Winchester 69 - Catt57's gun of the day #17

Catt57 · Oct 3, 2025

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Winchester 69

The Model 69 is a bolt-action, box fed, .22 caliber rifle produced from 1935 -1963 with approximately 355,363 examples of all types produced.
Winchester introduced it to fill the gap between its full-on target grade Model 52 and its cheaper “shooter” grade single-shot rimfires like the Model 68.

This one is a very early example from 1935 -1937.
Note the "SAFE" and "FIRE" markings on the cocking piece instead of a separate slide safety and the protruding takedown screw.

Retail price in 1935: $10.95
Action: Bolt action repeater
Caliber: .22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle
Barrel Length: 25 inches (64 cm)
Weight: Approximately 5 to 5.5 pounds (2.3 to 2.5 kg)
Feed System: Standard 5-round detachable box magazine, with 10-round magazines and single-shot adapters available
Sights: Standard open sights (blade front, buckhorn rear), with optional hooded front, peep, or telescopic sights
Material: Walnut stock and steel components

Catt57 · Oct 3, 2025

Model 69 - January 1935 - 1937

Designed in 1934 by Winchester employee Frank F. Burton
The 69 is a cock on close design
The safety is actuated by grasping the cocking piece at the rear of the bolt, drawing it back, and rotating.
Uses the same standard 5-round box magazine as the Models 52, 56, 57 and 75, allowing optional 10-round magazines and single-shot adapters to be shared.
Magazine is released by depressing a spring-loaded button on the left-hand side of the stock
Rear sight choices included a barrel-mounted buckhorn sight and receiver-mounted peep sight.
A removable sheet metal hood for the front sight was available separately.
In August 1935, the bolt was redesigned to incorporate a rebounding firing pin in compliance with Canadian import regulations
Winchester-branded telescopic sights were first offered in 1937.
- Options were a 2.75x power scope with crosshairs or a vertical aiming post and a 5x power scope with crosshairs.
- The generally unpopular factory telescopic sight options were dropped in 1941.

Model 69A - November 1937 - 1963

The bolt was redesigned to cock on opening.
The safety was changed to a sliding lever on the right-hand side of the receiver.
The prominent rear cocking piece was eliminated.
The barrel was given a constant-diameter round contour rather than the previous slightly tapered contour.
The trigger mechanism had internal screw adjustment added, allowing adjustment of the trigger pull to some degree.
The stock was enlarged so the takedown screw would fit flush with the bottom, the forearm was changed to a semi-beavertail shape, and the pistol grip was made more pronounced.
Post WWII changes
- The bolt handle was changed from straight to a slightly swept-back shape .
- A grooved trigger was introduced.
- The receiver became available with grooves for aftermarket scope mounts.
Later Changes
- Chromed bolts, trigger guards, and magazine guard plates were introduced sometime later.

Model 697 - January 1937 - 1941

First shipped in June 1937 and was soon updated to the improved Model 69A standard.
Offered with a telescopic sight and no provisions for iron sights.
Offered with with the same telescopic sight options as the standard model.

Model 69A Target model - December 1940-1963
Model 69A Match model - December 1940-1952

Both new Model 69 variants had a slightly larger stock than the standard rifle and were chambered in .22 Long Rifle only.
The Target model was advertised with a Winchester #80A aperture sight and a post front sight.
The Match model had a Lyman #57E peep sight, a hooded front sight, and a 1 in (25 mm) wide leather sling; the sling width was changed to 11⁄4 in (32 mm) in 1947.
If you are interested in more of a deep dive on these models I recommend looking at this thread over on Rimfire Central
- Follow this link to the post on RFC

Close-ups and bonus material.
Click the thumbnails for full sized image.