Win Model 70 followed me home...

[Shorty4T]

Hi All,
Picked up a '65 Winchester Model 70 today in my favorite chambering, 300 Win Mag. This rifle has a lot of character, it will be a nice addition to my Rem 700SS in 300. The serial number is 759346. Thought I would see if anyone could tell me anything about this ol' girl.

Blueing is in fine shape with a few minor wear marks on it. The stock has a few scratches and dings, but nothing horific. It is missing the rear site, I though I would see if anyone has a vintage rear site laying around that I could purchase.

It's a great classic, the only thing that could be better was if it where a birth year rifle for the 300, '63.

Cheers,
Sam

 

[Shorty4T]

Hi All,
Picked up a '65 Winchester Model 70 today in my favorite chambering, 300 Win Mag. This rifle has a lot of character, it will be a nice addition to my Rem 700SS in 300. The serial number is 759346. Thought I would see if anyone could tell me anything about this ol' girl.

Blueing is in fine shape with a few minor wear marks on it. The stock has a few scratches and dings, but nothing horific. It is missing the rear site, I though I would see if anyone has a vintage rear site laying around that I could purchase.

It's a great classic, the only thing that could be better was if it where a birth year rifle for the 300, '63.

Cheers,
Sam

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I'm glad to see someone appreciates an early post-'64 Winchester Model 70. They were still good rifles despite the much discussed changes from the "pre-" models. It took Winchester a long time to restore the Model 70's status after the changes initiated in your rifle's era, but I think the reintroduction of the Classic line and featherweights in the 90s resulted in some of the best Model 70s ever made.

 

[jonnyringo]

Originally posted by VAdoublegunner:
I think the reintroduction of the Classic line and featherweights in the 90s resulted in some of the best Model 70s ever made.

I would have to agree with you 100% on that.

 

[rcnixon]

I have a mid-90's stainless classic in .308 and I like it just fine. In fact, thanks for the reminder. I'll include it in my next range trip, just to check the zero.

Russ

 

[2000Z-71]

Originally posted by jonnyringo:

Originally posted by VAdoublegunner:
I think the reintroduction of the Classic line and featherweights in the 90s resulted in some of the best Model 70s ever made.

I would have to agree with you 100% on that.

So would I. I've got 3 of the Classic models and I'd love to get another Fetherweight now that FN has re-introduced them.

 

[Shorty4T]

I would rather have an old classic than a shiney new one in most cases. The older rifles just have more character than a new one. Yeah it would be nice to have a '63 but the cost would have been 5 times or more the cost of this one. I'll have to take some better pics, these are the ones the guy posted in the ad. They really don't do the ol' girl justice.

Cheers,
Sam

 

[tyusclan]

I have a post-'64 model 70 in .270 that I bought used from a friend. I have no idea exactly how old it is, but I absolutely love it. It's a pure joy to shoot, and is a lot more accurate than I am.

 

[Shorty4T]

Hi Tyusclan,
Here is the serial number list for the post 64 Winchesters, you can see where yours falls.

Year S/N start S/N end Quantity
1964 700,000 757,180 57,181
1965 757,181 818,500 61,320
1966 818,501 855,860 37,360
1967 855,861 873,694 17,834
1968 G873,695 G929,990 56,296
1969 G929,991 G965,200 35,210
1970 G965,201 G1,000,436 43,236
1971 G1,000,437 G1,041,884 33,448
1972 G1,041,885 G1,088,291 46,407
1973 G1,088,292 G1,130,146 41,855
1974 G1,130,147 G1,176,878 46,732
1975 G1,176,879 G1,235,041 58,163
1976 G1,235,042 G1,298,272 63,231
1977 G1,298,273 G1,380,667 82,395
1978 G1,380,668 G1,423,869 43,202
1979 G1,423,870 G1,450,135 26,266
1980 G1,450,135 G1,493,463 43,328
1981 G1,493,464 G1,525,323 31,860

Cheers,
Sam

 

[tyusclan]

Thanks, Sam.

That puts mine at 1974.

Good to know.

 

[Sverre]

Shorty-

The '65- '07 models are great, and will do anything the pre-64 Models will do.

After the new models were intoduced in 1965, buyers complained that the bolts tended to bind in chambering a round. Winchester, to their credit, actually listened to the consumers (and gun "writers experts" (!))and added a narrow rail on the inner right side of the receiver and a guide cut in the bolt to keep the bolt aligned. In 1968 this slight mofication was introduced, and the new rifles were identified with a "G" prefix in the sertial number, see above post.

Finally, the Winny management listened again, and added the old pre-64 features sometime in the '80's.

Damn, I love my Model 70's.

"I wish I had picked up a cartload of Model 70 barreled actions when I could", is my regretful cry.

Cheers,

Sverre

 

[K.38]

Nice rifle.

I have a 1949 M70 in .30-06 and a 1982 M70 ligheweight in 7mm Mauser. Both are great rifles but the Mauser seems to have better fit and finish.

I would like to find a featherweight in 6.5x55 and a heavy target rifle from the 50's in .30-06. I seen the heavy target at a gun show in Bozeman MT about 4 years ago and that rifle was absolutely beautiful. I don't remember if it was for show or sale.