With both books and rifles, condition has a lot to do with what your pay. And with both, reasonable cosmetic wear hurts the function not at all. I just looked and found a first edition book on the 'net in "good" condition for $245. There are asking prices for first editions that are much higher. If the book is in really good condition, I think $250 is at the low end. If I didn't already have a first edition, I would be all over it for that price. But I need another copy of the book about like I need another .270, so I will leave the good deals for someone else, hopefully someone deserving, to enjoy. No use being greedy.
My recommendation to anyone looking for the book is to get a first edition for when you really need to see detail, and a third edition to "paw" over. As hunting rifles go, a Pre '64 Fwt. .270 is tough to beat.
If someone out there wanted to get into Pre '64 M70 rifles and "jump right in", this is a fine spot to do it, both the rifle and the book.
