Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Which are the most desirable "Classic" M70's?

Gents

What serial number range(s)are considered the most desirable for the New Haven "Classic" series of M70's?

I tried to search the topic in this forum, but was unsuccessful...

Shotgunjock

I believe the ones with a G serial number either five or six digit. Example G23456

I would say those from early to mid 90s when stainless stocked in wood was available. Something in European caliber like "old soldier" 7x57 should top the want to own list.

Taken from another thread....

Pre-apology as I do not mean to hijack, but since you are talking collectible Model 70 Classics, what is the lowest G prefix Classic serial number you have seen or heard of?

Far from an expert, but myself, and a few others report having G prefix 5 digit serial numbered SuperGrades years before the Classics appeared in print and on shelves. Those guns had actions identical to the Classic action and if memory is correct, all came out of the custom shop. I traded that gun off so long ago that I can't remember how the barrel was marked. Mine was a 338.

ETA: Mine was a 338 Win Mag

Yes, yes even late production CRF short actioned Featherweight Model 70 in .338 Federal would be nice to own.

Hey, I like the way you think!

The most desirable "Classic" M70's are...........

the left handed ones!

tmitch, you do make a very valid point...

I've got three G series 6 numbered M-70's here, two are shot out and rebarreled 7mm STW's, one is in 375 H&H in custom walnut, the other is a 300 RUM with it's stainless barrel in a digital camo painted syn stock, the only factory gun left is an old Classic Super Grade in 300 Win Mag.

Very nice action works on these old guns, I love em and can easily see why there's still vigorous interest in obtaining them.

I have a G16xxx and one G10xxx Classic. I have not seen any four digit Classics.

I guess I've had over 20 classic stainless M70's from the 90's and 2000's... my favorites are those from about 1996 - 2001.

Brad
Were any of them four digit Classics or low five digit?

4 digit rifles would be custom shop guns IIRC.

So standard production Classics started in the low five digits? Just curious.

Just curious: why are the G prefix, five numbered rifles considered the most desirable and what, if any, premium comes with having one of those rifles from a dollar perspective?

They started in the low 5 digits, not 4.

I believe 15000 is the starting number for standard production.

The G10XXX Classic I have was a standard SM (synthetic matte) finish rifle. The G16XXX was a standard FW.

I haven't read this whole thread, but try to find a Classic in other than Winchester Calibers as not many were usually made.

For example, an early G model under 200,000 in .280 Rem. Caliber would be a good place to start. It took me a long long time to find one.

I do own a Custom Shop rifle with 4 digits. It's a 300 WSM Extreme Weather and was produced before the standard production Extreme Weather was released.

I bought G17xxx, a blued Super Grade in 7mm Remington Magnum with a manufacture date probably 1992-93, as a barreled action unfired since it left the factory. It came with a tag which does not mention the Custom Shop, and fittings for a wood stock. It has since been re-barreled (still 7RM) the action trued, and stocked. The gunsmith who did the work said the receiver as it came from the factory needed a lot of work to align and the factory roll marks I saw for myself were on the sloppy side. This isn't a complaint, but to the OP, I wouldn't nominate the Super Grades from that period as "most desirable".

Everyone seems to get all bunched up over early Classics. The way it's been explained to me is that the bolts were more carefully made to spec and somewhat larger diameter,so a better fit in the receiver.Less slop.

I used to know the measurements but forgot them. Anyone else aware of any other significant differences?

I have read through this whole thread and I can tell there is a lot of Winchester knowledge here. Can someone please tell me if I have anything more than just a nice hunting rifle. Back in the late 90s I bought a Win 70 featherweight chambered in 6.5x55. It is a New Haven gun with a G prefix serial number but is a seven digit number G255****. Collectible???

Yes, it is collectable. They didn't make a lot of the 6.5x55's... I don't think you'd have trouble selling it..

I love my Dads old .338 WM Win 70 Classic, It has killed a dump truck full of elk, deer and pronghorns.

I occurred to me, of the couple dozen Classic's I've owned, all but one (a 416 Rem Mag) were Classic Stainless rifles, so my serial no. savvy is limited to those...

I have been looking for a nice M70 in 308. LGS has one with serial G2097524. That's 7 digits after the G. I is a very, very plain push feed gun.

When people talk 5 or 6 digit, they are more or less referring to the classics. Mainly the early classics. A 7 digit push feed on the other hand...??? Sounds like a model 70 Ranger to me...

They were made on brand new tooling.. Is one reason giving.. By the time 7 digits hit the scene the employees at the new haven plant knew they were out of a job they stopped giving a [bleep] I guess...

I have a push feed made when WRA was still making rifle bought it off my bud Lawrence and I will put that rifle up against anyone's rifle as far as accuracy and fit and finish. Those rifle made in 79-early 81 were some of the best made I think

The 7 digit push feed M70 would be about $600 OTD with Bushnell 3x9 mounted. Looks like new, but very plain. Would it have the old style 70 trigger or the newer MOA trigger?

$600 too much and I will say it again for guys any model 70 with G prefix WILL have the old trigger all model 70 starting with 35 followed by three letters will have the MOA trigger. That concludes today's lesson ..

I will further back up what John says. Way too much. Here's one of the best push feeds made. I paid $600 for it and later sold it to 79s:




This was a NIB condition rifle when I bought it. Its one of the good ones and made by WRA before they switched hands to USRAC in '81. A "plain" jane 308 push feed wouldn't trip my trigger for $600.00, unless it came with a nice Swarovski scope on it...

I actually sent Citori16 a link to a nice pre 64 model 70 fwt 308 for $829.00. I would have jumped on that deal way way before a plain looking pushfeed 308. Just sayin

Funny, I just posted a couple pictures of that rifle. Cool that your daughter shot her moose with it last year. Very cool my friend!!! One thing about that rifle is it shoots as good as it looks and functions perfectly. They really put that one together right. I think a lot of us have spent a loooooong time searching for the right rifle and that is one of them. I'm glad your daughter likes it..

BSA - you did send good advice on item I was considering & tip on another. I do appreciate it. So many interesting M70's out there, I am still trying to decide on the one for me. The gun pictured above is a beauty and much nicer than one at my LGS.

The one pictured above is an XTR FWT made when the fwt first came back on to the market in 1980. There was a span of 17 years where they (Winchester) made no fwt model 70's. Damn they sure were f'd up back then!!!! That's called having your head so far up your azz that you can't see straight. Luckily they came to their senses and brought them back to market in 1980.... My fwt rifles are among my favorites. They are easier to tote in the woods, shoot well enough (as 79s can attest to) and to me feel perfectly balanced in the hands. Really built the way a good rifle should be. I understand there are many choices out there, but you will be pretty hard pressed to find a better rifle than the pre 64 308 fwt I sent in the link. Those guys don't know what they have (typical Cabela's gun library manager) ... They have it listed as a "post 64" model 70. Laffable right there... .... Oops, I see they raised their price to $929.00.... Maybe they are catching on...

As Lawrence pointed out its my daughters gun and she knows it that thing loves 140gr hornady's.. I was going to use Lawrence load with the partition but wth why mess with something that works.. I only had one bad Winchester and it was one of the last ones out the plant in a 325 wsm.. I have good shooting 7 digits great shooting 6 digits but I have had couple 5 digits and they shoot very well. My wife's 5digit 280 shoots 160gr accubonds very well. I have a 5 digit 7 mag that's not even bedded that is phenominal shooter with 160gr accubonds.

another way to tell is to look for the small screw located on the piece that holds the safety. (forgot what that is called) If it has the little screw its a good one. Most will be under G200,000. BOSS actions are good!