Heresy? Maybe. My new rifle.

[Waywatcher]

I recently purchased this gem of a rifle; classy and classic. A Winchester M70 chambered in .270 Winchester. I had really lacked any long range rifle, and I wanted one that would be heirloom quality. I previously had a 7.5lb .30-06 for many years but sold it because it was not fun to shoot--20ft/lbs of recoil. This M70, at 8.5lbs; because of the extra pound and the .270 cartridge, only recoils at 14ft/lbs and the difference is night and day.

These new Winchesters are being made by FN, in the same facility that they make machine guns for the military, so it comes from a quality controlled, skilled labor environment. Some say these are the nicest M70s yet, but I don't have an old one to compare it to. I can say it is a smooth, accurate, reliable rifle that is superbly finished.

On top sits a Leupold VX-3 3.5-10 x 40mm, mounted in Talley fixed rings.











And it shoots! This is 100 yards. I use a small 'diamond' of duct tape on a piece of cardboard as targets; cheap and easy.


So, why is this heresy? Because I sold my S&W Pre-27 5" and all my .357 accessories to finance it. I just didn't enjoy shooting that revolver all that much, and it was worth a lot of money, so down the road it went. So I said goodbye to a classic S&W, and hello to a great new classic rifle.

But I'm happy.

 

[CW Spook]

Jack O'Connor would approve.

 

[DR505]

You are happy...that is what matters. I have a .270 Remington 700 that is superbly accurate too! I love the caliber.

 

[kwselke]

Trading a fine gun of one type to get a fine gun of another type makes sense to me. I would have opted for a .308, but that's just me. Nice rifle.

 

[Waywatcher]

I would have opted for a .308, but that's just me. Nice rifle.

I decided, interestingly enough, on .270 even before I decided on the M70. .270 has always been available locally throughout the panic, and I knew it would have less recoil than my '06. Former military cartridges were sparse here, like .308 and .30-06.

When I started reading about .270 and Jack O'Connor, I knew it had to be a M70.

 

[kwselke]

I decided, interestingly enough, on .270 even before I decided on the M70. .270 has always been available locally throughout the panic, and I knew it would have less recoil than my '06. Former military cartridges were sparse here, like .308 and .30-06.

When I started reading about .270 and Jack O'Connor, I knew it had to be a M70.

I have nothing against the .270. I just like the short actions of the .308 better. I have three .308 bolt action rifles. I refer to them as small, medium, and heavy. It simplifies the ammo issue and I can load up just about anything I'd ever need.

 

[LVSteve]

Trading a fine gun of one type to get a fine gun of another type makes sense to me. I would have opted for a .308, but that's just me. Nice rifle.

I only like .308 in gas guns. Even in heavy bolt guns I find its recoil sharp and annoying. Regular M2 ball in a 1903A3 is tame by comparison.

 

[Texas Star]

I have a .270, the Fwt. version. I like it very much. My son has one in .30/06.

I hope you have O'Connor's books, "The Rifle Book" and, "The Hunting Rifle."

Jack took some big animals with the .270, including big oryx and sable antelope. He had heavier rifles for big game, including a .338 for coastal grizzlies and a .416 for Africa. Actually owned two or three .416's.

But he sure used the .270 and .30/06 a lot and said they were his favorite calbers.

He did use Nosler bullets a lot, which may explain why the .270 was so effective on elk and big African antelope.

I think you have a fine rifle and will be pleased. Thanks for the fine pics.

 

[kwselke]

I only like .308 in gas guns. Even in heavy bolt guns I find its recoil sharp and annoying. Regular M2 ball in a 1903A3 is tame by comparison.

Too each his own. I have a .308 Ruger M-77 MK-II Ultra Light with 20" barrel that weighs in at six pounds. A hunting buddy of mine has a pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .270. He claims his .270 Model 70 kicks worse than my Ruger. In all honesty the recoil seems the same to me. Both calibers are extremely effective and I do not think one better than the other for my purposes. I still think Waywatcher did good trading in a fine gun he had little use for for a fine gun that would fill his need.

 

[Hillbilly77]

I use a small 'diamond' of duct tape on a piece of cardboard as targets; cheap and easy.

[/URL]

I prefer orange duct tape - more visible than silver.

You're right - cheap and easy.

Cardboard - $0.00
Roll of duct tape - $4.00
Approx. number of targets from one roll - 350+/-
Approx. cost per target - $0.0114 - just over a penny per target.

P.S.
That's a purty looking rifle.

 

[Waywatcher]

I have a .270, the Fwt. version. I like it very much. My son has one in .30/06.

I hope you have O'Connor's books, "The Rifle Book" and, "The Hunting Rifle."

Jack took some big animals with the .270, including big oryx and sable antelope. He had heavier rifles for big game, including a .338 for coastal grizzlies and a .416 for Africa. Actually owned two or three .416's.

But he sure used the .270 and .30/06 a lot and said they were his favorite calbers.

He did use Nosler bullets a lot, which may explain why the .270 was so effective on elk and big African antelope.

I think you have a fine rifle and will be pleased. Thanks for the fine pics.

I will have to pick up or borrow from a library, those books.

I looked briefly at the Featherweights, and thought after my previous experience with my lightweight '06, "standard weight please!" I also liked the idea of a 24" barrel for a little extra velocity. I think a Featherweight in .243 Winchester would be a sweet second rifle to this one, though, if I were to get another.

Nosler bullets, in my experience, look like little pieces of jewelry; so perfect and almost a shame to shoot. They shoot so well though, I keep on using them!

 

[nawilson]

So, you traded away a classic Smith revolver you weren't too keen on to get a fine rifle that you wanted. You got what you wanted. No doubt someone else will end up with that pre-27 that appreciates it. He will win. I'm sure the dealers will make some money. They win. It is an all around winner. Enjoy that rifle!

 

[peyton]

Does the rifle have a "controlled feed" like the pre-64's? I have a whole bunch of Winchester's and even a couple of Remingtons. The common caliber of all of them is 99% are 270's!! The other two are in .243!!

 

[kamloops67]

nice rifle . is that a new/current model ?

 

[Texas Star]

I will have to pick up or borrow from a library, those books.

I looked briefly at the Featherweights, and thought after my previous experience with my lightweight '06, "standard weight please!" I also liked the idea of a 24" barrel for a little extra velocity. I think a Featherweight in .243 Winchester would be a sweet second rifle to this one, though, if I were to get another.

Nosler bullets, in my experience, look like little pieces of jewelry; so perfect and almost a shame to shoot. They shoot so well though, I keep on using them!

Also look for, "The Complete Book of Rifles and Shotguns" and ,"The Shotgun Book." Jack died in about 1978, but his writing is still largely valid. I just wish that he'd lived to see Wimchester restore the Model 70 to its present state. He would have been pleased, I think.

I've kept some letters from him, and keep them in his books. Some say that he was an elitist, and that is true. He was even in a fraternity. But I liked his wry sense of humor and wide knowledge of hunting arms.

The books can probably be had Online and many libraries and used book stores have them. They are generally not as expensive as books by Elmer Keith and Jack probably sold a lot more books than did Elmer, so used copies are out there.

 

[shouldazagged]

Beautiful rifle, in a fine, versatile caliber. I'm torn between being happy for you and envious as hell--and I can't even hunt anymore!

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Jack O'Connor wrote well, his books are good reading.

 

[Texas Star]

Does the rifle have a "controlled feed" like the pre-64's? I have a whole bunch of Winchester's and even a couple of Remingtons. The common caliber of all of them is 99% are 270's!! The other two are in .243!!

Peyton-

Dunno if the OP will see your question, so I'll answer.

Yes, current Model 70's do have the old Mauser '98 type extractor. But there is also a bolt guide and the actions are remarkably smooth when broken-in.

The version introduced in 1968 corrected many of the faults of the 1964 model and by 1972, the rifles also had good stocks.

The action since 1968 until they restored controlled round feeding was still very reliable. It used an older Mauser design of extractor that reminds me of a very beefed-up version of that used in the Lee-Enfield. The Lee was a reliable batle rifle! I am less happy with the Remington extractors. Both design and metallurgy favor the Winchester, I think.

 

[RobertJ.]

Jack O'Connor would approve.

As I was reading the post, and enjoying the photos, I was thinking exactly that!

Elmer, maybe not.

 

[Waywatcher]

Does the rifle have a "controlled feed" like the pre-64's? I have a whole bunch of Winchester's and even a couple of Remingtons. The common caliber of all of them is 99% are 270's!! The other two are in .243!!

Yes, it is a controlled round feed with a huge Mauser style extractor.

nice rifle . is that a new/current model ?

Yes, it is a new current model. The rifle (and whole package) was brand new, and I put it together. Forgot to mention that. I used a FAT wrench to torque the screws to spec, and Talley rings recommend no lapping. Everything lined up perfectly, and, without even bore sighting, my first shots were only 3" away from the bullseye at 50 yards.