Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Winchester model 64

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It has a Williams peep on it, and I started with a Lyman tang peep on a model 24 Rem in 22 short only back in 1953 and have used peeps all my life.

Peep sights and 64s are like peas and carrots! My early production 64 carbine wears a Lyman 56a and my late production rifle wears a 66a. My favorite though is my late fathers 64 carbine with a "climbing Lyman" 21.

Just scored on today!
Went to the Cabelas in Hamburg Pa. looking for the Marlin Camp .45 they have.
Always wanted one...
But I spot this '64, .30-30, for a tad over a grand.
Gulp.
She was FILTHY! Old gummed up whatever over every inch of her. A few dings here and there, but no rust.
I've always loved long barrels and .30-30s, soooo...
Bye bye Marlin.
Her serial number (162247x) says she should be a 1949 girl. The caliber stamp is .30-30, and not .30 WCF. I read someplace that they changed that in 1951. Who knows? I think .30 WCF looks way cooler...
Did a quick and nasty cleanup. Her action is SLICK and the trigger breaks like the set trigger on my T/C Hawken. Serious aid to accuracy there!
Took her out with some old 170 Remingtons, and she shot very well. With the open sights, 3 shots at 50 yards were right around an inch. Resting the forend on the bag was NOT good. Could've done better throwing rocks. Resting my hand on the bag and grabbing the forend gave nice tight groups with excellent overlap.
Cases.look good. No bulges and flush primers.
Happy happy happy.
Normally, I'm a Marlin guy. But this Model 64...
DANG!

I picked up a 64 deluxe which had sadly at one time sported a side mounted scope ( as evidenced by the holes on the side of the receiver), a refinished stock and some marred screws.

Im interested in adding a peep for the occasional nostalgic deer hunt. What peeps sights are recommended and/or available?

The Lyman 56a or 66a should work for you. Or a newer Williams which I believe was an FP model.

I like the 30-30. I have six and consider them my fun guns these days. Two are M943 one Marlin 336 Texan, a Winchester M54 bolt action and two M64s, one a deluxe made in 1938, the same year I was born and the other a standard model made in 1957, which I believe was the last year Winchester made the M64. I read somewhere that Col. Townsend Whelen had a big hand in the stock design of the M64 and M71 as well. I wouldn't mind getting a deluxe M71 from 1938 to go with my M64 of that year. Match year would be super IMHO. One of the M94s wad made in 1911, probably shortly after the first of that years based on the serial number. I killed my first deer with that old rifle which originally belonged to my Great grandfather and has been handed down finally stopping with me. It'll go to my youngest daughter when I go.
These days they're used for punching paper with cast bullets. before my knees went out I usually did some of my desert hiking with one ot the other 30-30s, usually with 175 gr. cast bullets at roughly 1900 FPS. I have taken deer with those cast bullets and they work just fine.
PJ

As well as a few hens teeth 32-40's and 38-55's.

Just turned up this Thead today! I have several Models 64. A 30-30 & two .32 WCF. Bought them principally for nice Winchesters at good prices. Vintages from first year production in '33 to about '51. That said, prefer my 1937 vintage 94 carbine as last year of the true Carbine butt with plate wrapping over wood butt top. That as with the newer ramp sight-integral forged barrel of "Winchester Proof Steel". In my preferred (non-handloader) 30-30 chambering. Used-excellent & all original but for a King's Full Buckhorn 'gnarly' aft barrel sight! A preferred feature 'sweet spot' for me in Win history.
IF you're a Winchester guy, any Marlin placing as 'other' on your radar perhaps. For me the 336 Models, from design to production quality equalling Winchester pre '64. To chamberings inclusive of said .35 Remington to sub-model designation 45/70 chambering. 336 Marauder as "Trapper" equivalent in 16" barrel. Considerably more modern design than the 94, stronger and top scope mounting with any compromises like offset scope mounts.

I give the Winchester classic lineup its due, but the Savages, Marlins and rare Stevens lever - mine from 1915 in .35 Remington; all to me more than giving the Model 64 a rea run for it's money!

So many guns... So little time!
Happy Holidays & here, just my take!
John