Winchester 70 best deer rifle ever?

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shephard19

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Well I know there is no such thing truly as a best rifle just good ones though it sure does seem that way sometimes. I shot my first deer with one chambered in .308, and I love just about everything about it, the simplicity and quality of the rifle speaks to me, in my opinion bolt action rifles in general are the way to go for big game hunting usually. Thoughts?
 
While digging trough my safe trying to find a rifle to fit my wife, I came across my old 760 today. I haven't fired it in years. After shooting over 20 rounds through it I found that it still has a special place in my hunting favorites. My wife was able to shoot a 3 inch group at 100 yards, which isn't bad for someone who has only been shooting for a couple of weeks. I still can get 1.25 out of it and that has been pretty constant since 1968 when I bought it. I fired 150 grain FMJ, 150 grain Nosler Ballistic tips and 125 Nosler ballistic tips with little difference in POI.
 
As you can tell by my user name I thank you and I thank Jack Oconner may he rest in peace.
 
I killed my first deer with a Model 70 chambered in 7mm Rem Mag.

It's more of a safe queen now...but does see the field yearly. Excellent rifles.

The Model 70 best, possibly; different strokes for different folks. I myself prefer a bolt action, and my Model 70 is as smooth as butter and is one straight shooter.

Buuuut...I would have to say that the Win 94 30-30 would still be the most legendary deer rifles ever. Might not be the best, but has proven itself over many many years and should gain the title "Best Deer Rifle Ever." Not because of it's accuracy or power, but because of it's history and widespread use on critters.
 
Shep said:

...the simplicity and quality of the rifle speaks to me...
Click to expand...

You get voices in your head too?! I don't feel so all alone now. Something pretty special about the M70. I like the Featherweight. Although the Sporter is nice too. Oh yeah, and the Varmint HB...who could forget the Super Grade. :)

Congrats on a successful hunts...many more to you.

Geno
 
My featherweight wasn't the most accurate gun I ever shot (though pretty good just the same), but it was for sure the prettiest...
 
I own several Pre-64 Model 70's and with my Pre- War version, my first acquisition, in .30-'06, I have taken 31 Pa whitetail bucks over the years.
The new version of the Model 70 is indeed a nice rifle but for my money it ain't like the old ones.
As for accuracy, there's not many rifles today that shoot like an out-of -the- box Pre-64 Model 70.
5 shot 1 hole groups with reloads were/are not uncommon.
Incedentally, I shot my first buck with a Model 70 chambered in .22 Hornet.
 
What I enjoy is the safety switch being on the bolt, easy to see and feel. The pre 64 was always above my price range but I did find one of the newer ones with the controlled feed and I love it. It also has the boss system on it. Sadly, the Army made my favorite hunting area into shotgun only and so I have not shot any game with it. Plus being in Iraq for 4 1/2 years has limited my hunting opportunities.
 
The model 70 is my favorite deer rifle. I've got 4 in various chamberings and love them all, including a youth model .243 that has killed truckloads of deer.
 
FWIW I use a Marlin 336 in .30-30 or a Remington 700 in .280 Remington (which with any luck will take this Minnesota beauty later this month)

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I killed a pile of deer , an antelope or two,and lotsa pigs with this 1953 Model 70 .270 with a 4x Unertl scope with a heavy dot for 100 yards and a fine dot set down to where (130 grain ) ammo hits at 300 yards. The glass on the scope rivals most scopes today. The Buhler moubts never moved.I never hunted elk with it and used 130 grain ammo including many of the old Winchester Silvertips It was kept in good shape all these years, considering.For some reason it is wearing a Burris Signiture 1.5-6x I think I was thinking about taking it on Safari but took the gun I replaced it with.
I replaced it in 1999 or so with a .270 WSM in a Stainless Classic. The .270 WSM went to Africa and was very successful on all the plains game with 150 Nosler Partitions Federal premium ammo with a 3.5-10x Leupold VX3 in Dead Nutz Mount/ring combo.
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Win 94 30.30

I believe I read somewhere that this rifle has bagged more white-tail than any other.
 
Winchester 70's are great rifles. But I think the hundreds of thousands of deer taken with lever action .30-.30's might argue the best ever claim. The best rifle is the one in your hands when you shoot that memorable shot.
 
I love my 70's...but many rifles/calibers will get 'er done. They're just deer. Both my 70's taken elk too. Even the .243... Just sayin.
 
Wouldn't the cartridge count more than the rifle?

I'm sure Mdl 70's came in calibers that are unsuitable for deer.
 
If Jack O'Connor were alive, he'd be using a TC Icon. :p In .270 Win, of course.

As for turnbolts, absolutely I love them, for the many many reasons that have been well-covered over and over, including lightweight, accuracy, positive extraction, ease of cleaning, rapid follow up, easy to benchrest, etc.
 
Back years ago, based on Jack O'Conners recomendations, I bought my first "deer rifle." I got it at Sears and Roebuck and if I remember anywhere near correctly I paid less than $250.00 for it. They sold the same gun in the "Ted Williams" brand but I opted for the upgrade with the walnut stock.

It was a Model 70 in 30/06. I added a "Ted Williams" 3x9 scope to it, and a Browning sling. I was in high cotton I tell you. :D

Except for one thing. I lived/hunted in a shotgun only area. I had no place to use this beautiful, accurate rifle. :banghead: I did manage to get a chance to hunt with it a few times when I'd "go to the mountains." Never did kill a deer with it. I had one chance I remember. A doe came by the the last day of the regular season late in the day about 20 yards away. Doe season would start tomorrow. I put the crosshairs on her and looked her over close while muttering "Grow horns you bxxx." She didn't and I let her go.

My wife's uncle killed her a few minutes later with a 30/30. Still the only deer I've even seen killed with a rifle.

Eventually I got interested in something else, and sold that rifle to a fellow at work. I wish I had it back.
 
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