Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors What to do with a pre 64 featherweight?

I have a pre 64 Winchester Model 70 featherweight that I seldom use and was trying to come up with an idea for a new use for it. Rebarrel, change the caliber, add a quality stock, ???

Anyone have an good ideas or suggestions? I am at a loss.

You can send it to me to examine, I will be happy to help

Make it into a 35 Whelen. I would look at just re-boring it so it keeps the same contour and look as the original.

If it was me I would figure out why it isn't getting used. Then it is easy enough to figure out if it is "fixable" or time to move it on to someone who would be happy with it.
BTW, I love pre 64 fwts, in std cartridges. (i.e. 270 or 06)

If is is in original condition the way it is, you should probably sell it that way and buy something else to shoot.

The pre-64 FWTs should be pretty desirable.

donsm70

You could get it ready to hunt:




And then actually do so:

we need more info, great rifles deserving to go hunting.

Exactly. My sentiments as well.... However, with this being said, I hunt my other rifles. Particularly my sporterized m1917 and custom 338 win mag...

Exactly. I'd probably sell it rather than modify it. I'd put the money, from the sale, into something else more meaningful....

I recently purchased a pre'64 FW whose previous owner had rebarreled in .257 Roberts, it was one of my grail rifles. A FW in .35 Whelen is on my bucket list, prehaps one day soon. Either caliber in a pre'64 FW is an excellent option and close to being an ideal hunting rifle.

This. You'd be unlikely to find anything better at any price.

Thanks for all of the responses and ideas. I do appreciate the help.

My initial thoughts were to restock it and rebarrel it. The rifle is a 30-06 so, to me, the only options with doing a rebarrel was to keep it as a 30-06 or possibly go to a 35 Whelen. I would probably use a Kreiger if it is rebarreled.

patbrennen has the million dollar question. I do not know why I don't use it more but I always grab a 270 or 300 Win Mag when hunting. Wish I knew the answer to your question. The one thing I think of with that question is the factory stock is a low comb stock and it not all that comfortable for me to shoot. I like a higher comb than this rifle has. However the rifle does have quite a few deer and a few hogs to it's credit.

donsm70 the rifle is original but well used and no where near collector quality. There is bluing wear, a recoil pad, no front hood sight, etc. It is a hunters rifle and nothing more.

Battue what you show pictures of is very interesting. Would you mind taking the time to send me the particulars on that rifle either on here or by PM?

handwerk what kind of information do you need to help me with suggestions?

Bsa as I said above, the rifle is a hunting quality rifle only. If I sold it, or traded it, I have no idea what would be more meaningful. Just part of my quandary.

With that being said, I agree that a "redo" is in order. I think a 35 Whelen rebuild would fit go nicely with your 270 and 300 Win Mag.

donsm70

Boliep, there are actually two rifles.

The first is a .30-06 I recently acquired from Yar here on the fire. It is about as close to new as one could find. He said it was originally from a fellow who hunted it a couple days and then thought it too nice to hunt. It then was acquired by his father and spent the rest of its time locked away. I had a Smith put it in the McMillan Compact Edge and plan on hunting it this season.

The second is a .308W that again was hardly used. A fire member gave me a heads up on the bowling ball McMillan that was on special sale for a good price.

They both function great, carry nice and shoot better than good.


Something to think of: Some may think these two rifles should have stayed as pristine as the day I acquired them. They have a point, but I feel they were made to hunt and feel fortunate to have the opportunity. I'm not going to worry if they get a ding or scratch here or there. You say yours is shooter grade, well they all are from my perspective. There are few rifles that have the character of a used and well cared for "shooter grade" Model 70FWT. Yours to do with as you wish, but if it shoots well, there is little reason to tear it apart with a new barrel or rebore. A piece of history you have there in one of the most versitle cartridges every invented.

With few exceptions, there are few new factory rifles made today, that you can spend good money on, that compare with that shooter grade you presently own.


Addition: If yours is typical of the mold, you will gain little with a Kreiger. A little, but damn little.

If it was mine, shot well and I wanted to use it more, first thing I would do is get a good, lightweight synthetic stock for it (one that fit me well). After bedding it and checking accuracy with the new stock, I would probably just hunt it.
If I felt flush with cash, I might rebarrel it, to something with a bit less recoil!

Were it mine, I would re-think why I weren't using it. What could you re-barrel it to that a .30-06 couldn't do equally well? The M70 Fwt was one of the best thought out hunting rifles to come down the pike. There's not much we mortals can do to one to improve upon what the wizards at Winchester wrought.

Friend loads his .30-06 down to .308 and even .300Savage levels. It shoots great, recoil is pleasant and he kills his Deer most every year just the same.

Other than dropping it in Edge, nothing....

How does the gun shoot? Ive owned 2 or 3 mod 70's and all would shoot inside an inch. If yours is not shooting well I would put a military strip,clean on the barrel and check the crown. My only custom mod 70 is a Shilen barrel in 25-06 in a Borden, Rimrock stock...I love it on whitetails.. very best winpoor