Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Combination Guns and Drillings Winchester XTR super grade

What do you guys know about them? What do they go for if you can find them? Any experience with them?

Yes, nicely finished, action a bit less than optimal for the purpose and NOT a good choice in the O/U double rifles also offered at the time by "Big W".

Most negative factor is weight, they are pigs and over 10 lbs. scoped even with a Leupy.

I would pass as they run about 3K here in Canada and there are, IMHO, far better options.

The only thing I know about them is the XTRs had a slick push feed action that I liked...but I also know they arent a combination gun or a drilling....

What IS the correct model designation for that O/U combo-double rifle that Winny sold in the '80s? Seems to me that "Gran European" might be close?

Grand European...yes...

These are Bad News!

Few, if any, were properly regulated, and they can't be corrected in any cost effective manner. There is a reason why they don't sell well. Still, the unsuspecting or un-knowledgeable will buy and try them.

A friend of mine had four of those Winchester Grand Europeans at one time; two combination guns and two O/U double rifle. As noted, there isn't any way to regulate the barrels. They were chambered in 12 over 7x57, 12 over 9.3x74R, 7x57 over 7x57, and 9.3x74R over itself. Great idea, good Japanese craftsmanship, but what good is a rifle that won't shoot where you aim?

The 12 over 9.3x74R seemed like a great idea for a one gun hunter or as an African spare, but not executed well enough to be as effective as necessary.

This one is advertised as a XTR Super Grade. Very nice looking gun, but hadn't heard of the regulation problems. Ya'll might have just saved me a pile of heart ache, I was really struggling to not bring that one home with me. Its a 12 ga/6.5x55, one of my favorites. With scope rings and all the choke tubes.

I've never heard of, or seen, a Winchester 101 Grand European in 12 over 6.5x55.

These were never regulated from the factory. They tried to do it optically without ever firing the guns, and it was a dismal failure. The barrels are soldered with silver solder, not soft solder, so they require a lot of heat to un-solder/re-sloder...on and on, until they are regulated. In essence, they can't be regulated properly.

Good idea...poorly executed...

I just went and looked at it. Very nice gun. I can't find any "made in Japan" on it. On the bottom of the receiver it says super grade and the barrel says Winchester XTR super grade. I sure want to like it but you guys are scaring me. It is a 6.5x55. The owners manual is the same for several guns called XTR, including a 101 XTR. The owner showed me the blue book listing for it. About $3000 for NIB, which it is, and add 50% for 6.5x55. I can get it much cheaper than than that. Comes with several winchokes, scope bases installed and rings. I want to like it!

PS- Anything better out there for the money?

It is a long shot but tell the owner that you have thoroughly researched these guns and that there were regulation issues with many of these rifles so you want a couple of shots just to be certain it shoots to point of aim. If it works, great. If he won't take the gamble, leave him your phone number and walk away! Good luck

Its at a shop on consignment. Its an estate gun and the owner has passed. Nobody else in the family knows anything about it, or so I'm told. I don't think its ever been shot. It comes with factory targets, one for shotgun and one for rifle, but not together so I don't know if that really tells me much.
How much are some of the Zoli combos, or the Valmets? Ae they comparable? I can get the Winchester for $2000

Here's a Zoli 12ga/7x57R at Cabelas. one thing nice you can have it shipped to your local store for a hands on inspection.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Angelo-Zoli-Combo-7mmX12ga.cfm?gun_id=100250849

New Finn Clasics are around $1900. but you can find used one for half that.

The Valmets, mine was an early '70s Finnish-made model, in .308Win-12Ga. are VERY sound guns, especially for the price. They ARE a bit heavy, but, not like that pig of a "Grand European" and they accept Sako rings and/ir the old "peep" sight made for Sakos.

I recommend them for an entry level combo for tough hunting and you can find them in nice shape for under a "grand".

Where do I find them for under a grand? I'd buy one for that right now

That's the trick, you have to keep searching, they are out there.

Someone I've talked to found a 412 in 12ga/222Rem for $400 believed to be unfired. He should have bought a lottery ticket that day. He asked me if it was a good deal and I told him if he didn't take it he had to line me up with the seller, he bought it and loves it.

If you don't mind odd calibers they get even easier to find. My Bernedelli had a 5.6x50R rifle barrel , very useable for coyote hunting but very hard to find ammo. It was very reasonable. 5.6x52R is the Savage 22 Highpower and Hawk has a good selection of 50-70gr bullets for it, 6.5x52R is the 25-35 Winchester

So the consensus is to pass on the Winchester. dang that thing is pretty

Man am I glad I was able to read all these posts before making a HUGE mistake
I was offered a winchester in trade (along with cash )for my 2400--No way I'm doing the deal now

You can always take a chance on it as you do with any gun you buy even new ones. They just don't have a great rep.

Savage 2400? I've been looking for one of those forever. I just never see any Combo guns anywhere.