Good morning:

I'm in the market for a replacement center fire, .308 caliber rifle to replace the Remington I just gifted to my son for his first hunting rifle. I have neither the need, nor the desire to be "tactical", nor do I ever plan on sniping people at any range. I am just looking for a center fire hunting rifle for (primarily) whitetail deer.

I have located three different rifles that I am interested in, and was hoping for some advice and feedback from my fellow Forum members on these rifles:

* Savage 99c, .308
* Winchester 88, .308
* Winchester 100, .308

I'm looking forward to your advice and suggestions.

Thank you,

Dave

You don't say what they are chambered in ?
That may help some

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Hi Paul:

Sorry, I thought I was clear in my post that I was only considering .308 caliber rifles. I've added the caliber designation to my original post.

Regards,

Dave

I'm sorry Dave......you were clear.

Reading comprehension wasn't up to par on my part.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

I'm not sure if the 88 and the 100 use the same magazine (I believe they do), but regardless, magazines for those guns are almost impossible to find.

Based on that, I'd go with the Savage.

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I always take precautions

Savage 99 is about a classic as it gets and there is no magazine to lose!

I inherited my grandfathers 99 Savage chambered in 250-3000...grandpa always called it his "meat in the pot" gun....He was right!!

Randy

I would be leery of the Winchester 100 for hunting. While they are great looking & sought after by Winchester collectors I've heard too many stories about them having mechanical problems.....one of the reasons they weren't successful in sales vs the semi-auto Remingtons and Brownings.

Don

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Laus Deo! <><

Are you able to test-fire any of them, or have an idea as to their accuracy? If not, I would tend to lean toward the 99 as well.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I would go for a Savage 99 .308 WITHOUT the detachable magazine. You could lose those and the solid 99 with rotary magazine with a counter to tell how many rounds are loaded is much better. And there's an endless range of styles as to weight, etc. I've heard the Win. Model 100 jams a lot, but don't know. The Model 88 has a trigger pull some don't like but I don't mind. Here's my pre 64 Model 88 in .284 Win. and spare extended aftermarket clip. The Model 88 has been called a gunsmith's nightmare.


Here's a 1955 Featherwight .243, also made in .308. 6 1/2 lbs.

Savage 99 all the way. Been wanting one for years.

Savage 99c for sure .

There was also a safety recall on the Winchester 100 about 20 years ago. If you choose that one, I'd make sure it had been checked.

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S&WCA 1729

Another vote for the Savage here!

personally, id go with a steel frame Browning BLR. thats one mighty fine "shootin iron" lol. i own 2, both in .358 winchester, one is from the early 70's, 1973 i think it has the humpback mag. the other one is from 1985 it has the flat mag. both are as good or better than a savage 99 in my opinion.

Of the three listed I vote for the 88 by a wide margin. I wouldn't even consider the 100,.........I see more of these parted out than complete and there must be a reason for that. I've always liked the 99, but would not care for a 99c. The detachable magazine takes away what's 'cool' about the 99.

All three listed rifles have detachable mags, but the feature doesn't serve much purpose in a pure hunting rifle. I can't imagine ever needing, wanting, or carrying an extra magazine. I really believe it's just a marketing device.

I once had a 99 in .358Win. Nice enough rifle and I've always been a fan of the caliber, but it was just 'adequate' in fit/finish/handling. The older 99's are more appealing, but the older ones aren't available in .308. The 99 is certainly 'scopeable', but again that takes away from what it is,....at least to me. Maybe it's the .358W still speaking to me, but I've always been most comfortable with it as an iron sighted(preferably peeps), quick handling woods rifle.

My only 88 experience comes from a friend's rifle. Growing up, we palled around hunting/shooting/reloading and his number one rifle was a .284 model 88 like Wyatt's above. We both loved that rifle! He came from a family of left-handed shooters so we had a nice assortment of less common guns to shoot, being that his father had a fairly extensive collection. Probably around 50 nice quality hunting rifles and not a bolt action in the lot. The 88 was always the favorite. The .284 was a burner and a legitimate MOA rifle. I wanted one badly enough that I've kept a full case of .284 Winchester hidden away for the last 30yrs just in case I get a chance to buy one. For all intents and purposes, a .308 would do just as well.

Kaveman, I, too have a bunch of .284 ammo, hundreds of brass cases, dies, etc. It was the only caliber my dad reloaded. As far as Savage 99s go, the most common is the .300 Model EG (almost a .308!). Here's the one my dad gave me for my 40th birthday. A friend gave me the Stith (?) scope mount and I think I traded for the Lyman Alaskan scope. And the old family heirloom. The 1963 Winchester 88.

I'd go with a Savage 99,,but not the detachable magazine model (isn't that the 'C'?)
A mid 1950's or 1960's Mod 99,,they'll be factory drilled & tapped for 'scope mounts if that's what you're looking for and in the commonly found 300 Savage round is what I'd buy.
They were nicely made rifles yet before the shortcuts began creeping into production.

It'll do anything the 308 will do in the deer woods and you won't ever have to wonder if that 'clip' fell out or got left behind.

You may already reload 308 and that's a reason to replace a rifle with that caliber. But a set of dies and you're back in business. S/Hdr is the same.
JMHO

The Savage hands down. A very class act. It's a proven design and a far better buy than the Winchester 88 or 100. I traded into a 99F in 300 Savage last summer, dating from the early 1950s.



Its first trip to the range surprised me with how well it shot with some fresh made 150 gr reloads.
Used it last December with good effect on Whitetails: two shots.. two deer.
I prefer the rotary magazine 99 to either the clip feed lever guns or the tube magazine type with the side loading gates. Clips are easily lost and expensive to replace and the loading gates are hard on my fingers.

John

Hard to argue against the Savage. Heard they are reliable and super solid. Would like to extend a thank-you for members who took the time to post pics. Love to see these vintage models.

I'm a Winchester fan, and once had a model 100. Also a model 88. I no longer have either.

Wow, guys, wow! Great advice and feedback thus far - and the photos - terrific! I am looking hard at the Savage 99c, and may have a chance at a Browning BLR-81. I very much appreciate all of your responses, it has been very helpful. I promise I will let y'all know what I decide on, and provide photos and a range report, etc.

Regards,

Dave

Best hunting rifle? A bolt action. Specifically a simple rugged design
with classic features like a claw extractor. A pre 64 Winchester mod
70 Featherweight or a used Ruger 77 MKII or new Ruger Hawkeye.
The bolt action has many advantages over the other action types for
scope mounting, handloading and reliability.

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here's a couple pics of my Browning BLR's. in my opinion, the BLR is one of the best lever action firearms ever made. they lock up just like a bolt gun, so they're very strong. and with the detachable magazine they can shoot pointed bullets. and the workmanship (on the older ones at least) is top notch! IMO, you couldn't go wrong choosing a BLR.

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I would offer the suggestion of the Savage 99 with internal spool magazine rather than any detachable magazine.



This '50s vintage Savage 99 is chambered for the .300 Savage.

Shoots extremely well at 100 yards from the bench rest. A .308 chambered Savage 99 could do the same.

I'm not sure I can agree. The 99 Savage has proven to be a very reliable rifle, no problems handloading for it, and most of mine will give minute of angle groups with the right ammunition. Scope mounting also isn't a problem with them.

That being said, I also own several model 70 Winchesters and custom 98 mauser rifles.

Update: Okay, for better or worse, I pushed the "Buy it Now" button on the auction site and am now the owner of a used Savage 99c in .308 Winchester. I would have love to have had one of the older models with the internal (rotary) magazine, but they preceded the .308 Winchester chambering. I previously considered the .300 Savage chambering, but I like to keep my logistics simple, and we already have a .308 bolt gun in the inventory. I will update again with photos and a range report once I receive the piece.

Thanks again to all of you who responded.

Regards,

Dave

Looking forward to seeing pics of your "new" Savage, Dave. I hope you wont be disappointed. While the older 300 Savage is capable of fine accuracy, it has a very short neck and can be something of a bear to reload at time. I think its popularity waned after the arrival of the 308. Cost of new 300 Sav ammo is almost twice that of the 308. I still like mine though, and reload for both it and my brothers model 99 as well.

John

Actually, Savage produced the EG, R, A (saddle gun), and F models in 308 Winchester with a rotary magazine.

And the 1971 Model A had the streamlined look of your light or featherweight old one you posted. I've always liked that one as far as modern ones go.

I love those, but so far I've yet to own one. Being left handed, the tang safety is attractive to me as well.

Can't go wrong with the 99

I like the 99 Savage and do have one, an EG in .300 Savage
that dates to 1941. But if they were as accurate as a bolt
rifle on average then target shooters would choose them
over bolt actions and I don't believe that's happening :-)
As to scope mounting if there's a simpler and stronger
mount system than the Ruger 77 i'm unaware of it. Any
well maintained rifle is probably reliable enough for a
hunting trip but if you dropped your rifle in a creek which
would you rather take apart to dry, one of your 99s or one
of your 98 Mausers? By the way, you have some nice 99s.

Any of the rifles you are considering are excellent.

I'd chose the Savage were I presented with your choices.

They are superior rifles for your intended use.

I have a Ruger 77. It's a dandy. One that shoots very well.

But I get a bigger kick out of owning, shooting, hunting with, and tinkering with the Savage 99. I could deal with drying the creek water out of it and it's much more admirable to fondle.

A very interesting, dynamic, and timeless design, the Savage 99. One good-lookin' rifle!

Gregintenn: what I know of the Savage 99 could be written on a matchbook cover with a Sharpie. Thank you for your advice and great photos - I'm frankly in awe.

Regards,

Dave

I've had all three. The .300 99 was lucky to print a 4" group at 100 yrds. I replaced it with a .358 100, printed good groups but had a nasty habit of jamming. Replaced it with a .358 88 which was one of the sweetest rifles I owned.

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NRA Life Endowment

I had a Savage M99C .308 Win., and it was a good gun, so I am prejudiced in ways.
I voted for it.

Savage 99 great gun had a 300 , my son has it now,.

Sir,
Pick yourself up a copy of this book, and you'll have a lot of knowledge about the 99's.

Remington Model 788 - I bought mine in 1971 and still have, .308 caliber, it's a tack driver and will take down almost everything in North America.

My second choice would be the Savage 99 but since you're clearly looking at older guns I figured I'd pop in there with my favorite deer rifle. If you want a lever rifle, however, and not a bolt gun, the Savage 99 would be my choice.


Model 788 Bolt Action Centerfire Rifle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_Model_788

There is an issue with this rifle and I bear it in mind when I use mine:

Ya'll know why Remington Killed the 788? | Field & Stream

My safety has never slipped up, I have never broken the bolt handle, and I don't have headspace problems. But the issues have been mentioned so I am being fair.

Of the three you considered, you picked the winner. The Winnie's mechanisms are overly complex. I have owned half a dozen 99s and they all were plenty accurate, mostly at or near one inch groups.

Jack

Here are two Winchester mags, a #88 mag in .358 on the left and a #100 mag for .243/.308 on the right. The mag on the left has a sloped edge follower to allow the bolt to be closed after the last shot, and the front of the mag is relieved to facilitate loading the heavier bullets used in the .358 cartridge. The mag on the right has a square edge follower to hold the bolt open on the last shot in the semi auto guns. Mags work in either model Winchester.

My brother has my old .308 model 100. I got those two mags with a model 88 .308 which I traded for my first Sig P225. I traded the .358 magazine for a 4" blue S&W 10.

Would love a 99 or 88 in 358 win - rebarreled one of my Sako Finnwolfs (243) to 358 win. Great woods combo!

I have owned all three in 308, the only one I still have is the Savage 99. It will do 2" at 100 yards off the bench if I do my part.

A "factory" .358 Model 100?

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Good shooting.

I've owned/shot all three in .308 and the 88 was my fav. Here's what I liked about it:

The rotating lug lockup.
More accurate thanks to lockup & one-piece stock.
Trigger travels with the lever so you can't spear your finger closing the lever.

Here's what I didn't like:
Creepy trigger and there's not much you can do about it.

99 was a late 50s version. Likes:
Crisper trigger
Beautiful stock
Classic looks

Dislikes:
The stock had too much drop plus a steel butt plate which was harder on my shoulder than an M70 .300 H&H.
Harder to get a 2-piece stock to shoot well.

I'd prefer the 88, but the edge in logistics (parts) goes to the Savage since there were way more made. If you get one with the spool magazine, you never worry about finding detachable mags.

I'd still go with the 88.

PS, there was a recall on the 100, though I don't remember what it was. Never liked it, anyway..

Wish I'd kept the 88 & 99.

The 88 is a classic and a really nice rifle. The 99 is just more so

I haven't deer hunted in years. But, If I did, I would go with my model 99, 300 savage over the .308 , 88..

Hi Jtcarm:

I decided on the Savage 99c in .308 - photos and range report once it arrives at my local FFL.

The problem with the Model 100 was a firing pin problem:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_Model_100

Regards,

Dave

I suggest the Remington 700 bolt action rifle its been around for a long time and its a great rifle a really great rifle.

You can expect a lot of emotionally tinged answers when you pit collector grade rifles against each other. I owned a Savage 99F in .308 that didn't group too well. I also own a new condition Winchester 88, also in .308, that can rival bolt actions in the accuracy department.

I'd love to have a Savage 99 in .300 Savage but I no longer hunt.