doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com OT curiosity Winchester 88 in .358 win

The answer to your question is pretty simple, even though it took me years to actually grasp it. In the law of supply and demand, it is demand which is the most important factor, by far.

In recent years, we've seen that borne out in the large selling prices of pre-'64 Winchesters, Colt snake guns, especially Pythons, and even mass produced sheet metal and plastic AK-47 and AR-15 variants. Meanwhile, my very scarce Hunter Arms Co. Gladiator double might fetch $300.00 if I was lucky, and I've bought a couple of D.M Lefever crossbolts with an estimated production of less than 1200 guns for less than half of what a decent Win. Mod. 88 in .358 would bring. Makes no sense, but that's the way it is. If only you could predict and time the next mania. Then you could afford to buy any guns you wished.

88s in .358 are beyond "shooter" valuations, sure. For most, the same gun in .308 is a much smarter choice.......well, if you can stand that awful trigger. Then, .358 WCF has redeeming value as a very useful hunting round that could handle about any hunting situation in thick covers. That might justify the stretch for someone who has mixed collector/hunter interests.

"Makes no sense" better applies to valuations on things like a Winchester M-64 in .219 Zipper, a Ruger .256 Win Hawkeye, or the Gyrojet.

Worth mentioning, the newer loads available in .308 make it much more versatile, and deadly. Doubt a .358 kills any better in its very best load, than this Norma .308 180 gr:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/665994...point-box-of-20
JR

Marks, I'm not the guy to ask about dealing with "orphan" gun stuff, having mis-spent much of my life running an orphanage for it....

I once bought an "H.H. Heiser, Denver" holster for $10 bucks in a garage sale. Discovered it was for a 4 1/2" Colt "New Service" (NOT 5 1/2" nor 7 1/2"!). Just couldn't stand the poor little thing sitting there looking unfulfilled. $550 later, it was full, fat, and happy and I had a .38-40 nobody else wanted. Still have the happy couple and it's still 4th of July every time I touch that big Colt off!

And then there was the full box of "SA" headstamped .25-20 WCFs.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do" is lousy advice, but the best I got....

Same deal with Savage 99's only the .358's are expensive and the .284's are more expensive.

I have a .358, a curate, easy carrying gun but the 7lb. trigger is a [censored].

For most applications .308 would be better choice. By the way not all 88 are the same even if in the same caliber. Close examination of #4545 revealed that barrel is same profile as .30 cal Featherweight pre-64 Model 70 making early vintage 88s very light. My fav. would be early 70s carbine with un-checkered stock and shorter barrel of thicker profile.

For that kind of money one might as well get the real deal, a M71 .348 Win.

Provided one has plenty of brass and appropriate bullets the only M71 I would take is .50 conversion that some Alaska "Sourdough" used to do many years ago. The M71 is basically nicely finished crowbar. If one wants lever action .358 Win the best option is the modern BLR.

I used to have a browning blr 358,shot 2 bears with dogs up in maine was light and really packed a punch!

The pre-64 versions are slightly different than those made after 1964. My pre-64 M-88 has the "cloverleaf" tang and regular cut checkering.

Its a .308W and has been present at the funerals of several Missouri whitetails and an Idaho elk.

Mine is surprisingly accurate, and regularly shoots 100 yard groups under 1".

gold40