The Winchester Model 70

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Shawnee

That is NOT one of the 64'-69' guns everyone despises. It's actually a pretty good gun. A friend of mine has one in 300 win mag he's been hunting with for years. This gun you mentioned will have a smooth push feed bolt. I'd keep my eyes open for pre 64's if I wanted a M70. You know a lot of the older collectors who appreciate pre64's are not with us anymore. Whenever that starts happening prices drop. Remember model T's? They used to be 3x as valuable as they are now. Until those who had one when they were a kid started passing away. In the next 5 years I'd expect to see some deals on pre 64's, especially with most young shooters drooling over the characterless AR's and AK's(and I carried an M16 in the service I know exactly what they can do).
 
Safari Express

I have a Model 70 in 458 Winchester Mag that I enjoy. It's an XTR series and quite frankly when I was looking for the 458, I would have just as easily chosen a Remington 700, Ruger M77 or some other brand.

I just happened on a great deal on the Winchester. They all seem to be pretty competitive in terms of what you get for your $.
 
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 ?
I really haven't and am guessing that many have not.
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I haven't gone looking for a Win 70 (due to better values in CZs, Howas, Savage, etc.), but one caught my eye, due to the stock config and caliber - it was a Win featherweight in 6.5x55 swede - love the look of that stock. Shoulda bought it since it was at the end of the old production, but was in a money crunch at the time and couldn't justify it. Now they're gone with USRAC closing and I seriously doubt they'll ever bring back a featherweight in 6.5x55.

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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I just don't know the answer to that - I think it probably depends on the year(s) of the 700s in question to compare them to, among other things. Many say that current production Rems have QC slipping - I personally have not seen evidence of that yet, but that doesn't mean it's not happening.

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 would buy a Remington, and you're really gonna laugh at my reasons:

1. Rem put the smack down on Zumbo. I went out and brought a brand new 1187 when they did that.

2. When I go to www.winchester.com , it gives me a site selling ammo ONLY. So I have to fiddle around to figure out that Winchester GUNS are found only at a mickey mouse URL - www.winchesterguns.com - wth? Maybe other reasons too, but in a tiebreaker, Rem wins.... But in fact, now the Win 70s are inexplicably higher priced than they used to be, and higher than apples to apples Rem counterpart, IINM.
 
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...one caught my eye, due to the stock config and caliber - it was a Win featherweight in 6.5x55 swede...
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I bought a used M70 Classic Featherweight in 6.5x55 to use for a donor action for my 6.5x55 Match Rifle. I sold the stock, but still have the barrel (less than 100 rounds down it) if anyone has a hankering for it.

Don
 
Shawnee,

I've had that serial info some where... I asked some of these questions myself. I had to go back and look at it.


http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=379025


There is a lot of conflicting info here and there.

The G prefix started at a high number (a given), and continued on the push feed models (assumption). These were what was being built during the takeover. The very last push feed rifles out the door had GXXXXXXX, I've seen numbers in the 2 million range. I had a short mag that had a similar serial. This is what I have seen that seems to make sense.

In 1994, Winchester re introduced the pre 64 action and called it a "classic". These G prefix guns appear to start low in serial and work up. The highest number I've seen personally in a "classic" is G187000 (approximately), I'm sure there are higher serials out there. But, these serials still don't make a lot of sense. Custom shop numbers, unused numbers.

Had me :banghead: doing this.

I have seen photos of very low G number guns, like 1 or 2 or 3 digit low.

There is a regular M70 "classic" action, in the 1994 catalog with a G and 3 digits. The rifle in my previous post (SG) is a G and 5 digit.

I don't think anyone has re written a follow up book to the Winchester book R L Wilson put out in the early '90's. It's damn confusing to figure out EXACTLY what serial began and ended when.

Since Winchester is back in business... help may be only a phone call away... Maybe
 
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As many of you have probably noted, I am really picky about my firearms' fit. Some would say too picky, but for me, a rifle fits right and thus shoots right, or it fits wrong, and shoots wrong. The right or wrong has more to do with stocks' ergonomics than anything else. I have to be able to weld my cheek to the stock, or I simply cannot fire consistently accurate groups. Too, I want to be able to fire without getting black and blue...literally.

The classic stock design kills me. I had a 1980s push-feed model 70 in .30-06 that had a horrid barrel, and horrid fit. It took exponentially longer to clean the barrel, than to shoot it to the point that the fouling requiring a cleaning. Worst of all it fired minute of barn wall. I also had a Classic model 70 in .308 Win that beat the Hades out of my cheekbone. It was accurate, but literally left me bruised. A friend offered me what I paid, and I took the opportunity to get rid of it. I had the Remington Classic in .338 Win Mag back in 1986ish. It too beat the Hades out of my cheekbone.

For me, the stock fit is nearly everything. To that end, given the Weatherby stocks' cast-off, I seek out Weatherby rifles for big game rifles, and Remington 700s only for varmint rifles.

Doc2005
 
I have two M70s, both in .30-06. The first is a 1975 model that I bought off of the used rack in a local gunshop. I stopped in for some primers and there she was. The second is a 1955 model that I bought at a gunshow.

In answer to the questions in the OP, I had wanted a Model 70 for a while and when the one showed on the rack, I bought it. Later, I was looking for a pre '64 and the one at the gunshow came along.

As to the second question: I have three M700s to compare the 1975 Winchester to, two from the 1970s and one from the early 1980s. I believe that the M70 is equivalent in fit, finish and out-of-the-box accuracy to the Remingtons.

Drue
 
:rolleyes:

In knocking around looking at model 70 rifles I've come across a new low in dealer scams to fleece people. Saw a dealer referring to the winchester junkers of the 60s as "Pre-G" models - inferring that being "Pre-G serial number" models makes them more valuable. The guy should be hung.

:cool:
 
Sorry about this being an old thread, but I came across it during a google search and it got my attention. Ever since I bought my own 1973 pushfeed, G-serialed Model 70A,.243, (in 1981, I was 14, it was used..) I have loved it.

The Monte Carlo stock design of this era was perfect, and lovely to look at. In my opinion, the "classic" style stock is very plain in comparison and the raised comb with the forward "rake" of this monte carlo backs away from your face during recoil so you don't get beat up. It fits me perfectly, comes right up to the line of sight when mounted. I'm sure that the hand-built rifles of the pre 64's likely had better fit and finish, (though mine looked pretty darn good when I got it, and it was a 70A) but their stock design was not as attractive, they look "frumpy" to me.......even the pre 64 monte carlos...

I will admit that the controlled round feed is cool, it's kind of slick the way the cartridge slides up in front of the bolt and then gets poked into the breech, but when I cycle my old pushfeed rather quickly, the way it usually gets done, that cartridge looks to almost do the same thing. I do believe that for 99% of us, the crf is really unnecessary.

I will also admit that the first post 64 rifles were not very attractive, the stock design was still frumpy but now it had poor fit and impressed checkering. Winchester listened, however, to the complaints and eventually, put the bolt guide ( I read somewhere that this coincided with the appearance of the G in front of the serial, about 1968)on the left locking lug and redesigned the stock into what I think was the prettiest ever. (It kills me that the Winchesters don't continue to use that stock design....)
There were a few other improvements as well....

I liked reading Jack O'connors stuff back in the day and I know that he eventually came to like the post 64M70 after it got fixed, but he and the other gunwriters, I believe, really killed it's popularity. To the degree that it still hasn't recovered. People seemed to bad-mouth the pushfeed action of the M70, then go out and buy a Rem 700, like they didn't know it was the same thing!!!

I'm very glad that the Model 70 lives on, there is class (to me) in the integral locking lug and other features, and I have always thought that the bolt handle of the 70 has the best shape and angle to it. I hope that the M70 regains the market share I believe it deserves, I don't believe it gives up anything to the Remingtons.
IMG_1290.jpg

Bottom rifle is the 1973 Model 70A, the stock is the original piece of wood, though I have put on the forend tip myself and installed a floorplate which came from the later model pushfeed action beneath (which is being turned into a match rifle as we speak)

Top rifle is a custom Win 52 which I built to be a sister to the 70.

DPSTX
 
Damn, another thread back from the dead.

My son has a post 64 , pre-olin, Winchester push feed M70 in 30-06. Its a great gun always fires as it should , never jams or hangs up. It has the three position safety and you couldn't expect better accuracy from an off the shelf hunting rifle.

I read that all of the post 64 guns had hammer forged barrels which is supposed to have made these rifles more consistently accurate (from gun to gun) than the previous rifling technique used which apparently made some M70s super accurate and others mediocore at best.

All I know is that I got a great deal on a fine rifle for my son when he wanted to go deer and hog hunting.
 
I have or had Model 70s from the USRAC years and have shot a newer FN 70. I have or had older model 700s, as well. My 70s were/are decent rifles and my 7mm mag is a keeper that I am building a custom rifle on. But they aren't in the same league as my older 700s. Remington was king of the hill thru the late 60s, 70s and 80s for a reason. I have a 700 in 30-06 from the laet 70s or so that is the most beautiful gun I own and it will shoot three shots from a cold bore under 1.5" with good factory ammo, which was outstanding accuracy for a 700 from that era.

Today, however, I wouldn't take a new Remington 700 hunting if it were free. They are not the same company they were. Remington has lost the plot on quality and service. At the same time, the new FN 70s are an excellent weapon. Fit and finish is flawless on every one I've seen, they are sturdy and reliable and accurate, too. But they are overpriced in an era when Savage, Weatherby, T/C, and Marlin are making reliable MOA-accurate bolt guns for less than $500. Marlin and Savage are making them for way less than that.

So if I were buying new ... I wouldn't buy a Remington because I don't trust their quality and customer service anymore. And I wouldn't buy a Brownchester because they are overpriced imho. I would buy a Savage, Thompson/Center, or Marlin today.
 
257 roberts

I love my Winchester M70 Featherweight 257 Roberts. It was a present from my grandpa and I used it for deer hunting mostly. I think it's truly a beautiful gun.
 

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257 roberts

also does anyone know what my m70 257 roberts might be worth?
 
I just got into the pre-64's and I am in love... I purchased the rifle off of gunbroker so was not sure what to expect... My first trip to the range I put the first three shots inside the one ich round bull at 100 yards. The scope was already sighted in.

If I only knew before...
 

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Over the years I have owned Winchester M70s, Remington 700s and Commercial FN Mausers all in .30-06. They were all good, and I would choose any of those old rifles over much of the new stuff available. But there is something about the ergonomics of the M70 that make them my personal favorite rifle. It just has a smoothness to the action coupled with a great trigger and positive safety.
 
Posting new and still relevant info in an old thread is fine, especially long ones like this dedicated to a specific model.

Zombie right along there :)
 
The pre-64 70 is a example of fine gunmaking,with no thought given to cheap production. The 700 looks like someone at Remington said "Hey-we can buy bulk thick wall tubing, make a cut here and there, and call it a gun!".
 
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