Mitchell Gard
Member
I've heard in a few places that the model 70's with walnut stocks are prone to the wood warping after a few years and reducing accuracy. Can anyone prove or disprove this and or elaborate?
Winchester Model 70 stock warping?
- Thread starter Mitchell Gard
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lowerunit411
Member
I have several model 70s but never had that issue but i know it is not uncommon, most likely beacuse no attempt to seal the internal surfaces is made.
Smith357
Member
My M70 is fairly new, only 40 years old, with no warping. All my rifles have had wood stocks (I loath plastic on my firearms) and none of them have ever shown any signs of warping, but I keep the insides oiled with BLO or Tung oil and do not immerse them in water.
Mitchell Gard
Member
Does the factory not seal the entire stock?
Chawbaccer
Member
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One of my Featherweights, the fore arm will move around with weather changes or from barrel heating, other one, not so much. Other 70's seem pretty solid.
Zeke/PA
Member
I own several Model 70's of the Pre-War and Pre '64 vintage and have never had a stock warpage problem.
For the most part, my "deer rifle" a Pre- War 4 Digit holds zero from one year to the next.
For the most part, my "deer rifle" a Pre- War 4 Digit holds zero from one year to the next.
Mitchell Gard
Member
Well all things considered, what are some things that can be done to prevent this or reduce the chances? And aside from regular cleaning and keeping it "oiled" what can be done to increase overall life? I know these sound like some basic questions but I don't have any rifles of this style aside from an hold hand me down Mosin-Nagant. I'm used to M16a4's and M4's, both of which I don't hang onto for anything over a year or so, and some basic handgun knowledge. I've been under the impression that care and upkeep are a bit different than the rifles i've been exposed too. I'm on the market for a rifle such as the M70 and am still in the shopping around/researching stage and if I drop a grand+ I absolutely want to know what I'm doing.
Steve in PA
Member
I own a Win 70 with a wooden stock that I bought in 1982, no warpage at all.
30Cal
Member
If it's made from wood, then changes in humidity will alter it.
Polyurethane works.
Polyurethane works.
Jdillon
Member
Walnut is a diffuse porous wood, very stable and one of the primary reasons other than aesthetics why it is used in gun stocks. Although very stable, it will have dimensional variability with changes in relative humidity. It it nearly impossible to prevent this regardless of the coatings used. Regardless of what has been said, linseed oil and raw tung oil are not particularly good finishes since they never fully cure. Polymerized tung oil is far better since it will fully cure. Your best bet for finding quality finishes is from woodworking supply stores not at the sporting goods store. I have been a woodworker for over 30 years and worked with nearly every finish out there. Some are very good and most not.
I have a number of wooden stock rifles of various brands . Winchester wooden stock are no more prone to shift than any other brand. Most all of my bolt action rifles have the action with one inch of the barrel glassbedded with the rest of the barrel free floated.
Current Model 70
I have had my walnut stocked Model 70 for approx 2 years. I raise sheep and it travels with me most days secured to my ATV for predator control and the rare occassion when I have to put a sheep down.
Weather can vary from a 100+ degrees with dew points around 80 degrees, to 10 degrees + or - with humidity in 20's. Rifle is with me a driving rain storm, snow or full baking sun. No stock warpage. Same can't be said for some of the pressure treated fencing I have.
On rare occassions my SCAR17 goes along and I haven't noticed any big differences in temperature and humidity effects between the two.
I have had my walnut stocked Model 70 for approx 2 years. I raise sheep and it travels with me most days secured to my ATV for predator control and the rare occassion when I have to put a sheep down.
Weather can vary from a 100+ degrees with dew points around 80 degrees, to 10 degrees + or - with humidity in 20's. Rifle is with me a driving rain storm, snow or full baking sun. No stock warpage. Same can't be said for some of the pressure treated fencing I have.
On rare occassions my SCAR17 goes along and I haven't noticed any big differences in temperature and humidity effects between the two.
Any wood stocked rifle, made by any company can, and will expand and contract as temperature, humidity, and altitude change. Just a fact of life and no amount of sealing the wood will prevent all of it, just reduce the possibility in extremely wet conditions.
As the wood changes because of environmental conditions it puts pressure on the action and barrel in different ways. The changes are often so minor that most folks won't even notice. Sometimes it is bad enough to actually cause the wood to crack or split.
Most often it simply results in minor point of impact changes. All of my wood stocked rifles will shoot very good groups, but I've never had one not have to be re-zeroed every few months. Zero the rifle in the Spring, and by Fall it will still be shooting small groups, just at a slightly different place on the target.
I use only quality synthetic stocks on my go-to hunting rifles to prevent this and to also reduce weight.
As the wood changes because of environmental conditions it puts pressure on the action and barrel in different ways. The changes are often so minor that most folks won't even notice. Sometimes it is bad enough to actually cause the wood to crack or split.
Most often it simply results in minor point of impact changes. All of my wood stocked rifles will shoot very good groups, but I've never had one not have to be re-zeroed every few months. Zero the rifle in the Spring, and by Fall it will still be shooting small groups, just at a slightly different place on the target.
I use only quality synthetic stocks on my go-to hunting rifles to prevent this and to also reduce weight.
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