Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Winchester M70 XTR

Growing up, it was clear that most gun writers were not impressed with the Post 64 Model 70 Winchester. Now whether or not they actually hated the rifle or were just lamenting the passing of the original Model 70 is the question.

Do any of you gents own a Model 70 XTR? If so, and with the knowledge that they were not crf actions, what do you think about the rifle? For example, compared to a Remington Model 700 of that era, how did the XTR stack up?

Is there any good reason not to pick up one on the used market (assuming it is in good shape, of course)?

We picked up an XTR for my dad in 30-06 when they were first offered in the early 80s IIRC. At the same time I purchased a used Remington mod. 700 BDL left hand. Very similar for the times as far as blueing and stock finish black forend tips etc. The fit and finish was excellent and like all mod. 70s the bolt dissesembly was a piece of cake. If I was right handed I would have picked it over the 700.

My very first center fire bolt action was a Model 70 in 22-250 that I bought in 1984 or 85. I used it for a couple of years with very good results. I decided I needed something bigger and traded it for a M77 in 270 around 1987. I became a Remington Man around 1990 and that is pretty much all I shot/owned until about 5 years ago when I came across a XTR in 6.5X55. I now own more M70's than M700's. The M700's are all either pre prefix, or A,B or C. I don't own one of the newer ones at this time. Nothing against them, just don't interest me any longer.

My experience with the XTR's has been a very smooth action that would achieve MOA or better with minimal effort.

They are sleepers. The gun writers of yore were pissing and moaning about '64, blah,blah,blah......


Which actually works in your favor to buy one.

"Is that a pre-64"

"Nope"

"Oh...they just ain't the same after '64"

"I reckon I could take $500"

"What caliber?"

"270"

"Make it $300"

"Shoo weeee, now I can put a deposit on one of them there 6.5 Kreedmires"

I have owned a handful of 1970-80 era model 70s. All of them have provided me with very good accuracy and function. CP.

Have owned a few, and have one now.
I'll always go Model 70 over the Model 700. Especially the FWT configuration.

I think they are great. I have one in a m70 FWT 7X57mm Mauser. It shoots lights out, it’s easy to disassemble, carries like a dream.

IMO, the XTRs, particularly the FWTs, are some of the best M70s made. I'd take one every time over any M700.

We have several of them around here! As Winchester changed hands a few times, their quality control seemed to waiver a bit....but the design makes it a great rifle. Probably the biggest “black eye” was in the post ‘60’s era, with the “pressed” checkering. Didn't hurt the functionality, just cheap looking! memtb

Better than any 700 made. The push feed model 70 with the plastic stocks are good solid rifles, I've got two a 30 06 and a 270 WSM that is a Turkey Fed Dinner rifle. Both are good shooters, the WSM shoot almost everthing into 3/4" all day every day. I liked it so much I put it in a McMillian Hunters Edge I had and it has become one of my favorites. Think I paid less than $300 on GB. ( Correction I looked it up in my records and I paid $229.00 for it.) '06 is MOA with 165 BT. Love the 3 position safety. Nothing the matter with the push feeds. Never owned one of the XTR FWT's but if the right one comes along I'll snatch it up!

I too, would take a push feed 70 every time over any Rem bolt action.

In fact, I'd take a push feed 70 every time over any bolt action, except a CRF 70. (New Haven only)

I have a couple post-64's and generally speaking, I like them fine. The barrels are at least as good as Remingtons and may be more consistent. The trigger is not fully adjustable (no sear engagement adjustment) but is still a good trigger with some work. One of mine is a 1965 model and was an example of everything "experts hated about the new Model 70. Huge gap in the free-floated fore arm, cheap looking follower, negative aspect pressed checkering, generally a cheap looking rifle. This was torn apart and re-made into a prone rifle. MacMillan stock, Hart barrel, bushed bolt face and reduced firing pin diameter. It shoots very well and I doubt that I could have gotten any more out of a 700. The trigger pull is 1 1/4 pounds
The second was a short-actioned lightweight in 243. It went throught a few iterations and is presently another prone rifle with a laminated stock and Kreiger barrel. This one is not quite as good on the target but it's still pretty good and I like the rifle. I don't like the interrupted thread in the receiver and bothof these have been opened to 1 1/16x16; same as a Remington.
I like the Model 70's and like using them but, the truth is, if I want to build an accurate target rifle, I would likely choose a Remington 700 action or a clone. If I want something a little bit different though, I'm happy to use a Model 70.
The 1968 model features the anti-bind bolt and the checkering, while still pressed in, is at least positive aspect. The stock shape is also a bit nicer and the unsightly gap is gone. Sometime in the mid to late seventies, more changes were made and the stock now had machine-cut chekering, a black forend tip and was as good as any stock Winchester had made. The bottom of the receiver was fully machined. The next change was the introduction of the Featherweight with the new stock. This was, and is, a nice rifle.
The truth is, all of the rifles made in the seventies, while not works of art, were pretty decent rifles. Whether made by Winchester, Remington, Ruger, Marlin, or even Savage, they were good, functional rifles. Some were better than that. GD

This is not JUST for Mike but ALL per the XTR M 70s. Mike you are correct about the yrs.



The XTRs and NEW FTWT were Introduced in 1981.

That pic drove me to ORDER an 70 XTR, FTWT in 270 Win. Sweet Rifle.

Jerry

memt - The XTRs ( Title of Thread ) didn't come out till 1981. See pic above.


Jerry

The post 64's made through the 1970's were not that good as a rule. I think those were the rifles the gun writers despised. Winchester was actually bought out by investors and the name was changed to 'United States Repeating Arms Company" in 1979 or 1980 IIRC. They made an effort to improve things and went with the XTR line in the early 80's. Someone said 1981, that is probably about right. I've had a few of the 1980's era rifles and liked them all. In the early 1990's they bought back the CRF design and called them "Classics". The pushfeed rifles continued in production alongside the CRF rifles right up until they closed the doors in 2006. But after the Classics were introduced the PF versions were relegated to the budget line of rifles and I don't think they were as good as the 1980's XTR's.

I'd much rather have an XTR than any Remington 700 ever made. But given the option really prefer the Classics or current production rifles. I eventually sold all of my XTR's. Not that there was anything wrong with them, but I just liked the CRF rifles better.

I've got two ,a 30-06 XTR and a 7x57 fwt. Not a hiccup from either one over the past 30 years. Good solid rifles!

XTRs are very fine rifles... Wish I had a few more of 'em..

Mines a '69, so it must be a tweener.














Leupold 3x9's from the 80's suck too. Why I ever bothered with any other rifles is beyond me......

My pride and joy, 1988 vintage XTR "Safari Grade" ,300 Holland & Holland Magnum ...

This exactly. A pushfeed XTR is the best pusher ever made.