As a teenager, I always had a .22 rimfire bolt action rifle of some sort.  My first one was a Stevens Model 15 single shot that if I remember correctly cost considerably less than $20 so that tells you about the time frame.  Later I got a Mossberg 146B that had a 26 inch barrel and a tubular magazine that held 20 rounds of 22 LR or 30 rounds of 22 Shorts.  The peep sight it came with was replaced with a skinny 4X scope and the rifle shot very well but it was ugly.  Around the same time, a slightly older cousin had a Winchester Model 75 Sporting Rifle that was an absolute beauty.  With a Weaver K4 scope attached, he had what I thought was the ultimate rimfire sporting rifle.  Eventually, I got a Winchester Model 69 which was a very nice rifle, but unfortunately it now resides in my brother's safe.  Ah, too soon we are old but too late smart.

            Winchester has produced several nice bolt action rimfire sporting rifles one of which is the Model 320 that utilizes a box magazine.  Introduced in 1972, it was discontinued only a couple of years later as a result of the semiauto craze.  A companion version was the Model 310 which was a single shot.  When it was introduced, the Model 320 sold for $57.50 and I bought mine on a clearance sale with 20% off so I got it for less than $50 with sales tax.  My 2021 issue of Standard Catalog of Firearms gives a price of $400 for one that is in excellent condition and $300 for one that is rated as good.  My suggestion is if you find one at those prices, buy it.  As this is written, there is one for sale priced at $649.99 on one of the internet sites.  That seems rather high, but I have seen the Model 320 for around $400 at gun shows many years ago.  Production of the Model 320 was only slightly over 20,000 so they are somewhat rare.

            So, what is so special about the Winchester Model 320?  First, it has the classic lines of a sporting rifle.  It features a box magazine that holds five rounds of 22 LR that almost fits flush with the bottom of the stock rather than sticking out like a banana as is found on some bolt action rimfires.  The barrel length is 20.5 inches and, as a sporting rifle should be, it is fitted with nice open sights.  The rear sight is adjustable and the front sight resides on a ramp.  The metal parts of the rifle are very nicely (I almost used the word exquisitely) polished and blued.  Winchester ads for the Model 320 stress that it had much the same lines as the famed Model 70 centerfire.  I might not go quite that far, but it is a very attractive rifle.  The stock is walnut and it features pressed in checkering that adds a nice touch to the grip and forearm.

            The action for the Model 320 was produced in Australia.  Mounting a scope is simple owing to the grooved receiver.  Those who wish to acquire an additional magazine have a problem.  When one is found, which is seldom, the price may approach $100.  An aftermarket 10-round magazine is sometimes encountered but it sells for around $50 and who wants a magazine extending about four inches below the stock?  I once found an original five-round magazine for approximately $30 and grabbed it in a hurry.  Trigger action on my Model 320 is crisp and predictable.

            What sets the Model 320 apart from many rimfire bolt action rifles is its performance.  In the over 50 that I have owned it, this rifle has been tested with many types of ammunition.  Details of the accuracy tests are described in my book Gun Digest Book of .22 Rimfire, 2^nd edition, Gun Digest Books, Iola, WI, 2016, but a few examples will suffice to illustrate the excellent performance of the Model 320.  In all cases, the tests were conducted with the rifle as received and consisted of at least five five-shot groups at 50 yards from a bench rest with a scope.  With CCI Green Tag, the average group size was 0.68 inch and with Lapua Super Club the average was 0.67 inch.  CCI Standard Velocity gave an average of 0.72 inch.  Wolf Match Target gave groups averaging 0.73 inch whereas the groups with Federal Ultra Match averaged 0.76 inch.  With some of the types of high velocity ammunition, the groups were larger, but still excellent for a lightweight sporting rifle.  For example, with both Winchester Power Point and Super-X the groups averaged 0.81 inch.  With a large number of types of ammunition the overall average was well under one inch.  The accuracy of my Winchester Model 320 is on a par with a CZ 452 and my Ruger 77/22.

            Autoloading firearms have come to dominate the market in rimfire and centerfire rifles and in handguns.  For many shooters, the classical bolt action rifles and revolvers still have a place in the gun safe.  When it comes to my Winchester 320, I could say that I admire it, but it may be more appropriate to say that I cherish it.  I could get along quite well dispatching small varmints or hunting small game with only that rimfire.  The only change I would make would be to install a Boyds grade XX grade walnut stock (if one were available) which would make the rifle equal the appearance of my Ruger 77/22 or the Winchester Model 75 Sporter that my cousin had many years ago.  It is a keeper.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

Elegant in appearance and excellent in performance, the Winchester 320 is the epitome of a rimfire sporting rifle.

The pressed checkering adds a nice touch to the walnut stock.

Metal parts of the Winchester 320 are highly polished and well blued.

The safety lever is conveniently placed and is of the “forward to fire” type.

Sights on the Winchester 320 are both attractive and functional.

As a small game and pest rifle, the Model 320 performs well.

This small five-shot group at 50 yards shows what the Model 320 can do with Browning high velocity ammunition.