Winchester Westerner Model 70 rifle

[roc1]

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I have a friend that has a Winchester Model 70 that is marked Westerner on it.The Blue Book shows no such gun an old version of Gun Trader shoed it.The Gun Trader showed to be a pre 64 model but on Gun Broker I have seen 83 models for sale.My question is when did Winchester make this gun model besides pre 64?I think he bought this gun in 1978 or 79.
Thanks for any info.
roc1

 

[huntershooter]

From memory the "Westerner" was the .264 Win Mag.
I'm thinking it came out in the early 60's ('62 ?).
It was (allegedly) overbore and rough on barrels. The 7mm magnum probably effectively caused it's lack of popularity/demise.

 

[roc1]

This one is chambered in 270 Win.It has not been redone it is original.
Thanks
roc1

 

[dakotasin]

i'm not a pre-64 expert, but i am fairly certain only 264's were marked 'westerner'.

since your friend's gun is 270, are you certain it has never been rebarrelled? due to the rep of the 264 win mag of destroying barrels, i think they fell from favor relatively quickly (probably coincided w/ the 7 rem mag's introduction, as huntershooter alluded to).

at any rate, i would like to know more about this, as well...

 

[roc1]

He bought it new in 270.
roc1

 

[jmr40]

I believe Winchester may have revived the "Westerner" name on later push feed rifles just for marketing purposes. Wouldn't be the first time a company has done something like that.