M-70 Winchester forums?

Outrider · #1 10-27-2010, 04:39 PM

Is anybody familiar with any M-70 Winchester forums?

Point me there, please...

okie john · #2 10-27-2010, 05:03 PM

I don't know of anything that specific, but there are knowledgable people at 24hourcampfire.com and accuratereloading.com.

What's your question? We may be able to answer it here...

Okie John

Steave · #3 10-27-2010, 06:00 PM

There is a Winchester collectors forum, but it seems to focus primarily on the lever guns and really doesn't get a lot of traffic. For as popular as Winchesters are as collector pieces, there really isn't what I would call a great forum, which is surprising. I sure wish there was a good Winchester board.

Here is the address for the Winchester Collectors Forum, http://www.winchestercollector.org

gregintenn · #4 10-27-2010, 06:38 PM

There are some very knowledgeable Winchester collectors here.

feralmerril · #5 10-27-2010, 08:08 PM

This site is more into the levers, but people there know bolts too.

Paco Kelly's Leverguns.com • Index page

Steave · #6 10-27-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregintenn

There are some very knowledgeable Winchester collectors here.

No argument there, I still wish there was a really good Winchester forum.

K.38 · #7 10-27-2010, 09:44 PM

A while back I was looking for info on a M70 7mm Mauser made around 1990 or so. There just doesn't seem to be anything like this forum out there. To bad as they are very interesting rifles.

Texas Star · #8 10-27-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K.38

A while back I was looking for info on a M70 7mm Mauser made around 1990 or so. There just doesn't seem to be anything like this forum out there. To bad as they are very interesting rifles.

All I know is that Jack O'Connor said that the 7mm was chambered to accept 175 grain bullets, so if you use mainly 139-140 grainers, there is some lead where the barrel throat burns out sooner from erosion than with the .270. That and the flatter trajctory of the .270 was why he changed to that cartridge, although he was very fond of the 7mm, otherwise, and his wife's favorite M-70 and one of his own were 7X57's.

If your question is of a collector's nature, I can't help. But hunters might want this info. Of course, it'd also apply to Rigby and other 7X57mm rifles, inc. Mannlicher-Schoenauers.

I'd like to know more about this, and the 7mm twist rate. Also, what do members here know about the 6.5X55mm M-70? Is accuracy good?

T-Star

Steave · #9 10-28-2010, 12:10 AM

I have M70 Featherweights in both 7X57 and 6.5X55. I haven't fooled with either one of them in years since I don't hunt big game any longer, and for that matter, never really worked with the 6.5X55 that much. I don't remember the exact load I used in the 7X57, but I know I shot 140 gr. Nolser Ballistic Tips exclusively and it was a solid 3/4 MOA gun with near max loads, about 2950 FPS, IIRC.

Texas Star · #10 10-28-2010, 01:44 AM

Steave-

Thanks!

Some say that the claw extractors (M-'98 type) are cheaply made on the Classic models made in recent years, and need replacing. Is there anything to that, or is someone just trying to sell replacement parts?

gregintenn · #11 10-28-2010, 08:04 AM

Quote:

ome say that the claw extractors (M-'98 type) are cheaply made on the Classic models made in recent years, and need replacing. Is there anything to that, or is someone just trying to sell replacement parts?

I haven't had any trouble with them, nor heard of any trouble from anyone else. All it is is a piece of spring steel.

Texas Star · #12 10-28-2010, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregintenn

I haven't had any trouble with them, nor heard of any trouble from anyone else. All it is is a piece of spring steel.

Yeah, but it has to be tempered right and shaped just right. Mine hasn't given any trouble, either. I like the rifle very much. (M-70 Classic Fwt. .270.)

Steave · #13 10-28-2010, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Star

Steave-

Thanks!

Some say that the claw extractors (M-'98 type) are cheaply made on the Classic models made in recent years, and need replacing. Is there anything to that, or is someone just trying to sell replacement parts?

I can't answer that. The only post-'64 CRF Model 70 I have is a stainless .338 that I bought new in '94 or so. I haven't shot that rifle in years, but never had a problem with the extractor. I just don't know enough about the CRF M70's to answer that.

gregintenn · #14 10-28-2010, 05:00 PM

I've a featherweight in 280 Rem. I've shot it a bunch. No problems. I've some older ones as well, but the 280 gets the work.

okie john · #15 10-28-2010, 06:53 PM

When there are problems with a Model 70 Classic extractor, replacing it with a Williams extractor (http://www.williamsfirearms.com/Index.htm) seems to correct them. See the Custom Rifles & Wildcats forum at 24hourcampfire.com for details. A few searches will either clear your head on the subject or make it a lot cloudier.

Okie John

Outrider · #16 11-04-2010, 04:09 PM

I'm interested in the BOSS settings for a .308 Winchester Model 70 with a BOSS-CR, using Hornady Superformance 165-gr.

Somebody gave me the settings for the 165-grain old Light Magnum in Boat Tail Soft point years and years ago -- and I didn't even have to tweak the BOSS. All I had to do was set it -- and my rifle was unbelievably dead-on. It saved a lot of ammo -- for sure!!!!!!!

I could put 10 rounds at 100 yards in the size of quarter to half dollar.

You can't find the Light Magnums anymore -- and I'm hoping the new Superformance shoots about the same.

I'm down to my last 12 rounds of Light Magnum -- and would love to just be able to dial the BOSS-CR a few ticks -- and make the switch to Superformance.

(If I can't get the info here, I'll try Hornady -- or see whether the main Winchester headquarters has the settings.)

Texas Star · #17 11-04-2010, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outrider

I'm interested in the BOSS settings for a .308 Winchester Model 70 with a BOSS-CR, using Hornady Superformance 165-gr.

Somebody gave me the settings for the 165-grain old Light Magnum in Boat Tail Soft point years and years ago -- and I didn't even have to tweak the BOSS. All I had to do was set it -- and my rifle was unbelievably dead-on. It saved a lot of ammo -- for sure!!!!!!!

I could put 10 rounds at 100 yards in the size of quarter to half dollar.

You can't find the Light Magnums anymore -- and I'm hoping the new Superformance shoots about the same.

I'm down to my last 12 rounds of Light Magnum -- and would love to just be able to dial the BOSS-CR a few ticks -- and make the switch to Superformance.

(If I can't get the info here, I'll try Hornady -- or see whether the main Winchester headquarters has the settings.)

Any idea why Hornady dropped the Light Magnum? I thought it made sense!

T-Star

K.38 · #18 11-04-2010, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Star

Any idea why Hornady dropped the Light Magnum? I thought it made sense!

T-Star

From what I understand the Light Magnum was hard to make and keep consistant. The new Superformance is loaded like conventional ammo but with high tech powder.

Superformance is supposed to be cheaper to make and just as fast if not faster than light mag. I hope it shoots as well as the light mag. My Rem 700 .30-06 shot that stuff great. I harvested many deer over the years with it and never had a problem.

Outrider · #19 11-04-2010, 09:29 PM

Actually, I found the Light Magnums incredibly consistent out of my BOSS-CR.

In fact, I had two odd, left-over, individual rounds from lots that had been purchased at least two years apart -- and maybe more.

Just for grins, I set up a target at 25 yards -- and put both rounds through one hole that was barely ragged on the edges.

That still stuns me!

I suspect the soft points were a little too tough a bullet and didn't open up enough.

I'm probably going to call either Hornady or Winchester Friday and see whether they still have their "BOSS-man" on staff. He certainly was dead-on last time!

I actually think I might have been able to light a kitchen match with that rifle-ammo combo at 25 or maybe even 50 yards -- if I had a steady enough rest and enough cartridges.

K.38 · #20 11-04-2010, 11:11 PM

"Actually, I found the Light Magnums incredibly consistent out of my BOSS-CR." Outrider for the customer they were very consistant but for Hornady to make consistant was the hard part.

I found the same thing between lots and even years, the Light Mag and also their Custom ammo was very consistant.

Outrider · #21 11-08-2010, 01:05 PM

For the record, Winchester said the "official" sweet spot on a M-70 .308 with a BOSS-CR is 3.6 for 165-grain bullets -- then you work from there.

For a 165-grain Light Magnum .308 BTSP, the "dead-on" BOSS-CR setting is 4.1. That round was leaving the barrel at 2,880 fps.

Hornady said the load I'm considering, 165-grain Superformance SST, should be close to that -- as it's moving at 2,840 -- just 40 fps slower.

The Hornady rep said it'd be best to dial BOSS down -- as opposed to up -- initially.

Hornady said Winchester and Browning had sent them some rifles years ago with BOSSs on them to work up standardized BOSS settings. I was fortunate to call while that testing was going on -- and that's how I got the setting so exact from the lab tech.

Here's a valuable tip for those with a BOSS. Don't try to set the BOSS at 100 yards. Rather, set your target up at 25 yards. (Heck, 10 yards might even work.)

Find what the "official" sweet spot setting is, dial it properly, then crank your scope up to the maximum setting.

At that short distance, with the scope up high, you should hold steadier and see movement easier. Thus, it's easier to get the BOSS shooting through one hole faster and with fewer rounds.

Once you get it going through one hole, then sight the rifle in at distance.

Be aware that Winchester and Browning both have videos out on how to set the BOSS.

I deeply, deeply, deeply regret that Winchester discontinued the BOSS on the M-70. Maybe now that production has resumed at the FN plant in Columbia, SC after Winchester closed the Connecticut plant, the BOSS is something they'd consider bringing back.

In my view, it makes M-70 the most accurate rifle I've ever seen or shot -- and that's saying something.

(Also, be sure to use Gun-Tite on the BOSS once you get it set -- and make sure the trigger and magazine screws are secured at the right tension.)

Years ago, BOSS came out with fabulous groups -- then for some reason, the groups got bigger.

It was because the BOSS was shooting loose -- and so were the trigger and magazine screws.

Gun-Tite keeps that from happening.