A Unicorn Has been found

[JamesnTN]

back in the early 90’s Winchester produced a semi custom rifle called the Heavy Varmint. The rifle had a Wilson barrel, HS Precision stock in the Winchester short action.
Over the years I’ve acquired every caliber they produced. 222, 223,
22-250, 220 Swift, .243 and the 308

Just the other day I was browsing Gun Broker and came across an unfired Heavy Varmint chambered in the .243 so I snagged it up and it sits here waiting for mounts and a scope.

Probably one of the most consistent accurate rifles I have ever owned has been the Winchester HV in the .243. That rifle day in and day out would consistently shoot better groups than any custom I’ve yet to own. The customs would be more accurate but that case with tuning. That .243 though would just flat out shoot anytime I wanted it to.
So we’ll see if this one will do the same.

 

[JaoeyP]

Very cool!

 

[DukeDuke]

I remember those! Don't know how well they shoot, but they look great!!!

 

[370bc]

Win Porn.....I like it!

 

[JamesnTN]

I remember those! Don't know how well they shoot, but they look great!!!

Back in the 90’s this rifle was my first purchase and was the beginning of my extreme accuracy journey.
I purchased the same caliber as this one and it was the most consistent rifle I’ve ever owned. I shot a many sub 1/4” groups and if I were to avg it out I’d say thru the time I owned that rifle it probably agged a solid 3/8”

I later sent the rifle to Dave Tooley and he put on a 12 twist barrel chambered in a .243 AI and that was still a hummer. It was no more accurate than the original barrel that was on the rifle,it was just faster.
I had a good ole friend that lived down in GA that came to visit and we went to the range one evening with my Model 70 .243 AI and the first five shots he fired ever from that rifle was one ragged hole that a dime could easily cover up. If I were to guess he still had that group he saved in his wallet when he passed away.

 

[ShootDots]

I bought one of those in 22-250 for my son. I don't remember the load, but I do remember it shot 50gr Nosler Ballistic Tips very well! I want to say it was 37.5 grs of IMR 4895.

 

[nakneker]

I own one of every caliber also. I made fun of my brother when he bought one in 220swift back in 93, I urged him to go with a Remington Heavy barrel instead. The thought of Winchester push feed just didn’t work for me. After 4-5 years watching him shoot itty bitty groups and decimating the prairie dog fields I became a believer. My heavy varmint 220swift has a high round count and I found a second one, NIB, this summer, couldn’t pass it up, now I have two in the swift.

Nice snag, a unicorn indeed.

I’ve been wanting to find one of the Winchester Sharpshooters made during the same time but with a control feed action. Just curious about them. There’s one in 22-250 right now on gunbroker but I’d like something bigger.

Here’s a neat Heavy Varmint currently on gunbroker, a little on the high side though.
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/719248634

 

[Fast14riot]

There's one in .223 sitting at my local shop with $700 on the tag. Good looking gun. This particular one has some ugly bedding above the stock line though.

 

[distinguished]

I have one in .223. It's a tack driver and the action is smooth as glass.