Winchester Model 69

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Winchester Model 69
"Early Model 69 with hooded front sight"
Type	Rifle
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designer	Frank F. Burton
Designed	1934
Manufacturer	Winchester Repeating Arms Company
Produced	1935-1963
Number built	c. 355,363
Variants	69A, 697
Specifications
Weight	About 5 lb (2.3 kg)

Cartridge	.22 Long Rifle, .22 Long, or .22 Short
Action	Bolt-action
Muzzle velocity	1,280 ft/s (390 m/s)
Feed system	5-round detachable box magazine standard; 10-round detachable box magazine or single-shot adapter optional
Sights	Blade front and buckhorn rear open sights standard; hooded front sights, rear peep sights, and telescopic sights optional

The Winchester Model 69 was a bolt-action .22 caliber repeating rifle first produced in 1935 by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. It was marketed as Winchester's mid-priced bolt-action rimfire sporting rifle, positioned above inexpensive single-shot rifles such as the Model 68 and beneath the prestigious Model 52. An uncommon Model 69 variant, the Model 697, was offered with a telescopic sight and no provisions for iron sights. Production ended in 1963.

Origins and design

During the early 1930s, Winchester management was disappointed with the slow sales of the Model 56 and Model 57. Potential buyers considered the Model 56 and 57's 22 in (560 mm) barrels too short and the rifles' prices too high.^[1] The Model 69 was conceived as a lower-priced replacement with a longer 25 in (640 mm) barrel. The rifle was designed in 1934 by Winchester employee Frank F. Burton,^[2] production was announced with the release of Winchester's new price list on 1 January 1935, and the first completed rifles were shipped in March of the same year.

Early 1935 Model 69 action; note "SAFE" and "FIRE" markings on cocking piece, protruding takedown screw under stock, and magazine-release button on side of stock.

The striker of the Model 69 was cocked by the closing motion of the bolt, and the safety was actuated by grasping the cocking piece at the rear of the bolt, drawing it back, and rotating it, an arrangement similar to the Mosin-Nagant. The Model 69 used the same standard 5-round box magazine as the Models 52, 56, 57 and 75,^[3] allowing optional 10-round magazines and single-shot adapters to be shared. The magazine was released by depressing a spring-loaded button on the left-hand side of the stock, which was made of plain uncheckered walnut and had a pronounced pistol grip. The rifle was a takedown design; the barreled action was easily removed by turning a screw under the stock using a penny. A removable sheetmetal hood for the front sight was available. Rear sight choices included a barrel-mounted buckhorn sight that was drift-adjustable for windage and a more sophisticated receiver-mounted peep sight. A composition buttplate was used on all models.

In August 1935, the bolt was redesigned to incorporate a rebounding firing pin in compliance with Canadian import regulations. In October 1937, the stock was enlarged so the takedown screw would fit flush with the bottom, the forearm was changed to a semi-beavertail shape, and the pistol grip was made more pronounced.^[4]

Winchester-branded telescopic sights were first offered in 1937. Options were a 2¾-power scope with crosshairs or a vertical aiming post and a 5-power scope with crosshairs. Open sights were retained; the scopes were boxed separately and attached to integral bases on the barrel by the rifle's buyer.^[4]

Model 69A introduced

In November 1937, several substantial design changes were made. The bolt was redesigned to cock on opening, the safety was changed to a sliding lever on the right-hand side of the receiver, the prominent rear cocking piece was eliminated, and the barrel was given a constant-diameter round contour rather than the previous slightly tapered contour, increasing the weight of the rifle slightly.^[4] The trigger mechanism also incorporated an internal screw adjustment, allowing the owner to adjust the trigger pull weight to some degree. The improved rifle was designated as the Model 69A.

The Model 69 was originally marketed primarily for hunting and informal plinking rather than formal target shooting. However, December 1940 saw the introduction of "Target" and "Match" versions of the Model 69,^[4] intended to fill out Winchester's target-rifle lineup beneath the top-of-the-line Model 52 and the mid-priced Model 75. Both new Model 69 variants had a slightly larger stock than the standard rifle and were chambered in .22 Long Rifle only. The Target model was advertised with a Winchester #80A aperture sight and a post front sight, while the Match model had a Lyman #57E peep sight, a hooded front sight, and a 1 in (25 mm) wide leather sling; the sling width was changed to 1¼ in (32 mm) in 1947.

The generally unpopular factory telescopic sight options were dropped in 1941.^[4]

Model 697

In January 1937, Winchester introduced the Model 697, a Model 69 variant with the same telescopic sight options as the standard model but without any provisions for open sights. The new model was first shipped in June 1937 and was soon updated to the improved Model 69A standard. The Model 697 was unpopular due to dissatisfaction with the factory scope mounts and was permanently discontinued in 1941.^[5] The uncommon Model 697 commands several times the value of a standard Model 69 amongst modern-day collectors.^[6]

Later changes

A few minor changes were made to the Model 69A after World War II. The bolt handle was changed from a straight to a slightly swept-back shape, a grooved trigger was introduced, and the receiver became available with grooves for aftermarket scope mounts. Late in the production run, chromed bolts, trigger guards, and magazine guard plates were introduced.

Production ended in 1963 after approximately 355,363 examples of all types were sold. Model 69s were never produced with serial numbers, which were not required on American firearms prior to the Gun Control Act of 1968. The Model 69 was retired without a direct replacement; all other mid-priced .22 bolt-action repeaters had already been dropped from the Winchester lineup, leaving the Model 52 standing alone in the catalog until the introduction of the Model 131 in 1967.

References

Notes

↑ Henshaw 1993, p. 106.
↑ Houze, p. 168.
↑ The Model 75 was not introduced until 1938.
↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Henshaw 1993, p. 107.
↑ Henshaw 1993, pp. 117-118.
↑ Fjestad 2009, pp. 2029-2030.

Bibliography

Fjestad, S.P., Blue Book of Gun Values 30th Ed. Minneapolis, MN, USA: Blue Book Publications, Inc. 2009. ISBN 1-886768-87-0.
Henshaw, Thomas, The History of Winchester Firearms 1866-1992 6th Ed. Clinton, NJ, USA: New Win Publishing, Inc. 1993. ISBN 0-8329-0503-8.
Houze, Herbert G. To the dreams of youth: Winchester .22 Caliber Single Shot Rifle. Iola, WI, USA: Krause Publications, Inc. 1993. ISBN 0-87341-237-0

Winchester Firearms and Cartridges

Rifles

Lever-Action	Henry rifle Model 1866 Model 1873 Model 1876 Model 1886 Model 1892 Model 1894 Model 1895 Model 53 Model 55 Model 64 Model 65 Model 71 Model 88 Model 150 Model 250 Model 255 Model 9422

Bolt Action	Model 1878 Hotchkiss Model 1895 Lee Navy Model 1900 Model 1902 Model 1904 Model 43 Model 47 Model 51 Imperial Model 52 Model 54 Model 56 Model 57 Model 58 Model 59 Model 60 Model 60A Model 67 Model 68 Model 69 Model 70 Model 72 Model 75 Model 121 Model 131 Model 141 Model 320 Model 325 Model 670 Model 770

Pump-Action	Model 1890 Model 1906 Model 61 Model 62 Model 62A Model 270

Semi-Automatic	Model 1903 Model 1905 Model 1907 Model 1910 Model 30 Model 63 Model 74 Model 77 Model 100 Model 190 Model 490

Falling-block action	Model 1885

Shotguns

Pump-Action	Model 1893 Model 1897 Model 1912 Model 25 Model 42 Model 1200 Model 1300

Lever-Action	Model 1887 Model 1901 Model 9410

single-shot	Model 20 Model 36 Model 37 Model 37A Model 41

double-barrel	Model 21 Model 24 Model 96 Model 101

Semi-Automatic	Model 1911 SL Model 40 Model 50 Model 59 Model 1400 Model 1500 SX-1

Cartridges

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