I'm trying to decide which Winchester pump rimfire to get? I know it's a matter of personal preference but maybe some of you have reasons to pick one over the other?

If you will ever scope it, the 61.....

No I plan to use it open sighted.

I always wanted one. Didn’t matter which one. Was really tempted , seemed like it was a 22 Magnum version. Hasbeen

I like the 61 better.
But both are fine 22s.

Moosemike: Bring money for a good condition specimen of either!
I have owned numerous specimens of both and slightly prefer shooting and using afield, the Model 61.
Maybe for nostalgia's sake go with the Model 62?
Tough decision.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I'm also considering the 1890 and the 1906

Can't go wrong with either, but I like the 62 mo better.

What the others have said - really personal preference. You’ll be “amazed” at the accuracy (or maybe not?). My model 61 has put up some 3/8” groups at 50 yards with a little Redfield 4X mounted in the grooved receiver and my friends 62 rarely misses a squirrel’s head - in his hands!

PennDog

I grew up with my first .22 as a M62A and with the young eyes in those days, I had no trouble with the open sights. I liked watching the internal workings of that 62A, but dad got it with a side mounted Weaver scope which really screwed up the collector value and that stock and the side mount 3/4" Weaver were never ideal. That said I always wanted the sleeker internal hammer, side ejecting M61. Years later I found a nice one at a collector show and used the open sight for a time, but being scoped would have made it better. Mine wasn't drilled and tapped, so off it went to my gunsmith to drill and tap the receiver for two Weaver rear bases and rings and a new Leupold 3-9 AO rimfire scope, a trigger job and I'm a happy 61 shooter again. Either are great as plinkers and both carry well in one hand with the open sights. If a scope is in the future, even the distant future, get the 61. Old eyes don't do well with open sights for accurate shooting.

Windfall: None of the Winchester Model 61's were "drilled and tapped" from the factory.
The latter Winchester Model 61's did have factory "grooved receivers" and that made mounting scopes easy and inexpensive (did not harm the value!).
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Right you are as I've only seen the later grooved ones myself. That was why it was such a leap of faith to drill into that receiver, especially that front base over the chamber. The Weaver mount is the only one that I could find that was made for the M61 and their mount data specified that the front ring set should be mounted ahead of the receiver on to the barrel. I wasn't about to drill that barrel and since the Leupold scope adjustments seemed to fit nicely centered over the receiver, I saw no reason that mounting the receiver contoured rear base also in the front position wouldn't work very well and it has. That scoped 61 has become my go to red squirrel eradication device. Now I just need more targets of opportunity because I've shot off all the breeding stock.

I bought the M61 for a bargain $500. because while it was otherwise in mint condition, someone had mounted a peep sight on it, so it was never going to be a true collectible. The peep sight is gone and the holes filled, but since I'm a hunter and not a collector, it is about as perfect as a Winchester pump can get for my use.