Thoughts on a Winchester M70 Extreme Weather....

[BigBore44]

So last week a buddy text me about a “Sporterized Mauser” in 30-06. As @GunnyUSMC pointed out to me, it was actually a 1903 that had been sporterized. I picked the rifle up for $175 OTD. Picked it up yesterday. Gun is in great shape for its age. Think I did pretty well.

Well, today the same buddy called me and said he had a deal I wouldn’t be able to pass up. I knew I was in trouble. I didn’t really want to buy another gun. But I figured I’d humor him. Well, it’s a Winchester M70 Extreme Weather with a aftermarket muzzle brake (they don’t come with them) and 20MOA rail.....in 338 WinMag. 1/2 box down the tube. I don’t need it. But if it’s a deal.....I know plenty about M70’s. But this rifle, new, is ~$1,200+tax without the brake or rail. Are they worth the money? What does the community feel would be a good price to pay for this rifle to get a good deal?

FYI, I bought it. Just wondering if I did alright.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

If you paid $600 or less, you got a smoking deal. That is one nice looking rifle.
When it comes to modern hunting rifles the Winchester Mod. 70 hits the top of my list.
It is one of the few modern rifles that has a safety that locks the firing pin like a Mauser. And the bolt can be disassembled without tools.
I have always liked the 338 WinMag cartridge. It's a heavy hitter and will drop just about any thing you want to hunt.

 

[Skylerbone]

Even at a street price of an even grand, with what looks like a Brockman installed and the rail, not to mention tax, your buddy was likely in more than $1,300 and you bought what is practically speaking a new rifle. I’d say $1k is a very fair price, $800ish a great deal, and anything less than that you better free up some cash for your buddy’s next offering. Very nice rifle.

 

[eastbank]

good rifle and a great cartiage.

 

[BigBore44]

Even at a street price of an even grand, with what looks like a Brockman installed and the rail, not to mention tax, your buddy was likely in more than $1,300 and you bought what is practically speaking a new rifle. I’d say $1k is a very fair price, $800ish a great deal, and anything less than that you better free up some cash for your buddy’s next offering. Very nice rifle.

I paid $550 OTD.

 

[cdb1]

With the price you paid, try not to look guilty when you’re around your friend in the future.

 

[Skylerbone]

At that price there’s no amount of thinking necessary beyond “what scope will I be buying...” That is, in Gunny’s words, a “smoking deal”! That is a Rifle among rifles, and congratulations are in order beyond the deal.

If I’m correct on the muzzle brake being a Brockman or similar style that opens and closes, make sure you keep it flushed of debris and lubricated. I had one seize up that took a fair amount of Kroil to get moving again as it weeped carbon out over several days, finally freeing up the detent bearing.

 

[Legionnaire]

I have absolutely no use for a .338 Win Mag, but I'd have snapped that up anyway. You did great!

 

[BigBore44]

If I’m correct on the muzzle brake being a Brockman or similar style

Ok. Honesty time. I know nothing about brakes. I don’t own a single rifle with a brake. From my 22lr to my 375H&H. I always just take the recoil. Is that a good brake?

I have absolutely no use for a .338 Win Mag, but I'd have snapped that up anyway. You did great!

I’m with you on that one. No real use for it. But I thought I got a deal.

 

[Skylerbone]

First then and most importantly: wear plugs and ear muffs to protect your hearing because a brake adds noise. Second, and equally important: make sure those around you at the range are aware of ear pro as well, it will be a “shared experience”. I like mine and my shoulder doesn’t miss the occasional bruising.

A link: https://www.eabco.com/brockmanbrake.html looks like what you have but may not be.

Closed and ready for hunting.


Open and ready for range time.

 

[Steve S.]

I purchased the M70 EW in .308 about 2 years ago; it is a superb rifle and a superbly accurate shooter. You acquired your’s for about $0.50 on the dollar of a new rifle which is financially a very good purchase however more importantly, you bought a great rifle.

 

[BigBore44]

First then and most importantly: wear plugs and ear muffs to protect your hearing because a brake adds noise. Second, and equally important: make sure those around you at the range are aware of ear pro as well, it will be a “shared experience”. I like mine and my shoulder doesn’t miss the occasional bruising.

A link: https://www.eabco.com/brockmanbrake.html looks like what you have but may not be.

Closed and ready for hunting.
View attachment 868895

Open and ready for range time.
View attachment 868896

Yeah I know about the increase in dB from redirection of the blast. I meant more about styles. I’ve never seen anything like that brockman before. Interesting concept. I’ve only seen fixed brakes and the BOSS from the browning line. You guys are starting to make me want to keep this rifle. And I don’t know why I want to. It’s a caliber I don’t load for. I have bigger and smaller calibers that can overlap this cartridge. And now another friend is wanting to trade me for a pre-64 M70, in excellent condition, in 300 H&H. And I’m really trying to find a way to tell him yes. I just don’t know the way you guys are talking.

My other M70 is really a slick rifle. Action is as smooth as any Krag. Great trigger. And it’s really an accurate rifle. But I don’t even hunt with it. It’s literally in like new condition and I’ve had it 19 years. I’m afraid this 338 might just sit in the safe. But I think the 300 H&H would do the same thing. I’d be afraid to take it hunting. I’m not easy on the guns I take to the woods. I don’t want to spend my hunt worrying I might scratch it.

 

[IdaD]

I'd lose the brake because I'm not a fan of them on hunting rifles but you got a steal on an awesome rifle. 338 is a great elk caliber.

 

[Nature Boy]

I'd lose the brake because I'm not a fan of them on hunting rifles

I'm curious as to why?

And @BigBore44 , one helluva deal. You should take your buddy to diner

 

[IdaD]

I'm curious as to why?

They substantially increase the muzzle blast to the shooter and anybody else beside or behind the shooter. That's a big negative in a hunting rifle, imo.

 

[Skylerbone]

I meant more about styles. I’ve never seen anything like that brockman before. Interesting concept.

Well, when we chronographed loads there was no loss in velocity whether opened or closed which was a definite plus, and it tamed a .300 Win Mag shooting SuperFormance down to something akin to 30-06 starter loads. If you like the idea of shooting thumpers well past middle age then IMO a brake is the ticket unless you go the suppressor route.

Actually had a case head separation with one round, sent several boxes of SuperFormance back to Hornady, and suddenly the specs were neutered on boxes thereafter.

 

[Skylerbone]

They substantially increase the muzzle blast to the shooter and anybody else beside or behind the shooter. That's a big negative in a hunting rifle, imo.

Except a Brockman doesn’t have to when you don’t want it to. All the more reason to keep it.

 

[Nature Boy]

They substantially increase the muzzle blast to the shooter and anybody else beside or behind the shooter. That's a big negative in a hunting rifle, imo.

Do you hunt with groups of people in close proximity?

I only have 1 hunting rig with a brake. I'm a solitary hunter so it has little to no impact on me when deer hunting (one shot, one kill ), but it sure is nice to tame that recoil when banging away at the bench during load development.

 

[jmr40]

I consider the Winchester EW to be the best out of the box, rugged, do anything, go anywhere, any time, no excuses rifle in production. They tend to be very accurate and with a good quality synthetic stock combined with SS construction will do it anywhere regardless of weather. I prefer to swap out the stock for a McMillan Edge and save 1/2 pound though.

For my personal use I'd not want either a 338 nor a muzzle brake. Only way I'd buy it is if I thought I could flip it and make a profit.

 

[IdaD]

Do you hunt with groups of people in close proximity?

I only have 1 hunting rig with a brake. I'm a solitary hunter so it has little to no impact on me when deer hunting (one shot, one kill ), but it sure is nice to tame that recoil when banging away at the bench during load development.

Sometimes. I was with my hunting partner this year when I shot my buck, he was a few feet over and behind my left shoulder. My nephews are getting old enough to come along too, and my daughters may also join in a few years if they so choose. Even when I'm alone I don't want the extra muzzle blast as I'm one of those guys who doesn't generally wear hearing protection when I'm hunting big game. The other thing about a brake is that the primary benefit (reducing recoil) means nothing to me in a hunting rig, at least in the calibers I use. If I'm target shooting a bunch I see the appeal, but I don't target shoot my hunting rifles a ton and recoil isn't something I feel or am even aware of when I'm shooting at game. My 300 Weatherby should recoil in roughly the same neighborhood as a 338 Win and the recoil on it hasn't ever bothered me. Now if you can twist the brake on and off like in the pictures above I'd be less opposed to it being on there, because then the only downside would be a little extra length which probably wouldn't be a huge deal.

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

Nice gun, thats next on my list, but without the brake. Perfect Alaska gun if you add back up sights.

 

[Skylerbone]

While I don’t generally disagree with the idea of separating hunting arms from high count target arms I do tend to put a few hundred rounds down range with even my most neglected rifles lest I be one of those guys that spends $1,500 then sells at $550 after a half box.

Simply knowing where the rifle shoots under various conditions can be useful if ever the occasion arises to pick up an unexpected hunt in say a different climate. I have family stretched out from Hawaii to Washington (State), the Midwest Plains, and as far South as Texas. Given a whim and a bit of overtime at work can spark spontaneous travel so it’s helpful to be ready rather than rusty. If one simply doesn’t care for a brake the threaded barrel can always host a suppressor or linear compensator for sound mitigation. Try that with a bare muzzle!


I wrote in another thread, “if it’s worth owning, it’s worth shooting”.