Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Help with dating a Mod 70 please

Looking for help. My dad has a mod 70 that was bought by mom around 1970. He was told it was a 1970model. It is push feed, and has 3screw stock. Serial number available if it is ok to post the whole thing. I want to possibly put it in a McMillan for him..
I have min knowledge about them so help appreciated

People don't post the complete serial numbers for their own protection, not because it isn't allowed. For dating, posting the number with the last two digits replaced with xx is sufficient.

Ok thanks. Number is 8188xx. Found a link to Winchester that puts it at 1966... Does that sound correct?
I think I was confusing the controlled vs push time period with one piece vs 2 piece bottom metal

Without checking that sounds very close. Post 64 started with 800,000.

The very early ones, such as yours, do not have the anti-bind bolt. Yours probably has solid locking lugs on the bolt instead of the left (actually top when closed) slotted with the anti-bind feature. Another reason folks hated them was the huge gap floating the barrel.

The early ones look similar to pre 64's at a glance.

They are a decent gun but Winchester should have renumbered them, i.e. Model 70-1, as it was a radical departure from the pre 64.

You will need a post 1964 long action stock. I am not sure if the Classics (controlled round) stocks are the same or not. I think any will work up to the time Win quit making them in CT.

Your rifle should have impressed checkering -- does it? It should also have an aluminum floor-plate.

Thanks for all the input. I dont have rifle with me. Dad still uses it regularly. Will have to check on those facts when i have the rifle in my hands.

The pressed checkering will be smoother rather than sharp i assume?
Will check floorplate also.... How do you tell aluminum easiest..Magnet?

Yes to both those questions. It doesn't really matter, those are just features of that rifle from 1964 to 1967 or so.

Thank you for all the help

I can't edit my post. I am not sure which lug on the pushfeed M0 has the anti-bind groove. The earliest ones didn't have the groove in either lug for sure.