Winchester 70 Value

[JCooperfan1911]

I would like to see about locating one of Winchester’s model 70 rifles in .30-06, a Pre-64 example.

What would a fair price be for a Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 in .30-06 in excellent condition? I just want to ensure I have a base understand of current market trends off the rifle. Thank you.

 

[BreechFace]

Expect to pay north of $1k around my parts for a pre-64. I'm in the PNW, other areas might vary.

 

[mshootnit]

A friend had one of these given to him by his grandpa. We used to take out and shoot milk jugs at 100 yds with just the open sights. Fun times. It felt like an 870; made to use with the open sights.

 

[X62503]

An excellent choice. I have nothing helpful to add but hope you post a picture when you find one.

 

[wanderinwalker]

An excellent condition pre-64 Winchester Model 70 in .30-06? Easily $1000-1200 at retail, and possibly more. You just don't see too many that are that nice or unmolested.

 

[243winxb]

Page thru the sold items https://www.horstauction.com/sell/guns-firearms/

The stock drop at face is a lot lower on older models, when scopes were not common. Not to my liking.

The 30-06 is a common caliber. Will be hard to find an orginial gun that was not hunted.

If you find one expect to pay more, a lot more. An as new in box model that the owner has fell in love with, will have a price no one will pay. Till it goes to auction.

 

[243winxb]

Randy Shuman's Gun Shop in PA, for collectable Win. M70's 717-776-7861

 

[sixgunner455]

Model 70s are interesting. I got one last year, and didn’t really realize what permutations they have gone through at the time.

What I got was post-64, but also post-return to the claw extractor (CRF), but also post-closure of the original factory, but pre-production move overseas. It was made in South Carolina at the FN factory.

Couple of weeks ago, I was at the rifle range shooting it, and the guy next to me was shooting one too. Both are Win Mod 70 FWT .270 WCF. His was push feed with wood that looked like a stained 2x4, but it shot nice and he was pretty proud of it. It had clearly been over hill and dale on a lot of hunts - well used and well loved, and I don’t think there would be enough money to get it out of his hands. Mine is CRF with a very pretty stock, and was in excellent condition when I got it - it might not have been fired. I put it on layaway with an LGS whose owner likes me, and took 10 months to pay it off. I paid $800.

I can only hope I live long enough to match the memories that guy has with his.

 

[jmr40]

Pre 64 alone doesn't mean much. From 1964 to the early 1990's any pre-64 sold at a premium simply because there was no other option for an American made CRF rifle. Since the early 90's Winchester has brought back CRF rifles, Ruger is making them as well as Kimber. The real value of most common model 70's made since the end of WW-2 up until 1963 just isn't that great anymore. Remember, quality didn't just fall off a cliff in 1964, there had been a gradual decline for 20 years prior.

I'd say $800- $1000 is a ball park guess, but remember, you can buy a new Featherweight for $800-$900. The sporter, and higher grades are $1000-$1400 new depending. That doesn't mean that people don't ask unreasonable prices for them, and occasionally uninformed people pay them. But those are just 60-70 year old rifles to me. I'd personally rather have one of the Classics made from 1992-2006, and those are now bringing more than common pre 64's. In most ways the current production guns made 2008-present are better rifles although I prefer the pre-2008 trigger.

On the post WW-2 rifles only those in rare configurations or chambered in something rare are really valuable. The pre WW-2 model 70's tend to bring true collector prices.

 

[cdb1]

I’m with jmr40. I’d also rather have a post 1964 CRF M70 than a pre 64.

 

[BreechFace]

The new M70's with modern machining I've been told by my gunsmith have more exacting tolerances than the older models. Don't count me as one who has to have a pre-64 now that we have modern M70's with CRF, coned breech, and 3 position safeties.

@jmr40 hit it on the head that in the beginning there was a huge upheaval and desire for pre-64 because Winchester's bean counters were stupid and eliminated the best features of the M70 over other actions.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I would like to see about locating one of Winchester’s model 70 rifles in .30-06, a Pre-64 example.

What would a fair price be for a Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 in .30-06 in excellent condition? I just want to ensure I have a base understand of current market trends off the rifle. Thank you.

Blue Book of Gun Values suggests $1,100 for a 95% condition pre-64 "standard calibers" rifle.

Buyer's evaluation on condition will likely vary from yours.

FH

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Thank you. I will be hunting for one for sure. I am interested in one meant for open sights as I feel the concept of an open sighted bolt action hunting rifle is extinct and it draws my appeal.

 

[Gordon]

I am getting ready to put up my 90+% 1958 Featherweight 30-06 Win 70 up on gun broker and expect about $1000 . I also has a decent scope on it. If you PM me Ill post it on the FS board here, as long as you are in a state where your FFL can take it from a non FFL holder.
One on left .

 

[Nature Boy]

@JCooperfan1911

Please, buy @Gordon 's M70 and save me from doing something uncalled for.

Please

 

[sage5907]

I have been addicted to a pre 64 Model 70 for many years. The post 64 version has many good points but it doesn't have the swagger of the original version. Don't pay any attention to what the naysayers are putting out because most of the comments have little value. The rifle that Gordon has is a good example of a rifle I would buy. I especially like the featherweight because it has real quality and his 1958 rifle looks to be a good buy. These rifles usually shoot less than minute of angle groups and are easy to hunt with. That 30-06 featherweight loaded with 150 grain bullets and 57 grains of Reloader 17 should be super good. When you buy a used rifle it's all about the condition of the metal. If I was going to pay $1,000 for the rifle the serial number on the receiver and bolt must match, the receiver must have the original finish and the blue on the barrel should be at least 95%. I would expect a lot of blue loss on the bottom metal. It's better if the stock has the original finish, and the stock can show use marks but should not have any cracks. If you are a hunter the rifle needs to have a recoil pad and a Pachmayr Decelerator is good. The Model 70 has an easy to adjust Trigger but if you don't like the original trigger Timney has a replacement that is easy to install. When I hunt deer here in Oklahoma in about 10 days I will be carrying a pre 64 featherweight and it is my rifle of choice. I have owned rifles made by Weatherby, Remington, Browning, FN Mauser, and Sako but the pre 64 Winchester is my choice. None of these rifles are as user friendly as the Winchester.

 

[Gordon]

Better picture of my 30-06 Pre 64 Feather weight, its very accurate . Some aren't accurate, I collected them since my first .270 in 1964

 

[sage5907]

Better picture of my 30-06 Pre 64 Feather weight, its very accurate . Some aren't accurate, I collected them since my first .270 in 1964
View attachment 955540

Really a good looking rifle. The stock is quarter sawed Missouri american walnut which tends to make a strong accurate wood stock. On a quarter sawed stock the grain lays horizontal and on a slab sawed stock the grain lays vertical. I noticed the sling swivels have been changed to the detachable type. It looks like a really clean rifle. The only Winchester 70 that I purchased and then sold was a 1951 model and I have wanted to buy it back for many years. I traded it to a dealer named Cody Caraway from Decatur, Texas and I think it is still somewhere in Texas. Later I regretted the sale and I used to look for it on GunBroker and now I would give twice the price I paid for the rifle.

 

[PapaG]

I have a 1953 Model 70 in 30-06 with a period correct steel Weaver K4. While not thinking about selling it, it would bring about $1100.

 

[Offfhand]

Mr. Gordon, I wish we lived closer, I would take that M-70 off your hands in a heartbeat.

 

[sage5907]

I have a 1953 Model 70 in 30-06 with a period correct steel Weaver K4. While not thinking about selling it, it would bring about $1100.

1953 was one of the best Winchester manufacturing years. Their skilled workmen were building really great rifles. When I was buying rifles I always looked for rifles made in 1953.

 

[Offfhand]

Another reason Pre-64 M-70's are steadily increasing in value, with standard samples in ordinary calibers routinely selling north of $1000, is that the actions alone have become so desirable for custom rifles. I've often paid close to a $grand for M-70's just to get the action, and quite a bit more for rifles with the longer H&H magazine length. Custom riflesmiths especially favor the M-70 action for its clean and trim profile. Which is why about a quarter of the M-70's I've had over the years were bought only to be customized, like this .7mm Mag that was rebarreled, restocked and refined by master craftsman Duane Wiebe.

 

[BreechFace]

That's a beautiful stock, must have been a pretty penny you paid for that custom stock. The border lines on the checkering is

 

[sage5907]

In the 1850's you could have traded that rifle for the prettiest squaw in the village!

 

[Offfhand]

In the 1850's you could have traded that rifle for the prettiest squaw in the village!

Actually, the date was more like 1970's when I swapped a squaw for the rifle. Soon after, they returned the squaw and let me keep the rifle. So be careful what you trade for, especially high-maintenance squaws.