2,000 mark and they won't come down in price..........

Browning brought back the .358 Win. in the BLR this year. Check http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=003B&cat_id=034&type_id=006

Of course a nice 88 in 358 might indeed have a market price of $1500 but it's just not worth it for two reasons to a shooter/hunter. First if you hunt with it and fall it may be damaged and then your going to feel bad. Second that 88 was the old checkered model and they don't function as well as the later ones and have poor triggers.

I already have too many 358's including a fine 70 that has attained safe queen status due to it's select wood.

I put together a .358 Win. on a VZ24 action, and a Douglas barrel. Lots cheaper then the lever action. And with my cast FNGC 237 gr. bullets, it shoots into an inch at 2100 fps. That will handle pretty much any deer or elk around here.

wanna make some fast cash anyone? PM me with info on all the 88's in 358 and original, 98% or better condition you find at $1500....i'll pay a $100 finder fee for every one I buy and I'll buy all of them in the condition I described.....
even though they have lousy triggers and poorly executed hand checkering........darn junky pre64 Winchesters anyhow.....

It has crossed my mind to re-barrel my BLR in 308 to 358. The thing has some issues anyhow and needs to go in for repairs. Is it really worth it or would I be better off just buying a new BLR. Like I said it's not my first choice but 88's and 99's in 358 are harder to come by.

There is supposedly a smith who does a good job of converting 35 Remington Marlins to 356 Win for $200.00. I heard about that on the Marlin sight. Thats not quite what your looking for, but might be a nice option.

And don't you know how silly I feel for paying $300 for a Savage 99 .358 a year ago January. I would have to rate that gun as 95% or better. Sean

"Second that 88 was the old checkered model and they don't function as well as the later ones and have poor triggers." - Savage 99

Tell that to my pre-64 88 in .308. While its trigger is not quite as crisp as a good bolt action gun, it's plenty good enough for me to consistently shoot 1.5 MOA with a number of different factory loads, and better than that with handloads. Further, I don't know what part of "function" you're talking about, because the action has functioned flawlessly for the last 41 years - and the hand checkering is just fine, thank you; it's easily the equal of the pre-64 Model 70's that you so dearly love.

[ 07-07-2003, 09:23: Message edited by: John G ]

Buy the new Browning in .358 you won't be sorry. I've had 88's rebored to .358 and was completely satisfied, also owned some 99A"s in .358 good rifles but you can't load them as high as the others. I recently had a Rugar MKII rebarrelled to .358 with a shilen the bbl countor wasn't right(too big and heavy) and traded it. I currently own only one .358 a BLR81. I us it for bear and boar and have never been disappointed. Shot a nice Chocolate bear this last Spring in MB. One shot one bear not tracking required. Typical .358 performance. Have your rebarreled or buy the new product Either way yoou won't go wrong and it is easier on the wallet.

A local gun shop has a very nice 88 that has been rebarrelled to 358. I don't know who's barrel it is or who did the work, but it looks real good. I considered it for a little while, but the 88's just don't tickle me. He is asking $585.00 for it.

I have both a BLR (in 308) and a Ruger in 358 (thank you very much .358) and I think the combination of the two would be awesome.

For the money, Browning BLR81, steel action if you find one. Have used them for 30 years and none of my three are for sale. Would love to get a .358 when the money's right. Stay with the straight grips for their handling. Have never had a big problem getting them to group. With the right load and bench procedure, three shot groups can be unbelieveable. Have used a Win M100, actually the BLR carrys better in the hand.

I have a minty Model 88 in 358 and out of my five Model 88 rifles, it is the most accurate. I shoot plain old Winchester 200 gr. Silvertips out of it and enjoy MOA accuracy with the Leupold Vari-X II 1.5-4.5X scope.....Needless to say, it only goes out on nice,sunny days and only once a year because I have other rifles and only a short season....I like to give them all a try!

I had a BLR in 358 when they first came out and it served me fine for two years until it developed a problem with the rack-and pinion mechanism...It's like it jumped a tooth or something...Anyway, I sold that rifle and went down to Shumans in Newville, Pa. for my Model 88. At the time they had four Model 88's in 358 Win. in stock and the owner told me that they only ever made about 1500 of them even though the Model 88 book claims that many more were built....You just don't run into many!......Big K

[ 07-15-2003, 03:39: Message edited by: Big K ]

BK

quote:

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I had a BLR in 358 when they first came out and it served me fine for two years until it developed a problem with the rack-and pinion mechanism...It's like it jumped a tooth or something...

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Damn it, that's happened to mine. I've heard this from some one locally to.