Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors What's your most accurate model 70?

This thread reminds me of the rifle I've been eyeballing for the last 5 months. It's at a small, "hole in the wall", shop I know of. I checked on it yesterday, and it's still there. The rifle has been rechambered to 25-284. The bore is immaculate, very sharp rifling and good crown. It also has a very nice chamber, so that has been done right. I believe the rifle was made in 1955 and used to be a 257 Roberts (a shame they rechambered it). As I have said before, this rifle is on consignment and I know the price will go down more before it sells. Now, they are at $700.00 for the complete package: Scoped rifle, brass, ammo, dies, etc. I told the shop that they have had the rifle for a long time now and that the guy will probably go down on the price again before it sells, and they agreed with me.

This rifle looks like it is going to be a shooter. However, it may be a dick move to go in and buy it at $600.00??

I also have to add this: Since there have been a few threads regarding the FN m98 rifles. I saw one (a very nice one in fact), sporting a $500.00 scope on top. Or at least that is what I could easily sell it for on ebay (where they range from $500-$700.00). Rifle and scope was $500.00.. Good shooting, I couldn't say. Good deal? Maybe.. and yes, the rifle was clunky. No comparison to a pre 64 model 70.

Do it!

I only have two, both BACO S. Carolina Featherweights. One is chambered in 7-08 and the other is a Shot Show 257 Robts. Both manage 3/4"-1". Not the most accurate in my safes, but fine for my 300 yd max limit on game.

That 70 25-284 sounds like a decent deal if it’s clean and you get it for what you feel comfortable giving.

Thanks Scotty. It's in about the same condition my 300wby was when I bought it. I paid $499 for that rifle on Aug 29, 2019:


That rifle shoots pretty good too:


I think one of the reasons I started this thread was because someone was saying Winchester model 70's don't shoot. Well, I've seen just the opposite. It's been hard for me to find one that doesn't shoot well.

Agreed, no issues from the majority of mine as well.

Pre-64 Westerner in 264 WM.

Without going into the MOA details, let’s just say that it’s not hard to hit medium size pumpkins at 550 yards.

Most probably a pre-war 30-06 in a custom stock.
That said, they all including a 338-06 -with the original barrel-shoot well.
Hunting habits die hard: from a NM prong horn, to CO elk, AK moose-all taken within 100 yards.

Does a Pre-64 6.5x284 with 26” Krieger count?

DF

Absolutely

Well not much is Winchester, just the action.

It’s been blueprinted and sleeved with Borden’s bumps. Doubt many Pre-64’s are set up like that. Has a Jewell trigger.

DF

I used to have a prewar model 70 with a 2.5X Lyman Alaskan and a rough bore that would shoot under an inch with whatever I fed it. Currently my best shooting Model 70 is a custom in 257 Weatherby, she likes the discontinued Weatherby factory ammo loaded with 120 grain partitions @ 3275 fps. My first 3 shot group was under a half inch.

Speaking of Borden's Bumps....

Check this out.

DF

Not bad for no barrel. 😀

Looks like he jabbed the bolt into the paper to me. Whatever floats your boat, I guess??

Gunsmith sent me that photo while doing the work to show the Bordens Bumps. He obviously staged the target for the picture.

But, the gun shoots that good, even some tighter groups than that.

The post was to show an unusual Pre-64 set up, the target not so much.

DF

Greg Tannel?

No, it was John Van Dyke, Plainville, KS. John was a gifted gunsmith, building precision rifles. He developed health issues around 2010, got some bad press not taking care of business.

I see a 2017 obit. Don't know exactly what happened to him. All I know, he was great to work with and turned out some fine rifles while he was able.

Obit says he was 58 when he passed. Anyone knowing more than that, please let us know.

DF

Sorry to hear that. I thought of Greg as I have not heard of any doing that type of high level work on M70s. Not sure even he does.

It's kinda cool. I was wondering how one could use "Borden's Bumps" just like that without stepping on toes or crossing lines. But, I guess it's OK.

For those who don't know what we're talking about, groves are machined around the bolt body, SS halves (probably from SS barrel pieces) are milled to fit in these grooves. They are JB welding in place, milled so the oblong long axis runs down the race ways with bolt open, cams into a snug up and down fit when the bolt is closed. The bolt face is made to be perfectly perpendicular with the chamber. That, plus not much bolt movement, helps with accuracy. And, the action is blueprinted so that surfaces are true and everything is plumb.

This set up isn't that unique on high end bench rest rifles, not so much on a hunting rifle. And, for sure not of a Pre-64 Winchester, more likely on tricked out 700's. Now, is this overkill on a Pre-64 hunting rifle? Probably, but I thought it was cool. And, it does shoot really well.

And, by now if you're curious what it looks like, here it is. I fitted, glassed and free floated it in a laminated birch Jon Sundra Boyd Classic. I finished it with Custom Pro Oil, stained the finish (not the wood) with Fiebings brown leather dye, then more coats of Pro Oil (tung oil and urethane). I sent it to Errol Case in MO for "Winchester" type checkering. The current Boyd Classic is not the same as the Jon Sundra and I don't like it as well. Jon knows his stuff.

Scope is a Z5 3.5-18 x44 with elevation turret. BTW, Errol's web site is no longer active, so he may have retired, hopefully he hasn't gone the way of John Van Dyke.

DF