Winchester model 290

[dsb1829]

Did Winchester ever make the m290 in a .22WMR (magnum)?

I was at a local pawn shop this weekend and looking up on the wall I saw the usual suspects, but walking down the .22LR section I noticed one of the tube fed rifles had a much bigger cartridge hole than the others (about 1/2 again longer). I would have bet money it was a 22 magnum rifle. When I inquired about it the shop owner looked at the tag and said it was a Winchester 290. All the information I find online indicates that it is 22 S/L/LR compatible.

I am just wondering if this is something like the Remington 597, which is made in magnum or LR but the LR is much more common. Remington even hides the magnum model on their website (only mentioned on the spec page, not the description).

 

[Jubjub]

No, but they made a pump .22 WMR that looks similar, the 275.

 

[dsb1829]

This one appeared to be a bolt action repeater. I just can't get over the fact that it has an opening as big as a magnum rifle. It is pretty obvious when you see a tube fed magnum next to a LR version. This may be a case of a franken-gun, put back together with spare/incorrect parts.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

This one appeared to be a bolt action repeater.

The Winchester 290 is a semi-auto repeater. It is the "deluxe version" of their Model 190.

 

[dsb1829]

By bolt action repeater, I meant that it was obviously not a pump since it has the hand pull on the bolt like a 10/22 (ala semi-automatic if you will). I didn't have him take the gun down off the wall and inspect it myself, just headed for home so I could research the model. Glad I did at this point since it appears to just be an over-priced 22LR semi-auto and not a 22WMR semi-auto. I am going to stick to the franken-gun theory unless someone else has more info.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Just for clarification, a bolt action is an entirely different action than the semi-auto. How much was he asking for it?

 

[dsb1829]

Yeah, I am just getting into guns/hunting/target shooting so please forgive the ignorance on my part. He was asking 120, which may have been good if it was a magnum and I could talk him down a bit. But for a LR I would say 70-90 would be more appropriate. I already have a remington 552, so the semi-auto tube fed S/L/LR spot is well filled in my gun cabinet

 

[jimmyraythomason]

No problem. We all have to learn sometime. I don't know what a used Winchester .22 semi is currently going for but I just got a sales circular from Acadamy Sports advertising the Marlin Model 795 for $104.99 new.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I just check the completed auctions for Win. 290s on Gunbroker and the prices were all over the board. The lowest price was $50 while the highest paid was $411 for a 1967 model unfired with box and all paperwork. MOST were started at $199 and went unbid and unsold.

 

[dsb1829]

Yep, a quick google search told me value on that rifle in it's current state is well below the 120 asking price. But looking at that asking price I doubt he would be willing to deal down to what street value truly is.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Won't hurt to ask.....

 

[VA27]

IIRC, the mag tube was the same for the later 190, 290 (semiauto LR's) and the 255 (lever 22mag) and the 275 (pump 22mag). The big hole worked for 22LR as well as 22mag and saved $ only producing one mag tube.

 

[dsb1829]

Wow, that is kind of weird/cheap. Wouldn't the std 22 cartridges rattle around or feed poorly since they aren't guided as well by the oversize mag tube?

 

[Captcurt]

Cheap from the beginning.

The 290 wasn't that great to begin with. The best 22 auto that Winchester ever produced was the 490. Now that was a gun!