Winchester Model 75 Sporter
Winchester Repeating Arms Company · Rifle · Discontinued · 1938
Also known as: Winchester 75 Sporter, Model 75 Sporting
Overview
The Winchester Model 75 Sporter is a bolt-action rifle chambered in .22 Long Rifle, produced by Winchester from 1938 to 1958. Conceived as a lighter, more affordable field companion to Winchester's premium Model 52 target rifle, the Sporter variant paired a 24-inch barrel with a hand-checkered sporter-weight walnut stock, one-inch sling swivels, and open sporting sights. It feeds from a detachable box magazine holding five or ten rounds and shares the Model 75's smooth, precise bolt action prized for its accuracy. During the Second World War the Model 75 also served the United States military as a rimfire marksmanship trainer, and in civilian hands the Sporter earned a lasting reputation as a refined small-game and plinking rifle.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2495 g (88.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1034 mm (40.71") |
| Barrel Length | 610 mm (24.02") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 330 m/s (1083 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 141 J (104 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 406 mm (15.98") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Carbon Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .22 Long Rifle · primary — also known as .22 LR, 22 LR, 5.6x15mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Detachable Magazine, Checkered Stock, Sling Swivels, Open Sights
Production
Production years: 1938-1958
Produced in Target and Sporter variants; widely used as a U.S. military .22 trainer during WWII.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Winchester Repeating Arms Company
Discontinued: 1958
Notes
The Model 75 was offered in Target and Sporter configurations; the Sporter used a 24-inch barrel and open sights, while the Target carried a 28-inch barrel and aperture target sights. Many Model 75s were purchased by the U.S. military during WWII as .22 training rifles.
Background
Introduced in 1938 as an accessible stablemate to the celebrated Model 52, the Model 75 gave shooters much of that rifle's fine bolt action at a fraction of the cost. The Sporter, with its slim checkered stock and hunting sights, became a favorite small-game and training rifle, while the U.S. armed forces adopted the Model 75 to teach rifle fundamentals to a generation of wartime recruits.