Pre-64 Winchester Mod 70 Westerner

[igordon81]

Does anyone know the differences between a plain (if you can call them that) pre-64 Mod 70 and the Westerner variation? I'm shopping for a .264 Win Mag in one of the two models, and would just like more info.

 

[joed]

I'm not that knowledgeable on Winchesters but I believe the Westerner was the .264 Mag. Most likely a 26" barrel on it. The .264 is a cartridge I came close to owning in a Mod 70 many years ago. It was a beautiful gun, looked like the old Remington 700 BDL.

 

[LeonCarr]

The Westerner had a 26 inch barrel, and I believe it was blackened stainless steel. This was to counter the supposed throat erosion issues of the .264 Winchester Magnum cartridge, which has/had the reputation of being a barrel burner. My uncle has one and it is a tack driver, even at very long ranges.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[millertyme]

My father has a pre-64 Mod 70 in .264WM. Yes, the barrel is the blackened stainless, but it also has an oiled walnut stock.

 

[Art Eatman]

I don't have a reference book handy, but I think the Westerner came out after 1963. Two years of manufacture or some such? Disremember.

Anyhow, I had one for a while. Worked up some loads for it. Tack driver, regularly. Just more than I needed for cenTex whitetails...