| Bolt-Action Rifles of the 20th Century | |
Page Six
The
Most Underrated "Bolt" Rifle
One
of the most interesting rifles of the 20th century, one that I think bears mentioning,
is the Winchester Model 88 lever-action rifle. This rifle is interesting because
it had a couple of innovations when it was introduced that basically make it
like a bolt-action rifle activated by a lever. This was a departure for Winchester,
who is famous for its rear-locking, exposed-hammer lever guns with top ejection
and two-piece stocks.
First, the Model 88 has a front-locking rotary bolt and a solid top receiver for the strength of a bolt gun. It was drilled and tapped on top of the receiver for easy, low scope mounting. It has the stability of a one-piece stock, again, like a bolt-action rifle.
The rifle has a short-throw lever that accelerates the action of the bolt as the bolt moves rearward. The bulk of the leverage and camming force occurs when the bolt lugs are locking and unlocking, just when it is needed most. The entire trigger and trigger finger loop swing down with the short-throw lever so that you won’t get pinched fingers when working the lever. The rifle has a detachable box magazine and a shotgun-style crossbolt safety. There is no exposed hammer. It is a smooth action and a good-looking rifle. The several Model 88s that I’ve owned shot very well.
So why didn’t the rifle make it? First, the action is relatively complex, has a lot of parts, and was undoubtedly expensive to make. Second, the trigger is not adjustable and usually has a lot of takeup. It’s a pretty poor trigger, and to my knowledge no aftermarket triggers were offered for this rifle. Third, the rifle was designed for short-action cartridges. At that time the standard action cartridges were popular, and the new magnum cartridges designed for standard actions were becoming hot items. The short actions and short cartridges simply were not yet recognized for their benefits.
The Winchester short-action cartridges chambered in the Model 88—the .243, .284, .308, and .358—are all excellent, and one of them will do nicely for any hunting in North America. If you find one of these rifles in good condition, you might enjoy hunting with it.
If this rifle were reintroduced, I think it would benefit from 6mm-284, .30-284, .35-284 wildcat cartridges and the popular commercial .22-250 chambering. They would all work in the existing action design.
Page
One - Overview,
Bolt Locking, Extractor, Ejector
Page Two - Gas
Handling, Trigger, Safety, Magazine/Feeding, Scope Mounting, Bolt Stop
Page Three -
Bedding
System, Aesthetics, Rick's Two Favorites
Page Four - Comparing
the Ruger 77 and Winchester's 70 Featherweight
Page Five - Blaser's
Innovation, What the 20th Century
Has Brought Us For Rifles
Page Six - Lever-Action
Bolt Gun?
Page Seven -
Mauser
Influence Spans the Centuries; Jamison's Top 50 Guns
This article was originally published in Shooting Times magazine in January, 2000.
