Are the Winchester quality complaints legit?

[tparker]

In my search for the perfect lever action .22 I've heard more than one person say "stay away from the newer Winchester stuff..." and that "since they changed over to USRA they're not as durable/ well built as before." Any thoughts/ comments on this? Is it true?

 

[McCall911]

I wouldn't exactly say "Stay away" but, IMO and from my limited experience, the few newer Winchester/USRAC guns I've handled/owned/shot don't seem as well-built as the older ones. However, the newer ones I've shot performed very well, and I would never say never to owning another one.

 

[Onmilo]

I wouldn't say that at all.
The lever action centerfire guns have been redesigned, again, the goofy crossbolt safety on the receiver has been replaced with a tang safety button.

Super X2 shotguns are some of the very best waterfowling guns available without breaking your bank account.

Winchester Model 70 bolt action rifles are expensive compared to low end lines, however the guns are generally excellent and consistent in quality, fit, and finish.
Something that can't be said for some other factory made guns in this price range.

Winchester rimfire lever actions have been put on the back burner because of competition from the Henry lever action line which is cheaper, and when the Henry is compared to the Winchester, you will see what I mean by cheaper, but hey, cheap seems to sell.

Winchester fit and finish is better now than it was 25 years ago.

 

[J Scott]

My only experience is my current one. I bought a Trapper in .45colt. With sights centered, it shoots @8 inches to the right and the stock cracked in the tang area with factory ammo. I sent it back to Winchester. It's still there. Hopefully, things will work out.

J Scott

 

[Zeke Menuar]

I had a chance to compare a Winchester M70 Safari? in 458 Winchester to a CZ550 American Safari also in 458 Winmag. The fit and finish of the Winchester was markedly better than the CZ. The action is much smoother. The Winchester's stock feels a little thinner making for a better balanced gun than the bulky CZ. The Winchester came with stock reinforcing crossbolts, the CZ did not. The CZ is priced about $200 dollars less than the M70. If I were buying, I would pick the Winchester.

ZM

 

[TNT]

Winchester makes a quality lever .22 rifle, plain and simple. I have them from the early 70's up to current production and they are all excellent examples of beautifully made rifles. All blued steel and walnut stocks, what more could you ask for? I have a couple SX2 shotguns and they are great also.

 

[nico]

I haven't had any problems with my SX2, although I've heard that after a few thousand rounds you have to send the gas piston to winchester to have it cleaned out (which is supposedly free). My gun is dead reliable. The fit and finish is not quite as nice as the Berettas and Benellis I've seen (my dad has an SBE so I have experience with it), but at Outdoorworld it was $250 less than the 391 and $350 less than my dad's used SBE. It's also one of the softest shooting shotguns around; MUCH less recoil than the 20ga Beretta O/U (686e I think) I tried a few weeks ago.

 

[Lord Bodak]

If you're looking at a lever-action .22, note that the Winchester is entering its last year of production. Not sure why they're getting rid of it, but the catalog says they are.

 

[Preacherman]

Yes, the 9422 is being phased out, because the machinery on which it's made is worn out, and it would be too expensive (according to Winchester) to re-program modern CNC machinery to produce it. So, if my logic is working correctly, current-production 9422's are being built on worn-out machinery, therefore their tolerances, etc. are likely to be less than optimal. Conclusion: I wouldn't buy a current-production 9422, or one made in the last five years!