Winchester Model 88
Winchester Repeating Arms · Rifle · Discontinued · 1955
Also known as: Winchester 88
Overview
The Winchester Model 88 is a hammerless lever-action sporting rifle produced from 1955 to 1973, designed by W. D. Butler. Unlike traditional lever guns, it uses a front-locking rotary bolt with three locking lugs and feeds from a detachable box magazine, allowing it to chamber high-pressure, spitzer-bulleted modern cartridges led by the .308 Winchester. Its one-piece walnut stock, side ejection, and solid drilled-and-tapped receiver made it scope-friendly and accurate, earning it the tagline 'the bolt-action rifle with a lever.' Roughly 284,000 were made across .243, .284, .308, and .358 Winchester chamberings before discontinuation.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3289 g (116.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1067 mm (42.01") |
| Barrel Length | 559 mm (22.01") |
| Action Type | Lever Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 4 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 838 m/s (2749 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3346 J (2468 ft·lbf) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .308 Winchester · primary · 7.62x51mm NATO — also known as .308 Win, 7.62x51mm
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Reversible Cross Bolt Safety
- Features: Front Locking Rotary Bolt, Three Locking Lugs, Side Ejection, Detachable Box Magazine, One Piece Walnut Stock, Short Throw Lever, Drilled And Tapped Receiver
Variants
- Model 88 (.308 Winchester) — Chambering
- Model 88 (.243 Winchester) — Chambering
- Model 88 (.358 Winchester) — Chambering
- Model 88 (.284 Winchester) — Chambering
- Model 88 Carbine — Carbine
Service history
Operators
- Civilian hunters
Production
Estimated total produced: 283,913 · Production years: 1955-1973
Per-caliber: .308 Win approximately 110,289 (most popular), .243 Win 74,294, .358 Win 35,636, .284 Win 35,330; carbines approximately 28,330. The 19-inch carbine was produced 1968-1972.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: W. D. Butler
Discontinued: 1973
Notes
The action uses an enclosed internal hammer rather than a striker. The trigger assembly travels with the lever as a single unit during the cycle. The .284 Winchester variant used a 3-round magazine.
Background
The Model 88 was a lever-action that fed from a detachable box magazine rather than a tube, meaning it could safely chamber aerodynamic pointed (spitzer) bullets that tube-fed lever guns cannot. Combined with a Mauser-style three-lug front-locking rotary bolt and a scope-friendly receiver, Winchester marketed it as bolt-action accuracy with lever-action handling speed.