Model 70's...Am I Just Lucky?

[CCP]

Greetings,

Although my daily work, if one were to call it that, is on 1911 style pistols, a passion of mine is shooting rifles. Over the years there have been many that have crossed my path that have been greatly enjoyed. From plain Rem 700ADLs to Steyr/Mannlichers and many in between have found favor in my hands. However, while I have had occasion to shoot them, until recently, never have I owned a Winchester M70.

A couple of months ago a client mentioned he was "thinning the herd" and sent me a list of guns to consider taking in trade. One of them was a New Haven Winchester M70 Coyote in .308. He said it had about 800 rounds through it but was in excellent shape. Having never had a Win (I know, what was I thinking!?) it became mine. After talking to another friend who has had them for years a trigger job was done and a scope was mounted. Can you say simple trigger system! What is there not to love about that?!

The first range visit with this "new" M70 was pretty good. Shooting it off sandbags on the trunk of the car from 100 yards the three shot group was .490" and the five shot group was .690" with some older 168g Federal GMM. Now, that got my attention from a "stock" rifle.

So, instantly the hunt was on for another of these rifles but in .223. Once again another first was about to happen. In all the rifles owned over the years I've never had a bolt gun in .223. Soon a mint New Haven M70 Coyote in .223 was found and purchased. A trigger job was done, exact same type of scope mounted (creature of habit) and off to the range we went. First of all, shooting the .223 bolt gun with a medium heavy barrel is a DREAM! And the groups with factory ammo...wow. A three shot group of .310" a four shot group of .475" and five shot groups of .885" and .900" respectively with fliers being on me due to less than desirable shooting set up (hey, I was in a hurry).

Anyways, all that being said, preparing to hand load for these two rifles has me excited at the possibilities. But the one thing that stays in the back of my mind is am I just lucky? Is this normal performance from stock "older" Winchester rifles? Also, do any of you that have experience with these rifles perhaps have load data you would like to share?

Well, that about sums up my experience thus far. Can't wait to get back to the range!

Respectfully,

Joe Chambers

 

[MMCSRET]

I've been owning and shooting post '64, push feed Model 70's for about as long as they were made by Winchester and USRA. I've never had a bad one, they worked better than a couple other brands built in the same time period. I only own three currently and one of them was rebarreled into a wildcat about 20 years ago. I don't hesitate to buy Model 70 rifles, only the asking price determines whether I will own it or not. The quality and workmanship, accuracy and reliability has never failed me.

 

[JoeMal]

As an owner of several Winchester shotguns, I can attest to the quality and reliability from Winnies. A Model 70 is definitely on my list someday. Thanks for the writeup

 

[PreMod70]

On average the Model 70 is very hard to beat and the later New Haven's were some of the most accurate. I've never shot the newer version but figure it is just as good as the previous versions except for the pre-64's, of course.

 

[MemphisJim1]

My M70 is a .308 Featherweight that was Dad's Christmas present from Mom in 1955 (I was with her when she picked it up). Over the course of almost 50 years, Dad may have put 3-400 rounds through it. I've had custody for nearly 6 years now and have maybe about 100 through it. On days when I'm real patient and shooting from bench I can get 1" groups at 100 yds. On other days I guess I'm shooting too fast and the barrel's really heating because the groups sure open up. In time I'll pass it on to my son in the hopes it'll go on to his, if he ever has one.

 

[CCP]

Thanks for the thoughts fellas. MemphisJim1, that is a great story...I know that some day my dads .30-30 model 94 that we bought for him back in the 70's will be mine, but not soon I hope. We too have a lot of fun spending time in the woods hunting each year.

Respectfully,
Joe Chambers

 

[FullEffect1911]

My dad owns a 1965 Winchester Model 70 in .243. I am the gun guy of the family so I take care of his firearms, or maybe at some point he just tricked me into cleaned them.

Anyway a buddy of mine and I took it out to the range and were effortlessly putting 20 year old hunting ammo into MOA groups. First groups we ever shot from that particular rifle were great. The glass on top is far from hi tech. It's an old Weaver 2.5-8 with externally adjustable windage and elevation found on the rings themselves. And that scope is still dialed in perfectly though it isn't the clearest of optics.

I have a lot of respect for those post '64 Winchesters.

 

[Smokey in PHX]

I might have been lucky but I have yet to have a problem with a Mod 70 - old or new.

 

[USSR]

Yes, indeed, you are lucky (and wise) to have a Model 70.

Don

 

[Vern Humphrey]

After talking to another friend who has had them for years a trigger job was done and a scope was mounted. Can you say simple trigger system! What is there not to love about that?!

And the trigger is the one thing they changed in the "new" Model 70.

Having had an enclosed trigger freeze up on me during an elk hunt in misty, icy weather, I much prefer the old Model 70 trigger.

 

[brotus2]

Back in the early 80's, when I first started collecting (lever Winchesters) I saw an ad for a Model 70 in the paper. Went to see the guy and it urned out to be a 1952 standard grade in 270 with a Weaver KV El Paso on it.

The guy explained he had bought it new when he was much younger, shot half a box of Super X through her and put it in the safe till now. It was beautiful wood with blue so blue it looked purple.

Well, it sat in my Fort Knox until about 8 months ago when I decided to go shoot it with my buddy. I took the other half of the box of Super X and had at it. I was hooked.

Since then I have been reloading my own and have put a little over 500 rounds thru it. I treat it better than my wife and I can honestly say it is 98 percent. I retired the pristine KV and put a Nikon 4X16X42 on it.

I'm having what can only be called a second childhood and will be taking it to a 1000 yard range next month.