Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Winchester Pre-South Carolina Rifles

Gentlemen: I read a post on another forum where a reference was made indicating better quality on Win. 70 Classics if they were not S.C. rifles. So, how does one tell the difference? Is it a serial number thing, or what? Thanks for any information.

Anything with "Winchester" stamped upon it's receiver,opens a can of worms..................(grin)

Well then, if you're a dedicated "worm shooter" its the rifle to have, huh? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Might could be,a best first choice...................(grin)

Well, as with many manufacturers out there, it seems there is variable quality. Is there any specific feature that denotes a S.C. manufactured rifle, or is the reference too generalized and vague? I am a Winchester owner, just trying to determine if any of mine are one of the dreaded "undesireables." <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It's a good question, and I'm interested in hearing an answer too.

Don't listen to the jealous types above, they don't appreciate a good worm hunting rifle...

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

(Of course, anything smaller than a worm, and I might be persuaded to use a 'push-feed') <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Brian, Winchesters have been in the hunting fields giving satisfactory results for little money, since before the 30-30. It doesn't take a cannon to kill anything, just one well placed shot and single shots do that. The guy pulling the triger determines all the factors for a clean kill. Money rifles do not make a hunter. -- Where is your son? Are you coming back this way? -- no

JStor:

This is probably not the best forum to post serious questions on regarding non-Remington Model 700 actions, but we'll do our best. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> It is my understanding that the Winchester Model 70's made after they had moved the majority of their production to South Carolina were modified in an effort to further cut costs by deleting the sleeve screw (stop) that has been part of the design since 1936. I think this happened around serial number G250,000 or 275,000. I am certainly not an expert, but I think this is the case.

If you want better information, try the AR forums. There are more knowledgeable posters on Model 70 actions over there.

Jim

There's a reason why Winchester is "The Rifleman's Rifle". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thank you......Old Dog is indeed correct. I did post over on AR and received excellent information. My Model 70s have the screw, so all is well in Winchester worm shooting land. Thanks guys for your help. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

you mean to say that there are people that ADMIT they don't shoot winchesters??????????????? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

JStor, where exactly did you post over at AR? I've been trying to find your post to no avail! Thanks!

Mudstud: You can find it in the Gunsmithing section, about page 14, and the heading is "Allen Day....Questions on Winchesters." Good luck! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

JStor, yes, I found that thread over on AR. After reading it, I just had to drag out all my M70 Classics
and check to see if I had any without the stop screw. Dang it! Who started this mess! Out of 9 I have,
4 are sans stop screw!! One even has the dreaded plastic follower (which I knew when I bought it), but
believe it or not, I never noticed the absence of that silly little screw before!! Shows you just how quick
I am!! The lowest serialed rifle without the screw I have is in the G306k range, and the highest serialed
rifle with the screw is in the G143k range, so I am not much help in discerning where the transition
occured. From the conversations on all these boards, it seems to me that that little screw is kinda like
my tailbone, just a relic of some bygone age, which serves no purpose today! So I am not gonna lose
any sleep over that, however, the implication that quality control on later models is of a lesser degree
does concern me. All I can say right now is that inspecting the specimens I have available to me, I
can't see any difference at all, but perhaps time will tell. Some one I used to know liked to say that if
you can't tell the difference, there is no difference! I don't know if that applies here or not, we shall see.

Mudstud: Maybe, as with many things, it is just a few bad ones that have turned up, and the problem has become legend. I don't know. It is good, however, to be aware of the potential. I will henceforth, give each firearm a more intense scrutiny before purchase.....whether it is a Winnie or not. Good luck. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Maybe.........it's not the rifle at all but the Southerners using it? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

(oooo this ought to be good!)

Just picking.....

I my self am a North Carolininan Southerner....