I really needed another 22 rifle but when I saw this one at the lgs I couldn't pass it up. I've been waiting for one of these to show up but I was always a day late and a dollar short so I jumped on it. I first shot one of these when I was 8-9 years old, it belonged to my grandpa. When he passed away I don't ever remember seeing it again, one of my moms brothers most likely got it. I wanted one, if for anything it would be for the memories. He killed hundreds of squirrels and a fair number of deer with his(got my first deer with it as well, over 50 years ago).

This one was made in 1941, earlier than the one my Grandpa had. It has the small loading port where his had the later large port. The FCC 1950 Bullseye Issue 22 ammo pictured is the same ammo I remember shooting in that rifle. My friend at the lgs slipped these 2 brick fresh boxes to me on my way out the door.

The British bought a number of these to be used by special operations and training, some were fitted with scopes and moderators.

I have a pair of them in .22 Short made in 1940 which I believe was the first year of production. I have a third one in .22 Short also that needs a firing pin and is missing the sights. It has been drilled and tapped for scope mounts and has British proof marks on it.

My great uncle had one and I remember shooting it as a kid. I now have it in my safe. I like that it is adult sized.

Numrich has had parts for them.

Mom and her husband gave my oldest a 74 (large loading port variant) for his 14th birthday (almost 28 years ago!). It is drilled and tapped, and has one of those 3/4" 4x scopes. He has been training his kids to shoot with it.

Ivan

Do not under any circumstances cock the gun with the safety on. The gun came with a warning tag from Winchester not to do so. It messes up the internals somehow. Yours is a very nice example.

very nice.

Have an old model with the rear receiver ap sight Does anybody know if you could put .22 lr bolt and whatnot in a 74 short?

Yes, I was aware of that. Really surprised that Winchester didn't correct that problem.



I'm by no means an expert on these but I would think that the bolt for the 22 short is probably lighter than for the 22lr. May be to much mass for the short to actuate the 22lr bolt.