Winchester model 54 question

[atr]

Can anyone tell me much about the Winchester model 54 in 30-06?

[pietro]

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The Winchester Model 54 rifle was introduced in 1925 by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, and was famous for being Winchester's first successful commercial civilian bolt-action high-power rifle and the direct predecessor to the legendary Model 70. ( not withstanding the tube-magazine Winchester/Hotchkiss Model 1883, discontinued in 1899 & the WWI Winchester-made Enfield rifles).

It was available with 20", 24" or 26" (.220 Swift) barrels

It was a modified 98 Mauser-pattern (aka: 1903 US Springfield) rifle, discontinued in 1936 with the first introduction of the Model 70, which was built on a Winchester-designed action/trigger.

There was a "speed lock" version of the Model 54 that made it's debut in 1933, after user complaints about the trigger.

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[three50seven]

Can't really tell you more than Pietro has, other than the fact that I have one and there's just something "special" about it....hard to put it into words beyond that. Mine is from 1929, and sports a factory-installed Lyman peep sight. I don't shoot it very much, but I often pull it out of the safe just to work the action and bring it to shoulder.

[Outpost75]

These also had stripper up guides in the receiver for fast reloading with 03 Springfield chargere.

[FergusonTO35]

Seems like the 54 was never treated with respect like the 70 was. All those I have seen for sale were pretty rough.

[Mk42gunner]

The few I've seen seem to be decent guns.

However, they were also almost vilified for poor gas handling in case of a pierced primer or blown case compared to the Model 70 Winchester. Advertising money making editorial choices or a real thing???

Robert

[Mootpoint]

The 30-30 models are less common and seem to go for a premium/quicker over most of the 30-06 etc.

[greybuff]

I'm 72 and bought mine when I was 10 years old. Killed a cow elk with it that same year.

[Bent Ramrod]

A friend had one in .30-06 that he had inherited from his father. The father had installed a Lyman 48 sight on it, but it otherwise was factory stock, and in good shape.

It had a sheet-metal trigger guard that looked kind of chintzy, and the bolt was angled such that mounting a scope would be difficult. The bolt was removed by pulling the trigger before withdrawing the bolt. The books said this was a defect, as the continued use of the trigger as a bolt stop would change the trigger pull, but I thought the trigger pull was pretty good. One of the earliest indications I found that "Gun Writers" often look for whatever issue they can imagine in hopes of enhanced word count.

The memorable thing about the rifle was how well it shot just about everything Tex loaded up for it, including cast .32 ACP boolits with light charges. One of the "unpickiest" rifles I've ever encountered, as far as loading went.

[RickinTN]

I have another question specific to the 30-30 chambered rifles. Does anyone know the cartridge length that the magazine will allow? I have a Savage store brand I was excited about just to find that spitzer bullets wont work because you can't eject a loaded round.
Thanks,
Rick

[atr]

thanks guys, much appreciated !
best, atr