Sears Model 53

[George S.]

I just picked up (a freebie ) a Sears Model 53 bolt-action in .30-06 from a friend. I know this is the same as a Winchester Model 70 (push-feed) but I'm curious about the accuracy of these rilfes. Was there a difference in quality between the Winchester barrel and the one used on the Sears rifle??

No idea how many rounds have been fired thru it but the bore is shiny and bright, and the rifiling is sharp. The crown looks fine too.

The rifle has a Burris Sportview 3-9x32 scope (Korean) and Weaver tip-off mounts. There was some surface rust on the metal but it came right off with some a light rubbing of CLP soaked into 0000 steel wool. The bluing is shiny and bright but there are a few spots were it has worn off.

The serial # is 16,2xx; any idea how old it may be??

 

[Chawbaccer]

I'm pretty sure that Winchester used the same barrel on Sears branded guns as they used on their own. you might have to take it to the range and just see for yourself how well it shoots.

 

[George S.]

I'll get out to the range and give it a try. I removed the scope and mount to celan everything up as there was some surface rust on the barrel and receiver so it will have to be sighted in again.

The only .30-06 ammo I have right now is milsurp (Korean PS and Greek HXP) that feeds my Garand and 03A3 so that will hopefully give me a good start to get it on the paper.

 

[Jim Watson]

Sears rifles are not numbered in series with Winchesters. I have never heard of a dating for dummies chart for house brand guns like that.

 

[Dienekes]

I picked a lightly used one up in 1983; glass bedded it and mounted a Weaver K-4. Had a copy of the old USMC sniper manual and used it to develop some long range proficiency. Usual load was the 168 gr Sierra match HPBT. Shot the heck out of it as I spent Friday afternoons on the local guard range working with it out to 500 yards.

Even though it was "just" a Sears version of the old 670 utility rifle, it certainly didn't know it was a cheap rifle. It has shot some groups for me that I don't think could be improved on--at least not in my hands. I wouldn't trade it for anything else out there--it's that good.

I love that rifle.