I'm looking at a Winchester model 54 in 30-06 availalbe on a local gun forum for sale. Says its all original. Has a Lyman sight on the rear. Has had a coat of finish applied but otherwise the stock looks used but not abused. Asking $600. Is that a good price? I have several pre-64 model 70's that go for a bit more than that.

i wouldn't pay that for one. 5 tops

I have had a couple of 54s and I like them. Prices seem to run $500 - $1000 depending on caliber and condition so the price is probably reasonable. The bolt stop is part of the trigger which affects the pull and they were not drilled and tapped for scope mounts but that is easily rectified if so desired.

Its like almost everything else...depends on what they're chambered for, and their condition.

.3006 probably is the lowest priced chambering in the 54s. And this one has had the wood refinished (amateurishly if it is just another coat of finish on top of the old one). But the receiver sight is a definite plus if you want one set up the way most hunters of the early days rigged them. If the bore is mint, I'd likely go $525, maybe up to $575, depending n what else I saw that looked really good about it. If it was a .270 (that's the gun the .270 cartridge was first introduced in) I'd be a lot more likely to pay $600, though probably not for one with a re-finished stock.

I used to have a mint .22 Hornet Deluxe (now guys call them Super Grades, but when I bought mine even the factory called it "Deluxe".) I'd give $1,000 to $1,200 for that old gun back, in a heart-beat.

The .30-30 chamberings (I've owned several) used to be the cheapest to find of the bunch, but they've gone up significantly in the last few years in the U.S. (but not nearly as much in Canada where there seem to be lots of them). I'd probably give maybe up to $700 for a minty 30-30, but most of the ones you see here these days guys seem to think are made of emeralds or platinum, or some such. They're kind of like junkers among drillings...they're not common so guys think they have a rare masterpiece no matter what.

Thirty-thirtys are rarer here in the 'States cause they just plain weren't a popular gun. And there is no reason for them to be any more popular for shooters now.

Anyway, I'm with butchloc...I'd tend to offer the guy $450 to $475, and if he wouldn't come down to at most $525 or preferably less, I'd just keep walking.

I would pay that for a pre war M70 in 30-06, in fact, I did.

But a M54, not as good an action in my opinion.

Oddly enough, around here, 54's in .30-06 fly out the door at $600. Most of these have been in about 80% condition.

I gave significantly less for my 54 .30-30 a few years back but it was missing the buttplate. It also had a Lyman long slide 48. So, I figure I got a deal and then some.

Real question is, what would you feel good paying?

$500 sounds about right. The market, though never "wrong", makes 54s (especially in '06) great bargains. Even better, many will be encountered having had alterations that further reduce value by eliminating collector interest. These alterations will often increase utility for shooters. Example: bolt handle and safety reworking by G&H so as to facilitate scope mounting. I've got an '06 like that. With G&H sidemount and Hensoldt 2.75X it does 1 MOA off my Lead-Sled (actually it did this just last week).

I don't understand the comment about the action. A 54 action, per se, is pretty much the same as that of a M-70, right down to the cloverleaf tang. Bolting, coned breech, receiver length are the same. Late 54 steels and applied finish are the same as on pre-war 70s. Differences mostly involve trigger, floorplate, safety, bolt handle angle, bolt release, stock dimensions, chamberings, etc.

Sam

I like the Model 54 actions, and the stocks. In fact, I like Model 54 Winchesters as whole rifles.

But I don't like them as well as Pre-'64 Model 70s.

I especially don't like using the trigger and sear as the bolt-stop. Tends to mess up the trigger pull over time. I also prefer the common "Tilden-style" safety on later Model 70 pre-'64s.

To me, the ability to open the floorplate of the M70 is head and shoulders above the permanently closed floor of the M54 magazine, especially if somehow you get a cartridge jammed in the mag or in the feed rails.

I also liked it when the factory began providing all the pre-'64 70 actions drilled and tapped for BOTH scope and receiver sights.

Still and all, I'd really like to have a fairly pristine M54 .270 (well hunted would be okay, just not an abused one).

i have a 3 digit s/n in 270 (1927) that has been drilled/tapped, bolt handle turned, i paid $400 for it..it had an old weaver scope on it... and a 1931 yr model in 30-06 i got for $400..it's all original.... i know of a hornet that was sold for less than $200.. the pawn shop just said it was an "old gun"...

quote:

Originally posted by jimatcat:
i have a 3 digit s/n in 270 (1927) that has been drilled/tapped, bolt handle turned, i paid $400 for it..it had an old weaver scope on it...


and you obviously don't intend to sell it (first "dibs" if you ever do, please!...)


.... i know of a hornet that was sold for less than $200.. the pawn shop just said it was an "old gun"...

Now that's just plain downright ornery mean!

I think those M54 Hornets are the nicest Hornet sporters I've ever shot. I've had BSA Majestics, Anschutz 1432,, Savage 19-H, TCR, various Brnos of both bolt and SS designs, three different Martinis including a Francotte, and numerous others including the Model 54. I personally prefer the Model 54 Hornet to all the rest.

$200....aaAARRGGHH!!!

If the receiver is not drilled, and tapped it is a good deal.

I like the model 54s too.
They are a real iron sight rifle with quite a lot of drop in the stock compared to modern rifles.
Weren't the pre-war model 70s stocked similarly?
My 30'06 model 54 is about the best shooting offhand rifle I own but has been severely monkeyed with.

i've got a real nice one in 30-06 that i picked up from the local pawn shop & i've been looking for another one for a 400 whelen project but all the donor rifles on gb here lately have been priced a little higher than i'm willing to pay