I bought model 255 today and I was wondering if I paid a reasonable price for it. It is fair condition and has checkered stock. I can’t find much info on them but I do know they were made from 64-70 ish. I paid 280$ for it. Wanted a 22 mag lever for some plinking and varmint control around the house. Anyone have one? Opinions on the subpar reputation for quality when measured by Winchester standards Thanks

I don't have one now, but I have had at least one of all of the 250/255, 270/275, and 190/290 series Winchester .22s. The only one that I haven't had is the 150.

I think that they are good, but not great, rifles. They are rugged and reliable, the worst thing about them being the triggers that seem to be either mushy or stiff.

I have the 275 pump gun in .22 MAG and despite the trigger it is one of my favorite .22 MAGs. I don't care for the pistol grip geometry on the 150/250/255, too straight for me, but when I don't have to work a lever, the 270/275 and190/290 seem ok. I have the same stock geometry issues with the 88, doesn't work well for me, and the 100, works fine for me.

When Winchester dropped the blued steel 61s and 77s in favor of the 270/275 and 190/290 people were up in arms and avoided them like they would have avoided a syphilitic whore. There is no question in my mind that the 61 and 77 were nicer rifles, but they were more expensive to build and Winchester needed a line of .22 rifles that were more competitive with Remington's 500 series and the revolutionary for the time Nylon 66.

Not too long ago, GPC had new, old stock, deluxe wood for these rifles, some of it with amazing figure. I bought four or five sets of it for my 270/275 and a couple of 290s. I should have bought another couple of sets just 'cause. The deluxe stocks are GPC # 1528620 for $61.50 and the deluxe forearms are GPC # 1219110, but they are showing out of stock.

I had one of these rifles in for repair recently. Apparently it had lots of rounds through it or it had fired with a barrel obstruction because the locking recess on the top of the receiver was severely peened. I had to insert a steel piece in the recess to reestablish headspace. Something to watch for if you buy the rifle.

Without trying to sound like a scrouge,I have worked on a few of the 190-250-290 series rifles and in my honest opinion, they were junk when new and surely don't improve with age...

I've had one for about 40 years. On mine I have to work the action fairly fast for it to feed reliably. Accurate as hell though. Shot alot of ground squirrels with hollow point bullets and really opens them up. To me there is alot ,more damage to them than my 17 hmr. I think you will like the gun, i really like mine

Thanks for the replies guys. I haven’t got her yet but when I do I’ll report back with my findings.