I have a model 70 pre 64 featherweight in 270. The stock has a fracture crack behind the rear tang heading towards the butt of the gun. I can only find the carbelite from bell and Carlson to replace the wood stock I have. Not familiar with these stocks. Anyone else familiar or know where I can get another stock? I'm not looking for a McMillan $600 job for this. Appreciate your help.
Win model 70 pre 64 stocks?
- Thread starter blackops
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sage5907
Member
That crack is really bad and in the worse possible place. Sorry about you spending the $200 to have it glass bedded. First, pre 64 Model 70 stocks very seldom need to be glass bedded so you probably wasted your money. The only glass bedding I have ever done on one was to bed the recoil lug. I suggest that you start looking on eBay for a replacement stock. Many people are selling their wood stocks and replacing them with composite stocks and selling the wood stocks on eBay. In truth the wood stocks are just as good and much cheaper. A really good featherweight stock can be purchased for between $150 and $200. Just watch eBay until you see one you like.
Ethan Sackett
Member
Try Boyds stocks they have a web sight. They make good stocks with several options. Replaced a plastic Mod 700 with one of their walnut stock's, drop in fit. Good luck.
I'd like to avoid wood again if possible. Just curious, how are the wood stocks superior to a nice synthetic with an aluminum block or properly bedded. These pre 64s featherweights are know for cracking. They have a large recoil lug with substantial recoil and minimal surface area on the stock to absorb.
sage5907
Member
blackops, I didn't know they were known for cracking. I have several of them and have never had a problem. It's all a matter of choice and what you like. Most of the accuracy of a pre 64 Winchester is in the barrel rather than the stock as long as the stock is in original condition. If someone has sold you on the idea of aluminum pillars and free floated barrels you do need to buy the composite stocks. I have a $650 McMillan and the wood stocks shoot just a good and are just as user friendly. Wood just really feels good.
Was epoxy compound put into the crack? I have a Garand stock which was split through the pistol grip almost through the lower band by the effects of an out of battery slamfire. The stock was virtually new at the time and I was distraught by what appeared to be its destruction. A shooting bud did not help my feelings either. I still don't know if the stock is birch or some other wood, it has a strange color and grain. After I got off the line with my shattered stock and blown up rifle, holding up the pieces to a friend I asked him "What type of wood do you think this is?" He bellowed out : "FIREWOOD!!" I was despondent about my broken rifle and this answer further crushed me.
Anyway, I glued the stock together with Accuraglas. All I needed was to get some of that glue to drip into the cracks and that epoxy glue was enough to hold that stock together and I was able to use it again, with a different Garand action, of course.
Good epoxy glues are stronger than the wood. If your crack is a simple crack, not due to wood rot or something horrible, then gluing the crack will hold it. You can further reinforce the grip with one of those brass stock repair screws. Brownells has them : http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...repair-pins/stock-repair-pin-kit-prod617.aspx
This is a how to on repairing a stock with a crack. This gentleman uses a huge wood screw, the Brownell type stock repair screw is much thinner. http://www.theboxotruth.com/educational-zone-57-repairing-a-split-stock/ http://www.theboxotruth.com/educational-zone-57-repairing-a-split-stock/
Take a look at the stock repair screw through the grip of a M1903 rifle: http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=23899
Another interesting idea on a stock wrist repair. http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?93744-Making-a-Blind-wrist-repair-to-your-stock
Anyway, I glued the stock together with Accuraglas. All I needed was to get some of that glue to drip into the cracks and that epoxy glue was enough to hold that stock together and I was able to use it again, with a different Garand action, of course.
Good epoxy glues are stronger than the wood. If your crack is a simple crack, not due to wood rot or something horrible, then gluing the crack will hold it. You can further reinforce the grip with one of those brass stock repair screws. Brownells has them : http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...repair-pins/stock-repair-pin-kit-prod617.aspx
This is a how to on repairing a stock with a crack. This gentleman uses a huge wood screw, the Brownell type stock repair screw is much thinner. http://www.theboxotruth.com/educational-zone-57-repairing-a-split-stock/ http://www.theboxotruth.com/educational-zone-57-repairing-a-split-stock/
Take a look at the stock repair screw through the grip of a M1903 rifle: http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=23899
Another interesting idea on a stock wrist repair. http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?93744-Making-a-Blind-wrist-repair-to-your-stock
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For hunting...I really like a nice finished wood. I've always been under the impression that wood can dimensionally alter in different conditions which can lead to inconsistencies. Bedding would eliminate this issue. Synthetic stocks don't suffer from these inconsistencies. This is just what I've gathered. Please feel free to correct me if I'm misinformed.
I wouldn't waste my time with the Carbelite. B&C makes a decent $250 stock in the Medalist, but I don't think they make one for pre-64's. In fact there are no budget priced pre-64 stocks out there other than the Carbelite that I know of.
If it were my rifle and I liked it, I'd spring for the McMillan. Yes, they are pricy, but are well worth it.
The next best option is to spend some time on Gun broker, E-bay etc. looking for a used pre-64 stock. There are a lot of other guys who have spent the $600 for a McMillan and will sell the old stock for $150-$200 in order to recoup some of the money. They are out there if you look. It may take a few months until a decent one turns up at a fair price.
You may also find a used McMillan. I have 5 rifles in McMillan stocks, all were purchased used or off McMillans Specials page for around $450 instead of $600.
On McMillans website they have some stock specials. When ordering most people pay a deposit, then pay off the stock when it is finished. Sometimes people don't purchase the stock after it is built. McMillan sells them for what is owed against them. If you check their website regularly you'll sometimes find deals, but you have to move fast to get them.
If it were my rifle and I liked it, I'd spring for the McMillan. Yes, they are pricy, but are well worth it.
The next best option is to spend some time on Gun broker, E-bay etc. looking for a used pre-64 stock. There are a lot of other guys who have spent the $600 for a McMillan and will sell the old stock for $150-$200 in order to recoup some of the money. They are out there if you look. It may take a few months until a decent one turns up at a fair price.
You may also find a used McMillan. I have 5 rifles in McMillan stocks, all were purchased used or off McMillans Specials page for around $450 instead of $600.
On McMillans website they have some stock specials. When ordering most people pay a deposit, then pay off the stock when it is finished. Sometimes people don't purchase the stock after it is built. McMillan sells them for what is owed against them. If you check their website regularly you'll sometimes find deals, but you have to move fast to get them.
I dunno about a synthetic stock for your pre-64, but a laminated wood stock is almost as good. Check with Boyds and be sure to look at the lightening cut option to keep weight down.
I believe there is another company offering laminated stocks, but I don't recall their name
I believe there is another company offering laminated stocks, but I don't recall their name
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