Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Winchester 54

Can someone tell me what year gas escape ports were added to the 54?
as well are 54's CRF or push?
How similar is the rifle to a 70? found a beater and thinking of a 338-06 build.

Definitely controlled round feed. 54's were virtually Mauser 98's with the safety reversed and the ejector slot moved off the locking lug.

Winchester 54's had two front locking lugs and a staggered row magazine; that is the sum total of the similarities to the Mauser 98.
The Model 54 receiver is very similar in contour to the pre-war Model 70. The primary differences are in the location of the front guard screw (it screws into the recoil lug)and the absence of a separate bolt stop (the trigger sear acts as the bolt stop).
The 54 has the same coned breech as the Model 70 and the 03 Springfield. The bolt sleeve and safety are also very similar to the Springfield's parts.
I have re-drilled and tapped the front guard screw on 54's to locate it the same as on a Model 70 and used Model 70 bottom metal to upgrade 54's.
The trigger on the 54 is a two-stage type. I actually like this type of trigger but dislike the incorporation of the bolt stop into the trigger. On my latest 54 project, I will use a Mauser bolt stop but will retain the two stage trigger.
It was too bad Winchester went with that coned breech. The Mauser system is vastly better. We are still stuck with the coned breech. GD

And a three-position safety mounted on the bolt shroud, swinging vertically, making it impossible to mount a low scope.

And stripper clip guides on the rear receiver bridge.

Still a long way from being "virtually a Mauser 98 with the safety reversed and the ejector slot moved off the locking lug". The thing is, it is totally wrong to call the Model 54 a Mauser 98. In truth, it is closer to a Springfield than it is to a 98.
Compared to a 98, the threads are different, the magazine is different, the breeching system is different. The trigger is different. Sure, it's a two stage trigger but to say it is therefor, the same as a Mauser is the same as saying a Model 70 trigger is just like the one on a Remington 700.
I occasionally read where some guy says the Model 70 is just a modified Mauser 98. Not the case. The Model 70 is a modified 54. The 54 is a Springfield derivative. The Springfield is, perhaps, a Mauser derivative but it is one in which some of the best Mauser features are altered or omitted.
By the way, I think a person has to alter reality a bit to consider any of these actions to be a real improvement on the 98. GD

The M54 also differs from both the Springfield and the M98 in that the trigger itself is the bolt stop. Personally, and I own a really nice M54, I think that action is a step down from both the Springfield and M98 in terms of handling and features. The Model 70 is a much better choice for a custom build, unless you're looking to build a custom M54 because you like M54's. My M54 is a nice custom done up with a receiver sight in the pre-war sporter style. I like it, but if I didn't want a retro-style rifle I would have picked a different action.

On my latest project 54, I filled in the notch on the bolt and put a Mauser bolt stop on the receiver. I was going to use a Ruger 77 stop but the Mauser stop looks nicer. To me, that "trigger as boltstop" feature was the main problem with the 54. They should have just used a mauser stop in the first place. I like the Springfield stop too. The trigger/stop was undoubtedly a cost cutting feature. GD

any idea on the gas ports?
can someone shoot me a pic of the stamping that says model 54. i found a rifle that looks like it was stamped over with 54. so i am wondering is the original barrel was replaced later with a winchester model 70 barrel. As well the seriel number dayes the rifle to 1927 but i was ubder the idea that gas ports were not added until the last few years of production.

I cannot honestly say when the gas ports were added. All that I have had in my hands had the port. The one I am currently working on is a 1933 rifle. GD