Читать книгу Gun Digest 2011 - Dan Shideler - Страница 22

THE OLD AND NEWER WINCHESTER MODEL 88 RIFLE AND CARBINE

BY BERNARD H. DIGIACOBBE, M.D.

AND GEORGE E. DVORCHAK JR., M.D.

PHOTOS BY GEORGE DVORCHAK

On examining the Winchester Model 88, it becomes obvious even to the non-collector that its concept and design were advanced for a rifle that was first introduced back in 1955. Previously, lever action rifles were restricted to low pressure cartridges and further limited to the use of blunt-nose bullets which shed velocity faster than “pointed’ varieties. These bullet types were what could only be safely used since there was obviously a safety concern of “pointed bullet tips on primers” in the tubular magazine varieties of lever action carbines. In addition, most of these earlier designs were ill-suited to the use of telescopic sights. One notable exception was the Savage Model 99. While this design with its rear lock-up was already over half a century old, it could handle, or more importantly extract, such high pressure cartridges as a .250-3000 (now simply called the .250 Savage) and .300 Savage. It was also readily adaptable to the use of a scope mounted to the top of its action. This lever action thus became an increasingly popular choice with hunters and was in a position to challenge Winchester’s domination of the level action rifle market at that time.

Although old and used hard by a previous owner, with rust outside and inside, our test Model 88 still had some life left in it. Co-author George Dvorchak fired two groups at 100 yards. The first shot was low, then with a few clicks up and left, three shots with Winchester 168-gr. BS ammo printed a 1.25-inch group. The second group fired with Remington 180-gr. CLPSP ammo grouped two inches with two shots touching each other. For a once rusted-up old rifle, it still shoots well!

Shown is some of the increased complexity which greatly contributed to the manufacturing cost of the model 88.

The original Model 88 with its hand-cut checkering but topped with a modern scope, a Buris 3X-9X Fullfield II and Millett ScopeSite rings.

Back in the mid-’50s, shooters were also showing an increasing preference for bolt-action rifles that were not only ideally suited for high pressure cartridges with pointed bullets but were also readily adaptable to the use of scopes. This was also the era when scope sights were becoming increasingly popular since they were now better made and affordable. The management at Winchester must have anticipated that the generation who just witnessed the development of the jet plane and atomic bomb would be ready for a rifle that was every bit as powerful and streamlined as the new high performance cars that were selling in ever-increasing numbers. Certainly the public would want something more advanced than the already half-century-old lever action designs then available. To maintain their dominance of the lever action market, Winchester would fashion a compact rifle that included just about every new feature available.

While this is usually the formula for a technically advanced but impractical disaster, the Model 88 was one of those rare cases where everything fit together just right!

A TRULY UNIQUE DESIGN

Like the most advanced bolt actions of the time, the front-locking, rotating bolt of the New Model 88 featured a recessed bolt head with a plunger-type extractor. This would not only fully support the cartridge head, but also simplify manufacturing by eliminating the need to cut and index the extractor groove in the rear face of the barrel. The bolt head also offered the then-novel feature of three locking lugs – this before bolt action rifles offered this feature. This would not only reduce the amount of rotation necessary to operate the mechanism but was also significantly stronger. It offered a larger restraining surface than a conventional two-lug Mauser-type bolt action rifle and was more stable, just as a tricycle is steadier than a bicycle.

These three lugs were also cut with a slight pitch at the rear surface to provide the necessary mechanical advantage of “primary extraction” in removing a swollen case. Now, combining the rotation and recto-linear motion of a bolt action with the perpendicular motion of a lever is actually easier than it sounds. This can be readily accomplished with the use of a cam and bolt carrier mechanism and of course, the extra lever travel necessary to operate the cam and bolt carrier. But that’s not how Winchester did it! They did it with a short lever travel of a mere 60 degrees. To achieve this seemingly impossible task, they relied on additional levers and of course the necessary linkage along side the main lever to multiply the motion of the main lever. The Model 88 may thus be more accurately referred to as a “levers-action” rifle.

The Model 88 was chambered in the following four calibers, from left to right: the big .358 Winchester; next, the versatile .308 Winchester; then the good but underrated .284 Winchester; and last, what has become a first caliber for many young hunters, the .243 Winchester. This Rifle, along with the Model 70, was used to introduce these then new calibers.

Integrating this train of levers and their linkage into the already tight spacial constraints of the 88 is perhaps one of the greatest feats of engineering in lever-action rifle design. Despite this complexity, this rifle is surprisingly smooth in operation. However, like other lever actions, it is best operated briskly to ensure smooth, reliable feeding. For those interested, this feat of engineering can be readily appreciated by visualizing the lever train, located along side the main lever, and exposed during the normal routine operating of the lever. Unfortunately, what the engineers achieved through ingenuity most shooters undo with unfamiliarity. In actual practice, many shooters still un-shoulder a lever action Rifle and operate the lever from the hip before re-shouldering and re-sighting the Rifle for a follow-up shot.

These photos show the large opening in the stock as required by the design as well as a close-up of the grooved magazine catch conveniently located to the front of the magazine well. The large rectangular opening required by the design was also a weakness of this rifle, which was partially compensated for by the recoil block discussed in the article.

At this point, it’s worth noting the presence of a pivot between the finger loop and the trigger guard portion of the lever. This does not function as a grip safety as in, say, the model 336 Marlin but as a catch to keep the lever closed. There is a small hook along the top hidden surface of the finger lever that locks into a catch within the receiver. Another novel feature of the 88 was the location of the trigger pivot within the lever itself. The trigger thus remained in close contact with the shooter’s finger throughout the course of operation. With other lever actions, the trigger remains attached to the receiver and is thus prone to stabbing the shooter’s trigger finger when chambering a round. After the first time you get pinched, you soon learn to reposition your finger when using those systems. It’s one of those mistakes you make just once! Now, with the hammer remaining in the receiver and the trigger mounted on the lever, some sort of additional sear or interrupter mechanism was required between the hammer and trigger. To prevent accidental firing while reloading, the 88 was fitted with an interrupter mechanism that required the trigger to be fully released forward before re-firing. All of this complexity does have its cost, both in terms of manufacturer’s cost and quality of trigger pull. It’s one of those things that you might notice initially but quickly adapt to, particularly on a rifle designed to hunt big game and not varmints.

The quality of the trigger pull is fortunately aided somewhat by a trick used by the Winchester engineers on their Models 50 and 59 shotguns. By maximizing the distance from the trigger pivot point to the sear surface, they were able to minimize the amount of trigger travel and hence amount of “creep” transferred to the shooter’s finger. In reality, this is something you are aware of but quickly adapt to during actual use and is therefore no problem, at least to us. The Model 88 we evaluated had a trigger pull measuring a crisp 5.5 pounds.

The internal hammer arrangement of the 88 does prevent the use of the conventional half-cocked position of the hammer as a safety. While some will prefer the external hammer safety arrangement, this system is also prone to accidental discharge when operated with cold or inexperienced thumbs. The 88 was fitted with a crossbolt safety conveniently located along the anterior bow of the trigger guard/lever. This was similar to the safety mechanism used on pump action and other shotguns and hence was familiar to most shooters. A less obvious safety feature was a cam machined into the rear surface of the firing pin that prevented the firing pin from projecting past the bolt face until the bolt lugs were fully engaged and the action completely locked.

The Model 88 was also the first lever action rifle offered with a one-piece stock. This, in conjunction with the interior hammer, certainly contributed to the overall streamlined and modern appearance of the rifle. It also contributed to the overall light weight of the 88, which generally weighs between 6-1/2 and 7 pounds. In addition, many agree that a one-piece stock is more conducive to accuracy and tuning for accuracy then a conventional two-piece stock. This one-piece stock arrangement did, however, require a very large rectangular opening to accommodate the trigger mechanism and box magazine. This is one of the weaknesses of the 88. Because of the length of this opening and the thinness of the sidewalls of the stock, they are prone to cracking, particularly about the rear of the receiver. This probably explains Winchester’s fitting of a recoil block that remains permanently affixed to the rear of the stock, similar to the method of construction of the M-1 Carbine (which was also a contemporary Winchester development).

The pencil shows the pivot point which allowed the finger loop that holds the lever closed. This lever action rifle had additional levers to increase the travel and allow for a short stroke.

The cut-checkered walnut stock was standard on the pre-’64 Model 88. Later versions had the much-maligned impressed basket weave pattern.

Differences in the magazines. The pre-’64 model magazine was a little shorter than later ones with both being marked with the words Winchester, Trade Mark.

To remove the barrel and action, one needs to remove the forend screw and then lift the barrel and action out of the stock while pivoting the rear of the receiver against the recoil block. On 88s manufactured before 1957, the rear of this recoil block was fitted with a three-bumped figure or “cloverleaf” configuration with a very short tang. This was later Modified into an entirely rounded shape to mitigate against splitting of the stock. According to master gunsmith Ted Neal of Altoona, Pennsylvania, this is why “it is important when restocking these rifles to pay close attention to the grain pattern of the stock in this area as well as the bedding of the recoil block.”

Despite the complexity of the 88, it remained competitively priced with its competition, the new Remington 760 pump action and Winchester Model 70 bolt action rifle. To achieve this feat, the Winchester engineers relied on numerous clever cost-saving measures, most obvious being the commonality of parts between the 88 and the later-introduced Winchester 100 autoloading rifle. In an era when parts were machined with jigs and fixtures and subsequently inventoried, this commonality greatly reduced production cost. Furthermore, the majority of these parts were components which could be easily manufactured from sheet metal or with simple lathe technology. With the exception of the magazine’s spring, for example, all were simple wire springs that were not only cheaper to manufacture but significantly less prone to breakage than a flat spring.

With its front locking, rotating bolt and one-piece stock, the 88 should have been as accurate as a conventional bolt action rifle and it generally was – but isn’t. To understand that statement you need to remember that today’s accurate out-of-the-box bolt action rifles are the combination of many independent technologies that more or less coalesced after the end of production of the 88. As with other rifles with one-piece stocks, the 88 often responded to tinkering and tuning of the bedding. Overall, the 88 is inherently as accurate as a bolt action rifle. Perhaps the biggest thing that contributed to the accuracy of the Model 88 by 1950s and ‘60s standards was its adaptability to the use of telescopic sights. In addition to the side ejection, the solid top receiver was actually pre-tapped for scope mounting.

As with any mass-produced rifle, there are conflicting opinions as to the rifle’s performance and reliability. Some maintain that the complexity made it susceptible to malfunctions and feeding problems. This may be, but the older 88 pictured in this article was bought by our friend Steve Hamilton second-hand and was literally rusted shut. After being cleaned up by a gunsmith, it has given decades of trouble-free service despite being treated little better by its present owner, who is a hunter who hunts in all-weather conditions no matter how severe. He feels that if he can take it, his equipment should also, since both are around the same age. While we don’t recommend using such a rare rifle under these conditions, that this Rifle has performed flawlessly under severe winter/sleet conditions is perhaps the best indicator of its reliability.

CALIBERS

The 88 was literally designed around the compact dimensions of the .308 Winchester cartridge and was offered only in this caliber during its first year of production, 1955. By 1956, it as well as its sister, the Model 70 bolt action rifle, introduced two new cartridges based on the .308 case, the .243 and .358 Winchester. While the .358 chambering was discontinued in 1962 due to a lack of sales, the .243 chambering remained available until termination of the 88’s production in 1973.

In 1963, the Model 88 and Model 70 bolt action rifle were again used to introduced a new Winchester cartridge, the .284 Winchester. This was perhaps the first American cartridge to offer a rebated rim. Since this concept had already been introduced decades earlier in Europe, it was rather novel to American shooters. While this cartridge had a full half-inch diameter magnum case, it was fitted with a reduced rim diameter, the same as that of a .308 cartridge. This allowed for the increased performance of a short magnum case while utilizing the same bolt machining as for the .308 family of cartridges. It did, however, result in some reduction in magazine capacity: from four shots to three, plus, of course, one in the chamber (3+1). With a total of 42,340 guns in .284 Winchester being manufactured, these are the rarest calibers in the 88 line and hence the most desirable from the collector’s point of view.

As with any long runs in firearms, there were numerous versions of butt plates. The bottom of the butt plate on the earlier version has the word WINCHESTER, with TRADE MARK in smaller letters underneath. An example from a newer version we examined lacked any wording.

MODIFICATIONS

As with any gun enjoying a long production run, there were several modifications along the line to this one, with most of the engineering reworks being completed by 1957. As most gun enthusiasts know, there were the infamous cost-cutting measures implemented at Winchester in 1964. While the mechanism remained essentially unchanged in the post-’64 Model 88, the hand-checkered stock was replaced with an impressed checkering basketweave pattern combined with an oak leaf motif as seen in our photo of a newer model. These 88s are every bit as functional as the pre-64 Model 88s and might even be appreciated by those who still value their old polyester leisure suits.

The post-64 Winchester stocks are somewhat thicker through the mid-section than their pre-’64 counterparts, which might actually be a desirable feature. A more appreciated variation were the approximately 28,330 carbines manufactured the five years following 1968. In addition to their shorter 19-inch barrels (as is opposed to 22-inch for all the Rifle counterparts), they were fitted with barrel bands and smooth stocks devoid of checkering. That these so infrequently come up for resale may be an indication of their rarity or, perhaps, the value their owners place on them.

EPITAPH

Production of the Model 88 ceased in 1973 after 19 years and production of 255,545 Model 88 Rifles and 28,330 carbines. This should not, however, be regarded as unflattering to the 88. While the Winchester 94 and 92 lever action Rifles literally sold in the millions, the 88 represents the third largest production run of any of Winchester’s modern lever action Rifles, excluding the 293,816 military sales of the Model 95 muskets sold to Czarist Russia. Production of the Model 88 actually exceeded that of the Winchester 95 lever action Rifle and even the much-lauded Model 1886. Winchester cited increasing cost production as the reason for dropping production of the 88. While this may seem like the usual and customary cop-out, in the case of the 88 it might actually be true. All the 88’s technical advancements resulted in a complicated design that not only required many small parts but also critical dimensioning and meticulous fitting of them to assure reliable functioning.

To get an idea of just how complex the design is, one need only retract the bolt and remove the magazine. Shining a powerful light into the bottom of the receiver with the bolt forward and later retracted will reveal just how complicated the design actually is. Removing the barrel and receiver assembly from the stock will reveal that the “one-piece” receiver is actually an assembly of many small, intricately-fitted components. (Incidentally, when removing the barrel assembly from the receiver, one should not fully retract the lever assembly as it will jam in this position. We know - we did this ourselves, but after some time and having had a lot of practice at problem-solving, we got it back in place. While some sources have cited the need to have a gunsmith reassemble the action, the action can be closed by carefully massaging and pressing on the rear portion of the lever train.)

As is apparent, this complexity made the Rifle very expensive to produce. This flaw was exasperated by the high cost of American labor. Worse yet, the Winchester factory had developed around the rise of the traditional lever-action repeater, which hardly required modern production technology: the competing Winchester 94 and Marlin 336 were much simpler to produce. Even the Savage 99 had significantly fewer and larger, easier-to-manufacturer parts and thus offered a much higher profit margin, which, after all, was and is the name of the game.

Perhaps the biggest reason for the cessation of production of the 88 was a matter of demand. Apparently the generation that had just witnessed the development of the jet plane and the atomic bomb was not ready for a truly advanced design but rather preferred the nostalgia of the classic lever-action Rifle. These, based on the traditional Browning-derived styling with external hammers and lesser degrees of technical sophistication, continue to sell well. For example, the Winchester Models 1892, 1895, and 1886 have been reintroduced; the Model 1894 lasted until 2006; and sales of the Marlin Model 336 continue unabated. The ultramodern Browning lever action Rifle and Savage 99, regrettably discontinued, sell somewhere in between. The Model 88 has nevertheless achieved a cult status amongst enthusiasts, which keeps interest in it at a high level. As with Parker shotguns and pre-Model 70 Winchester Rifles, the Model 88 is in constant demand by collectors and, hence, gun dealers.

Those who recognized the technical merits of the 88 back in the ‘50s and ‘60s and were smart enough to purchase one may have actually cheated time. Winchester produced a Rifle that was not only a half-century ahead of itself in technology but was also one of the all-time great lever-action Rifles.

Now the question is whether Winchester will ever reintroduce the Model 88. The answer, as we see, it is likely “no,” since the Winchester product line has been greatly scaled back and its parent company Browning still offers the competing Model 81 BLR. But then, why not have two good levers available from one company?