My new found love for the Winchester bolt action 22’s continues with another nice looking model 72A added to the collection. I have developed a weakness for these since I have yet to shoot one that didn’t shoot great and they just have that classic quality made look to them! I probably over paid for this one but I didn’t care as it checked all the boxes for me, in very good all original condition, very nice grain in the wood on the stock and throw in the peep sights and I walked away smiling! I can’t wait to see what kind of accuracy I will get from a 72 with peep sights as my model 72 is the barrel rear sight version and out shoots any of my other bolt 22’s with the exception of the target rifles.
It is fascinating to see the minor differences in these as I think they are fairly close in production dates but could be wrong as I believe them both to be post war models. My 72 also has the swept back blued bolt like the 72A, however the stocks are slightly different as the 72A is a little wider and more blunt on the foreend than the 72. The trigger on the 72 is smooth and the trigger on the 72A is grooved, then the lifter on the feeding mechanism on my 72 is two pieces and the one on the 72A is solid (I hope I’m saying that right?) which I’ve read was to correct a feeding issue I believe. Then of course the obvious differences as the 72A is the peep sight version with no dovetail cut for a barrel rear sight and the 72 is the barrel rear sight version.
The one thing that does have me puzzled is the roll marks are different with the 72 having the possible post World War II roll mark, the 72A has been shortened and both are different from my pre war 69A. This is why I think they are fairly close going off the model 69 book and the roll marks from there should put them in that time frame. Of course just making assumptions here, could be a lot different for the 72’s than the 69’s but since they were made in pretty close proximity to each other the design changes could be similar? I also know that they started having grooved receivers for scope mounts and chromed triggers and trigger guards towards the end of production which my 72A has neither of those later additions. Hopefully I’m not way off here as I’m still learning about the fantastic Winchester bolt action 22’s and I know I have just reached the surface of all there is to learn. Hopefully if any information is incorrect JWA straightens me out so I get it right. Thanks for looking
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Both together the 72A on top and the 72 on bottom
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Roll mark on the model 72
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Roll mark on the 72A
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It is fascinating to see the minor differences in these as I think they are fairly close in production dates but could be wrong as I believe them both to be post war models. My 72 also has the swept back blued bolt like the 72A, however the stocks are slightly different as the 72A is a little wider and more blunt on the foreend than the 72. The trigger on the 72 is smooth and the trigger on the 72A is grooved, then the lifter on the feeding mechanism on my 72 is two pieces and the one on the 72A is solid (I hope I’m saying that right?) which I’ve read was to correct a feeding issue I believe. Then of course the obvious differences as the 72A is the peep sight version with no dovetail cut for a barrel rear sight and the 72 is the barrel rear sight version.
The one thing that does have me puzzled is the roll marks are different with the 72 having the possible post World War II roll mark, the 72A has been shortened and both are different from my pre war 69A. This is why I think they are fairly close going off the model 69 book and the roll marks from there should put them in that time frame. Of course just making assumptions here, could be a lot different for the 72’s than the 69’s but since they were made in pretty close proximity to each other the design changes could be similar? I also know that they started having grooved receivers for scope mounts and chromed triggers and trigger guards towards the end of production which my 72A has neither of those later additions. Hopefully I’m not way off here as I’m still learning about the fantastic Winchester bolt action 22’s and I know I have just reached the surface of all there is to learn. Hopefully if any information is incorrect JWA straightens me out so I get it right. Thanks for looking
Both together the 72A on top and the 72 on bottom
Roll mark on the model 72
Roll mark on the 72A
