Taurus Model 63 rifle Opinions?
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Thanks. My dealer has them listed in his distributers catalog now but I did not ask him to order yet because I wanted to see one first and try to find out if they are "ok." Have one of the Taurus 62 rifles and its a great plinker. I guess its just as well that I did not order one if they are not really there. MWJ
I had an origianl 63 as a boy. It was stolen and I've been looking for another one since then. Winchester started making new ones a few years ago, but ugh... the price! I can't wait for the Taurus version.
The 63 was the best semi auto rimfire design ever. Of course I'm a bit biased since this was my first gun.
The 63 was the best semi auto rimfire design ever. Of course I'm a bit biased since this was my first gun.
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22 Posts
Taurus mod. 63
I am also looking forward to the 63's being released. I have been drooling over them at taurususa.com. However I am confused about capacity. They list the L.R. version as 10 rounds, and the magnum version as 11 rounds. I'm not crazy about their locking system on the side of the bolt either, but I still want one!
I am also looking forward to the 63's being released. I have been drooling over them at taurususa.com. However I am confused about capacity. They list the L.R. version as 10 rounds, and the magnum version as 11 rounds. I'm not crazy about their locking system on the side of the bolt either, but I still want one!
I'm not in love with the locking system either. But compared to some others I've seen, it doesn't look too bad. If it doesn't interfere with the useabiltiy of the gun, I'm pretty satisfied. Keeping the lawyers at bay has (unfortunately) become a reality that the gun manufacturers have to deal with.
I think that the capacity issue might just be a misprint, unless they plan on extending the stock to allow more capacity. I can't imagine they would do that.
I think that the capacity issue might just be a misprint, unless they plan on extending the stock to allow more capacity. I can't imagine they would do that.
I'm a fan of the original Winchester 63's, and see them fairly often in handsome, used condition at local gun shows for $400 and under, sometimes as low as $325 in very respectable condition. Around here, the average yahoo pretty much just wants a gun he can put a scope on with no effort, and if an aftermarket bull barrel and plastic stock are available, so much the better! 
I don't know what the projected price for the Taurus 63's is going to be, but you might want to scout around for a nice, used original Winchester 63 -- depending on the amount of finish wear you can accept, you might be surprised what you can find!! An 80 percent one with no abuse wouldn't be hard to locate here in my area for $350 with a little looking.
And boy, howdy, they are SWEET SHOOTERS. I have one my late gunsmith friend turned into a carbine for me, with a Lyman #45 receiver sight. He cut the barrel to 18", installed a factory-style rounded crown, re-dovetailed the barrel to factory specs, and mounted a nice old Lyman ivory bead front sight. It is short, light, handy, and deadly accurate! In case you're wondering, the short barrel doesn't seem to make the rifle look odd -- rather, it makes it look kind of like a scale model of the old Winchester .351SL model 1907. I was going to go with a 16.5" barrel for maximum compactness, but my 'smith talked me out of it, saying it would be too short and look out of balance, and I'm glad I listened to him -- 18" came out just right. The folks I've showed it to and let shoot it really love it, and seem to hit very well with it. Most think it came from the factory this way, thanks to the care my 'smith took to duplicate the original look of the Winchester factory crown and dovetail dimensions, etc. Plinking with this thing is addictive!!
If you're thinking about aftermarket or improved sights, I persoanlly prefer a receiver sight to a tang sight for a couple of reasons -- 1, they are more compact and less apt to hang up on stuff or get in the way; 2, they don't interfere with your natural grip on the rifle, and 3, if you use your rifle as a takedown for compact storage in traveling (I do), the front and rear sight will always be on the same plane if you use a receiver sight, and the zero doesn't change. The Lyman 45 is an extremely flat, compact sight, all steel and very well made, that was designed just for the Model 03 and 63, that can be located from the collector sight suppliers such as Nick Stroebel and Garry Fellers with some effort. It isn't cheap, but you buy once and use it for the rest of your life... well worth it for something that brings you happiness every time you see it for the next 50 years, in my book!
Hope this helps,
John
I don't know what the projected price for the Taurus 63's is going to be, but you might want to scout around for a nice, used original Winchester 63 -- depending on the amount of finish wear you can accept, you might be surprised what you can find!! An 80 percent one with no abuse wouldn't be hard to locate here in my area for $350 with a little looking. And boy, howdy, they are SWEET SHOOTERS. I have one my late gunsmith friend turned into a carbine for me, with a Lyman #45 receiver sight. He cut the barrel to 18", installed a factory-style rounded crown, re-dovetailed the barrel to factory specs, and mounted a nice old Lyman ivory bead front sight. It is short, light, handy, and deadly accurate! In case you're wondering, the short barrel doesn't seem to make the rifle look odd -- rather, it makes it look kind of like a scale model of the old Winchester .351SL model 1907. I was going to go with a 16.5" barrel for maximum compactness, but my 'smith talked me out of it, saying it would be too short and look out of balance, and I'm glad I listened to him -- 18" came out just right. The folks I've showed it to and let shoot it really love it, and seem to hit very well with it. Most think it came from the factory this way, thanks to the care my 'smith took to duplicate the original look of the Winchester factory crown and dovetail dimensions, etc. Plinking with this thing is addictive!!
If you're thinking about aftermarket or improved sights, I persoanlly prefer a receiver sight to a tang sight for a couple of reasons -- 1, they are more compact and less apt to hang up on stuff or get in the way; 2, they don't interfere with your natural grip on the rifle, and 3, if you use your rifle as a takedown for compact storage in traveling (I do), the front and rear sight will always be on the same plane if you use a receiver sight, and the zero doesn't change. The Lyman 45 is an extremely flat, compact sight, all steel and very well made, that was designed just for the Model 03 and 63, that can be located from the collector sight suppliers such as Nick Stroebel and Garry Fellers with some effort. It isn't cheap, but you buy once and use it for the rest of your life... well worth it for something that brings you happiness every time you see it for the next 50 years, in my book!
Hope this helps,
John
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22 Posts
Taurus model 63
That Lyman #45 receiver sight interests me. Is it a "peep" sight? I have NEVER seen an original Whinchester 63 for sale. There are two 1903's, one is in rough shape, the other is good but with no ammo (or very expensive ammo) they are no good to me. The Taurus manufacters suggested retail price is $295.00. A couple of local shops discount all new guns, so that looks like the best option for me. However, Ill keep an eye out for an original.
That Lyman #45 receiver sight interests me. Is it a "peep" sight? I have NEVER seen an original Whinchester 63 for sale. There are two 1903's, one is in rough shape, the other is good but with no ammo (or very expensive ammo) they are no good to me. The Taurus manufacters suggested retail price is $295.00. A couple of local shops discount all new guns, so that looks like the best option for me. However, Ill keep an eye out for an original.
Taurus 63 v original
Well I started this thread and it appears they are not out yet. Some dealers here also discount new guns so the price will be right if they are of adequate quality. It seems original 1903's are around because they do not shoot 22LR ammo. I also less frequently see original Model 63's, but if in any condition are between $400-700. The recent reproductions were high dollar items too, so I hope the Taurus is a good one. MWJ
Well I started this thread and it appears they are not out yet. Some dealers here also discount new guns so the price will be right if they are of adequate quality. It seems original 1903's are around because they do not shoot 22LR ammo. I also less frequently see original Model 63's, but if in any condition are between $400-700. The recent reproductions were high dollar items too, so I hope the Taurus is a good one. MWJ
EGADS, I didn't know how good we had it on 63's down here!! (Southern Mississippi). The Lyman 45 sight is a very flat receiver (peep) sight, that has a rack and pinion elevating mechanism. To operate it you flip a lever to unlock the elevation slide and then rotate a little wheel and the elevation slide runs up and down, driven by little gears inside the sight. It does have provision for windage adjustment using a screwdriver, and is extremely well made and compact, all blued steel. Cost "back in the day" was a whopping $3.00, but now if you find one they are usually about $50 for a mechanically sound one with finish wear, on up, depending on condition. They have a built-in small aperture insert on a hinge, which folds up and down, so you can have a larger peep aperture for low light or moving targets, or a smaller peep aperture for smaller targets or brighter light just by folding the little insert up or down -- very ingenious, and nothing to get lost.
Needless to say, nothing of comparable quality is available today, so you have to go looking for old originals...
I hope Taurus does a good job on the 63 repro for the folks who are not able to get the real thing as reasonably priced as we are down South!
John
Needless to say, nothing of comparable quality is available today, so you have to go looking for old originals...
I hope Taurus does a good job on the 63 repro for the folks who are not able to get the real thing as reasonably priced as we are down South!
John
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