Winchester model 74 .22lr

[Savage Shooter]

My grandfather is kind of a gun collecter i guess he has 45 guns that i can find but I don't really know he hides them all over the place i don't think he even knows how many he has . but among them is a winchester model 74 .22 It looks fairly old its a little beat up on the stock looks like it was used to push down barbed wire fence so someone could cross. would love some information on this gun like mabye how long they were made, value, just normal history. I would love to buy it from him but i don't know if its good or even what to offer. anyinfo appriciated

 

[scratchy wilson]

from Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly/Disassembly-rimfire:

"The Model 74 was originally intended to be an 'economy' .22 autoloader in the Winchester line, costing about 1/3 less than the Model 63. Made from just before WWII until 1955, the Model 74 had several unusual features. Among these were a top- mounted crossbolt safety and a bolt and firing mechanism that could easily be removed as a unit, without taking the rifle action from the stock."

 

[Savage Shooter]

thanks but what the hole in the right side of the stock at the butt is that a speed loader or something.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

That where you insert your ctgs.

 

[rcmodel]

They load through a tube magazine in the stock.

Turn and pull out the inner tube in the butt and drop the ammo down the slot.

They were made from 1939 to 1955, with about 406,500 made.

They came in either .22 short, or .22 LR versions.

In the poor condition you describe, it is probably worth $150 bucks or so.

They can be temperamental at times!

Kind of Winchesters "economy model" .22 autoloader of the time.

rcmodel

 

[Savage Shooter]

what is there on it to turn all i saw was a tube that went down into the stock maybe somethings missing on it though i have no clue if you had a picture it would help.

 

[rcmodel]

I don't have a picture.

There is a big hole in the middle of the steel butt plate.
There should be a knob in there.

You turn it to unlock it, and pull the inside tube out until the stock port is open so you can drop shells in.

It's just exactly like any normal tube fed .22 rifle, except the tube is inside the stock instead of hanging under the barrel.

rcmodel

 

[Savage Shooter]

thanks a lot that helps i finally found a picture of it on google i'll have to look on the butt plate I thought it loaded on the stock.

 

[rcmodel]

It does load through the stock port.

But you have to pull the tube out of the butt-plate first to open the port in the stock.

rcmodel

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

You have 2 options of loading it. You can pull the magazine tube all the way out and drop the ctgs. in or you can pull it out enough to drop the ctgs. in at an angle so they go forward (using gravity).

 

[Savage Shooter]

cool got it