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Joined: Apr 2014
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Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Apr 2014
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My first post. I�m looking at a Model 70 in 30-06. Got the serial number and it looks like the action was made in 1957. The bore looks good (to my untrained eye) and from what I can tell the lands seem somewhat sharp, etc. What do I make of the wear marks on the bolt, extractor (see closeup) - seem normal? I think I�ve seen other actions that look worn sort of like this? The stock has weird dark checkering (like it�s been messed with), refinished looking and an after market butt pad but I�m thinking the wood could still be original to the gun? Somebody gutted the wood around the barrel - to make it free floating I guess The shop guy says the scope is a good one (Leupold) although I don�t really care about it much. I want to go back to original iron sights and maybe even add a peep at some point. I thought I could buy it, clean it and take it to the range just the way it is to see how it shoots with the scope off the bench - just for a test. Then remove the scope and replace the iron sights (Lyman seems to still sell iron sights that are close to original for this year gun�). Strip the stock, try to determine how bad the checkering is and then maybe do a simple oil finish. Then find an original steel butt plate at some point, or just put a decent simple Pachmayr, etc. on. I don�t think the length (stock) has been messed with. Maybe even find another stock at some point? A project gun. Any opinions? http://birdpublishing.com/img/another_compare.jpg
Last edited by Gusb; 04/30/14.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
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Save your money and buy one that hasn't been so Bubbasmithed.
Last edited by gunswizard; 04/30/14.
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Joined: May 2010
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2010
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Save your money and buy one that hasn't been so Bubbasmithed. +1....keep lookin, there's usually a much nicer one right around the corner.
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Hunter S. Thompson
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 768
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2012
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I'm not a pre-64 expert, but I get gut feelings. The stock is trashed. It has been cut to accommodate a recoil pad so a butt plate will leave it short. The channel makes it unrecoverable as well. The scope rings/mounts are Weaver which lessens (in my mind) scope mounting security. The scope is fine (if clear and adjustable). The lifetime warranty helps. Finally, you didn't mention cost and utilization intentions. If you want a hunter and the price is $400 or less, buy it. If you're hoping to buy it, restore it to original condition, forget it. A pre-64 stock in nice shape is virtually unavailable.
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 94
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 94 |
The price is $750. There are many around the corner that are better but they won't be $750. They might come down a little, I go back in today to take another look.
The ones I've seen online and at places like Cabelas seem to have actions/barrels which are no better, only with iron sights and much nicer stocks. Of course maybe Bubba has worked on this action too, I don't know enough to tell. No one has mentioned the wear on the bolt, etc. is that normal in a 1957 30-06? Every decent 30-06 I've seen seems to be at least $1,500 (other calibers higher). If this is a good action, is a decent stock worth another $750? Maybe I could use a fiberglass (McMillan classic 70, etc.) and have a decent shooter?
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2010
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It sounds like you have already made up your mind to buy this rifle, but I agree that there are better shooters out there for the $750 that you would pay for this one.
Be patient. You will find one.
donsm70
Life Member...Safari Club International Life Member...Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Life Member...Keystone Country Elk Alliance Life Member...National Rifle Association
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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My friend, The photos on the gun in your first post looks like a fair to nice 'shooter grade' made in April of 1957. Its all about what you want , do you want to be a collector of 95% pre 64 model 70's, do you want to collect NIB unfired since they left the factory or do you want a nice classic gun to fold a whitetail up every time you drop the hammer on the best factory trigger made? Now it all comes to money, yep the all mighty dollar. You have to start here as the action,floor plate, trigger and mag box ,spring and follower is worth a smooth $600.00 to a guy that is going to build on it. OK your stock was more than likely cut for recoil pad, no biggie these old guys bought these guns to hunt and did not give a dog dam as to collectable value 40 years down the road .nice gun but its all about price. I have 8 30-06 and 270's I an going to shine up a bit to sell before next deer season. I would be happy to hunt with any of them , they will be priced very fair and all will get the job done! Some are just like they left the factory except they have been hunted,some have had pads added and one has been professionally refinished but each and every one shoot good and have CLASS! very best on a nice shooter
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Joined: Jul 2011
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2011
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Save your money and buy one that hasn't been so Bubbasmithed. This. What's your hurry? Wait for a clean one. Mine is a .30-06 Featherweight I bought at LGS for $700 because the recoil pad had been added--otherwise near mint, pristine bore.
"There's more to optics than meets the eye."--anon
"...most of us would be better off losing half a pound around the waist than half a pound on our rifle."--dhg
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 94
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 94 |
I haven�t made up my mind, but I�ll take another look today and probably pass because of everyone�s feedback - which I mucho appreciate Originally my intention was to find a 1950�s Model 70 in .375 H&H. Just a decent original, iron-sighted shooter with age and wear that I could still take to the range and safely shoot. When the pre-64 price realities set in I thought about a new Safari Express. But it seems like black magic trying to locate (or even get details on) one of those, so I bounced back to the 30-06 as a compromise of sorts.
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 94
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 94 |
My friend, The photos on the gun in your first post looks like a fair to nice 'shooter grade' made in April of 1957. Its all about what you want , do you want to be a collector of 95% pre 64 model 70's, do you want to collect NIB unfired since they left the factory or do you want a nice classic gun to fold a whitetail up every time you drop the hammer on the best factory trigger made? Now it all comes to money, yep the all mighty dollar. You have to start here as the action,floor plate, trigger and mag box ,spring and follower is worth a smooth $600.00 to a guy that is going to build on it. OK your stock was more than likely cut for recoil pad, no biggie these old guys bought these guns to hunt and did not give a dog dam as to collectable value 40 years down the road .nice gun but its all about price. I have 8 30-06 and 270's I an going to shine up a bit to sell before next deer season. I would be happy to hunt with any of them , they will be priced very fair and all will get the job done! Some are just like they left the factory except they have been hunted,some have had pads added and one has been professionally refinished but each and every one shoot good and have CLASS! very best on a nice shooter So winchesterpoor - are you saying the price of this gun is not far off for a shooter?
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Joined: May 2012
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2012
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GUSB, I trade pre 64 mod 70's much as I used to trade case pocket knives. Long story short even with my bad eyes and #3 reading glasses I doubt you will get hurt at 750. I can tell you you will be light years ahead of any mod 700 or 77 guy out there. just my 2 C very best WinPoor
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Joined: Jul 2011
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2011
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He's saying a nearly blind man might buy it before you can get back to them.
"There's more to optics than meets the eye."--anon
"...most of us would be better off losing half a pound around the waist than half a pound on our rifle."--dhg
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Joined: Nov 2000
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2000
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He's saying a nearly blind man might buy it before you can get back to them. At $750 with the Leupold I'd have likely sprained my wrist gettin' my wallet out...but I've been known to buy stuff other guys didn't..:-)
"after the bullet leaves the barrel it doesn't care what headstamp was on the case" "The 221 Fireball is what the Hornet could have been had it stayed in school"
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 94
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 94 |
winchesterpoor, pal and rembo - you guys are making me feel really good because I went in there before I saw the last three posts and bought the gun! The shop owner and 2 employees were there, as well as two other customers who seemed to be pretty knowledgeable about old Model 70s. They all said it was a really decent shooter for the price, crown and bore looked good, etc. I don't know what I'm looking at but the scope seemed clear, I pointed it out the window across the street. They also had a really nice, almost perfect original Model 70, .270 (around 1950, I think) priced at $1,800 so it was interesting to compare the rifles. So I'm hoping that ugly wood that's maybe not so nice helped me get a really decent gun at a reasonable price. I also think the stock can be improved a little (cosmetic) by stripping it - the checkering almost looks like someone took brown paint and painted the diamonds. But first will be a trip to the range (10+ days) to see how it shoots. I've got the Roger Rule book so I can begin searching for proper iron sights, hood, etc. Any tips for installing the iron sights in the dovetails? I'll try to put up some good closeup shots when I get the gun. Thanks again for all the advise!
Last edited by Gusb; 04/30/14.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,171 Likes: 5
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,171 Likes: 5 |
That's a good buy there GusB.
Life Member SCI Life Member DSC Member New Mexico Shooting Sports Association
Take your responsibilities seriously, never yourself-Ken Howell Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = quick, clean kill. Finn Aagard
Ken
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 129 |
I agree, good buy, the metal looks good. A variable Leupold is worth 150 at least and with their lifetime warranty if there is anything wrong with it send it to them and they will take care off it. Enjoy!
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Joined: May 2012
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2012
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After 51 years of looking and searching I finally found and bought a Winchester Model 52C Sporter, so my gun buying days are over until I move several mod 70's that are surplus to my needs, In spite of that promise to myself I would have scratched up the 750. you paid for your gun just because it was well worth that money being scoped.When you start adding mounts, base and rings, a decent Leupold scope ( I wish I could know how many deer I have nailed with a vxll 3x9 Leupold) you are in the gun at about 600 bucks. Clean the gun up and Im willing to bet it will shoot an inch or better with pet ammo! Ya done good my friend! v best WinPoor
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Joined: May 2010
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,398 Likes: 3 |
Certainly not an expert, but it would have to be a very special scope to sway me into purchasing a rifle that I was on the fence about....in fact, I always inquire about the price of a rifle with the scope and mounts removed....optics and mounting systems are definetly a matter of personal taste.
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Hunter S. Thompson
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Joined: Apr 2014
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Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
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If anyone is still interested... when I get the gun home I'll put up a few closeup pictures of the action, bolt face, etc. (a few paper groups from the range - if I can hit the paper) and maybe at that point things will look one way or the other. Right now after pulling the bolt and seeing inside the action again I'm feeling overall positive about the deal and I usually lean towards the negative/dark side.
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Joined: May 2012
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Gusb, If you are unhappy with the gun I will give you 750 for it! The last thing I need at the moment is a 50's pre 64 30-06! very best WinPoor
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