I have a chance on a really nice model 88 in .243

Made in 1960 with a period Weaver scope and rings. Very nice. May have been refinsihed but if it was, it was an outstanding job. Cant tell. I have pulled the trigger and its very nice and crisp, unlike a lot of the model 88's talked about.

Anyway, thoughts on them are appreciated before I plop down some money. Any comments on one of these in a 243 for deer? Are they accurate enough for a 200 yard coyote gun? Thanks

My Pre-64 284 delivers 1.25 MOA 3 shot accuracy. I would think that that would be adequate for 200 yd. yotes.

I shot my first deer with a .243 88. It was always good for about 1.5" at 100 for 3 shots. After that it shot good patterns. First shot was ALWAYS spot on though...

My '62 vintage .308 Model 88 shoots about 1.5-2.0 MOA with factory ammo; it's a perfectly delightful 150 yard deer gun and isn't expected to be anything more.

Mine has the basketweave checkering, & you DO get envious looks when you pull it out at deer camp!

If your 62 vintage 308 has a basketweave stock, it must have been replaced as cut checkering was used on pre-64 models of the 88 and 100 rifles.
It's not too suprising, as the thin sides of the stock in the magazine area were prone to cracking.

I always admired the M88's and finally got one a few years ago in 308. Mine is a pre 64 with the cut checkering.

I am somewhat disapointed in it as it's a little heavier and harder to operate than what I expected.

Mine shoots in the 2 to 3 MOA range and has a terrible trigger pull.

The 243 will kill deer most of the time.

I would buy that 88 if the price is right. Thats the fun of guns. Find out about it and move it on someday if you want to.

hikerbum:

I was an old user (a fanatic user) of the Savage 99 and thought no other lever action in the world came close to it - until in near old age I acquired a Win.88 (in 308 Win.) So if yours has a nice trigger pull and you're comfortable with the rifle, (and the price is right) then, I say, go with it!

Having said the above - I confess that I never thought the 243 was much of a deer cartridge. No, I never used the 243 on deer but I have shot some 35 deer or so in NY State. I just don't think it's a woods cartridge. There are not many standing shots at whitetails and I thought the 30-30 was not all that good at going through the south end of a deer going north and while the 243 zips along, it's still a rather smaller bullet) Just my thoughts and I'm not looking for arguments, believe me! Shooting at a coyote in NY? 200 yard shot -where you can use a rifle larger than .22 caliber? Of course, the 243 from a Win. 88 can nail him. ( My only thought is- Where do you get those shots in NY, anyway)

thanks for your thoughts.

gerry, I have the higher cal rifles, but have been tempted by somethign in the 243 range to get a double duty type gun. The 200 yard shots are sometimes over a cornfield where the yotes come to the edge of a woods and bark.

the 88's are neat looking guns and seem well balanced. Never had a lever of any type.

again, thanks for the input

My 88's come up and point like a shotgun. When the butt hits my shoulder and the comb of the stock contacts cheek, I'm looking right down the barrel with sights in good alignment and ready for action.

I bought a .243 pre 64 for my wife's deer rifle. while the trigger is too heavy it is crisp and shootable. I restocked the rifle in myrtle to fit her and loaded up some 100 gr partians for it, which it shoots OK, maybe inch and a half. On a fluke i tried some 85 grain Sierra varmint bullets. Holy shit does that thing shoot! Honest half inch for three shot. When it gets hot, it opens up a bunch. If the price is right, grab it.