Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Bought my first ever Model 70

I have always wanted this exact rifle, after seeing my Grandfather hunt with one growing up. Unfortunately, my cousin got the rifle when Granddad passed on, cousin is a non hunter, but doesn't want to give up the gun, still working on him, maybe someday. Stumbled onto this rifle
while browsing our local classifieds for brass. Saw an ad for some 300 H&H brass, a bunch of random ammo, and dies. Oh yeah, "it also comes with this old rifle". Guy was selling his Grandfathers gun, which was passed down to his Dad, and then to him. He wanted a new scope for
his 300 Win, and some cash, the ad had only been up for 30 minutes. I know little to nothing about how to grade the condition of these rifles, so I did some hurry up homework and decided to try and acquire it. I traded him a Leupold VX-6 that I paid $800 for, and $200 cash. Got the
rifle, 100 WW brass, probably 60 random rounds of various ammo, and some RCBS dies. The gun had an old Japanese built Tasco 4x scope on it. I got a nice Vari-x II 4-12x40 from my brother that he's had in his closet since the 90's, and put that on it. Not a fan of the one piece
Redfield base that is currently on the gun, so I ordered some Leupold PRW bases and Burris Zee rings for it (after reading the excellent post from bsa1917hunter). I know basically nothing about how to grade these rifles, it was made in 1950, the bluing is original, and the wood finish
appears to be original, although the butt has been cut and a new pad was installed who knows how long ago, it's also missing the rear sight, and has the remnants of a peep sight still mounted on the side. Those items don't really bother me too much, after all, I assume if it was 100% original it would have been double the money. I think I did OK, I'm sure you fine Gentleman can let me know how I actually did lol.







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And with the "new" scope on it

Be careful. Model 70's can become quite addictive.

You've done just fine.

I'm currently "restoring" to some extent my Grandfathers 1947 Model 70 in .270. Someone had done it before, perhaps before he bought it, and cut 1 1/2" off the barrel, installed a similar basketweave pad and refinished the stock including the "bonus" of sanding down the checkering some. My Grandfather was not a gun guy, he was a hunter. It's the rifle I carried for the first deer I killed on our farm in KY in 1995 as my Grandfather had just had open heart surgery and carried my .243 for less recoil.

I stripped it and refinished the stock and Gnoahhh is recutting the checkering for me. I fitted a Reproduction recoil pad. to make it a bit more authentic or maybe just more to my taste.

My point being that these rifles are 70+ years old and they were just hunting rifles back then and generally they got modified as needed to fit whomever did the mod or bought it after. While having a pristine one is very cool, a modified one is just one with more stories.

Enjoy the .300 H&H. Mine has a bore that is significantly alligatored but shoots 180 gr Accubonds over 69.0 of H4350 very well inside an inch. Recoil is pretty darn mild.

Hoping you guys can answer this question for me, I removed the one piece Redfield base in anticipation of using the Leupold PRW bases I ordered, but the rear only has one screw hole. From what I've seen, it should have 2? Serial is 169xxx


1. Is this normal?

2. I assume I am stuck using the one piece base?

Pg.133 in Rule will explain what you’re looking at.

Congrats on a wonderful rifle in a fantastic, classy cartridge.

Please pardon my ignorance, but I have no idea what that means. I assume it's a book?

Yes, The Rifleman’s Rifle, p. 133, Roger Rule.

“Receivers for H&H magnums and clip-slotted target rifles were the last to have the two standardized drilled holes. Besides these undrilled ones, others were sometimes drilled with just one hole during the changeover.”

An unusually late 375 H&H rifle, S/N 169,441 is pictured with a smooth rear bridge.

Pre 64 Win 70 H&H Magnums in that era 1949-1950 had none, one, or two holes on the rear bridge. You will need a one piece base for a pre 64 Win 70 H&H Magnum above about 121,000 serial or so. Probably a Redfield. You did VERY well on your trade. It would have been a pretty good trade for a beat up 30-06 (which was the most common caliber).

This in spades. I bought my first one on Labor Day 2018. My fourth one is on its way🙄

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help. Assuming that mine still has the factory configuration, I will stick with the old redfield one piece base the gun came with.

Cool old rifle. Don't be worried about using the one piece mount. I used them for years. They are not my favorite, but they work and it's cool that your old rifle hasn't been monkeyed with, except for the stock. You did very well on the deal. Keep us posted on how that old girl shoots. At first glance I thought the rifle was made in 1950 +/- a year. That old H&H will be fun to shoot. Congrats..

I love my Pre64 M70 in 300 H&H. It's a great cartridge. You did well on your trade. If it were mine I'd find a reproduction Winchester recoil pad for it and hunt the snot out of it. Mine like 69 grains of R19 and a 165 grain BTSP.

Absolutely nothing wrong with that Redfield one piece base. It might not be your first choice but it will work fine.

^^^ THIS ^^^ my 300 H&H is the same 1 hole in back ,so i used a Redfield 1 piece base. >> congrats that is a great deal on the rifle

Congrats on a great rifle in a really cool caliber. Leave it stock, please do not drill another hole unless you discover those holes are not factory, then in that case it doesn't matter.

Yep, you did good. Enjoy.

I just found and purchased my grandfather's Winchester model 70 varmint rifle. He sold it to the man I bought it from back in the early 80's. Proud to have it back in the family after all these years!! [

Good job, sir... You got a gem..

Congratulations on finding the rifle after so long!
Like others have eluded to...don't put 2 in a safe together overnight, before you know it, the safe will be full. And it happens F.A.S.T!