winchester 255, 22 mag

[moooose102]

we went to my father-in-laws home for turkey day, and he showed me one of his guns. i had never seen one before, but it is a nice looking gun. i especially like the 22 magnums, and i really like lever guns, so it is no suprise that i liked his "plinker". i did a little research and found out it was introdouced into winchesters line up in 1964. when i thought about it, whith the stamped wood (in stead of cut chekering) in 1964, i can see where folks would have called this (and other winchesters) cheap. i did not get a chance to shoot it, but i would have liked to. i told him that anytime he wants to sell ANY of his guns, he has a standing offer on them. does anybody out there know more about this gun? is it a decent gun? did they have problems? his probably had 3-4 boxes of shells through it (he is not really a gun nut). so i cant imagine it is hurt (as long as it isnt full of rust inside).

 

[Shawnee]

Hi Mooooooose...


Oooops ...sorry for the dissertation about the wrong gun, Moooose.

 

[ThomasT]

Hy Moose I have one of the Winchester lever action 22 mags like your talking about and mine has been reliable and accurate. I have the one marketed by Sears with smooth wood and stamped Sears Model 5.

The rifle has a fairly short stroke and is fast to operate. The action is basicaly a winchester 190-290 action that is lever operated instead of semi-auto. If I remember right the 22s were model 150s and the 22 mags were model 250s. I'm guessing the 255 means its checkered instead of smooth wood.

Also the 22 mag round is no where near a 22-250 or 223 in perfomance.

Here is one I found on Gunbroker. this will give you an idea of the value.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=116901237

 

[TCB in TN]

Close Ratshooter the 150 had a plain stock, 250 was checkered and the 255 was the .22mag. I too have a 255 and I love the little gun. It shoots like a champ. Mine is is good condition except for no but plate and the bottom corner chipped off the end of the stock. Again I love the way it shoots even if it is a Winchester. (I am a Marlin 39 guy)

BTW I have had both 150's and 250's and they are good guns also. Here local a good 255 goes around $300, more for better shape a little less for poorer.

 

[ThomasT]

Thanks TCB. I knew if I didn't have it just right somebody who did know would be along to straighten me out.

I have had my 22 mag version for many years. My dad owned it first and decided he was too old to hunt and gave me all but a couple of his guns. It wasn't until I got high speed internet that I learned the little bit that I knew.

One thing is for certain though, that little 22 mag is light weight, easy to carry and a blast to shoot. My first gun was a Winchester model 190 I bought from K-Mart when I was 18 for $48 OTD. I stupidly sold it. This 22 mag is a good replacement for it.

And to Moooose. If your father-n-law won't sell you his rifle then just borrow it until he forgets you have it. Thats the best way to get guns anyhow. LOL, just kidding. But shoot it if you get the chance.

 

[moooose102]

wow, the one that was on gb is in better shape (i think) than my father in laws. of course it was relativly dark in his living room, and i would bet it has NEVER been cleaned. it looked like he shot it, stuck it in the closet, and left it there for the past 15 years. sad. but sometime, maybe, i can talk him out of it. if and when i do get it. i will spend a lot of time tearing it down and doing a THOROUGH clean and lube before i fire it. it is kind of neat how the trigger goes with the lever. but i dont know what that will do for the trigger stroke/feel.