The joy of pump-action .22 rifles!

[PALADIN85020]

I've been around for a few years, but one thing I never had as a kid or as an adult was any brand of .22 pump-action rifle. Never shot one, either, except for shooting gallery guns at the state fair when I was a kid. The ones I recall were Winchester 62s, chambered for .22 shorts, probably with sintered frangible bullets.

All of that changed a few months ago with me finding a really nice Winchester Model 61, shipped in 1952. The values on these pieces have rocketed skyward in recent years. Here's a pic of what I found:

I enjoyed shooting this little rifle. The action controls the cartridge from magazine to chamber completely, and it's uber-reliable.

And then, not too long ago, I encountered an oddity. It's a Stevens "Visible Loader" pump action. This one loads the shell outside the receiver, completely visible as it is actuated. I had never seen one before, and it was offered at a good price. It works reliably, but I've only fired it with low-velocity ammo, as it's old - made in approximately 1920. Here's a pic:

I was beginning to like this breed of rifle, and at a gun show this weekend I found an excellent condition Winchester Model 62A, a brainchild of the legendary John Browning. I've always been intrigued by operation of the action of this piece, with the breechblock coming back over the top of the receiver and locking back down on top of the loaded round, and the two-tiered lifter acting as the ejector. The mechanics of it are fascinating. Values on these have also increased dramatically in recent years. Here's a shot of this jewel, made in 1946:

All of these guns are fun to shoot. Short of a semiautomatic action, the pumps are next in line for fast repeat shots. They are as accurate as any .22, and have plenty of magazine capacity. I've been missing out on something all these years!

Betcha some of you have one or more pump .22s - I'm sorry I've been late to the party!

John

 

[Ruger Nut]

In 1939 my grandmother bought my grandfather a Winchester pump .22 for $12. My grandfather was so mad at her, for awhile anyway. That was the depression era and $12 for them was A LOT of money then. That's the rifle my grandfather taught me how to shoot with. It will shoot shorts or longs, and combined.
My dad now owns it and he told me it will be mine after he is gone.
I will take some pics of it later this week when I go visit him.

 

[turnerriver]

I love them too.
Current pumps include:
Winchester 61 & 62
Remington 121
Marlin 38
Savage 29A
I love .22 rifles of all types.
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[gm272gs]

I have a 61-22. They are loads of fun to take apart and put back together, that first time.
I can send anyone who wants one, a .pdf showing the steps.

 

[chief38]

I inherited a 62A when my Dad passed away 2 years ago but was never drawn to it - that is until I got it and brought it to the Range. I will admit I have now grown fond of it and it is a lot of fun to shoot. It is made well, easy to maintain, pretty accurate, easy to transport, and I do actually look forward to shooting it from time to time.

I still prefer his 1946 era Marlin 39A, but I now understand why the 62A is liked so much.

Chief38

 

[Sprefix]

Better late than never!! Glad you made it. Mine are great fun as well as tools to fill the pot and pan.

 

[Grayfox]

I've got a Rossi 62A that I picked up some years back for the princely sum of $60. That rifle with a set of spinners and a brick of .22s amounts to more fun than should be allowed.

 

[WuzzFuzz]

Mine is the 06 model..It's the one that shoots short. long or long rifle...The little ole shorts go Phiftttt....Original silencer???? .Lots of fun to open the patio door and be able to shoot out to the woods with it...Good ole iron sights, can still hit some of those long tail tree rats with it.

It looks like a old 50 year old lady of the night...been around, but still works good. I keep threatening myself to have it restored....Nah.....

Also...the .22 shorts are still pretty much in supply for plinking.


WuzzFuzz

 

[feralmerril]

A pump is the 2nd thing fastest to a semi auto. I grew up with this model 61 winchester that dad bought in 1937. Its octogon barrel in .22 LR. They are rare in the 61s. Its no doubt the first rifle I shot. Dad put a block of wood for LOP on it and all his long guns as he was a lanky 6 ft 5"s. I had other pumps too.
The secound picture is a 1890 winchester in .22 wrf. Someone before me made it into a pistol grip with a cheek peace. Since it already was worked on I had the chamber lengthend to .22 wmrf.

 

[Ruger Nut]

Better late than never!! Glad you made it. Mine are great fun as well as tools to fill the pot and pan.

That's why my grandfather didn't stay mad at my grandmother for too long.......it filled the pots and pans with rabbit, squirrel, and robins.

 

[Vegetaman]

I have a 62A. It's pretty nice, and the whole mechanism that slides up over the top and pops out the old shell with the little elevator that puts the new one up... Very clever and neat design. It's fairly worn though, but it does still function.

 

[kozmic]

Pump .22's somehow fell thru Gov. Cuomo's gun hater law so I've been on the prowl for one for a couple months. I saw 2 old Winnies at the local GM but they wanted some serious dough for them. Sadly both were one step away from kindling so I never really researched them. Still very high on my gotta have list though.

Beautiful pieces BTW Paladin!

 

[Porterb123]

I have a Browning Trombone that looks identical to a Winchester 61. Made by FN and from the little research I've done, was sold everywhere but the U.S. Picked it up in a pawn shop about 2 yrs ago for $300. Sweet shooting slender rifle.

 

[jpwhel]

I was able to pick up a few of the pumps during the past few years.
Winchester model 61 dates to 1940 and
Remington model 121 Fieldmaster dating to 1938

Both shoot great and lots of fun to shoot. Teaching my grandson to shoot with the 22 pumps.

 

[Big Fred]

My first rifle was a Remington 572 Fieldmaster. Got it for Christmas the year I turned 11. Still have it. Twenty five or so years ago I bought a Rossi 62 and it's a fun shooter.

 

[bigolddave]

Feralmerrill's comment on the rarity of the octagon barrel 61's reminded me of something. For some reason, Winchester marked the octagon barrel version for a single cartridge, .22WRF (very rare) or .22 Long Rifle. Obviously, the .22 WRF is unique, but did the ones marked .22 Long Rifle exclusively feed LR's? The round barrels handled shorts, longs, and long rifles. The 1890 was set up for only shorts, or longs, or long rifles; were the 61's wearing barrels originally made for the 1890?

 

[walnutred]

I've owned the Savage 29, Stevens Visable Loader and Winchester 270 but the only one I've kept is the Rossi copy in 22 mag.

 

[Road Rat]

WOW, who knew so many S&W guys also owned Pump .22's??

I bought my first one about 5 years ago; a Rossi carbine in nickle plate. What a handy short gun to grab when heading out the back door.

I always wanted a Model 62A as that is the only gun my old man ever had. Alas, when he passed on I discovered he had sold it sometime in the past.

A few months ago I found one at a local gun show that was in very good condition and the price was right.
PALADIN85020.........mine is also a 1946, Serial #172244...........'maybe' close to yours!!

So, now I have two!!

Winchester Model 62A

The Rossi

 

[kraigwy]

I have a Win 62 which I enjoy shooting. I also have its cousin, a Remington 25, which is almost identical except its in 25-20, also a lot of fun to shoot.

I also have Win 63, but I guess it doesn't count, its a semi (future assault rifle).

 

[feralmerril]

Bigolddave, while my 61 is marked for only .22 long rifle, yes it shoots shorts and longs like a champ and I dont recall one problem with it. I told this before. Dad was a great shot when I was a kid. We went to a local small turkey shoot. I looked around and seen that most, or all of the guys that dad was going to shoot against had bolts with scopes. I expressed my concern to dad about it and he just said, "Well they still have to hold them". He stepped up and won the turkey with open sights! I have seen dad shoot several flying black birds out of the air with it. Dad worked with me often throwing cans , bottels and even medicine bottles at the village dump. Both of us back in the 1950s could hit most anything threw in the air in those days. Dad developed "The shakes" later in life and now I have too. Seemed most of my relatives on my dads side of the family got it when they got old. Kraigway in his post just above mine mentioned a winchester 63. I have one too. I bought mine NIB somehow about 25 years after the end of production. (1957) Mine is grooved (Rare) and numbered right near the end of production. I have been babying it but at my age I have changed my mind and decided that its time to start shooting some of my safe queens.