I saw a 300 Win Mag today that has a S/N of 560XXX. Both the BBGV and Rule show that S/N as a late 1962 manufacture.

Can that be possible?

Thanks. donsm70

^^^

Don't see why not....approx. mid Oct. '62 serial # and the 300 Win. Mag was available after Feb. 1 '63. Winchester had to begin manufacturing before Feb 1....most likely one of the early guns.

Yes sir, it is indeed possible. The 300 win mag cartridge made its debut in 1962. Rifles were being made in 1962 and released on or after Feb. 1 1963....Also, since the 300 win mag was being made on the short magnum action, you may even see some receivers stamped before 1962. That's the anomaly when dealing with pre 64 Winchester model 70's...

Exactly...(without consulting Rule but we get BSA so who needs Rule? )

But those receivers were available from the time the 458 Win Mag,338, and 264 WM were introduced in the 50's....the 300 Win Mag was the last of the 30/06-length belted mags so those receivers were being made well before the 300 WM was introduced.

Exactamundo. I also need to add that they were stamped ".458". So if you guys get any of these rifles chambered in the typical 30-06 length belted magnums and they have this stamp on the bottom of the recoil lug. Don't panic. They are supposed to be stamped that way. They were probably not originally a 458 mag. Just a FYI...

Just the guys I was hoping to hear from and thank you very much for the replies.

I may just get me another one.

donsm70

bsa: Date of the production of the rifle does not always coincide with the date of manufacture of the receiver,as indicated by the serial number.....generally it does but not always...that's part of the wildcard aspect of buying pre 64's.

Oh man. You already have one of the nicest ones around!!! Or was that your like new 300 H&H??

Exactly Bob.. Rule warns of this exact scenario. This is most prevalent in the short magnum actions. Like you said, stamped receivers were originally held back for production of the 458 win mag that made its debut in 1956...

I'm not model 70 expert, but I'm pretty sure Winchester only used one action length. The .300 WM would use same action as I have seen on old .264WM which was standard .30-06/.270 length w/o rear bridge cutout seen in .300H&H/.375H&H rifles. The only action mismatch existed in Winchester 21 lineup where receivers were forged well before rest of the gun was produced. I suspect there were some Model 70s made in 1940s with pre-WWII receivers and post war components because production was suspended to make war time clunkers for the military like the .30 cal carbine. If you find some anomalies in .300WM gun it will most likely be parts bin gun made to fool some buyer into thinking it was factory original. Remember rare and factory original Model 70 means big bucks just like 28ga Model 12 therefore there is plenty of incentive there to use "spare parts".

Obviously CRF Winchester made well after 1964 (I think production started in early 90s ) can be had with short action.

Don, is it going to be as nice as your 300 H&H? I drool over this one of yours:



That sure is a clean 300 H&H..

Slavek, why don't you pull up a chair and learn something. Do you have "The rifleman's rifle" book written by Roger C. Rule? I'd suggest buying it and after you are done reading it, come back and ask a few more questions.. Thanks..

Slavek, Winchester made 2 action lengths in the pre 64.

standard (long) action and H&H action.

All cartridges that are NOW assembled in a short action ( .308, .243 etc) that were available back then, were built using the standard action, and they had different magazines, bolt stops, ejectors, in any number of configurations to meet the cartridge specs.

Exactly.. However, the H&H was the same length action, just opened up a bit.. . As seen here (below):



VS. the standard and short magnum action:

You've got a good memory BSA. The 300 Win Mag is every bit as nice, or better than the 300 H&H. If I get this one, I will only need the 458 Win Mag to complete my Pre-64 Winchester Magnum collection.

donsm70

Very cool Don. Can't wait to see your new rifle if you end up getting it..

I have a .300 H&H just like that one, the last of the four I have owned over some 26 years, have also had three original .375s and three salvaged H&H cut actions.

There was ONE length of action and they were milled to function with different rounds from the Hornet to the .458WM.

The .338WM Alaskans were the best of the bunch, I have never seen a .300WM, of quite a few, that I wanted to own and I could have afforded one during my "P-64 years".

I am finished with these and hope to sell most of mine this year.

Too bad you live in BC. There would be a lot of interest for some of your rifles..

I KNOW, it is a REAL PITA as I have not been able to ship small Brno parts to good guys in the US and I am very good at finding such rare items here.

I am SO frustrated with BOTH US and Canadian sporting gun laws, but, I expect it to get worse.......

What's the going rate for a decent quality shooter grade pre64 300 win?

I don't pay that much attention, but I would expect to pay $1500, or so, for a "shooter" grade, maybe more.

donsm70

Geez ben, you rarely run across one of these. I was offered one here via. a pm about 2 years ago for the grand sum of $500.00. I told the good guy here (I haven't seen him post here for a while) to keep it and for damn sure don't sell it for $500.00!!! He said it was his dad's rifle and he had no use for it. He "liked Remington 700's better". I should have taken it off his hands, but didn't want to take advantage.

Let's go by book numbers here:

The red book of Winchester values. 300 win mag westerner Alaskan:

"30% condition": "$1,225.00"
"60% condition": "$1,750.00"
"70% condition": "$2,100.00"
"80% condition": "$2,450.00"
"90% condition": "$2,800.00"

Now let's look at the web:
New condition:
http://www.gunsinternational.com/Winchester-Model-70-300-Win-Mag-.cfm?gun_id=100519171

Now for a "shooter pre 64 model 70 300 win mag":
http://www.gunsinternational.com/WINCHESTER-PRE-64-MODEL-70.cfm?gun_id=100521631

It really depends on what you consider a "shooter"



I'm also assuming Don bought this one:
http://www.gunsinternational.com/Winchester-Pre-64-Mod-70-300-Win-Mag-NICE-.cfm?gun_id=100517307

Hope to see some pictures of your 300 Win.. It is the one that I'd really like to have one of these days..

Even something like this, with a Legend or similar would make me a pretty happy camper.. I'd save that pretty wood stock for someone else..

http://www.pcfirearms.com/winchesters/model70/P-5789.pdf

Mr Donsm70, That is the problem with these pre 64 mod 70's, you just think that will be the last 70 to complete your Mag collection, what if I told you I knew where a mint in the crate 300 win mag BULL gun was? LOL trust me there is always that " ONE MORE" feeling with these dog dam things! very best winpoor

How true, I finally quit cold in 2010 and now turn down any 70s offered, but, if I were younger........

Mr Donsm70, That is the problem with these pre 64 mod 70's, you just think that will be the last 70 to complete your Mag collection, what if I told you I knew where a mint in the crate 300 win mag BULL gun was? LOL trust me there is always that " ONE MORE" feeling with these dog dam things! very best winpoor [/quote]

How true winpoor,

It's like any other vice. Just when you you think you have it licked, another opportunity presents itself, and BOOM, you're off the wagon again!

donsm70

I'll settle for just the 1.

Since the movie and an interview I have had 3 friends want a 300 win mag! I have 4 or 5 BUT only one is pre 64 mod 70! Stock is going up! Im sure the 26" barrel .264 win mag has a sharper rap BUT the 300 win mag is a mule kick! My Classis BOSS is like shooting a 270. . I will list all the 300 win mags I want to sell Wednesday with pix! I want only 1 300 win mag! very best winpoor

Smart man. We need to all take lessons from pal. I don't know how he does it....

winpoor,

Does that include the .300 bull gun?

donsm70

That's 1 more than I want...

BSA how do you explain the sharp rap these dam things give? I have not shot the 338 win mag or the 375 and its been a very long time since I shot a 300 H&H ( it was like a big push). My pre 54 300 win mag is a 24" barrel, I have a truck axle mod 70 sporting sharpshooter and being so heavy its not unplesent unless you forget the earplugs. Same with the Kimber police tac or some such name. My super grade boss was not bad at all, I had it bedded into a micky stock and have not scoped and zeroed it since that work was done. The 264 win mag with the 26" barrel is sharp but still not a chore to shoot. very best winpoor

This thread needs pics!! Just sayin'.....