The
Winchester model 250 was an economically priced 22 rim
fire rifle using a manually actuated lever to cycle
the action. The rifle was part of a series of guns
that included the 250 (as shown above), the 270 which
used a pump/slide action and the 290 which was a
semi-automatic action, see all three below:
The 200 series
had brothers in the 100 series. The 100 series
included a 150 model (lever action)and a 190
(semi-auto).
The model 150 was similar to the 250 except it had a
straight grip stock and a barrel band. The serial
numbers were shared between the two series (meaning
that you could get consecutive serial numbers of
different models). There were approx. 2.1 million
units between the 100 and 200 series models.
There was also a model 255, which was the same as
the model 250 only chambered in .22 Magnum.
The gun was similar in appearance to it's bigger
brother the model 88,which was introduced in 1955,
some 8 years before the model 250 came along.
The model 250 was produced from 1963 to 1973, with
sales continuing into1974 until supplies ran out.
Specs:
Caliber: .22 rimfire, .22
Short, Long and Long Rifle
Action: Lever Action
Magazine:
Tube,
Under Barrel
Capacity: 21 Short, 17 Long,
15 Long Rifle
Length: 39"
Weight: 5 lbs
Rifling: 1 in 16" twist,
Right Hand
LOP: 13 5/8"
Stock
Material: Walnut (deluxe), Birch (standard)
Receiver
material: Cast Aluminum
Winchester ad from Christmas 1963
The deluxe model was introduced in 1965 and was
discontinued in 1971. The extra $23 or so got
you the following extras:
- A fancy
walnut Monte Carlo stock with checkered
panels
- Sling
swivels
- Gold trigger
and safety button
- Jeweled bolt
- A wood tones
butt plate with white line spacer
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Model 250 standard,
early (top) and late production (bottom)
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Many parts
between the 250, 270 and 290 were interchangeable.
One part that differed on the 250 was the butt
stock. The stock on the model 250 was squared off at
the grip and had a different contour to allow the
lever to close all the way, see the picture below,
the 250 stock is on top, the 270/290 on bottom.
The
early production models used a plastic front
sight/magazine tube mount. In addition the rear
sight was plastic and held the model number. I
imagine this cut down on assembly costs as one
barrel could be made and stamped for all four models
(250,255,270 & 290).
The typical evolution of .22 rifles is that they
start with metal parts and gradually switch out
parts to plastic (the Ruger 10/22 comes to mind),
but with the Winchester 200 series, the evolution
was exactly the opposite. It is also the opposite
direction of what Winchester did in 1964 with the
models 94 and 70. Perhaps Winchester learned their
lesson and went back to better materials.
Standard models used birch wood stocks, some of
which had the white line spacer with pressed in
checkering and flutes in the comb. The pictures
above shows this, and my research suggests that the
early models had plain stocks without the checkering
and flutes.
Some standard models also had jeweled bolts.
Early production rifles had a different lever that
had an extra piece of metal that extended to the end
of the pistol grip, they looked to be unfinished in
my opinion.
The walnut stocked deluxe models had "basket weave"
checkering that included oak leaves. The plastic
butt plates were cast in a wood tone, rather than
the standard black.
Winchester ad from Christmas 1968
Construction:
The guns were made in the old New Haven plant. The
barrels were Winchester Steel with the standard 1 in
16" right hand twist. The magazine tube was made of
steel and came just short of the barrel's muzzle. The
inner magazine tube, was also made of steel, rather
then the more popular and superior brass.
The receivers and levers were made of cast aluminum
which was anodized gloss black. The stocks were
"walnut finished" hardwood, which was probably birch.
On the deluxe models the guns were fitted with real
walnut.
The front and rear sights were originally plastic,
they were switched to metal sometime in the mid-late
'60's. I would guess pressure from Winchester purists
dictated the change to the more expensive metal parts.
An
early add showing the different lever and the
plain stocks |
The model 250 was
discontinued in 1973 along with its brothers. The
demise of the model may have been hastened by the
introduction of the model 9422 in 1972. The 9422, as
you could have guessed was built to match the full
size model 94 and more closely resembled the lever
actions Winchester had been building for over 100
years
This is yet another dual purpose post. I purchased the
model 250 below for $50. The price was low because it
had been in a fire and suffered some damage. Another
project!
It appears to be a standard model, late production.
Unfortunately we cannot get the exact date of
manufacture, but based on the serial number and the
stock I would guess to be 1968-'73.
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