Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Winchester Model 70 in 25-06

My grandpa hunted mule deer in Wyoming and whitetail deer in Missouri. I never hunted with him, but he had this 1965 Winchester Model 70.

He passed in 1992. I don't know when my grandma gave my dad this rifle, but whenever that happened it sat under my dad's bed or wherever for a while, at least 15 years.

I started hunting after college, around 22 or 23 years old, and maybe five years after that my dad gave me grandpa's old rifle, in pretty significant disrepair. The safety no longer worked, stock was the original 1965 Winchester that didn't fit me well and had the pressed wood checkering. It was chambered in 30-06.

I sat on this rifle for maybe 5 years, didn't really know what to do with it because I already had a good 30-06, and I didn't really "need" anything else to hunt with. Then my Rem 700 30-06 was getting a new barrel, and despite the barrel maker's prediction that I would have it "well before hunting season," Missouri deer opened and I wasn't going to have a rifle. I took grandpa's rifle to the range complete with 1965 era 4x Leupold scope, sighted her in, and took it to Missouri. Long story short the scope sucked (if you pointed it anywhere near a bright light, like in the direction of the sun, it washed out the view), the safety still didn't work...I took a couple of does, had an opportunity at a really good buck but I didn't get a chance to count points and passed on the shot.

When I got home I decided if I was going to have a rifle taking up room in the gun safe it would be a good one. I already had a 30-06 (and another one on the way at a stock maker's), so I thought I would rebarrel her to 25-06.

I sent the bolt to Skip Baldwin for rejeweling.

More barrel maker drama. Short version, Mike Rock made me a 25 cal barrel after more than a year waiting, almost using a Lilja barrel instead, then Mike sent the barrel to Lee a week before I was ready to send the Lilja to Lee.

Lee turned the rifle and sent it to Eddie Fosnaugh for cerakote.

I tried to keep the rifle either the same, or the same in concept, as grandpa's. He used it only as a deer rifle, I don't think he ever hunted elk, so 25-06 was fine. I still think whether I should have kept her a 30-06, but I already have 2 others. This is the only hunting rifle I have that's NOT a 30-06.

What's the same: action, bolt, original trigger, sling (made in West Germany).

What's the same in concept: Deer rifle. Fixed Leupold scope, though now a 6x36. Leupold mounts, though grandpa had a 1-piece windage adjustable mount, and I prefer the dual dovetails. Wood stock, I acquired a Winchester featherweight pattern and Lee fit it to the action. I tried to like a McMillan Hunter's Edge and it just never felt right for this rifle. I might drop her into a wood stock with some more figure some day.

I know the 1965 Winchester Model 70 wasn't a good year for Winchester. But I'm not ready to get rid of the rifle, and she shoots really, really well. I hope my son and daughter kill their first deer with it.



Winchester Model 70, manufactured in 1965, push feed
Assembled by Lee Christianson (Redneck here)
Rock Creek #2 stainless barrel, 9 twist, chambered in 25-06, 24 inches long
Cerakote graphite black by Eddie Fosnaugh
Original trigger, set to 3 lbs
Winchester Featherweight stock, manufactured in the South Carolina days
Brownells Latigo sling
Leupold 6x36 LRD
Leupold Dual Dovetail mounts
Weighs around 8.25 lbs

She shoots really well. I started doing "load development" like I would for my 30-06, and then realized it was unnecessary. Now I just pick a bullet, pick a reasonable powder, and sight her in. H4831 + 115 BTs, 115 Bergers, 110 Accubonds, all sub MOA. H4350 + 100 TTSXs, 100 Partitions, 100 BTs, all sub MOA. I know 25 cal bullets supposedly suck, poor B.C. and all, but I don't care about B.C. I don't shoot at animals past 300 yards typically, and I've never taken a shot at a deer past 175 yards.

Thanks to Lee for rebuilding a fantastic shooter.

Nice!

Nice looking rig! I don't know why folks turn their noses up at those push feed model 70's. granted Winchester did itself no favors in the early yrs of the push feeds with the stock they put on them. I'm still looking for a 1979-1980 featherweight xtr in a 30-06.

My Grandpa hunted with a XTR in 25-06 for a long time. Glad to see you keeping your Grandpa's rifle in use.

nice

Nice rifle.. Great to know you have grandfather's rifle...

Nothing wrong with those push feeds. I've had an 80's XTR in .25-06 since they first came out and recently bought one of the same period in 7mm Rem Mag.

Shhhhhhh.....
They are a substandard rifle. No-one really wants one if you are serious about good rifles?

Beautiful rig.

Awesome story and great sentimental value!! Looks great.

Great story.

Very nice!

Nice rifle! Glad you're keeping it in the family.