Winchester Model 43

David LaPell · Aug 9, 2010

Yesterday a coworker came to me with two guns, one being a Savage 24 .22 Magnum over a .410, and the other, a Winchester Model 43 in .218 Bee. Seems these guns both belonged to his grandfather and after he passed away, no one in the family hunts so he is going to get rid of both. THe Winchester 43 has been a favorite of mine but I never really looked for one because of the price. This one is wearing an old fixed 4 power Weaver scope, is in pretty good shape and has been used, but not abused. I can get it for $400. Trying to think how I can come up with $400 at this moment since I am flat broke and there is no OT at work to speak of. %&*#U%!!!!

ohiobuckeye · Aug 9, 2010

Nice rifles. I fell in love with a Winchester 43 in 22 hornet I picked up many years ago. Some of the 43's were factory drilled and tapped for the scope mount and many were reworked later. I was once told by an old fellow who collected Winchesters, that the factory drilled guns had a small bevel somewhere on the receiver and those not factory drilled did not have the bevel. I wasn't that interested at the time and have long since forgotten the details...does anyone here know if this was true and if so, the details of what to look for on a 43 Winchester?

feralmerril · Aug 9, 2010

I had one many years ago in .218 bee. Cant remember if it was factory D&T, but did have a scope. I didnt know what I had and turned it over.

RufusG · Aug 9, 2010

http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/i-hav...8-bee.-i-was-wondering-how-do...-4789626.html

I have a 43/218. Very neat guns.

gregintenn · Aug 9, 2010

Buy it! I don't care how.

semperfi71 · Aug 9, 2010

An old friend of my Dad's used a Winchester M43 in .218 Bee to kill whitetails with. He found a trial intersection in the woods, dug a pit under a bush about ten feet away and covered it with a tarp and more brush. Then he set a sleeping bag inside.

He put out feed on the intersection and let the deer get used to the setup. Then he'd lay in the bag and take a doe [neckshots] every couple of months. This was back in the day when money was tight for a lot of working folks.

2152hq · Aug 9, 2010

There was a field grade and a deluxe grade. The field was plain walnut uncheckered, open sights. The deluxe has a better grade walnut (though sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference!), checkered forend and pistol grip and a open and/or Lyman receiver site. I think that sling swivels were standard on both grades.
The bevel on the front edge of the rear receiver ring is the key to factory D&T or not. If a bevel is present, it should not be D&Td.

I had one in 22H that someone absolutely made swiss cheese out of putting holes in the receiver with different mounts. 12 different mount holes and the worst part was 2 plugged with horrible welds. So I stripped it for parts and scrapped the receiver.

ColbyBruce · Aug 9, 2010

I have owned two of the standard models, both in .218 Bee. These tend to have headspace problems, both of mine did. Neat little rifles, and mine shot well for a while. These rifles were made with 24" barrels (IIRC), so measure the one you are looking at. One of my guns had been cut and recrowned and had the front sight re-set.

If you have to have it, I certainly understand. If you just want a small bore centerfire varmint rifle you could possibly find a nice used .22 Hornet or .222 Remington for the same money.

wundudnee · Aug 9, 2010

I got this D&Td model 43/218bee a few years ago for $300.00. I put the 4 power fixed Redfield on it. If you don't reload, shooting a 30-06 might be cheaper. The last .218 bee I saw at Cabelas was about $70.00 a box. I have a trusted friend reload some for me, with V max bullets. It's a fun little 150-200 yard rifle. I did find me a Lee hand loader and have some Lilgun and bullets if I run out of my current stock.

$400.00 sounds like a pretty good deal for the rifle you're going to buy.

Steave · Aug 10, 2010

I bought one in .218 from a friend of mine about a year and a half ago, it's an older one that was not D&T. It is the standard version that is just flat out mint, if I had a box for it it would pass as NIB. Even though it came with about a half box of ammo and a set of dies, I've yet to shoot it.

Old 44 Guy · Aug 10, 2010

.218 shells are real spendy. Good caliber but not much better than a Hornet. Model 43's are a very good rifle however.

RufusG · Aug 10, 2010

Dick Rumbaugh said:
.218 shells are real spendy. Good caliber but not much better than a Hornet. Model 43's are a very good rifle however.

I got my 43 a year or so ago and got a small amount of ammo and brass with it. But something made me think a little local shop had some brass on the shelf. Turns out I was right and he was happy to make me a deal on the 350 pieces of brass that had sat on the shelf for who knows how long.

LLN · Aug 11, 2010

David--was the Savage 24 for sale??--if so--what price did he have on it??---thanks--larry

Winchester Model 43

David LaPell

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ohiobuckeye

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feralmerril

Absent Comrade

RufusG

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gregintenn

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semperfi71

US Veteran

2152hq

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ColbyBruce

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wundudnee

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Steave

Absent Comrade

Old 44 Guy

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RufusG

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LLN

US Veteran

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