Winchester m70

[BradPenn]

I'm looking at a used m70 sporter in a 270. I was curious what the value is on them these days. Wood stock looks to be in good shape, action is nice and tight, and all the blueing is in good shape. The gun feels good to me, actually a lot better than my model 700 I'm letting go for it. This will be my first Winchester so any advice on what to look for. What years to stay away from and some general values would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mike J]

There are several versions of the model 70. Which version is it. There is the pre-64 with controlled round feed. post-63 with is push feed (I own one of these), USRAC a few years before they closed made a model 70 classic, & the FN model 70's currently being produced which are controlled round feed. I don't believe any of them are bad although some are more desirable than others. The pre-64's being the most desirable. Do you know which iteration it is?

 

[BradPenn]

That I don't. Gonna get back up there Tuesday to check it out good. I gave it a quick once over, but didn't really know enough about them to make a decision then.

 

[BradPenn]

What are decent shaped used sporters going for these days?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Again, that depends on the era -- pre-64, post-64, WRA Classic, or current production?

The pre-64s, with the Mauser claw extractor and the Winchester trigger are really pricy. The others cluster around the Remington 700, with the post-64s selling for less, the classic and current production being about equal.

 

[BradPenn]

Good to know. I believe I can get it for around 475

 

[Missouri Farmer]

I have a newer FN made M70 in .308 and it's a very well built gun. Paid $540 including shipping for a used one that was like new.

 

[jmr40]

You are most likely looking at a post 64 push feed action rifle. The versions made from 1964-1980 can be spotty with quality. Winchester sold out to a group of investors in the late 70's who made an effort to correct quality problems. Most of those rifles have "United States Arms Co" or USRAC stamped on them somewhere. Sometimes on the recoil or butt pad. They also are known as model 70 XTR's.

$475 would probably be a fair price especially if it is a USRAC or XTR stamped rifle. Looking up the SN would help date the rifle, but there are no on-line sites with reliable SN information on post 64's. At least none I've found.

In 1992 Winchester brought back the pre-64 design with the "Classic" line. They are very nice rifles, the best of the 70's in my opinion. Winchester made both the CRF Classics and the PF versions until 2006. But after 1992 the PF versions were relegated to the budget line of rifles and were not as good as the earlier versions.

 

[sage5907]

The 3 position Model 70 safety that locks the firing pin is the best thing that ever happened to a bolt action rifle and the flat bottomed receiver takes away any need to glass bed the action. Make sure it has a hinged floorplate so that it can be unloaded easily. Also make sure the barrel fits tightly in the barrel channel. If the barrel has been free floated so there's a space around the barrel that probably means that bubba has been fooling around and I would think hard before buying it. If the barrel has been free floated then there should be glass bedding around the chamber area because free floating doesn't work very good without glass bedding the rear 2 inches of the barrel. A plus would be a recoil pad because almost everyone can shoot a rifle better if it has a good one inch think recoil pad. It costs about $100 to have a Pachmayr Decelerator installed by a competent gunsmith. I'd be lost going deer or hog hunting without a Model 70 and I'll have one in my hands with the Oklahoma rifle season opens on November 21st.

 

[BradPenn]

Thanks everyone for the answers so far. Now all I need is for Tuesday to roll around to get back to the gun.

 

[Catpop]

I picked up my first winchester 70 in September of this year. It was a post 64 made in 1973. It wasn't a cream puff, but it does shoot- 1 3/4 groups at 200 yards (30-06 150 grain handloads) and I'm just getting started.
I too had always been a 700 man, but I was really impressed with the gun, especially the smoothness and simplicity of the trigger. I don't think you'll go wrong.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I would avoid any Winchester made in the last year of the New Haven plant. Otherwise I think it will be fine.

 

[BradPenn]

What year was the last year of the new havens?

 

[stoky]

I have a Featherweight in 30-06, that was one of the last of the New Haven's. I don't know if it was the last year or not, but it's been an excellent rifle.

 

[Bbear]

I have two right now - one a current mfg 264 wm that puts 3 rounds inside .5" and the other one I just couldn't leave there. Not for $350.
30-06 blued with no floor plate. Figured if it doesn't shoot it would be the basis for a good re-barrel.

 

[Catpop]

Bbear,
that's exactly what happened to me and the thoughts I had about the rebarrel if wouldn't group! Tickled to death when it proved it would group; with submoa at 200 yards. Mine was missing both sights had a cracked buttplate, and chipped foreend cap. But then mine was only $180 otd)

 

[BradPenn]

Turns out it's a westerner. I bought it anyway. I'm in love fellers.

 

[T.R.]

Collectors get excited about pre-1964 models. But I bought a used model 670 (1972 build date) and had it re-barreled to 35 Whelen. Its a genuine keeper!

I tend to consider pre-1964 Winchesters as having too much collector appeal to suit me. The "others" are still legitimate hunting rifles.

TR

 

[Sniper66]

I am also looking at a Winchester M70 .270 on-line. It has a Boyd's stock and I assume it has the same bolt, safety, trigger, etc as all M70s do. Or am I wrong to assume that? I want the M70 Sporter, which sells new locally for $839.99 plus tax. I can get this rifle for under $600 and is said to look new, but seller doesn't know the history. Seems like a good enough deal and under $600 fits my budget better. I also believe it is a newer manufacture, definitely not pre 64.

 

[Clark]

I have a couple of pre 64 M70s.
They are functionally not worth as much as they cost, because of collector value.

When my friend gets a truck, he takes out the engine and rebuilds it.
When I get a rifle, I rebarrel, restock, re scope, re sling, ...etc.

If you add a recoil pad to a pre 64 M70, it loses hundreds of dollars in value.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive had 3 pre 64 model 70s and probably a dozen post 64s and every one of the post 64 guns were great shooters and the pre 64 guns were just average at best shooters. Bottom line too is the more recent post 64 guns have better fit and finish and are better looking guns then anything Winchester has done before or after 1964

 

[Catpop]

Bradpenn,
give us a range report, after you have a go at the range with it.

 

[joed]

I've owned a few model 70's from the late 70s, 80s, 2005 and 2013. Never had a bad one. I actually like them as much as I like the 700s.

Only had one that is CRF, all others were PF. Each have good points and bad but I don't have a preference. My best shooting 70 is a Stealth from about a year before they closed the factory. I'd hate to part with it, never had a rifle shoot as good. This rifle will shoot to POI the same cold or warm, never had one do that before.

The only flaw I've ever found with earlier wood stocked models is they should be bedded and free floated. I can say the same for Remington 700s. All that I've owned were amazing once bedded. The new Featherweight I have came free floated.

For the price you were given I'd buy it.

 

[BradPenn]

i put a leupold vx-1 on it and took it to the range yesterday. It'll put 5 130gr core-lokts in a wee little bit bigger than a quarter. So now I'm just waiting on the deer to do their part.

 

[Nature Boy]

Pictures man! We need pictures!