Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 80's Winchester Model 70s

Just bought a Model 70 Featherweight in 270. Serial # puts it as a 1982 model. All my other 70s are Pre-64s, so just wondering what to expect from the rifles of this era. Quality, accuracy, quirks, etc.?

Also, what model of Limbsaver fits these rifles? That factory pad is a hockey puck.

My dad gave my daughter a 257 roberts from that era. It will put them in the same hole every time. Much easier to find a good load with it than it was with my SC built 308.

Crappy hot glue bedding from the factory was not good back then.


If you aren't worried about keeping it original, I'd remove that bedding and glass bed it right. Make sure the barrel is properly freefloaing too. Personally I'd throw a red pachmayr on it, instead of a damn limbsaver too...

I bought my .375 H&H just about that time. Sub 1”, 5 shot groups @ 100 yards with my hand loads. I think that the fit and finish, action, and trigger are as good as you could want from a factory rifle. The “only” things that I did to the rifle was, adjust the trigger and put a Pachmyar Decelerator recoil pad on. memtb

Think you will be pleasantly surprised.

What you'll find is damn near the most perfect firearm made IMO. I love them. All of the ones I've had have had really smooth actions, shot near MOA or better, are well balanced, and are a classic looking rifle.

I'd not use a limb saver on that rifle. Get a red Pachmayr Decelerator pad on it and it will have the same classic look.

What does it usually cost to have a grind-to-fit pad installed on a rifle? There are quite a few things I have learned to do to rifles over the last few years, put that isn't one of them. I know it requires not only skills, but also a jig that I don't have.

Hmmm. $50!plus pad maybe?

Ask redneck. He’s the master at these M70’s.

Exactly... I hate those damned Limbsavers...

I tried a jig once or twice.. Sold it.. I install pads free-hand.. Usually runs between $35-45...

I have an Featherweight XTR from this era in 7x57. Awesome handling rifle, and an awesome shooter. You won't be dissapointed.

I have that one in 7x57 and another in .257 Bob. The 7x57 is a tack driver, the Bob? Not so much. Still working with that one. Both of my rifles are 80's models.
Paul .

Have a .270 and .257 featherweights from that era and my experiences mirror PJGunners - the .270 is an awesome shooter the .257 is OK (in all fairness haven’t played with loads in that one much).

PennDog

I had a Model 70 Lightweight in .243 bought new about 1986. I left the factory recoil lug bedding and added epoxy at the tang area. Very accurate, a push-feed rifle that fed upside down with no problem.

I owned quite a few of the push-feed model 70's and they all performed better than their competitors that came in a Green box.

I have owned a couple of the Model 70's with the hot-glue bedding and while I did not like the looks of it they grouped well enough that I could not see the point in doing a re-bed job on them - out of sight, out of mind.

drover

Apparently third person of this Thread with eighties era Model 70 pushfeed in 7x57, vintage '82. Joining the praise. The main lament concerning Winchester by then was the lack of CRF, which was solved in '91. Your rifle should reflect restored Winchester quality for some years since the "Horrible Hiccups!" Though most of my Model 70 rifles are pre '64, my hat off to "other worthy" editions! Yours such! Mine, pix below.
Best & Stay Safe
Johnd

Great guns, and sharp looking too. One of my big rifle regrets was selling my 1980s XTR 270 several years back. Always shot 1/2 - 3/4 consistently with factory loads. Not too much later, bought one in 257R, and while it's not quite as accurate, it is still sub moa with a few factory loads. Pretty sure you'll like your rifle.

Funny thing that you should say that. I picked up an M70 XTR in .270 at a gun show for a decent price. At first I thought it was a Featherweight with a McMillan FWT stock. I needed it like I needed another hole in the head but it called and I answered. When I asked the guy if it was accurate he said it was very accurate. I bought a couple boxes of Wallyworld Winchester 150 gr. ammo and took it to the range. First 5 shot group was .50". I shot three more 5 shot groups and the largest was .80" but the barrel was pretty hot when I shot that last group. The stock is apparently a McMillan from the factory as construction appears to be the same and a "Mickey" on my 30-06 Mauser. I used it with a 150 gr. Sierra Game King to take my antelope back in 2009. It's a keeper for sure.
Paul B.

I picked up an '81 XTR in 7X57 a couple months ago. Unfortunately, rotator cuff surgery has had me sidelined and I haven't been able to shoot it yet. It's a beauty, though!

Exactly what I did with my '81XTR in 7x57, that I picked up barely used (probably never hunted) almost exactly a year ago. As it had several pressure points in a very roughly finished barrel channel, I took those out and full-length bedded it from recoil lug forward. That took a lot of epoxy and probably added a couple ounces, but that sucker is sealed. Shoots well too. sometime this winter I'll play with hand loading for it. Just because. Actually, I think I can shrink the group some from MOA with factory loads, 140s or 175s, but different POI.

Also, the safety was not working - it had never been fitted at the factory. I replaced it with the Tubb system (fp + safety), but did not need to. Little difference in accuracy between factory - which was already good, as original, and Tubb. All after the bedding work

Any one need a stock factory fp with spring and safety? Very little prior use.

By the way, Redneck - you were right. The tooling marks I took out on the sear/trigger mechanism were all non-functional.

But it is prettier now......... .

Overall, the rifle isn't - I took it caribou hunting where it (easily) picked up a couple dents - I am not impressed with the factory finish at all as far as durability goes - seems very soft - looks like a single spray-on coat of lacquer - as if I cared. Likely give it a better finsh after another couple hunts. Just because.

I'm still thinking about the recoil pad - the factory one is acceptable (to me) as far as recoil goes, but I've always been partial to Decelerators. Probably somewhere in the future - just because.

I had nothing but good luck with all the XTR’s I’ve owned. Picked up another Winlite last week in 30-06, grabbed a couple hand loads I had for another rifle and what do you know they shoot good. Today I zeroed it at 200 with 130 TTSX load, nice 1.5 group at 200 once zeroed. As far as rifles go from an engineering stand point, it doesn’t get much simpler than a PF M70. Extraction, ejection all contained within the bolt, less external moving parts. Less fussy on feeding. Still field strip-able bolt, old style open trigger. Just simple, I like’em.

Found this one a few weeks ago.

I had a mid 80s .270 in the cheap Ranger version. To this day it was one of the best shooting rifles I've owned. Did not have a problem with the bedding over many years of use, but not saying it can't be improved on.

Still Browning owned? Where are they assembled now?

I've been considering one for some time now.

And he does great work!

Had a push feed model 70 Lightweight (not featherweight).280 from this period. Matte blue, Plain hardwood stock. Hot glue bedding.
Shot like a damn benchrest rifle......
Not pretty but VERY effective !

Funny thing? I have a post 64, pre 68 M70, a 68 M70 and my two Featherweights.Other that the FWT .257 Bob, the others have all shoot MOA at the worst and usually better that that. The .257 is still a work in progress. I just may have to pull it from the stock to see if my problem lies there.

My son in aw bought an FWT in .257 Bob and I helped him work up a load using the 100 gr. Barnes TSX. Found a good load right off the bat. Average groups in the mid .70s". Mine won't shoot that bullet at all. I tried the 120 gr. Speer spitzer and it hates that bullet as well. I know the scope is good as I took it off a proven rifle.

I'm almost tempted to try some my small supply of Norma factory ammo in that rifle. I hoard that supply for a Ruger #1 that shoots tiny groups with that ammo. I got 6 boxes of that ammo them came with the #1 when I bought it. I used one box to see how the Ruger would shoot. Too bad Norma doesn't make them anymore. That was one fine load.
Paul B.

I have a 1970s push feed .30-06 that’s very accurate. Looking at a 1980s .30-06.

1985 special order 25-06 Featherweight.

I had quite a few of the new Classic CRF Model 70s from the the 90s, personal favorites but I'd take any push-feed from the 80s over any current production M70.

not arguing, just curious: what is it about the current production rifles that you dislike?

The current production are the best and most accurate Model 70s ever.

I've had about 5 of the Browning rifles. I don't have any of them now. I still have all of my 80's pushfeeds. They are great rifles, all American made, and a big part of Winchester's history. The XTR FWT's have a pretty good following as well. Just could not warm up to the new Winchesters though. I also prefer the pre 64 and classic models. To each their own.

I sold an 80’s M70 FW XTR .257 Roberts to help fund an elk hunt at the time. Fine fit and finish and shot tiny groups with factory ammo and handloads. I had 3 Roberts at the time and all went down the road after I acquired a M77 .257R which is an excellent shooter and has sentimental value as it belonged to a late hunting buddy. But I wish I still had the XTR. CRF… bah humbug

I got several lightweights a xtr featherweight and a ranger all shoot fantastic

6.5x55 XTR Sporter,25-06 XTR FWT,250 Savage Carbine.

Nice triple shot sqweeler.

My pedestrian .243 Win XTR Featherweight.

$400 featherweight xtr😜

That was a score!

Beautiful setting.

30-06 lightweight

243 lightweight

Nothing featherweight about a Featherweight until I had it fitted with a McMillan Edge. Love it.

Sweet rifles earlybrd. Especially the "$400 xtr fwt"..