Winchester Model 70 featherweight stainless synthetic

[slustan83]

I just recently put on hold a winchester model 70, on the side of the barrel it says "classic stainless BOSS." I'm a little confused. At the store he called it a featherweight, but it doesn't say that anywhere on the rifle, are the featherweights stamped as such?"

here's a pic of the almost the exact same rifle, only difference being the caliber, mine is in 30-06.

http://www.kouryinvestments.com/images/winchesterm70.jpg

Of all the stainless synthetics I've seen they have a different stock, the above pic is the only one that has the stock that is on the one I'm buying. It has the boss, just as in the pic. I really can't find any info on the particular rifle as its configured. I'm assuming that its the pre-64 action as it's a "classic model 70." Any info or insight would be greatly appreciated. Price on it was 650, seemed a little high, the gun appears brand new, maybe a few rounds down the barrel if that, but when i shouldered it, it just felt right, so i went ahead and put it on layaway. Time to work a little overtime.

 

[jmr40]

That is a featherweight stock. The barrel should be slightly thinner than a standard rifle as well. I have an older pushfeed featherweight made during the 1980"s and mine says so on the barrel. Can't say about the classics.

 

[slustan83]

I can't seem to find too much information on that particular configuration. I'm beginning to think someone just change the stock, which really isn't a bad thing, just kind of curious. Thanx for the help, anyone else has anything please feel free to chime in.

 

[slustan83]

Double Tap

 

[dakotasin]

my stainless/wood featherweight bought new the day before winchester closed up shop just says 'classic stainless' on the right hand side of the barrel.

the featherweight contour barrel is very obvious. when you get your rifle, mic the muzzle and put a post up for comparison's sake, and you'll know for sure then.

if somebody swapped out the stock for a synthetic version, more's the pity - the wood stock on that rifle is beautiful. but, they did come w/ synthetics from the factory as well, so it may not be a swap.

 

[Chawbaccer]

I think the later Featherweights had a heavier contour barrel. I have one pre-crf and it is a lot skinnier than the one pictured.

 

[Eightball]

BOSS is that thing on the end of the barrel. It helps tune barrel resonance, as well as reduce recoil, to help make your rifle far more accurate; I can't figure why that would stamped on a featherweight?

Normally, BOSS is a Browning thing--never knew Winchesters had them. I think it would be a little odd for a featherweight to have one, but if it reduces recoil as much as I've heard, it might be necessary to not dislocate one's shoulder.

Here's info on the BOSS system, for people who want to know:
http://www.browning.com/faq/detail.asp?ID=107

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

B.O.S.S. was available on various Winchester rifles for several years. This isn't too surprising as FN owned the manufacturing rights for both brands. The BOSS system works well, but the cheesy little stamped steel wrench for it has to go. Why? Because if the BOSS doesn't stay tight, accuracy goes to hell in a handbasket in no uncertain terms. I don't think the BOSS ever appeared on a Winchester that wasn't in Classic configuration from the factory. Your's does have the Mauser claw doesn't it? Beware a barrel swap if it doesn't.

There are two variants of the BOSS; the muzzle brake version & the CR version without the cheese grater holes in it. Considering that your gun is a .30-06, you need the addtional noise from the muzzle brake like you need a hole in your eardrum. The .30-06 is not a shoulder-pounder, not even in the "featherweight" iteration. If you think it will be, get a good recoil pad put on the gun, but honestly you shouldn't need to. A good hold & positioning of the firearm into your shoulder is all that's needed.

The price you're paying, presuming no barrel swap, is a stone bargain around here. Scheel's has leftover model 70's on the rack for a mere $999.95. They're wood/blue guns, but nonetheless!

By the way, I have a Winchester/USRA stainless classic .30-06 with both BOSS's, and LHB. I wonder what that's worth these days?

900F

 

[slustan83]

Yes, it doe's have the mauser claw extractor. The one in the pic is from a website that is asking 1500 for that particular rifle. I haven't seen many other in that configuration so for the price they are asking I jumped on it. I already found the B.O.S.S Conventional recoil weight online for 30 dollars so i already ordered that. Thanks for all the info!

CB900F, when you mentioned barrel swap, was there something that was particularly wrong with winchester barrels, or did you mean just to change over to the mauser type extractor? Anything I need to look for or am I good to go since it has the extractor?

 

[jimbeam]

I don't know if I can add any dialogue of use to this discussion, but I too have a model 70 featherweight XTR from the 80's with a fiberglass stock, blind mag., not stainless. .560 diameter inch from muzzle. 1995 I won a model 70 stainless with B.O.S.S. 300 WM that just says Winchester on the barrel. Have a 30-06 stainless Classic from about same year, those barrels are .620. As mentioned before, the boss was not available very long on the winchesters. I beleive I could put the classic action into the featherweight fiberglass stock without too much problem, if I am mistaken someone correct me. One way to tell if this was done is to look for the blind mag.

 

[slustan83]

I can honestly say I don't know what a blind magazine is. If you release the floorplate there is a box magazine attached to it.

 

[slustan83]

I'm beginning to believe the picture is how it shipped from the factory. serial number on the picture rifle is 1270xx range and mine is in 1245xx. Don't even know why it matters, but it's nice to know, thanks to everyone who has posted, if anyone thinks of anything else feel free to add.

 

[CB900F]

Slustan;

No, nothing wrong with the Winchester barrels. What I was cautioning against was the possibility of a classic barrel being swapped onto a push-feed action. Frankly, I don't know if it's even possible, but I strongly suspect that it is. If that had been done, it would degrade the value of the gun. But, it appears you've gotten a true classic pre-64 type action with BOSS for an exceedingly good price. Congrats on scoring the CR too, that'll be a plus for sure.

900F

 

[jimbeam]

blind mag. is no floorplate release, I think it was to make the stock stronger. I don't think the barrel switch is possible, according to one of the gunsmiths that I asked this very question. I have the barrel from the classic stainless which I swapped out to 338-06 and inquired about putting it on the featherweight which is push-feed, and told no-go.

 

[slustan83]

Gothca, no it has the floorplate release.

 

[mudstud]

slustan,
Your rifle is a Model 70 Classic Featherweight All-Terrain, and it appears to be all factory original, IMHO. They were manufactured from 1996 thru 1998 without the Boss, and from 1996 thru 1997 with the Boss. Chamberings were 270 Win, 30-06, 7mmRM and 300WM, and also there was an uncatalogued run in 338WM.

I have three of them, all 7mmRM's. All say "Stainless Classic" on the barrel. They do not have the Featherweight contour barrel. None of mine have the BOSS, as I wouldn't own a rifle with that "business" on the end of the barrel. The BOSS was a dog in Model 70's, and was only manufactured for about three years total, in all Model 70's. It did better among Browning shooters, as apparently most Model 70 shooters are much more traditionally minded than Browning shooters. But no doubt, in 20 or 30 years, the BOSS on a Model 70 will be very collectible!

While I do try to keep somewhat abreast of Model 70 Classic values, I honestly can't evaluate your rifles value. If that rifle didn't have the BOSS, it would be a good buy at $650, IMHO. With the BOSS, it gets pretty murky. The Blue Book automatically assigns a $100 increase in value for any Model 70 with the BOSS. One of many reasons I don't pay much attention to the Blue Book! I think the Model 70 with a BOSS is pretty much shunned by the vast majority of collectors. But that can always turn around in the future, as they are somewhat rare, particularly in your configuration. That dude who thinks he is gonna get $1500 for one of those, better back away from the crack pipe, IMHO!

But $650 is not a great deal of money for a stainless Classic Model 70, and if you like the BOSS system, it's your money, buy it, don't look back, and go forth and slay a boxcar load of critters with it!

 

[kingstrider]

Today I found a Classic Stainless in 30-06 with the BOSS, rings & mounts for $400. After reading this post and looking at these on Gunbroker I realized it was a hell of a deal and called the store to hold the gun for me until tomorrow. For a reloader I think its a nice feature as I like to benchrest shoot a lot.