I'm a sucker for old .22 rifles - Winchester Model 74

Got Lucky

Last night a gent on a local forum listed a Model 74 on the Freecycle subforum saying, "Had this rifle handed down to me. It looks great but I can not get it to fire. Safety seems stuck. I don't feel like messing with it. Could be a simple fix. Parts gun. whatever. Come get it."

I contacted him and arranged to pick it up today, which I did. Some quick internet research tells me these aren't hard to jam up if you don't know how to operate them properly, so I'm thinking it shouldn't be too difficult to get this one straightened out. Even if I might need to replace a part or two to get it working, I'm still ahead on it.

It's a really clean .22LR version that dates to 1950:

myJPURN.jpg
 
Interesting this thread came back now. A friend of ours just inherited a safe full of old rifles. As a “gun guy” she wants me to help her with her guns. There is a Winchester 1906 and two Remingtons, a121 and a 572. The Winchester has not much finish. The Remingtons look awesome. She also got a 70’s vintage Ruger Mark 1 and 10-22. Any ideas on the old 22’s as to worth or research would be appreciated. I don’t know much if anything about antique long guns.
 
I grew up with a 70s era 572, with a cheap 4x Bushnell Sportsview scope. Heck of a lot of fun, reliable and accurate. Poor fat Ohio squirrels did not stand a chance! However... some of the the internal parts on mine were cheaply stamped metal, and had to be replaced 2 times during my tenure with the gun. If it is in excellent condition it should bring at least $300. I would cash out and put the money towards a more quality gun. A CZ for example, but that's just me and I did love that gun.
 
Win 74 22lr

Great Uncle's old Win 74. After his passing,
after years of sitting in his closet (taken care
of by periodically wiped down/oiled) years of
no one showing interest, I just took it.

Every time I looked and cared for it, I can
always see it riding around in one of his
many Farm Pickups through out the years.

I just didn't want the Good Old Win 74 to
"Come up Missing", I just new I was to be the
Guardian and Care Taker of it.

I take the Old Win 74 shooting once in a
while with my Range Rotation of Revolvers.
It has uncanny scary accuracy, no one would
ever guess by its Farming Background.

Sitting beside the 74 is Grandma's Win 67
22lr Single Shot Bolt Action Gopher Rifle.
Years earlier I just took that also, so it wouldn't
"Come Up Missing" from the same closet.
Same uncanny scary accuracy. Rougher
Farming Background than the Win 74.

Thank you for reminding me of my Solid Gounding
in Life and my other "I Just Took It" Guardianships.
 

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Tam 3 said:
Do not cock the 74 with the safety engaged. New, it had a hang tag to that effect.

Regards,
Tam 3
Click to expand...

-db- said:
It looks great but I can not get it to fire. Safety seems stuck.

Some quick internet research tells me these aren't hard to jam up if you don't know how to operate them properly, so I'm thinking it shouldn't be too difficult to get this one straightened out.
myJPURN.jpg
Click to expand...


-db-, what Tam 3 stated is very likely your problem, which you may already suspect from your internet research.

I "locked" one up years ago by doing exactly what Tam 3 warned against............had to disassemble it and fiddle around with it some to get to where it would work properly. Wish I could give you better instructions on how to get it un-jamed but it was too long ago. Also, when disassembling and removing the bolt be sure to keep the "button" on the left/rear of the receiver depressed until the bolt is out or you may scratch the receiver (don't ask how I know this :o ).

BTW that's a really good looking one you have .... thanks for the pic.

Don
 
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Congrats on a classic

My favorite.22 is still the Winchester 77 I received when I was a very young boy.
 
I also inherited one from a great uncle.I remember shooting it 60 years ago and remembered it as a Browning because it loaded through the stock. Twenty years ago, it became mine. I had not seen it for years and was quite happy it was a Winchester.

It is a man sized rifle and enjoyable to shoot. It is accurate and reliable. I did not see this thread when it first appeared, but glad I did now.
 
I guess that i got the only jammomatic Model 74 made. I tried different ammo, same results. It was my first rifle that I bought when I got out of the Navy. I bought it at Andy Anderson's Sporting Goods and they took it to their back room and it jammed for them.
They offered to give me a new one and gave me what I paid when I opted for a Remington 121A. A good choice. Still in excellent condition and my grandson now has it.
 
Well hows about a model 62A dad purchased in 1954 or so.
Almost a semi auto as if one holds the trigger it will fire as fast as one can work the action. My absolute favorite 22 rifle and I have 3 others two SA and a single shot that was my forst rifle in 1969.
bafd58102271a8647e6c50f55c232437.jpg
bd947175aede151cee7ea698683d6c7c.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
The consensus on another forum regarding the safety on the 74 is to just
leave it in the fire position all the time and ignore it. As always if you don't
want your gun to fire don't pull the trigger.
 
Grew up shooting my brother's 74. I never had a problem with the safety, don't remember using it that much. About 15 years ago, I bought a VERY nice one, the only wear was a thinning spot on the bottom of the barrel where the rifle had set in a rifle rack.

Then, a few years ago, I got another...old and with a patina and not blue. It shoots really well. I don't know if it is the old or model, doesn't have a grooved receiver.

Fine guns and I've got good memories of it.
 
When my grandson was born I started collecting 22 cal. Guns for him. He’s 9 yo now and has a collection of late 1800’s to 1950’s single shot, bolt action, pump action, semi auto, h&r revolvers, pistols, s&w k22, colt officer target model 22’s. He has no clue there his yet. I look for the military training 22 rifles there awesome buys. I want the boy to enjoy the shooting sports like we did growing up.
 
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