Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Winchester 190

Hello all! I have recently come into possession of one of these from my FIL's estate. I know he said he bought it in the early 70's. Although it has been fired, it is in virtually 100% condition, and never had a scope on that aluminum receiver. What can t'all tell me about this gun? I am aware it is not terribly valuable which is fine, just trying to get background info on it. Thanks!

definitely on the cheaper end of the winchester 22s, plain stocks although I think some had pressed checkering, The painted receivers always bothered me. But...they work fine, we were shooting my buddies and it was spitting out cci quiets.

The Winchester post-'64 lever, pump, and semi-auto rimfire rifles shared a lot of the same part for economy and ease of manufacture.

The semi-autos were the Models 190 and 290. They shared the same barreled action and have different wood.

The pump actions were the Models 270 in 22 LR and the 275 in 22 MAG.

The lever actions were the Models 150 and 250 in 22 LR and the 255 in 22 MAG.

The 250, 255, 270, 275, and 290 were offered in a deluxe grade with high grade wood, a monte carlo style stock with a raised cheek-piece, and the same basket-weave checkering style as the post-'64 Model 88 and 100 rifles.

The 150 and 190 originally came with plain, no checkering, wood. The 150 had a straight grip stock and was advertised as a carbine.

Winchester also made a lot of house brand rifles in all three action operating styles.

I've owned at least 1 of 6 of the 7 different models in this series of rifles. The only one that I haven't owned is the 150, as I prefer pistol grip style stocks over straight grip style stocks.

I currently have 3 of the semi-autos, a Sears 3-T, a Winchester 190, and a Winchester 290, and 2 of the pump actions, a Winchester 270 and a Winchester 275. The distillation of my experience with these rifles is that they are functional rifles with poor triggers.

Back on our 13th birthdays, my cousin Scott got a Winchester 190, and I got a Marlin 60. We were both happy kids, though I was somewhat envious of him having a genuine Winchester, compared to my Marlin. I could always outshoot him, though, and that softened the blow considerably. He could use all three lengths of .22s, I could only use LRs. I don't recall his rifle ever jamming, though, and my Marlin often choked and puked. That old Marlin is still hanging tough in the closet, I have no idea whether Scott still has the Winchester or not.

I have a 290 that is my utility beater .22. It's unscoped and I mostly shoot shorts and Aguila Colibris out of it. I've whacked a lot of fur with it over the years using .22 Shorts.