Winchester Model 70 Stock

[Palladan44]

I've owned a Winchester Model 70 for the better part of 20 years. "Super Shadow" in 300 WSM.
I love it. The only thing I've been on the look out for is a beautiful wood stock which would be compatible with her. What should I be on the look out for as far as specifications?

 

[gotboostvr]

The "easy button" would be one of the Boyd's stocks.

They're mostly known for laminates, but higher grades of various woods are available through them.

 

[Slamfire]

I've owned a Winchester Model 70 for the better part of 20 years. "Super Shadow" in 300 WSM.
I love it. The only thing I've been on the look out for is a beautiful wood stock which would be compatible with her. What should I be on the look out for as far as specifications?

I have seen some gorgeous wood on competition rifles at small bore prone matches. And there is one common denominator with all of the beautiful old growth wood I have seen: they came from some one's yard, or a half century old wood stockpile. The owner's of these stocks found the wood and sent the wood to a stockmaker. That may be the best route for you, if you truly want an attractive stock.

Joe Farmer, in his middle 80's was the Senior Smallbore Champion. He told me he acquired the blank for this rifle at Camp Perry in the 1960's, and that before he made it into a stock, he had been offered a thousand bucks for the wood. Joe had the skills to make this stock. RIP Joe.

 

[jmr40]

You're going to have to provide a LOT more information. Some of those rifles had blind magazines, some had floorplates. And the ones with floorplates use a different stock than those made after 2006. Prior to 2006 they had 2 piece steel bottom metal. Newer rifles have 1 piece aluminum bottom metal and the stocks for them are for the most part not interchangeable. It is possible to make them work with some modifications, but it isn't easy. And the follower for 300 WSM is a different shape than for non-WSM cartridges.

If you get all of that figured out a short action stock will fit, you just have to make sure you have the correct bottom metal and follower. There are very few options for stocks that fit Winchesters with blind magazines. If you do have to convert from a blind mag to a floorplate I'd suggest going with the newer style stock and bottom metal. There are a lot more options when you start buying stocks and bottom metal.

You might find an older walnut stock for sale on one of the internet gun sales forums.

CDNN bought out a bunch of spare parts when Winchester closed their New Haven factory in 2006 and still have a few.

WINCHESTER M70 SPORTER SHORT ACTION STOCK (cdnnsports.com)

The floorplate adapter sold with the stock will allow newer style bottom metal to work with that older style stock. If you already have 2 piece bottom metal I think this stock will work for you. If you have a blind magazine you'll need to buy new bottom metal. I don't know of a current source.

These guys used to carry it. I have their bottom metal on 2 of my Winchesters, but the only thing they are currently showing is to convert to a DBM. Might be worth calling them if you need this.

Search - Pacific Tool and Gauge

 

[Palladan44]

Great idea.

I have seen some gorgeous wood on competition rifles at small bore prone matches. And there is one common denominator with all of the beautiful old growth wood I have seen: they came from some one's yard, or a half century old wood stockpile. The owner's of these stocks found the wood and sent the wood to a stockmaker. That may be the best route for you, if you truly want an attractive stock.

I have a plethora of hardwood laying around. Sugar Maple, Black Walnut, Black Cherry, White Oak.
They're all in log form, mostly undried.
Where would I go from there? Just sawmill a 2 1/2" x 8" x 3' hunk of whatever I wanted to use and send it to a stockmaker? Who? Do I dry the wood myself or do they kiln dry it first. Interesting concept here, thanks for the tip.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Great idea.

I have a plethora of hardwood laying around. Sugar Maple, Black Walnut, Black Cherry, White Oak.
They're all in log form, mostly undried.
Where would I go from there? Just sawmill a 2 1/2" x 8" x 3' hunk of whatever I wanted to use and send it to a stockmaker? Who? Do I dry the wood myself or do they kiln dry it first. Interesting concept here, thanks for the tip.

Here is a walnut stock blank. This one was cut into this shape about 40 years ago. I paid $180 on an online auction for it. I dont remember where it came from but it was west of The Divide. 3" thick, about 40" long and about 8" wide at the big end. It has a coating on it to protect it and show the figure.



Green wood shrinks and warps when cut. So if you want a 3" thick blank, cut it 3.5" thick. Then it needs to dry to about 12% moisture content, and then cut/planed to final blank shape. Ill be carving it myself. No, i havent done any before, nor would i be willing to do someone else's... At this time anyways.

I am not familiar with the process of having a stock made. Boyds may be willing to carve one out of your wood. Or maybe check gun community resources like the NRA, state gun assn's, National Woodcarvers Assn, gunsmithing colleges, etc. I assume most do not have a kiln for drying the wood. Otherwise, cut it now and find a carver, then send em the blank in 18 to 24 months when it air dries.

A small kiln could be made pretty easy with bricks if you are able to have a contained fire on your premises. It doesnt have to get super hot, and shouldnt, unless you want charcoal!

 

[Bill M.]

Flatsawn blanks. 3" thick. Coat ends immediately after cutting with sealer. Air dry with good stacking for at least a year or 2. Maybe final dry in kiln. Sort through to find blank with good grain direction and figure. Look for stumps and crotches. Hope there are no internal checks when they rough it out. All in all an interesting hobby or pastime. Probably not the way to go if you just want one stock. If you have figured or curly maple there is a good market for long muzzleloader rifle blanks. One source for figured model 70 stocks is ebay. I am not up on all the model 70 configurations but I do know you need to know long or short action and the barrel contour at the least. I cut and saved a couple of blanks from walnut years ago. But I ended up buying a blank and having it rough inletted on a machine when I finally got around to doing my Mauser stock. My wood was not "figured" enough to suit me. The blank I bought was actually sawn from a walnut stump. I was going to add a figured stock to my model 70 but came to the realization that it would not be that much of an improvement for me.