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Winchester 74

Basil_OBasil_O Member Posts: 40 ✭✭
edited February 2007 in Ask the Experts
Time to ask the experts. Was going to buy a Ruger 10/22 to plink around with yesterday and stopped at the bait shop on the way to check out what was available used. Came home with a Winchester 74 in very good condition for $10 less OTD than the tag on a new Ruger. Good bore, blue and undinged stock. Thought I did ok till I checked the auctions on GB. Saw two dozen listed with only 6 bids total - the market is telling me that this is not a popular model, ok was this a problem child? This one has two plugged D&T holes for a scope, am I right that this was not original? Is there a way to lock the action open without pulling the bolt lock out past the end of the receiver? Just maybe this will be a step up from my tempermental Stevens 87a.
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Comments

  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Winchester Model 74 was a very satisfactory edition to the Winchester product line. It was manufactured for approximately 30 years, and had no mechanical or safety issues. Winchester manufatured 350,000+ plus of them in 22 Short or 22 Long R. only. The drilled & tapped holes are not factory original. Typical values run from $75 - $300 depending upon the exact graded condition.

    WACA Historian & Life Member

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  • Basil_OBasil_O Member Posts: 40 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you for the reply Bert. One more question - serial is 3614xxA. Was this one made in 1953?
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  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Basil_O
    Thank you for the reply Bert. One more question - serial is 3614xxA. Was this one made in 1953?


    Most likely it was manufactured a year or two later than 1953.

    WACA Historian & Life Member

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  • CobrayKidCobrayKid Member Posts: 217 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I bought a Winchester 74 a few years ago for 50 dollars at a garage sale, and its an old one that shoots shorts. Its a good gun, be happy. [:)]
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  • RCrosbyRCrosby Member Posts: 3,808 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had a 74 that was one of the most accurate sporter .22's I've owned. Never should have let it go. The 10/22 would give you the potential advantage of aftermarket options, but if were mine I'd keep it. (This time.) If the price is bothering you it may help to recall the following:
    "I never paid too much for a good gun. I just bought a few sooner than I should have."
    It's a good gun. They don't make em anymore and you can always pick up a 10-22.
    Enjoy it.
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  • oldgunmanoldgunman Member Posts: 1,779 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Have owned and sold several of these. I have never shot them but they seem to be pretty popular. Condition is everything on these as far as money goes with the oldest being the most sought after (pre WW11). Quite a few of them have a corrosion problem around the receiver on them from not getting the proper cleaning after shooting the old 22 shells.
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  • cattle buyercattle buyer Member Posts: 532 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a mod 74 that has been in the family since WWII, one of the most reliable ,accurate auto .22s of all times,has done in truck loads of tree rats,stray house cats,rabbits,*.A real working farm gun used at hog killing time,mercy killing of sick cattle.We used give and or get bricks of the old yellow super X .22 lr hp bullets for Christmas.I have taken it completly apart for cleaning 2 or 3 times,its rather complicated.
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