Not Your Typical Push-Feed Winchester Model 70!

[s&wchad]

For the life of me I don't understand what some people are thinking! This sat on a show table for several hours priced at $650 and no one snatched it up. The "expert" seller had it tagged as a standard factory gun and accepted my offer of $550. I would have paid more than the asking price!

It's chambered in .284 Winchester and came with a Burris 3-9X scope, about 60 rounds of ammo, lot of brass and dies. The Burris was too long for this lovely little rifle, so I added the Zeiss 4X.

It's actually an exquisitely done custom build. I'd guess the oil finished stock is at least AA grade, expertly shaped with a shadow line check piece, checkering at 24 or 26 lines per inch and inletted so tightly I'm reluctant to pull the action. The barrel has no visible markings, but appears to be a Douglass sported weight. It was rust blued, has a nicely fitted Decelerator pad and the trigger breaks right at 3 lbs.

I stashed the Burris, but could probably sell it for $150-$200. Having a stock like this made would cost well over $1000 and the Douglas barrel would set you back around $500. It does have a few marks from use, but I'm thrilled to own it and can't wait to get it to the range and see how it shoots!

I hope you enjoy the photos.

 

[SS336]

Wow! You really got a nice rifle for $550. Beautiful stockwork, great cartridge, you couldn’t go wrong.
The “expert” dealer really made a mistake on that I think. Checkering is superb. Very jealous here.

 

[LVSteve]

Beautiful piece. I wonder if the odd caliber scared away buyers.

 

[Eric300]

Well done, Sir! That's a beauty.

 

[s&wchad]

Beautiful piece. I wonder if the odd caliber scared away buyers.

It takes a 7mm bullet. .284 Winchester and its derivatives have had a resurgence with long range target shooters. I would have bought this rife regardless of the chambering.

 

[A10]

That stock is spectacular, and the fine checkering is equally so! You scored well on that one!

 

[murphydog]

Cool gun. Were you at a black rifle/plastic handgun kind of show?

 

[gdogs]

Absolutely beautiful gun, sadly custom bolt actions don't command the price they used to. In order to hold all or most of their value they need to have been built by a recognized name in gunsmithing. Nearly all custom guns are that way, as most people will never get even half of the money they put into customization out of them when they are sold. It's one of the reasons I own so many customized firearms... I pick them up cheap (when compared to what they cost to build) on the 2nd hand market. I too would have paid $650 for that rifle without any complaint.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

Congrats on this one! The checkering alone would probably be around $450.
Some stock makers will put their name or mark under the recoil pad or in the barrel channel. It has a look like it may have been styled in Montana by a gentleman I know as Ric. He did a rifle for me that is quite similar in some of the lines.
The stock blank, inletting, shaping, finish, checkering, etc etc would probably be close to if not over 2k.
You've done very well.

 

[s&wchad]

Cool gun. Were you at a black rifle/plastic handgun kind of show?

Just a small show, but that's the market these days. No accounting for taste!

Absolutely beautiful gun, sadly custom bolt actions don't command the price they used to. In order to hold all or most of their value they need to have been built by a recognized name in gunsmithing...

I have no idea who built it, but he was obviously a master craftsman. It wasn't Bubba!

 

[brendonjames65]

Congratulations, that is one beautiful custom rifle and one helluva deal! There is nothing quite like a well executed custom rifle done in the “old school” way. The rust bluing is a classy touch and the 284 Winchester an excellent round. You should be well pleased.

I’m having my late grandfather’s pre 64 M70 30-06 restored by one of the last of the great old time masters and my friend, Dennis Olson.

 

[375hh1973]

Helluva deal!

I will give you $551 if you are interested

 

[sceva]

But it's not even plastic! Why would anyone want one of the old fashioned wood and steel things.

Seriously though; that is one nice set up.

 

[diyj98]

Super nice looking rifle and I have no doubt that's a good price, but being customized and the caliber it would probably sell slower to the average rifle buyer in my area than a factory rifle in a more common caliber.

If it's a Douglas barrel, I believe it should be marked someplace on the barrel. I once live on the same road as Douglas Barrels.

 

[Bald1]

Nothing about that gun says Winchester model 70, other than the action itself. Perhaps the caliber scared people away. Expensive ammo if and when you can find it. Regardless she’s a beauty. Congrats!

 

[TheHobbyist]

Well, if you'd like one more person to say it...that thing is sweet.

It's really art at that point.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Magnifique!!!

 

[6string]

It takes a discerning eye to spot a nice rifle like that.
That someone like you snatched it up was serendipity!

As has been already pointed out, the "black rifle/plastic pistol" fad is the majority of the market. On top if that, the mass hypnosis of internet hype has created a degree of conformity behavior that I never thought I'd live to see in America, especialky amongst gun-enthusiasts.
I bet most people saw the chambering and thought, "I ain't never seen that there ammo at Walmart! Who'da want that?"

You got a great deal and a wonderful package. Dies and brass, too! And, as you say, the Burris scope is an excellent scope, but probably better suited for something else. The 4x Zeiss is an excellent choice!

Bravo! Enjoy!

 

[lihpster]

I'd buy that for a dollar. 650 even.

 

[7.62match]

You did real good, 284 win.is one of my favorite calibers.