Winchester Model 100 question

[BigGunsMoreFun]

I am somewhat of a fanatic when it comes to collecting Winchester rifles made before 1964. I am currently looking at a couple of Winchester Model 100s. These were both made in 1961 according to their serial numbers.

I have a couple of Model 88s in .308 and they are in my opinion great guns. One was made in 1955, the other was made in 1958. Although I have heard many a derogatory remark about the Model 88, I have never had a problem with either of mine.

I am now hearing from many folks that the Model 100 is a piece of junk and that I would be out of my mind to buy one. I'm told they are very high maintenance guns that don't feed ammo very well. Many folks call the Model 100 a single shot rifle even though it is a semi-auto.

From what I can see, this gun is just a semi-auto version of the Model 88. The two people I am trying to buy Model 100s from will not allow me to take them to the range and try them out. This makes me a bit leary about buying one but both guns are in what I call excellent condition for their age. They are in my opinion 85% to 90% and all original. One is .308, the other is .243.

Does anyone out there have any experience with these guns? What are your opinions? What have you heard about them?

Both guns are priced around $600 each. I can probably negotiate the price down closer to $500 each or so if I really try. I am thinking seriously about the .308. Depending on what kind of feedback I get here and from some other gun boards and gun bloggers, I might either decide not to buy them or I might buy them both.

What say you all? I would love to add these to my collection but I don't like wall hangers. I generally buy guns that are in very good to excellent condition that are completely functional and shootable. I only have one or two guns in my somewhat vast collection that I would not shoot.

I am really interested in hearing from everyone no matter if you've owned and shot the Model 100 or just heard a lot about them. I am of course mostly interested in hearing from the old timers with a lot of experience actually shooting and hunting with the gun.

I look forward to hearing from you all.

Molon Labe,
Joe

 

[thebaldguy]

My grandfather had one and I used it deer hunting years ago. I had the firing pin replaced when there was a safety recall for possible breakage. It was reliable until the extractor cracked. After repair, it worked well. This rifle was not as accurate as I hoped it would be; even with a scope it shot 3-4 inch groups. Others have had better luck than I did. It's accurate enough for deer hunting where shots are close. It's not a tack driver by any means.

If you getting one for your collection, get one. However, there are more accurate rifles out there.

 

[rangerruck]

as to add to the dude above; ask them if they have been repaired to the recall service. that should have included both the extractor and the firing pin...

 

[berettaprofessor]

Funny question...did these come in 22LR? I saw a semiauto yesterday in a pawn shop near here that I think was a Winchester 100 model....for $125.

 

[woof]

The 88 is a great rifle, the 100 is a problem waiting to happen. And I would never ever buy a gun that I couldn't fire first. I might not always ask, but if I asked and was refused, I walk.

 

[rangerruck]

the 22lr was made to look like a copy of the others, it is an excellent 22.

 

[Art Eatman]

My uncle was quite happy with his Model 100. I inherited it, and used it some. I don't particularly care for semi-auto hunting rifles, so it's been mostly a safe-queen. No problems with it, though. It's about a 1.5 to 2 MOA critter.

Most of the 100s "out there" have had the recall treatment. Winchester has an 800 number that's still available through their website. It's of limited hours/day response, but the pieces are still available.

 

[rust collector]

The 22lr look-alike was called the model 490 and manufactured in Canada by a plant (Cooey?) that Winchester purchased. Good, solid gun.

I owned an 88 in 308, but had no experience with the m 100. I got the impression that it was a bit on the delicate side, but don't know if my source was reliable or not. Bolt latch was on the magazine, IIRC, and stock was thin in spots due to an op rod or magazine cutout.

$600 seems high, but then so does $4 gas. The guns are not rare, but many show signs of a lot of use, and you don't want one that an amateur has tried to fix (ie check for maimed screw slots and dings by sights, etc).

 

[Yosemite**Sam]

I own a few model 88's and I like them alot. I've owned 1 model 100 which was chambered in .308. I never had any problems with the 100 but I ended up selling it because I didn't feel right about hunting with an auto loader. The 88 on the other hand is a bolt action with a lever. Gotta love that.

 

[BigGunsMoreFun]

Thanks for the info folks

I appreciate the feedback from all of you. I don't hunt anymore so this gun would be just an addition to my collection and a paper puncher on the 100 and 200 yard range.

I think one of you hit the nail on the head though about buying a gun that the seller won't allow me to test a few shots through first. I'm sure I'll add one to the collection sooner or later but for now, I think I will look around some more.

I did notice that the .308 the guy is selling has many of the screws buggered even though the gun looks to be in good shape other than that. That leads me to believe that just maybe it has issues and Bubba the shade tree gunsmith has been fixin' on it.

Molon Labe,
Joe