Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Winchester Model 70 06 question

Is this still the classic American big game rifle?

Only if it is chambered 6.5 Creedmoor.

If that's what you want it to be..

It’s one of many.

I believe it is for older generation that grew up with them but not for younger generation, there are way too many choices now. I have few of them and they are truly classics.

Depends on who you ask I suppose.

To me it darn sure is, and always will be.

Until now I n ver thought of a M70 06 as perhaps a generational rifle. As someone pointed out it may no longer be for the younger shooters. I wonder if we will see a swing away from the current crop of rifle styles and chambering anytime soon?

The epitome of the "Rifleman's rifle". Nuff said..

I’ve got a Kimber Classic Select and a Higgins 51, they are really close. But maybe I need a Super Grade, just for America ya know?

I think it’s still the classic American rifle. I’ve used one to shoot moose and caribou. Mine is more modern though, it’s an extreme weather. I got it about 8 years ago and have used it a lot

I think that the going rifle for this generation is one of two: 1) Tikka T3 Superlite in 6.5 Creedmoor or 2) Ruger American in 6.5 Creedmoor. People who can afford it go with choice 1 and those just starting go for 2. In third, though would be some variety of 45-70 probably Marlin but could be Henry.

If I walk into Cabelas today - there might be 3 of them on the shelf, along with 75-100 other options easily. That's the problem. I can't even tell you the last time I saw a Hawkeye on the shelf.

Would I consider it "the classic American Rifle" - yeah, probably but understanding that "classic" doesn't necessarily mean "often chosen, popular and used in great numbers" - the same way a 67 Mustang is a "classic" - there just aren't a ton of them out there and if buying a new car today for the wife as a daily, it's unlikely to be selected.

I like where your heads at..

Yepper!

It’s the only thing on the rack I would purchase now everything else looks plastic they have class plastic doesn’t

Pure speculation on my part...but if we had accurate numbers, I'd bet the Mauser in it's various iterations is the most common rifle in the US (or world)...by quite a margin.

Was thinking the same thing. Gotta have a wool Filson coat and a marbles knife the go with it.

For sure..

In its various forms it still is. The '06 might be slipping a bit in some circles but not mine. We have pre-wars, pre-64 FW's, XTR's and Stainless Classics.

A Model 70 SS All-Terrain FW '06 in its steel bedded Tupperware stock is my favorite. I added iron sights, changed to steel bottom metal and a 2.5-8x36 Leupold to finish it off.

It is being chased pretty hard by my 84L '06 Montana but is still winning.

I may get a lightweight Bansner for it with no bottom metal and lose a few more ounces. That would settle it.
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You might be onto something......in Canada in the last couple decades we've been flooded with a plethora of Husqvarna mauser rifles. M96, m98's,1600's and etc. I know more people with mauser's or similar variations than Enfields.