Winchester Model 67; is it safe to shoot modern.22LR ammo

[Kenk]

I was thing about taking out my dads old Winchester Model 67 single-shot, bolt-action rifle, but am unsure if it safe after so many years. The 67 was made from 1934 - 1963, and is in relatively good condition. My only concern is ammo, is modern.22LR any more powerful than it was when this weapon was in its prime? We used to take the 67 out in the back yard when I was 8 (in town mind you) and shoot Grackles out of the treetops with birdshot. Some really fond memories from my childhood, I gota say : )

[blaster]

unless its in bad shape, I would shoot it. I have old .22 rifles from that era that I shoot with modern ammo.

[marlin39a]

After a thorough cleaning, and inspection, I personally would only shoot Standard Velocity in it.  That?s just me.

[Graybeard]

It should be fine with standard velocity ammo. A friend of mine inherited a 67 and shot a box of mini mags through it with no problem. It did not occur to him there is a power difference.

[Kenk]

Thanks, I was thinking the same thing, and just use the standard velocity stuff (no Stingers for this one : ) it does have some spent casing ejection issues if I remember correctly, and sounds like the firing pin serves as an ejector when the breach is fully open, but parts will be hard to come by, plus it might just might need a thorough cleaning . Another thing I read about the model 67 is that a brisk ejection is needed to eject the cases properly, and to open the bolt with a good snap, which I haven?t tried. It hasn?t been shot in 40 plus years, so I?m kinda excited about shooting it a little, then putting it back for safe keeping.

[sqlbullet]

I have a first year production model 67 and we shoot it all the time.  One of my favorite 22 rifles.  You won't wear it out.

[Kenk]

Yea, it?s a pretty cool gun. I?m in the process of cleaning it up, and hope that corrects the spent casing extraction issue

[sqlbullet]

They are cool.  This one belonged to my paternal grandfather, who used it as a sparrow gun to protect his Martin houses.  Lots of 22 shot shells when down the bore.  When I got it I was told the bore was "ruined" by all the shot.  It was just fouled with lead.  Once I cleaned it really well, it shot like a champ. 

While these guns don't carry serial numbers, I learned recently that the finger grooves in the front of the stock were only there for the first year.  I don't know how my grandfather came to own this gun.  My first memories of it were in the late 1970's when grandpa was in his 50's.  If he was the original owner then it was his first gun.  He is gone now, and I never asked, so now I will never know for certain.

[Kenk]

Was reading something today that they came two different ways. Some came with a more traditional rifled barrel, and some came with a smooth bore, and then there?s the 67A. I get the feeling that bird shot was kind of a thing years ago, or at least it was in our family growing up

[Kenk]

This is a pretty good article on .22 short, .22 long, and .22 long rifle. Buried into the article a bit, they talk a little about the model 67

https://backfire.tv/22-long-vs-22-short-compatibility/

[Rooster41]

I have an old Remington UMC pump action that is said to be close to 100 years old. It was my great grandpas rifle and he gave it to my grandpa when he was a "young boy".  If my grandpa were still alive today he would be 95 year old. I shoot todays standard velocity ammo through it with out issues. I would think yours will do just fine.

[Kenk]

Thanks!

[sqlbullet]

Rooster, sounds like you have a Model 12 series gun.  I have one of those in my safe as well.  I think it is a 12A as it shoots short, long and long rifle cartridges.

It originally belonged to my great grandfather on my mom's side.  He gifted it to my grandparents as a wedding gift when they married in the 40's. They were very young and very poor as newlyweds in rural Illinois.  Their weekly date night activity was to splurge on a box of 22 short cartridges and shoot at cans they gun from a chicken wire fence.  They eventually shot a 2' diameter hole in that chicken wire fence.

My second son was named after that grandfather and was gifted that rifle as a baby. My son is now in college and enjoys shooting the rifle.

[Rooster41]

sqlbullet I think you are right. There were no model markings on it that I could find, but looking it up they look the same. If the "RW" by the serial number is the date code it looks like this was manufactured in November 1930. It has a 92nd birthday coming up. It is a great shooter and I try to take it out once a year. My grandson will eventually get this rifle.