Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Let's see your winchester model 70 rifles

According to Rule (paperback edition, page 140) Winchester began drilling a hole in the bolt handle for the Featherweights in 1952, and "It was soon adapted to all Model 70 styles, but was one of the slower modifications to be implemented, and actually did not occur on many early Featherweights."

So, if you have a drilled bolt handle, it pretty much means a '52 or later. But, a post '52 will not necessarily have a drilled handle. Thus, it is no surprise that your '53 .270 does not, but if it did, that wouldn't be a surprise either. I have an early '54 .270 that does happen to have a drilled handle.

What really surprises me, considering how little weight it removes, is that they went to the trouble!

Composition butt plate (which I mentioned) and rounded bolt sleeve (as BSA noted, but I missed) came along in '59.

Top one is a '61 Westerner, .264 WM, Middle is a '53 Standard in .270 and the bottom is a '37 Standard in 30 govt 06.
Sorry for the crappy pics.
All 3 are in remarkably good condition, considering I hunt with all of them.

I love the bottom rifle, but all of them are very nice! I've heard that type of safety is harder to manipulate with a scope mounted. How do you feel about it? I've often considered getting a pre war because I shoot left handed and thought that safety would be the catz azz for a lefty. Any of you guys have thoughts on this? Thanks..

Yep took a quick glance at the pic that day.

I don't typically use a safety, but I seem to be able to manipulate it just fine. Doesn't seem to be an inconvenience to me.
Glad you enjoyed them.

Very nice trio, the wood on the older gun is killer!very best winpoor

That is a great looking group there, mcmurphjrk!

mcmurphjrk,
Upon further inspection of your pics when I had time, I believe your '61 Westerner may be the sister ship to mine, rubber butt pad and all. Enjoy!

Just curious, what are the first 3 digits of your serial#, if you don't mind me asking. If I remember correctly, mine are 539xxx.

Best Wishes,
LD

541***

Yup. That's what I thought. Thanks for the reply.

Best Wishes,
LD

Got this one today.

Awesome!!! Let us know how she shoots. Thanks. What are your plans for the rifle? Any African or Alaskan hunts on the horizon??

Will do BSA.

Nice score, I really like it!

Thanks.

Ken, what kind of loads are you going to run in the ol girl??? If it's not glass bedded really well, that would be the first thing I'd do to it, plus freefloat the barrel. Extremely nice rifle. Got me drooling. I think Dirtfarmer has one like it and maybe tdn as well??? If it were me, I'd leave it in that Tupperware and hunt it like that.

Looking to use a 270 gr bullet either a Swift A-Frame,North Fork or a 260 gr Nosler Partition. Going to shoot it first,then see if it needs bedding or free-floating. In all honesty,how much accuracy does one need for the game a .375 H&H is used on. ;

Had one of these about 18-20 years ago and traded it off,regretted doing that ever since.

I WILL leave it as is.

As far as plans for it,depending on what happens,MAYBE Africa.

To answer your question: I want all the damn accuracy I can get out of a 375 H&H, especially if I'm hunting "dangerous" game. That's probably just me though.. Also as far as bedding your rifle. It's kind of a must with those classics, especially heavy kickers. You got to remember the hot glue bedding of the day wasn't always the best:



It's your rifle though my friend and I'm not trying to criticize, just hoping to help a little..

I missed one like this a few years ago, still kicking myself. Someone mentioned Cabelas has Remington 300 gr swift a-frame ammo on sale for $49. right now.

Southwind, that's actually a steal at that price when you consider the cost of components. I might just have to use my cabela's gift card I got for Christmas!!! . Although, I probably have enough components to choke a horse right now . I might just say fu ck it and drive to Cabela's today....

Remington 375 H&H 300gr. swift A-frames