Winchester Collector - Forum: Winchester Rifles

88 man on Winchester Model 100 Documentary

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:22:53 +0000

I was sent this documentary from a friend. I've been collecting the 88 and 100 rifles for about 40 years or so. As I watched the video at about 1 1/2 - 2 minutes to the end I was a bit blown away. There was a pic of my gun room ! I had posted the pic on and Winchester Model 88 and 100 FB site that I'm a moderator quite a while back and this guy used it in his documentary. Needless to say it made me feel a little warm and fuzzy inside 😂 Just thought I'd share it here https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1D7vwaaDGu/

JWA on 1955 model 70 300 winmag or ?

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 03:47:23 +0000

I am certainly not as eloquent as Zebulon Esquire but agree with his premise. In my Engineering "if-then" statement layman's terms; "If you are going to buy a pig-in-a-poke, then poke the pig."

Best Regards,

Zebulon on 1955 model 70 300 winmag or ?

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 02:44:10 +0000

A chamber cast will not only tell to what cartridge the gunsmith (hopefully) tried to rechamber the barrel but how successful he was at the job.

If the barrel is original to the rifle and the receiver is a pre-64 Model 70 showing the milling marks in the bridge and ring indicating it was a 300 Holland when it left New Haven, almost certainly the chamber was reamed to at least approximate a 300 Weatherby Magnum chamber.

There are things to know about that job only a chamber cast can tell you. First, how close are the dimensions to the SAAMI standard for the cartridge. Weatherby was at one time NOT a SAAMI cartridge and different gunsmiths had varying ideas about how much or how little freebore would be a good idea. Not all gunsmiths bothered to pay for the custom reamer that would cut the radiused Weatherby shoulder.

If you buy this rifle, before you fire a current factory 300 Weatherby Magnum - or any other - round in it, you absolutely must have a chamber cast made and measured.

With all due respect for the Model 70, of which I own and shoot several, it is NOT a Weatherby Mark V and will not handle 60,000+ psi gas escaping from a burst brass case very safely.

Your eyes are worth far more than the price of a chamber cast. I can get one for less than a hundred bucks. Yours may be more or less. But factor it into the price of the gun.

Speaking only for myself, I would not buy the gun without an agreement to rescind if the chamber should be weird as cut. If you are going to buy a pig in a poke, get a warranty of the pig's breed.

TXGunNut on 1955 model 70 300 winmag or ?

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 21:33:05 +0000

Just looking at the relative case dimensions the H&H conversion to the Weatherby cartridge, Lou's theory makes the most sense. The 300 Winchester Magnum uses a shorter cartridge case and OAL than the 300 H&H. The WBY case and OAL are longer than the H&H, it's easier to make a chamber longer than to make it shorter. A bore scope may give you a few clues but a chamber cast and/or Go/No go gauges would tell you what you are looking at. Seller may not know what he has.

Mike

Louis Luttrell on 1955 model 70 300 winmag or ?

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 20:16:22 +0000

Hi Uplander-

Is there a link to the GB listing?

Odds are that the "W" stands for "Weatherby" and that it's a rechambered 300 H&H Magnum. The 300 Winchester Magnum was not released until 1963. A photo of the top of the action would tell if it's an H&H action or not. If it's not an H&H action, then it may have been a standard action converted to short magnum. But those were usually done either by rechambering a 30-06 barrel (that was marked "30-06 SPFLD") or by putting a 1963 barrel in 300 WIN MAGNUM on a converted standard action.

This barrel "300 XXX MAGNUM" was once marked "300 H&H MAGNUM" in style 3C. Too long a cartridge to convert to 300 Winchester Magnum.

Best,

Lou

DEEREHART on 1955 model 70 300 winmag or ?

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 20:08:50 +0000

I will agree with Tim that a chamber casting is the smart thing to do

That being said I have purchased three M70s over time that were originally 300 H&H that had been rechambered to 300 WBY.

Other may correct me here but to get it to 300 WIN MAG would require shortening the chamber and then reaming to 300 WM.

A quick test would be to chamber a 300HH cartridge, If it chambers it is likely HH if it doesent ....??

The script of the "W" looks somewhat Weatherby ish.

Doug

Blue Ridge Parson on 1955 model 70 300 winmag or ?

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 19:47:18 +0000

Only casting the chamber can solve this mystery. A goodly number of the 300 H&H magnums were converted to 300 Weatherby magnum as well. Obviously, for safety's sake, I would not fire it before having a gunsmith determine what the rifle is now chambered to shoot. This is not a matter I would take someone else's word for.

BRP

Uplander on 1955 model 70 300 winmag or ?

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 19:33:57 +0000

So was looking at purchasing this 1955model 70 on gunbroker but question is .....it is listed as a 300 winmag ( but pre 63 release date) could it be a 300 H&H that had "H&H" milled off and "W" put on ?

steve004 on Jennings Rifle

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:59:50 +0000

I too, thought of the Bullard repeating action as soon as I saw it.

I've seen a few Jennings rifles over the years but never had a clue about the inner workings of the action. I found it fascinating.

Thanks for posting Mark!

Anthony #5411 on Jennings Rifle

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 21:22:43 +0000

Mark,

I'm also in agreement with the others on such a great video, and you sharing some very interesting information with us.

As mentioned above, that rack and pinion did remind me of the Bullard, that you kindly shared a while ago.I never knew that the Jennings had that mechanism inside of them, and you're explanation is second to none! IMHO! I've had thoughts of one, (Bullard), ever since!

Tony

TXGunNut on Jennings Rifle

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:04:30 +0000

Maverick said
Once you get that spring fixed, come back and let us know how well she groups. I want to see some red jugs flying!
Maverick

All kidding aside one of the displays at this year's Cody Show featured a recreation of the rocket ball ammo. I think the same creative process could be applied but I'm quite sure our friends at the CFM would not endorse this project. With the low velocity of this round I suspect the results on Mark's favorite targets would be less than spectacular. I like the way you think, though!

Mike

Maverick on Jennings Rifle

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:27:49 +0000

Once you get that spring fixed, come back and let us know how well she groups. I want to see some red jugs flying!

Maverick

Maverick on Research Help Needed: Factory-Engraved Winchester Model 1894 & Armax Journal Vol. V

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:01:11 +0000

Looks like they were engraved EGT to me as well. Unless that last letter is a letter "J" ? The Cody letter possibly would state what was to be engraved in the panel, but not necessarly.

Sincerely,

Maverick

Jeremy P on Jennings Rifle

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 16:47:01 +0000

Mark Douglas said

Jeremy P said
Mark, wasn't there another contemporary "mainstream" rifle that used a super-smooth rack and pinion? I seem to vaguely remember one...

That's right. The modern Browning BLR's use a type of gear system. However it's a completely different design than the Jennings and Bullard rifles utilized. Mark

Ah, the Bullard is what I was thinking of I think, probably from a former video of yours I recall. I'm behind on this new one, will watch soon!

Mark Douglas on Jennings Rifle

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 16:37:55 +0000

Jeremy P said
Mark, wasn't there another contemporary "mainstream" rifle that used a super-smooth rack and pinion? I seem to vaguely remember one...

That's right. The modern Browning BLR's use a type of gear system. However it's a completely different design than the Jennings and Bullard rifles utilized. Mark