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September 19, 2026
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I recently purchased a 5x scope that included front and rear see through bases. The rear base is stamped #5 and measures as such. The front has no markings. It is the same height as the #5 rear.
I searched around the webs a bit and can’t find a list of the scope bases produced for the 2-3/4x, 5x, and 8x scopes. I have JWA’s books and see the ones he has listed there. Can someone point me in the direction of a table or list of all the bases and which rifles they work with?
July 17, 2012
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Hi,
Welcome as a new member and thanks for purchasing and reading my books!
There were 10 front and 10 rear bases produced by Winchester for .22s, they were identified (but not always marked) #1 through #9 plus the previous Winchester “combination” bases. The only .22 bases that were grooved for “see-through” were the #3 front, #4 front, #5 front, #3 rear, #4 rear and #5 rear, all the rest were standard flat-top bases.
If you are absolutely sure the front base is the same height as the rear #5 base then it is a #5 front. The base height is what dictates the base number. If they are both #5 bases then, with the 5X scope, that setup is correct for the very late Model 60A Target, Model 61, Model 63 and Model 67 rifles equipped from the factory with 5X scopes.
There were at least 38 different scope base configurations on 12+ different Winchester .22 models, that is why I didn’t clutter up the specific Model 69 and 75 books with all of them, I only included the bases and combinations pertinent to those models. It will be similar in the upcoming Model 72 book.
If there is enough interest I can do an article in the Winchester Collector magazine to identify all of the variations/combinations in an easy to read chart. The Winchester Collector magazine is one of the best perks of being a WACA member.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
December 9, 2002
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I don’t know if this helps or not, but I noticed it and saved it the other day from another site. I thought I would add this to JWA’s information. If it is incorrect or wrong, I can delete it.
Tony
July 17, 2012
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Hi Tony,
That chart is for Redfield bases specifically for mounting the Redfield International or Olympic front and rear sights. While a useful tool for selecting the Redfield bases for Winchester target rifles such as the Model 75, 52 and 70 Target, I don’t think it is related to the OP’s question.
Keep it handy though for the next time 😉
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
December 9, 2002
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Thanks Jeff!
I will leave it up, as you said it’s a reference for the Redfield sights, and possibly might help some.
Tony
July 17, 2012
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No problem, thanks!
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
September 19, 2026
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Thanks for the information laden reply JWA. I would love to mount it on a 67 but the only one of those I have was my grandfather’s. I hate drilling and tapping unmolested rifles but beater 67’s are plentiful. I’ll keep an eye out for a proper host rifle.
You mentioned 60a target. Are #5 bases the correct height bases for a rifle with sporting sights? Or will it need the slightly taller target sights to take advantage of the see through feature?
July 17, 2012
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The 60A Target came with a receiver mounted peep sight (Lyman 55W) instead of sporting sights on the barrel like the 60 and 60A Sporting rifles.
Now, having said that, I personally have never seen a 60A Target rifle with a factory 5X scope but it was listed in the Winchester documentation as an available option and the same documentation specified the #5 front and rear see-through bases so I included it in my first response. I have seen (and have examples of) the 61 and 63 with the factory 5X scope and both do, in fact, have the #5 front and rear, confirming the rest of the information in that same Winchester document.
Regarding the usability of the #5 bases on the 60A Target I would have to dig one out and mock it up with the #5 bases to see if it would work but Winchester (in this case C.E. Blizard) was usually pretty good at specifying the correct bases in the literature.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
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