Winchester Model 61 .22 Pump Rifle: A Fun Way to Learn Shooting

The Winchester Model 61 .22 Pump Rifle

• 🎯 The Winchester Model 61 is a pump-action .22 rifle that the speaker has always wanted to own and shoot.
• 💡 This particular rifle, made in 1952, was acquired at the Tennessee Military Collectors Association show in the fall of 2025.
• 🛠️ The Model 61, produced from 1932 to 1963, is noted for its sleek, modern design with an internal hammer and its take-down capability.

Shooting Experience and Ammunition

• 🔊 The rifle is demonstrated by shooting at various targets, including a gong and a red plate, producing satisfying sounds.
• ⚡ It can chamber and fire shorts, longs, and long rifle .22 caliber ammunition, a feature not common in many .22 firearms.
• 💨 The video also showcases shooting with .22 shorts, which are described as fun and produce a unique, quiet sound, humorously referred to as a "poor man's suppressor."

Appeal of Pump-Action .22 Rifles

• 🧠 The speaker expresses a personal preference for pump-action .22 rifles over semi-automatic options like the Ruger 10/22, appreciating the real wood and steel construction and the feel of a larger rifle.
• 👨‍👦 The simplicity and ease of operation of pump-action .22s make them ideal for young people learning to shoot, promoting fundamental skills over rapid firing.
• 🌟 These rifles are considered cool and simple to operate, appealing to both firearm enthusiasts and those new to shooting.

Supporting Partners

• 🤝 The video acknowledges support from Davidson's Gallery of Guns, Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI) for firearms and drone technology courses, Alabama Holster for Kydex concealment holsters, Talon Gun Grips for firearm grip enhancements, and Ballistol for firearm lubrication and protection.