I have hunted and shot in competition with rifles for over 60 years (1953).
My rifles have been the traditional sporter made from military actions to over the counter commercial to some customs. I have a complete battery of pre-64 M70's for instance.
Most of my woods hunting has been in Vt where I have had a place for half a century. Other hunting has been done on the East Coast from PA thru ME.
When I saw how difficult it was to get a shot at a buck in VT I chose what I know is the best rifle for me. It a 99 Savage F in .358 Winchester.
I practiced with that optimum rifle on running deer targets along with my all year around competition and rifle testing.
It has the most power I can handle well for any shot.
The lever action appealed to me as a woods rifle.
I also bought a M88 Winchester a few years ago for the fun of it and compared them again today.
The 99F is to me a better design. While the M88 looks like a bolt action and handles ok it's not as easy or good to use.
The trigger pull on the Savage 99 is crisp with no take up. That's what I want. It's pull is 4 lbs.
To add that the 99 Savage is a true Control Round Feed action just like the great dangerous game rifles. The 88 is only a push feed with spring loaded plunger ejector.
The 99 weighs 8# 2oz with it's 2-7 Leu.
The lever on the Savage 99 is much easier to operate and cocks the rifle on the closing stroke where your grip and hand is stronger.
The 88's lever cocks on the "outstroke" which is bad, clumsy and harder to do!
The trigger pull on the 88 is a long take up. It's smooth on the sear but not a 'rifle' trigger. It's 4.5#.
The M88 weighs 8# 1oz with a 4X All American