Model 70 Questions

[jacob2745]

I just picked up a Winchester Model 70 in .270. The serial number is G171xxxx. It has the pressed checkering and came with a "cheap" tasco 3x9x scope. There are a few dings here and there on the barrel and stock, but nothing major. Also, the bluing is starting to wear off on the end of the barrel. I was curious of the approximate value of the rifle and any other info on the rifle would be appreciated. I'm fairly ignorant in the rifle world. Thanks everyone!

 

[ErieLurker]

Made 1983. If it's a Featherweight or Sporter, maybe 250-300, if a Westerner, maybe 50 bucks more than that.

 

[jmr40]

If it has pressed chekering, and if it is a 1983 gun it is not a Fwt, or Sporter. Probably a Ranger budget gun. If so $250 sounds about right. It will likely be a good shooter. The guns made 1980-2000 or so tend to usually be solid guns, although often undervalued.

If made in the 1960's or 70's value would be a little less and issues more likely, although most of those guns are OK. It is just that the odds of getting a good gun are better after USRAC bought the company in 1980.

 

[jacob2745]

I checked the mfg date using winchester's website and the serial number and it was indeed made around 1983. I cleaned her up and did some polishing on the bolt and it looks much better. Now if I can do a little touch up on the end of the barrel, find a new sling, and maybe round up another scope she will be ready to go.

 

[firme67]

Westerner Model???

@ErieLurker

I have a Mod 70, .270, serial G157xxxx, made in 1981. It is marked "Model 70 Westerner". has a blind mag. What made a model a "Westerner". Prior research everyone told me it was an economy model, but this gun has nice wood, and checkering, not the cheap, plain, looking stuff on ranger models. Love that gun.

Thanks.

 

[ErieLurker]

@firme67

The Westerner had more of a straight, not angled, buttstock.

Good catch on the "Ranger" model, jmr40. Was scratching my head to figure out how an '80's M70 still had pressed checkering. Thought that was disposed of with the 1972 fix.

Edited to Add:

firme67, come to think of it, the Westerner was sort of similar in some ways to the Alaskan, with the rear sight able to fold down forward so as to mount a scope lower (or larger as the case may be).

 

[Doc Mongo]

Where do you find that?

I'd like to look up the info on my Model 70. I don't have the serial # handy at the moment but will be able to read it in a few hours. I gather it's someplace on the Winchester website?

 

[ErieLurker]

What's stamped on the barrel?

 

[jacob2745]

All that is stamped on mine is Model 70 Carbine

 

[jacob2745]

Doc- just go to the Winchester website, click on the customer service tab at the top, then on the left is a link for date your firearm

 

[ErieLurker]

jacob2745 wrote:

All that is stamped on mine is Model 70 Carbine

There was a Lightweight Carbine (as opposed to the Lightweight Rifle that followed it in production) made for a few years in the mid-80's, starting a year after yours was supposed to have been made. Yours has a 20 inch "clean" barrel?

Until very recently, I pretty much ignored post-64 Model 70's that were not Improved Mauser-CRF actions, or pretty much any PF-action, so I'm playing catch-up myself here. If it wasn't some sort of Mauser, I didn't pay attention - which now in hindsight may have been a mistake (I've caught myself eyeing those little Marlin X7's lately...). So nobody ask me any questions about Remington 7's or 700's!

 

[Doc Mongo]

Doc- just go to the Winchester website, click on the customer service tab at the top, then on the left is a link for date your firearm

I checked the website but it doesn't go all the way up to the serial #s I have. Mine is a Ranger, which I gather is an economy model...

 

[ErieLurker]

Doc, if your barrel is stamped "Ranger", then it was being made up to around 1999.

 

[hentown]

Trigger is pretty easy to adjust. If it's not pulling at around 3.5#, I'd adjust it.