I got a md 70 [pre 64] new for my tenth birthday [1952]. Going to the rockies for the first time, Dad thought I should have something a bit bigger than my .257. After a couple of seasons, I traded Dad my featherweight for his standard. He had cut the barrel back to 21 inches and remodeled the factory stock and checkered it. Over the next two decades or so we killed lots of big mule deer and elk. I never thought I was handicaped by the 21 inche barrel. Unfortunately, that rifle was stolen many years ago. Now at 6'1" 215# I like a 24" barrel just because....I also like 30" barrels on my dove gun.
