Sad, sad news...

[Yooper]

For you fellow Winchester fans, they announced that they are closing the doors to te U.S. plant, and we will no longer have the model 94, model 1300 shotgun and my beloved Model 70 rifles.

Production will cease on March 31st.

I'm speechless.

[Dclewis]

I can hardly believe!

It was the Winchester that helped to tame the west and make our country what it is today. John Wayne must be turning over in his grave.

I hope that this does not create a domino effect in the industry. If our oldest and most coveted firearm maufacturer goes down, then what will be next?

Just wondering if the fact that fewer kids are hunting these day's, that the market is now decreasing. Guns are being produced by so many company's and fewer people are buying them that the market is completely flooded. If as adults (meaning us) we have bought our share of guns, and our son's and daughter's are not starting new collection's, then who are the company's buiding them for?

To me, Winchester was part of my youth, and part of my entering into adulthood. I am saddened that part of our heritage and our youth is to be no more!


I hope at least they will be able to make ammo for us. Dave

[Yooper]

Winchester ammunition is a separate company and will not be immediately affected by this closure.

Might be some kind of move to make the firearms overseas, but Winchester as we know it is dead.

[11-87rem]

It is a reminder that as we go into the future, hunting and shooting ranks are on the decline. Shooters and hunters must stick together. Never forget my dad and his attachment to his model 12 pump. Shot it so much that he actually wore the barrel out, not an easy task. My first rifle as a gift from him at the age of 7 was a winchester single shot 22. Never thought that I'd see the day....

[turner1978]

I just layed away 3 of them while I still had the chance. 30-30's are selling like CRAZY! They might even become collectors someday. But I would rather have winchester around and still making guns then to see my gun's value go up. I heard that there is a russian company that is thinking about buying them out but they wouldn't be the same. I hope this will be the only one that goes belly up. Like somebody else already said we all need to stand together and do what we can to preserve our rights to hunt and fish ie: NRA, SCI, Sportsmans Alliance...