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March 21, 2011
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Hello all and Merry Christmas!
I’d like to know if the sporting rifles were never drilled and tapped receivers or sometimes. This one shows the rear bridge tapped and plugged and I’ve seen others with front and rear bridges both tapped and also witnessed holes in barrels of sporting rifles. I have not yet found definitively one way or the other. I would guess no holes is accurate.
Regards, Darrin
July 17, 2012
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Hi Darrin,
Generally, Model 75 Sporting rifles were not drilled/tapped for a scope. The only exception to that is a very few pre-war 75 Sporting rifles could be special ordered with the Winchester 2-3/4X, 5X or 8X scopes. On those special order rifles, the rear base is located on the front receiver ring and the front base is on the barrel (in front of the rear sight dovetail).
The vast majority of Model 75 Sporting rifles found D&T’d were done after the rifle left the factory as adding a scope was a VERY popular modification.
Conversely, ALL of the Model 75 Target rifles were D&T’d on the barrel for a target style scope.
There is a 650 page definitive book on the Model 75 rifles, it is titled “The Winchester Model 75 – Diversity in Design” and available from Rim Fire Publications if you are interested in further details. https://www.rimfirepublications.com/
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
December 9, 2002
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While I was typing Jeff gave us his professional information. Jeff I’m glad that you we’re able to answer this post.
Darrin,
The Winchester M-75 Book is a must if you want to look for these rifles, as their is so much information in JWA’s book, you won’t be disjointed.
Anthony
March 21, 2011
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Thank you Jeff.
I have been eyeing your new book but until recently had not been in the market for a model 75.
I plan to become more studious, hopefully securing copies of both your books.
Darrin
November 7, 2015
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Darrin Smith said
Thank you Jeff.
I have been eyeing your new book but until recently had not been in the market for a model 75.
I plan to become more studious, hopefully securing copies of both your books.
Darrin
Darrin-
In our segment of the gun collecting hobby books are a necessary investment for making informed buying decisions. Even with the comparatively modest prices of 75’s and 69’s it’s easy to make a mistake that could be avoided if you have good information at your fingertips. Many good reference books are out of print, Jeff’s are still available new and are an enjoyable read on top of being excellent reference books.
Mike
January 20, 2023
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Mike is right. After you’ve read a few gun collector books and then see either of Jeff’s two volumes, you realize those are the definitive works on the Model 69 and 75, respectively and there’s nothing left to say on the subject. Nor will there be.
I’ve heard from semi-reliable sources that after he finished the 69 book, jeff disappeared for several days and was found in the high desert, delirious and speaking in strange tongues. He seriously concentrates. A mere glance at a few pages of either book will show you “our” Jeff has no peer in the matter of Winchester rimfires.
My worst fear is he will be drowned or crushed to death in the course of professional duties — before he even gets an outline going on a 2-volume Model 52 master work. He’s promised retirement but the practice of such a unique and valuable profession is a jealous mistress indeed.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
