New to me Winchester 75 Sporting with gorgeous wood

daddio202 · #1 03-03-2021, 01:08 PM

I have a few iconic 22 rifles such as a Remington 513-T and a pre 1935 Winchester model 69 but have always been partial to owning a Winchester model 75. A couple weeks ago this Sporting model was for sale on Gunbroker with no bids and a starting reserve of $400. Being I already have the target version in the Remington 513-t this sporting model appealed to me. I ended up placing a $400 bid and no other bidders came along, so I won the auction. The gun serial dates it to 1942 and had been drilled and tapped for a Weaver sidemount scope mount so I decided to put the gun back to how the original owner would have used it in the 40's and 50's and it has definately seen plenty of loving use over the years. I got a Weaver N-2 sidemount and a Weaver model B scope that is like new and came in original box. After cleaning it up and putting the scope on it, I think it looks really good and has a vintage vibe to it. I have seen quite a few posts about these Sporting models coming with really nice wood but I hit the jackpot with this one. Because of the gorgeous wood and the fact the bolt is numbered to gun and buttplate has matching assembly numbers to the butt of stock(meaning the gun is all original) I was going to get a Cody letter for it but they do not have records for this model until after WW2 was done.
Looks like they have records back to about 1945 1946 time frame but mine is serial#31340 about 20 thousand numbers before the records begin. It looks and works great but I know the drilled reciever hurts the value so I will keep it just like I have it now and use it for occasional plinking fun.

Rpg · #2 03-03-2021, 01:12 PM

What a bargain for a nice rifle!

PALADIN85020 · #3 03-03-2021, 01:20 PM

Very nice find! The wood on that one is very attractive. You won't be disappointed in the accuracy, for sure. Mine is a 1956 model grooved for scope mounting, and it's the most accurate .22 rimfire I own. I also have one of its big brothers, the Model 75 target model, vintage of 1949. I used to shoot those on the ROTC rifle team in high school. The 75s had a lot of hand work and care in them, and represented a lot of bang for the buck. I wrote an article on them in the Blue Press and mentioned them my book 101 Classic Firearms in the chapter on the Winchester 69A - a rifle that shares their actions.

John

(click for larger picture)

bigolddave · #4 03-03-2021, 01:33 PM

The 75 sporter is about as good as it gets. The Remington 513S is a fine rifle, but in my opinion, does not have elegance of the 75. I bought mine over fifty years ago, and I still love it.

wundudnee · #5 03-03-2021, 05:45 PM

That is a beautiful rifle and putting the right scope on it was the correct thing to do. Mine is nice, but the wood is not nearly as pretty as yours. I got mine at the Colorado Collectors show. It wasn't near a bargain. Yours was a bargain. I also have a target from 1938 with a serial of 1005.

mauser9 · #6 03-03-2021, 06:16 PM

What a score! Beautiful wood and a super quality rifle. Am amazed how often they can be had for reasonable money. These vintage 22s are the nicest to own and admire.

Homie · #7 03-03-2021, 06:17 PM

Nice example of a "Classic Rimfire". My only complaint was the "hit or miss" triggers on the both Target and the Sporters- hope yours is a good one!

PALADIN85020 · #8 03-03-2021, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homie

Nice example of a "Classic Rimfire". My only complaint was the "hit or miss" triggers on the both Target and the Sporters- hope yours is a good one!

The trigger arrangement on the 75s is exactly the same as the 69A. Very crisp but a lot of overtravel. If you look closely at my 75 sporter above, you will see a trigger shoe attached to the trigger. It's positioned to act as an overtravel stop - the sear releases the trigger and the trigger immediately stops. Then the trigger spring can be adjusted to give a lighter pull, and if that is not enough, a bit of skilled gunsmithing can get the trigger down to about 3.5 lbs. These things make for a nearly perfect trigger release.

John

Jebus35745 · #9 03-03-2021, 07:44 PM

WOW, great gun. Bet it’s accurate, need a range report. Super way to spend an afternoon shooting it. When you relax you can put the wood in the sun and watch it dance. Larry

dmthomp32 · #10 03-03-2021, 07:58 PM

Excellent purchase! I would have been all over that as well for $400!

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crsides · #11 03-03-2021, 09:40 PM

You can get alot of gun for the money with those 4 little holes in the side. Nice buy. And beautiful wood.

Haven't owned many winchesters, but got a 52C that was customized into a sporter with a new Win sporter bbl and new custom wood. Came with a Canjar trigger that must of been set at less than a pound. Reminded me of a thompson center hawkin set trigger. I am enjoying my new winchester purchase and know you are too.

jrm53 · #12 03-04-2021, 08:17 PM

I hope you were wearing your mask when you bid on this because you the same as stole it, that is the most beautiful model 75 I have ever seen I bet the lister of it was sick. A great rifle. Jeff

daddio202 · #13 03-05-2021, 09:21 AM

Thank you all for your kind posts. As to the trigger it a real nice clean break that can not be much more than 2 to 3 pounds, but as was said above there is a fair amount of overtravel after shot is fired. I have tested it out that much but have yet to get it all sighted in. Should be a fun process to do with such a nice shooting rifle. I was hoping to find an X or XXX in the stock to signify the stock is a higher grade but all I found was a B in barrel channel and assembly marks on butt and buttplate.