I have a model 69. I have done quite a bit of what they now call Bubba work, on it. I have shot a fair bit of three position competetive shooting with it in the past. For the off hand poition, I like the method of the fingers extended on my left hand, with the forestock resting on the finger tips, while my elbow rests on my hip. It takes just a bit of body bend to make this work, but it is the ideal, and more or less standard way, of competetive off hand shooting. Thus, I checkered the bottom of the stock, where my finger tips went.
A peep sight should be as close to the eye, with a 22, as one can get it. So, I extended my Lyman aperature on a Weaver base mount, bolted to the left side of the receiver. I have the Lyman variable size aperature disc to screw into a peep sight. The outside of the ring is about 1¼ inches across and made of rubber. For off hand, or standing shooting position, I rest my eye brow right on this rubber ring. This makes for the steadiest off hand position one can get.
In competetive three, or four position shooting, the rifle is always held by hand, without artificial rests. Therefore, the best grouping of rifles is not the critical factor, as long as the rifle is well bedded and shoots good. Balance of the rifle and trigger pull is more important. In the years when small bore sporting rifle was very popular, a Winchester 69 was often used, even by very good shooters. The 69 is the third rifle down from the top in the Winchester line. First is the 52, then the 75.
At gun shows now, a good 69, with good aperature sights, front and rear, will run around $250-$275. Compared to new rifles, I think that is a real bargain.
