Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Just got my paperback version of "The Rifleman's Rifle"

Hi guys, I've advocated this book several times because of the immense Model 70 information in it. I will say this: The paperback version is not nearly as nice as the first edition hardback version. However, I'm saving wear and tear on my collectable and I'm highlighting the hell out of my new paperback copy . The pictures sure aren't as nice in the paperback version either and the print is faded. I'm wondering if I got a chitty copy or if they are all like this??? I know elkhunterNM also got one of these yesterday so maybe he can chime in on the quality of his. Nevertheless, still a great book with tons of info. I still highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about the grand ol Model 70 Winchester...

Without a doubt my book by Mr Rule, has made or should I say saved many dollars. It has also provided untold hours of reading pleasure. I will have a hardback one day. Mine was a Christmas present from my now gone Wife and Mother in law ,so it holds a special place. very best on a model 70 mans 'Bible' .Very few days go buy that I do hot grab mine to answer a question or three
very best WinPoor

BSA,my copy was shipped out Wednesday and (hopefully) will be here next week. Delivery day is anytime between April 11th-28th go figure.

Damn, I thought you were going to get it Thursday. Mine came in on Thursday as it was scheduled. You may have bought it from a different person on Amazon. You'll enjoy that book my friend and like my buddy winpoor said, it will save you a bunch of money in the long run...

S, I've been highlighting the hell out of mine. Especially the 300 win mag info. Damn you!!! ....Hell, I even let the kids look thru it without having a panic attack!!!

I did. Live & learn.

GOT IT! Going to read/look through it this afternoon.

We probably won't be hearing from him for a while

Put it to you this way,the afternoon went by very quickly.

That's a book, you'll likely never tire of. There's so much good info in it. I plan on wearing mine out!! Now my hardback can retire

I'll got a paperback to pickup here too. They are $80 here at my local emporium.

I have two copies of the hard back edition. Very good book and a wealth of information.

BW, you don't have a hardback version either do you?

Both first edition or second? Also, do you guys know why the second printing hardback is so damn expensive??? Lately, I've seen those marked for more money than the first edition.

Yup,so much info in it that I never ever knew. This book is sitting next to me right now,it'll never be on the book shelf.

2nd edition

The second printing was paid for by Roger Rule himself.

Do I win your Pre '64 .375 H&H?!

Bsa1917hunter: I now am down to just three of the "original" version of Rule's book and keep a close eye on their values - one of my copies is the Deluxe cased version.
I have not seen the poorly done "photo-copied" (and poorly done at that!) "second editions" priced higher than the first editions to date.
I have seen the seconds for sale mostly at gunshows in Idaho, Montana, Washington and Montana in the last several years.
I simply can't imagine the poor quality, copied, second editions becoming more valuable than the originals - but if you say it is so then I give your contention creedence.
Long live the Riflemans Rifle.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

In light of the second edition not being as good as the first, looks like I need to pursue the first edition.

VG-Is this the 2009 version you speak about?

Mine were printed in 1996, so Im assuming they are the 2nd edition?

Jericho yes the 1996 is the second printing.

Kitch,the 2009 is the third printing. The first & second are priced out of my range.

I have mentioned it before here but again I remember my wife being impressed with Mr Rule, someway- somehow she got hold of his cell, called him as he was on the way to airport to catch plane to HI for holiday, he pulled over and got her info, had the paperback book sent before Christmas with a note and the bill that she paid promptly. I vividly remember her saying she would have bought it along time ago had she known I would spend so many hours reading,enjoying it. very best WinPoor

Mr.Rule is also an advanced collector,one of his guns that is my all time favorite is a special order Varminter in .257 Roberts , the gun is a very late gun, sn 581,257 . It was engraved by Nick Kusmit. The gun is in color photos on pg 280,281 in the last paperback edition. I would sell several Moma cows and a bull to get my hands on it ! Some will not agree BUT first thing I would do is mount a nice scope and grab every box of factory ammo out there and zero her! I would handle with kid gloves! very best WinPoor

so it seams by reading these posts, the paperback is worth $85?

The photo quality in my copies are very nice.

Winchesterpoor,yup that's a "nice" one,for some reason the Alaskan & Varmint models trip my trigger.

Buzzsaw,that's about right for the paperback.

I have a 56' varminter in .243win and a 59' in 220 swift, they will be some of the very last to go ! I hope when Im 85 and they are just to dam heavy! My all time favorite whitetail hammer is a 56' target in sporter stock in the 06. just love the gun. v best winpoor

You have a Varminter .243 win,be still my beating heart,that's IS the Varminter I want when I get some money.

It sure has been to me. v best

Hell yes it's worth $85.00. I let the kids look at it the other day without a worry in the world. You guys that have the first (especially the signed copy) and second edition know what I'm getting at here. Spill coffee on your first edition and you might start crying

Same with my first edition...

Its pet factory ammo is 70 gr BT, Fed Prem , I am about out of it I hope I can still find some. I will try and find you a photo. With these guns you have to remember 'rome was not built over night' I have been very lucky with my hobbies, loves, I never lost money on over 15 airplanes, made a lot of money owning and flying turbine Airtractors, Took 2 bloodbaths feeding cattle 1st when the Mad Cow scare ( very poorly handled by our Govt.) . Many made big bucks shorting futures! 2nd bloodbath was brought about by the ethanol ,high corn prices due to the 46c a gallon subsidies. GD warm and fuzzy feel good, common sense tells us you cannot run this country's autos on whiskey. Corn is for feeding people and animals , whiskey is for drinking not mixing with gas and having every body have to work on any chain saw, mower,outboard motor,weed whacker... nuff venting here.. v best

Here ya go Elkhunter,

vb winpoor

I haven't shot my 243 Varmint in a couple years but it also LOVED the 70 Gr Fed Premiums.

So what is the going value of first edition books and of the original leather bound with cover signed versions?

VG condition $500.00+

Mr Reelman, I do not know the market on the leather bound copys as every time I want to invest in one a dog gone mod 70, then DD's and a scope gobbles up the coins, its always just one more to tune up, make better and sale,trouble is they come in faster than they go out, then there is always that real nice no round count .264 win mag and 300 win mag that goes in the no sale safe.... LMAO These dog dam 70's are addicting .I used to tell my wife to look at is as a redneck retirement fund, or investments that go bang.. Before my dear wife got sick she told me no more land rich and cash poor, I lost my 80 yr old Dad and if he had a sweet 16 and I had 2, I kept his,sold my 2 and bought a mod 70, slipped it in the back door and waalaa... LOL did the same with 1100's mod 12's etc, kept his and grandDads and sold mine, pretty muck kept gun money in guns.I was a big Sporter varmint man, Ill bet I went thru 20,kind of a niche thing. I used to find nice ones right, was also able to find 10 and 12 X fixed leupolds 2-300 bucks, send em to Oregon for a tune up, really clean the S Varmints up, tune triggers find what she liked to shoot and bam, most went to pals locally. I only had one in .308 and I wish I had kept it I have never seen another! Man it was a shooter with the 165,168 gr stuff. very best
photo is of 50,1,2 and300yard range off S end of runway.

Do believe I just died and went to heaven!

Your above post about getting the money and selling other rifles to get this one and others,well I'm thinking "which one of the non-Winchesters do I want to get rid of?"

And it is addictive!

Right now I'm wanting the Varminter .243 win,the Alaskan .338 Win & .375 H&H. Most likely that'll change every day,but right now those are the three I'd like to have.

Yep, You got it bad, I started out wanting a nice good shooting target in 06, went thru 3 till I got just what I wanted, found a very nice unmolested sporter stock for it, opened the barrel channel for the med heavy barrel and was a happy cowboy! That lasted all of 4 mos. I forget what was next on hit parade but its ALWAYS just one more! .264 win mag, 300 win mag, national match in a sporter stock..... It never stops, I have yet to get a poor shooter, I just got an early 60's fwt in 06 that I have not shot yet... knock on wood. Old timers tell me some of the best shooters they ever had were fwt's. I cannot wait to test this one. very best wimpoor

Elkhunter ,After you shoot,find a .243 then you start wanting one of these REAL bad , Winchester only made 904 of these, This is a very early one a 59' vintage, Winchester did make the same gun in a marksman stock and called it the 'target', not a lot
of them made either!


very best winpoor

Elkhunter, I have a law enforcement pal up in NC or TENN that comes to GA and spends a few days with Mr Robert Gradous building Tact type guns. Long story short he was able to buy ( for dam near nothing) a mint Varminter in .243 with a 15X Unertl scope from a family friend who was old and had cancer, the guy had bought the rig new ,took it to his farm in upstate NY and shot a few groundhogs, he ended up selling the farm and the gun sat in the corner for 50 years collecting cigarette smoke, the gun cleaned up mint! I have been dickering with this guy for about two years and I will end up giving him whatever it takes as the rig is that nice and he is into the tactical deal. When and if I do I will let you have mine.
Mr Gradous, builds one of the finest most accurate guns in the United States, bar none. I shot one he built in .308 and the thing was sooo accurate that it was absolutely boring.Check him out, If I ever catch up on the Winchesters I will have him build a .308 on a .243 action using a cut rifled Bartlien barrel in Winchesters target, med heavy contour.
http://www.gradousrifles.com/
very best WinPoor

Winchesterpoor: Best of luck to you in prying that 243 Varmint away from your friend!
The old Model 70 Varmints have long been favorites of mine.
I currently have 4 pre-64 Varmints in 243 Winchester and one in 220 Swift.
One of my 243's is mounted up with a Unertl 10 power scope - just to nice to shoot this one is.
Another of my 243 Varmints I have shot on occassion in the past - it is very pleasingly accurate (with a Redfield 6x18 variable).
I have taken Antelope and Rock Chucks with it.
I doubt though, that it will ever be shot again - at least by me.
I have not shot this latest 220 Swift Varmint of mine.
A previous 220 Swift Varmint that I did shoot shot pretty well with an 8 power Leupold "Westerner" scope on it - I wish I would NOT have let that one get away.
Again best of luck in "commandeering" that 243 Varmint - it would be a worthy addition to your collection.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

THANKS Winchesterpoor!

In 2010-2011 at a local gunshow there was a Pre '64 Winchester M 70 .220 Swift for the price of $700. The rifle was used and it showed. IIRC it was a standard Swift as the barrel was not the Varmint/Target style. I tried to wheel & deal with him but as it goes sometimes,we could not close the deal. Still hope to see that one and just BEG the wife to let me buy it.

Bought this one in Feb/March,it's a Pre '64 Featherweight .30-06 and with the very first handload I tried it shot around an 1" with 180 gr Sierra's and H-4831SC.

From the serial number it's an early '55.



A 6x 42mm Leupold and Leupold Bases & rings,weight as it sits is 7 lbs 14 oz.

Where can I get a copy of the paper back? powdr

Abebooks,Amazon,or Ebay,but be prepared to spend $80+ for it.

Forgot Barnes & Noble too.

Older thread but I finally ordered a copy and it came in the mail today. Paged through it quickly to see and I could see myself getting lost so I closed it quick. I gotta finish another first.
A dandy of a book

The other book can wait.

I did think that but I'll never finish it then.

Read the other book. Rules book is a great reference and you'll more than likely have it for the rest of your life. More model 70 guru's need it: It would put an end to a lot of senseless bickering that goes on.