Winchester M70 Classic Compact

[aegagner]

Apologies in advance if this is in the wrong section...

Picked up a used Classic Compact in .308 today; nice little rifle.

Looking to add a Pachmar decelerator and the choices on their site are either M70 Classic or M70 Featherweight; I'm not sure which one to choose, based on the rifle looking so similar to the new Featherweights.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks folks!

 

[sage5907]

The safest thing for you to do is to have a good gunsmith install a grind to fit Pachmayr Decelerator because the job will come out looking great. Their black 1 inch Decelerator medium pad is number 752B and it's part number 01407. Pachmayr also sells a made to fit pad for the Model 70 and it is part number 017172. I don't know if your stock is already cut for a pad or if it needs to be cut. This made to fit pad will not be a perfect fit but it may look good enough to suit your taste if you're not really particular. The number 752B is a great pad and well worth paying the cost to have one installed. In my area a 752B pad installed is about $120.

 

[jmr40]

If it can be returned I'd take a chance on the featherweight. Odds are that is right, but I can't say for sure. I don't recall any of the Classics being made in a Compact, but I've not seen them all. Current production rifles offer that version.

The Classics were made 1992-2006. They offered a Sporter, Featherweight, and Supergrade as well as SS/synthetic versions of the same. Current production guns have those as well as other options.

It might be worth a call to ask Pachmayr

 

[aegagner]

Thanks folks, I appreciate the replies.

I was actually leaning towards a gunsmith installed pad; seems worth the extra cost.

Like I said, sweet little carbine. Bought it to replace my Remington 600 which I love. Actually felt guilty last season watching rain/sleet/snow land on her and figured it was time for something else. The M70 should be another good Vermont still-hunt rifle.

 

[420Stainless]

They are wonderful rifles. Got my wife one in 7mm-08 many years ago. Never looked into putting an aftermarket pad on it, but the factory one is rather hard and thin.

 

[James D]

Apologies in advance if this is in the wrong section...

Picked up a used Classic Compact in .308 today; nice little rifle.

Looking to add a Pachmar decelerator and the choices on their site are either M70 Classic or M70 Featherweight; I'm not sure which one to choose, based on the rifle looking so similar to the new Featherweights.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks folks!

I've had a couple .308 rifles in my lifetime and I don't see the need to use a pad on the end of the stock to reduce the shock. Matter of fact both of mine had an oversized rubber pad on the stock and the pad would catch my shooting jacket and ruin my effort to make a quick shot every time. The recoil of the .308 isn't bad at all. I'm due to try another one on my next purchase. Just pull it in tight and don't take any other action to absorb the kick. The only reason I got rid of my first .308 was it had a defect that caused it to double fire (semi auto). Now I wish I would have kept it. The second one was sold to a GunSmith due to one of my son's stunts in his teenage years. Sure wish I would have kept the first rifle. It was accurate and helped me bring home a deer several times.
Good Luck!

 

[aegagner]

I hear ya on the recoil; it's certainly not punishing, but noticeable on an already light rifle. Have always had a Pachmayr on my 600 and no issues with shouldering.

Also, because it's a compact, the pad will add a bit to the LOP which is something I would like to do as well.

 

[sage5907]

James D, the reason your recoil pad was catching on your coat was that your length of pull was too long. There's nothing worse than a rifle that has a stock that is too long and it will catch on a coat because the coat shortens the distance to your shoulder. I wear a 35 inch sleeve length and I like a length of pull that is 13 3/8 inches. Shooters tend to move the scope back in the mounts to get a good scope picture but they forget that the stock will catch on their clothing. That's why I like a Pachmayr Decelerator 752B because it has rounded edges on the back and doesn't catch on the clothing. I disagree about the 308 having light recoil and I am not sensitive to recoil. If you want to shoot a light 308 rifle well it needs a good recoil pad.

 

[200Apples]

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This thread is near-useless without pictures.

Please.

 

[aegagner]

Well, almost 6 months later.. confirming zero (more an excuse to send a few down range) before rifle season opens.....

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[Geno]

Nice rifle! Thanks for the photo.

Geno