The Winchester Model 70

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In light of what TexasRifleman said up there...I'm gonna revive this one again.

I just ordered a new model 70 Ultimate Shadow in 30-06, it should arrive this Thursday but I won't be back home until Dec. 23. I've only owned 1 model 70 prior to this, and have only shot it about 10 times (458 Win Mag)...

I stumbled upon this thread while trying to educate myself on the M70...I have always had Rem 700's but the last few (5) Remmy's I bought had problems that were not dealt with to my satisfaction so I decided it was time for a change.

I have handled and shot 3 new model 70's...270 WSM (brand new Featherweight), 7mm WSM (older Shadow, CRPF), and a 30-06 (brand new Sporter)....all 3 shot sub moa right out of the box with Winchester factory ammo (Ballistic Silvertips in all)...that was enough to sell me.

I've been reading on the "weakness" of the M70 known as the coned chamber...
Winc_action.jpg

I don't see that as much of a concern, even though the case head isn't shrouded in 3 rings of steel...its plenty strong enough, its not like its a Glock chamber or anything. It would take a VERY MAJOR overload to blow the case head apart...and even if it did happen, the new M70's have a better gas dispersal system than the originals.

Is the Rem 700 stronger around the case head? Yes...it is.

Is the M70 weak around the case head? NO...its not.

CRF vs. push feed...
This is where 3 of my last 5 Remmy's have had problems...its worth noting that all 3 were short actions (308's), long action calibers appear to feed fine through push feeds but the shorter rounds might have problems. The 3 I had would jam up and not feed the round into the chamber, and were finicky to load rounds into the mag.
 
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The Winchester Model 70 is the only rifle I have and most likley will ever own. Then again I have alway's been a fan of most Winchester products.
 
Right before Winchester/USRAC fell apart in the US I managed to stumble across a NIB left handed pre-64 in 270. My holy grail of a rifle---except that it had a walnut stock. I picked it up for around $500. I have yet to fire it or hunt with it because I have been brainwashed agains wood stocks in bad weather and it has rained during deer season most years since I bought it.

I managed to locate a replacement walnut stock for cheap on eBay and was in the process of stripping it so I could (hopefully) waterproof it and save the beautiful factory stock when I stumbled across an ad for Richard's microfit stocks. A Google search revealed a whole bunch of unhappy customers, but I was severely tempted by a left-handed laminated stock they had in their bargain bin. I took a chance and called them: it took a couple of tries but eventually someone answered the phone. She told me it was actually in stock so I ordered it thinking that if things went wrong my credit card company could fight it out with them.

I was just a little surprised when a week later there was a long box sitting on the porch when I got home, and I was practically dancing for joy when I tried to mount it to my action and it fit with just a bit of extra material to remove. And since it was a bargain bin stock it was $65 delivered!

I'll post pix once I get it finished, but you can bet this will be the rifle I hunt with next year...well, unless it just won't shoot worth a darn :)
 
I've owned model 70's post 64 and have no complaints with them at all. In fact I think they are decent rifles.

Had a sporter in 7mm Rem Mag that was a good one but I sold it because I enjoyed the .300 mag more.

I still have a Stealth in .308 that is a beautiful rifle and unbelievably accurate. Bought a few months prior to the announcement of the factory closing.

Last year I looked hi and lo for another Stealth in .22-250 but just couldn't find one. Ended up going with Remington because of this.

I could care less about CRF or whatever. After all, how many of you will be hanging upside down trying to feed rounds into the rifle. With the model 70's I've owned I can say I've never had a misfeed or jam. I buy functional rifles for hunting or target use.

Don't think you can say there's no mention of the model 70 though. I'm seeing it more and more. Only problem I see is the price has to come down. Those model 70's were cheaper when they were made in the north. Seems like they are using gold for some of the parts now.
 
I have two M70's currently. One is a 1949 .300 H&H, metal condition is near if not at 100% and the stock has just a couple small closet dings, with razor sharp checkering. As far as I'm concerned, this is the pinacle, the crowning achievement of the factory bolt action rifle in standard form. I can only imagine what it would cost to duplicate this firearm today. No scope has ever been mounted on it. I did however, sight in the iron sights and gingerly used it to take a buffalo, to honor the craftsman who built it, and retired it to the safety of my modest collection. It would be a crime to let even honest wear degrade a gun that survived this long in such fine shape.
My other is a modern working class New Haven Classic Stainless in .300 Win, customized a bit with a HS Precision stock and a Benchmark barrel. This one does the dirty work in bad weather on tough elk hunts.
I have Rugers, Savage, Marlins, and Remingtons too, and like them all.
But everyone should have an example of "The Riflemans Rifle."
 
SInce my 2008 post in this thread, I purchased two M70s: a Supergrade .30-06 and a Stealth .308. Both have been pretty darned nice...fortunately comfortable to fire too.

Geno
 
I have an always will love the model 70 post and pre 64. the only problem I have ever had from one of my Post 64 was the synthetic stock blowing apart..... seriously.
But it was my fault. I tried a Sims Vibration System accuracy device on my 7mm wsm and it worked well until to much of the vibration was sent back into the stock.

This was my fault not Winchesters.
 
I've liked the look of the Featherweights better; if it weren't for that, 'd do just fine with a 700.

I will say that I don't like the M70 3-position safety. It hangs way out there, snags a sleeve or whatever, and when I look down, the bolt is hanging open and a round is missing.
 
I will say that I don't like the M70 3-position safety. It hangs way out there, snags a sleeve or whatever, and when I look down, the bolt is hanging open and a round is missing.
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30Cal,

It only "hangs way out there" when it is in the safe, but not locked position. Swing the safety all the way to the rear, and it won't hang out there, snag on anything, and the bolt cannot open.

Don
 
1. How many of you/we THR trigger jerks have actually gone looking for/at model 70s when we have been considering the purchase of a(nother) rifle ?
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I have. I always keep an eye out for a good buy in a pre-64 Model 70.

2. Of the model 70 editions that have been brought out since 1964 - have there been any that really manages to match the quality of the ubiquitous Remington model 700? If so, which models are they and what years were they produced ?
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Remington quality has its ups and downs, just like any other manufacturer. The current Model 70s are clearly as good in those terms as any Model 700.
3. Setting aside the BS evaluations applied to model 70s by the knucklehead gun show dealers - if you were looking at a model 700 and a model 70 and could buy either for the same price - which would you buy and why ?
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I'd buy the Model 70. First of all, I like the 3-position safety. Remington, by eliminating the bolt hold-down feature on its safety has produced a rifle that I don't consi9er woods-worthy.

Next, the reliable claw extractor is a blg plus.
 
30Cal,

It only "hangs way out there" when it is in the safe, but not locked position. Swing the safety all the way to the rear, and it won't hang out there, snag on anything, and the bolt cannot open.

Don
Click to expand...

My XTR has a weak detent in the rear position. I have a 1963 version that's much better behaved... Makes me wonder why I just don't get the XTR tweaked.
 
I am CERTAINLY no firearms expert. and I do not really want to work that hard to become one. The only Model 70 experience I have had was my fathers pre 64 in 300 H&H. It shot very well, and did everything a gun should do. Especially kill animals fast. Half of that has to be because of the caliber, and the other half to the gun. ( I am assuming that the shooter does his job, because we were all raised to be marksmen in our family) Personally, I own a late eighties Remington 700 in 300 Win Mag. To be honest, I wanted an H&H, but no one was chambering guns in that by that time. I reload, so availability of ammo is not a real concern, as long as components do not dry up. Anyway, I prefer my Remington 700 to dad's Model 70. I did have to cut an inch out of the stock to make it fit me, even though I am over 6 feet tall. I have no idea who Remington is building these stocks for. Maybe basketball players. I certainly like the looks of the Remington better, and it feeds, extracts, and ejects shells just fine. And actually shoots better than the Winchester. The only thing I have done to increase the accuracy (besides working up good hand loads) is adjust the trigger pull down a bit. It routinely shoots sub (just) m.o.a. even with store bought ammo. Not all of it of course, but the Federal blue box works great in my rifle. And I have created some loads that will shoot 0.486" 5 shot groups from it. Sadly, they are way reduced cast lead loads, only good for target plinking. Would I buy a new Winchester Model 70? Probably not. If I buy another bolt action rifle, it will be something in a large caliber, like 375 H&H or larger. Maybe another Remington 700, or 798, or a Browning A-bolt, or maybe a CZ 550. But a semi-auto loader will be my next rifle purchase. Probably something in a very popular caliber like 308 Win, or 243. Probably not a Remington, even though i like the looks. More likely, a Browning B.A.R. or an AR-10 platform. Something to withstand lots of shooting.
 
I have a 1939 M-70 that I shot my first deer with that belonged to my dad. He had a sporterized Enfield 1917 and wanted something better. It is in the safe but I remember it says Government 30-006 I believe on the barrel. I have no idea what it is worth. Nice checkering on a stock in very good condition.
 
I love WINCHESTER GUNS! I just cannot afford to buy a $1300 gun. One of my dream guns is a Winchester Model 70 Sporter 30-06 w/ a beautiful scope.. WHY CAN THEY NOT BE REASONABLY PRICED!! :fire::cuss::banghead::(:what:
 
dont know where your shopping Country Boy 14, but you can buy a new model 70 sporter and fit it with a nice scope for a lot less than 1300.00
 
4 I love WINCHESTER GUNS! I just cannot afford to buy a $1300 gun. One of my dream guns is a Winchester Model 70 Sporter 30-06 w/ a beautiful scope.. WHY CAN THEY NOT BE REASONABLY PRICED!!
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I found a 1963 featherweight in 30-06 last month at the local gunstore for $600 (with tasco scope). It was covered with bad varnish, both wood and metal. Made the metal look rusted everywhere, but it cleaned up to 99%.
 
I also have a 1939 Model 70 -- mine went to Africa several times with the original owner. He mounted a Redfield peep sight on the receiver and later installed a scope (keeping the peep snugged up under the rear scope base. At that time he had Winchester replace the bolt -- the original safety (see the illustration above) would not clear a scope. He mounted a Lyman Alaskan scope with 7/8" tube on the rrifle (I still have that scope and the hand-made leather scope caps he put on it,) but it now wears a more modern scope.
 
I love WINCHESTER GUNS! I just cannot afford to buy a $1300 gun. One of my dream guns is a Winchester Model 70 Sporter 30-06 w/ a beautiful scope.. WHY CAN THEY NOT BE REASONABLY PRICED!!
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They are here for about 1/2 that.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_61/products_id/57529

The Classics made prior to 2006 can often be found at very reasonable prices used. I paid $420 OTD for a stainless Classic in 300 WSM last summer, including a Burris scope.
 
Something I noticed while I was shopping around for my 30-06...

There were several 270, 270 WSM, and 300 WSM on the shelves (Featherweights and Sporters) but no 30-06's...and one store quoted me a price on a 30-06 Sporter that was $120 more than what they had on the WSM's they had in stock. I was tempted to buy that 300 WSM Sporter ($599)...but I didn't because I wanted a 30-06.

I finally found a place that could get me the rifle I wanted (30-06 Ultimate Shadow) for $600...Why did I want the Ultimate Shadow? Because I will be changing the stock so I didn't see any reason to pay an additional $100 for a rifle with a wood stock, also...I kinda like the matte blue on the Shadow.

My rifle will be in tomorrow...if I can get my wife to send me some pics of it, I'll show it off here.
 
I've looked all over my area for anyone selling model 70's, no one has them. A few will order them for me but the price is steep in my opinion, especially when I paid just over $500 for my last one in 2005.

Sure I like the 70 but they seem scarce and expensive. If I could find one at the same price as Remington I'd buy another.
 
Since you have experience with pre64's, I was wondering if you could answer a question. My father passed away a few years back and left me a beautiful piece of American craftsmanship in the form of a 1961 Winchester 70 featherweight(243). I have done my best to restore the rifle, and was wondering what scope base would fit the rifle. Your input would be greatly appreciated
 
I was fortunate enough to get a Model 70 Sporter in .270 for Christmas-I LOVE this gun!

It's a beautiful rifle, fit and finish is better than any other in my collection, think the 3 position safety is terrific, great Monte Carlo styled stock (raised cheek piece), gorgeous wood, and it is VERY accurate!

I enjoy every gun I have, but this one is my favorite (not just because it's new-thats based on my subjective evaluation).

Really can't imagine how anyone could think the new one's are anything but awesome. (sure the pre-64's are as well, just don't have any experience with one).
 
My only real problem with the new Model 70s is the trigger. There was nothing wrong with the old trigger, and it's easily adjustable -- check the drawing at the head of this thread.

On the other hand, I've had a bad experience with an enclosed trigger -- moisture formed in it while elk hunting at around 11,000 feet, and it froze, locking up the trigger. So I'll stick with a simple, open trigger, thank you.
 
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