Founded in 1866 by Oliver Winchester, Winchester Repeating Arms has deep roots in the world of firearms. Lever-action builds, like the Model 1866 and the iconic Model 1873, helped the manufacturer gain immediate prominence. 

Known as the “Gun that Won the West,” the Model 1873 was an instant classic, and today, the company offers the platform in multiple straight-wall calibers and designs. 

For 2024, Winchester Repeating Arms’ newest lever-action — the Ranger — features many original design features that made Winchester lever-actions a hit. However, this .22 LR has several unique features that make it a top-tier plinker that hits a pleasing price point. 

The rifle screams Winchester. From the straight-grip walnut stock and rifle-style forearm to the tubular magazine to the adjustable rear sight and hooded front sight, the Ranger is a modern-day lever-action beauty. 

The tubular magazine makes loading quick and easy. The lever’s design promises rapid reloading, and the tuned action minimizes operating forces for smooth, easy cycling.

The rear sight is adjustable, and the hard anodized receiver finish gives the rifle a classic look while adding an appreciated protection element. 

The curvature of the trigger sweeps back toward the rear of the action and promotes consistent finger placement and excellent pull. The trigger is also adjustable for overtravel. 

It’s a treat to visit with those who put so much work and sweat into a new firearm creation, and my conversation with Winchester Design Engineer, Jared Eavenson, was enlightening.

“We wanted to develop a lever-action rifle with extremely low operating forces,” said Eavenson. “When operating forces are low, a firearm platform is easy to handle, load, and fire. We wanted a lever-action rifle that any shooter could handle with ease.”

Eavenson went on to say that the hammer force (cocking the hammer) is low, as is the lever force when working the action. 

“We also wanted to ensure the rifle had a quality trigger,” added Eavenson. “It was important to us to know whether a sage veteran shooter was behind the trigger or a new shooter learning trigger control that the trigger was crisp. We didn’t want any slop or creep, and we didn’t want the trigger pull weight to be excessive.”

Mission accomplished! The trigger spec is 3.5 to 5.5 pounds and features an adjustable overtravel screw that allows for the removal of overtravel to ensure a crisp, clean trigger break.

“We are also proud of the Ranger’s all-aluminum receiver,” Eavenson continued. “The upper and lower are crafted from fully machined billet aluminum. The material is very light and very strong. Many guns in the same price point range as the Ranger have receivers made from Zamak, a type of zinc alloy that is heavy and gets very brittle in the cold. We wanted a better metal.”

Winchester Repeating Arms wanted to build a legacy rifle that could be handed down from generation to generation. Though fully machined billet aluminum is more expensive, it was a requirement for the Ranger.

Also, because the upper and lower receiver are billet aluminum, they added a single-screw takedown. 

“The process is so easy,” said Eavenson. “You remove one screw, open the lever, and the gun comes in two for easy cleaning. You can clean from the chamber end of the barrel easily, which was a popular feature of our 9422 rimfire rifle. The takedown is very similar.”

Like many lever-action models of the past, the all-new Ranger sports a fully adjustable semi-Buckhorn rear iron sight and hooded front sight. The hooded front sight protects the front sight against damage and reduces glare that can negatively impact accuracy. The Buckhorn rear is a sight elevator system for easy adjustment. 

“The rifle also has a 3/8-inch dovetail on top for easy scope installation,” said Eavenson. “We wanted to give the masses plenty of sight options.”

Of course, the walnut stock is stunning, but they took things further to give this lever action some sweet, clutter-free aesthetics. 

“The markings on the rifle go back to the old makes,” Eavenson continued. “The markings are on the tang. I used my old 1905 and 1892 models as templates. The barrel is clean, other than the cartridge marking. We wanted a clean rifle without scattered markings, and this rifle is as slick as they come. We put a lot of thought into it.”

Throughout the Ranger’s development, Eavenson and other engineers worked hard to make sure anyone could shoulder and shoot the Ranger.

“We used people in the office,” Eavenson laughed, “as our guinea pigs.” “A sizeable company, we had people of different sizes and strengths test the Ranger. Then, we took their thoughts and ideas and made the rifle even more ergonomic and shootable by anyone who shouldered it. We wanted the gun to operate perfectly for every body type.”

Eavenson stands 6 feet 6 inches, and he achieves accuracy with the Ranger, and according to him, so did many smaller-framed people in the office.

“After shooting it, they all wanted one, which makes us happy.”

The Ranger sports a 20-inch barrel, and the safety is a half-cock, which harkens back to the older makes. 

“The firing pin is a retracting firing pin,” said Eavenson. “Even when the hammer is down, the firing pin never rests against the cartridge case.”

The rifle’s length of pull is a non-adjustable 13-inches, which hits a sweet spot that allows larger and smaller-framed shooters alike to be accurate with the rifle. 

“I love that I can take my kids out, and they can plink cans and punch paper, and then I can pick it up and do the same. This is a super-fun lever-action rimfire that we expect big things from,” concluded Eavenson.