Model 70 Makeover

Lowest hassle way to get what you want?

1: Sell what you have.

2: Buy what you like.


It'll be cheaper and you'll probably ger a better end result.


Willie

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Copy! That happens...

OK,

So...

Grab the least expensive synthetic stock you can find, learn how do to a little glass bedding yourself with materials from Brownells, haul it down to your local welding shop for a gentle satin glass bead blasting, and then have it reblued by your local gunsmith (if you can find one).

Enjoy the process and the result.


Willie

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Paid too much too many times too!

:banghead: From personal experience of paying too much and putting too much money into the project to get it the way I want it, then not liking the end result and selling it in frustration, SHOOT IT ALOT before you do anything. If you like it enough to personalize it the money won't be missed. If you don't like it, get rid of it before you sink more money into it.
I have done very well over the last 20 years buying high and selling low. You might say I am a pro at losing money on gun deals. My wife thinks I am mental!

Switching into a new stock is something that I personally leave to a person who can competently bed it as well. But I just bought a B&C Medalist and had a guy bed it and recrown the barrel. Newer M70 stocks are typically inletted for the new one-piece bottom metal. Does your have the two piece that is separate from the trigger guard?

If 'IT' is something you bought to appease a family member, grease it up and put it away.

If you bought it for you, shoot it and learn it before you determine something needs to be changed. Then when uncle Ralph or cousin Jimmy ask why did you change the 'XX'? you will have a valid answer. Who knows, it may grow on you as it is.

The quickest way around this is to just buy what you want.
Oh, if you are having that much problem making up your mind, I can introduce you to my X, she will tell you everything to do and when. Naw, I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Avoid the Hogue, and go with a Bell & Carlson Medalist. The Hogue does not truly free float. The B&C does. They run about $237 at www.stockysstocks.com.

Edit to add a link specificlly to the stock, and to note that for long action, the price appears for be $264. Link: http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-459/Bell-and-Carlson-Browning/Detail

Geno

The B&C is great, but the OP specifically wrote that his stock budget is $150 max. That limits things.


The Hogue is fine, if not "best quality". It'll do and is easy to install.


Willie

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How the Hades did I miss that?!?! It's been a loooooooooong and tiring week. Sorry, Bud!

I'll modify my answer and say avoid Hogue, and save the extra cash. The B&C is worth the extra money, and by default worth the wait. My BIL taught me well when we were restoring cars. He said, "Do it right the first time, and you won't have to redo it." Sage words.

Genoa

You already overpaid for it, and you want to put more money into it?

Don

Skill development

Stock refinishing is a reasonable DIY.
It is possible to go over that pressed pattern and get reasonably good checkering.
Rust bluing does not take much equipment. Oxpho blue by Brownells whole-gun procedure takes even less and looks quite good.

Actually what Mr. Watson suggested sounds pretty doable. Well, not for me but maybe for you. I SUCK at checkering! I agree that some of the home blue kits turn out pretty well.

There is no stock under $150 worth the the effort. Even the $250 B&C stocks are borderline, I wouldn't have one.

You need 2 cans of Krylon. Spray the wood stock with a wrinkle finish paint in the color of yoru choice. Unless you tell someone the difference it will look just like a $600 McMillan. Same type of paint they use on the synthetics. There have been several gun companies that have painted over cheap wood stocks in the past and sold new rifles that way and many owners thought they were buying synthetic. Do the same with the metal.

Or just leave it as is.

No point in throwing good money after bad. You will be much, much better off in the long run just to sell it, even at a loss, and buy what you want rather buying cheap parts.

jmr40:

So true. My Kimber LPT's stock was nothing but painted wood. :banghead: But it did have that nice wrinkle paint.

Geno

Can't agree that a B&C medalist is never worth the effort. This spring I upgraded a 78 or 79 vintage mod. 70 .243. It had the worst stock I've ever seen on a Winchester. Blind magazine, no checkering, and probably birch, stained and laquered. Really heavy and like holding an eel. I dropped it in a Medalist with the full aluminum bedding block, added a timney, Talley lightweights and a Monarch 2.5-10 42, and it went from a 1.75" to 2,5" gun to a steady .6" to .7" shooter at 100 yds. Shaved almost 2 lbs. and looks and feels great.

I have a stock that I took off my model 70 that I'd sell...it's the Ultimate Shadow stock (black synthetic)...it's nothing fancy, but the rifle shot fine in it...a couple of minor scratches on it...$100 and it's yours.

"Don, I didn't overpay by much and yes I want to put more money into it. You know the saying, "A fool and his money will soon part ways." "


"Most of my money has been spent on guns women and whiskey, the rest I just wasted."

I am pretty sure with a little time watching the auctions you will find a stock you like.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Rifle-/73949/i.html?_nkw=winchester+70+stock&_frs=1

Hi! I love buying old guns and remake them. In your case I would get a Boyds laminate or wood stock. Boyds stock are really hard and very very very much stock for the price. Then I would clean the barrel and system of bluing and duracoat it. It will come out awesome. Google for pictures of boyds gunstocks and remaked rifles for inspiration.

I also have a take-off model 70 stock. Mine came off of a Model 70 classic .300 win mag. I don't know if it would fit or not. It's a black synthetic stock.

I put an HS Precision stock with the aluminum bedding block on my .300.

What swede said.

Boyd's stocks.

They have a variety stippling, checkering and your initials if you want.

They are around $100.