Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors your 2 favorite Pre64 M70 chamberings?

for me..270 win and 300 H&H

I don’t know if I can narrow it to two. Most accurate is definitely the 270. Coolest might have to go to 300 h&h and 30 Govt 06.

Same here. Really enjoying the 300 lately. Such a good cartridge and works nice with plain old H4831.





And the mighty 300






The 338 will always be near my favorite though.

For me it would be .257 Roberts and .30-06. Though not original I've had a 1950's vintage .30-06 rebored to .35 Whelen, it has been my whitetail rifle for more than 35 years. Don't know why Winchester never offered a .35 Whelen.

220 Swift Super Grade, and 22 Hornet Super Grade…

I like it when Scotty posts pictures of his great shooting rifles. They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words.

30-06:



338 WIN MAG:



I really like my 270 featherweight though. Made the same year as my 30-06 fwt (1956). Haven't even worked up a load in that rifle though. So that shows you I lean more toward the 30-06. Been shooting it since I was 12, so I may be a bit biased.

Same here, for everyday hunting. If I was a collector I'd be after a nice 375 and 458!

For me it would be 257 Roberts and 35 Remington. I've got a nice Roberts. Have'nt found a 35 Remington yet. But I am loookin......

.30-06 and .220 Swift

man i have some pre-64`s they are precious but if i had pick 220 Swift & 338 Win. mag. Alaskan

3006 and 22 hornet

That would be a great combo. I always wanted a 300, or 338. I bought my first pre64 in 30-06, to do everything. I have 3 pre64's, all 06's. So I guess you can say I'm stuck in a rut.

I was thinking you were going to say 30-06. Not a dang thing wrong with that. If you ever go elk hunting, just load it with 200gr Nosler partitions, and you'll think you hit them with a 338wm.

I do love my one and only, a 1955 fwt in 243.


However I think the two favorite/coolest are the 22 hornet, and the 300 win mag.

.220 Swift and .257 Roberts for me.

....338 and .270

Handwerk: My first "collected" pre-64 Model 70 Winchester was in the super-cool and nifty 22 Hornet chambering!
My second favorite caliber is the 257 Roberts.
And tied for third are the 375 H&H Magnum and 220 Swift.
Long live the Riflemans Rifle.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I’ll go with this and the other H&H.

.30-06 and .30 GOV'T .06.

There are several I am partial to, but the .375 and .270 take the blue ribbons.

30-06 and .375 H&H.
That said, also have too many early M-70s... including two re-bored and re-rifled to both 338-06 and 35 Whelen
on the original barrels. The 35 Whelen was discovered in Boise, ID. The shop owner said it could be "sent back.
Then he said: "You won't be sending it back". Indeed. It was a custom rifle with a stock that resembled a Super Grade version.
The 338-06 IS on a Super Grade stock that was found with some imperfections.

I like iron sights: if you have a problem scope in Alaska-best have iron sights and/or a backup scope. Gunsmiths are
never close by.

30-06 and 300 H&H

300 H&H for sure but my 53 FW 308 is sure fun to play with and I am not even a big 308 fan.

30-06 and 375 H&H followed closely by 257 Roberts and then 220 Swift

'06 and Hornet.

Transitional models in 257R and 375 H&H. Pretty much bookends of the spectrum but each exceptional in their respective class.

264 and ".300 Magnum"

270 and 30-06

257 Roberts and 2500-3000 Savage. I shoot the same bullet from both, Berger 87gr Match

All of mine have been chambered in 06 or .30Govt '06. I still hunger for a pre war Super Grade in .300 H&H though.

Of all the pre-64s I've owned, my two favorites are my 270 WCF pre war Super grade and 375 pre war. That 375 has tons of proof marks on the bottom of the receiver and looks to have spent serious time in Europe and Africa. The 270 was carried in a scabbard for so long that the barrel is completely polished and in the white. Both shoot lights out and have tons of nostalgia for me.

Favorite "2" that I would like to own... 250 Savage and 7mm Mauser. "Transitions" would be my choice. "Carbines" would be acceptable! I would be humbled to own "shooters" in ANY version!!!

Favorite "2" that I own but don't shoot... 2 digit 30-GOVT-06 assembled the end of the first day of production, 1936 and a "Transition" 375H&H.

Favorite "2" that I own AND shoot... low comb 270 FWT and 264 Westerner.

Good thread... had to think about it and still feel guilty leaving a couple off the list.

Because I am also a Savage guy as well, it has to be the 250-3000. And I have that P64 in a transition gun. 1947.

Next P64 would be the 257 Roberts. I have that one in a Super Grade.

All-time favorite 270 win in a 1955 FW rifle most used center fire rifle I own. Rifle has been rebarreled FW Douglas XX. This rifle still has factory stock that has been reworked completely (RJ Renner Sparkes NV). I have used it since early 80s. I had a pre 64 FW 30/06 with bad barrel rebored to a 338/06 still has factory barrel just rebored. A great caliber for elk and bear on west end WA state. But I reverted to my old 270 this year for deer. I also have a Cliff LaBounty Rebore in pre 64 model 70 a 300 H&H rebored to 375 H&H. It's like a FW 375 H&H. Not a rifle you go shoot 3 boxes of shells with at the range. You have to carry it all the time only shoot it once in a while on hunt. 338/06 and 375 H&H both have composite stocks. 375 with scope and loaded less than 9 pounds.
Really though I could have saved a lot of money and time and done most everything with 270 Winchester. I have had sold traded a bunch pre 64 model 70s along the way. Need has nothing to do with it. I had a lot of fun. For a set or rifles and calibers to use and travel North American, world with 270 Winchester, 375 H&H would be my choice. A 30/06 may be a little more common since choice for travel. But after 40 plus years I shoot my 270 really well.
270 Winchester.
375H&H

Swift and '06. Both chamberings gave consistent accuracy without alot of fussing.

Every Swift tried approximated 1/2" for five at 100 yds with John Dewey's load. Std rifle, target, varmint, all.

Likewise, every '06 (including M-54s) put five 180s in 1" at 100 yds.

300 H&H & 375 H&H AI

I’ve sold all the others.

.30-06 and .220 Swift.

.270 and .257 Roberts are neck and neck for 3rd.

Have owned and pre-'64s (often more than one) in .257 Roberts, .264 Winchester, Magnum .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .30-06, .300 H&H and .375 H&H.

My favorites have been .270 and .308 Featherweights--but if Winchester had chambered the Featherweight in .257 Roberts that would be my ideal. The two .257s I've owned were pre-war and early 1950s models, and while both grouped well, they weighed around 9 pounds scoped.

But of course Winchester wanted to promote their own rounds when the Featherweight was introduced, especially the .308, which was the only round chambered in the initial Featherweight. Had a first-year .308 for a while, which grouped VERY well--after the barrel was free-floated.

The only one left is a .375 H&H.

LOL, that's impossible

300 H&H and 375 H&H
7x57mm and 458 WM

Both sets could be paired for ANY African Safari and ALL the animals the continent provides.

270 W.C.F.
Have owned 20 270 M70’s in various configurations over the years

My current fav pre-64, is a FWT JES rebored .358 Win. Started out as a shot out .243.

DF

[quote=lundtroller]

Favorite I own but don't shoot... 2 digit 30-GOVT-06 assembled the end of the first day of production,

DAAAAMN!!!

Ha!

Great gun. Don’t think I’d shoot that one either.

DF

Love to see a couple pics!

Calibers..

.308 & .270 currently.

Here you go. My pics leave a little to be desired!

























She has been loved and used gently over the years, a lot like the other pre-war 70 '06 offered for sale here on the 'fire recently. I will add again, not bad for almost 90 years old! The story of how I discovered her just adds to the allure... barrel down stuffed in with a bunch of other guns in a pawn shop safe! I am a bigger fan of "transition" 70s and featherweights BUT when I saw the serial # my stomach quivered and my knees began to feel weak (just like a little kid!!!) so I finally became a pre-war owner...

I'm not sure how this gun ended up where it did in "coal country" central Utah but my limited knowledge suggests that it may have originated in Wyoming or Colorado and may have "moved" to Utah sometime later. Will never know for sure though. Not sure where she will go next either... almost seems like it should be in a museum, ie. Cody, or something similar. I need to go check that place out as my family are not "loonies" like me, sadly.

For those "loonier" than me, I should correct my earlier description of the production date of the gun. The receiver was "stamped" late in the first day of production 1936 or early in the second day. As I understand, the first 100 rifles were 30-GOVT-06.

I probably should have bought a couple of other pre-war 70s over the years including the one mentioned earlier sold on the' fire. Interestingly, ALL of those were '06's, too!

Enjoy and never pass by a pawn or gun shop w/o a "look"! You never know...

Good Stuff! Thank You

My two favorites are .257 Roberts and .338 Winchester Magnum.

That is cool Lundtroller!

270 W.C.F and 375 "Magnum"

And another.
👍👍

Lundtroller: Thank you for sharing the great pictures and the great story of your "1st day" Model 70!
Good for you and take care of that prized firearm.
Love me some pre-war charcoal blued Model 70's!
Long live the Riflemans Rifle.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

300 H&H has always seemed just right for a pre 64 M70 to me.

22 hornet and a 3006

Yes thank you Lundtroller That was nice to see! Great gun! Nice pics!!

Yep.

And I appreciate him looking for the ultimate long term custodian of that historical gun. It ultimately needs to be a museum following Lundtroller’s tenure as caretaker.

DF

In my younger days I dreamed of Africa with a 300 and a 375 H&H in the gun racks. Nowadays a .257 and 7x57 Mauser would be preferable - and if that 257 were a custom rifle in a Featherweight configuration I'd smile even more.

Thanks for the nice comments and glad that the "gun" resonates with M70 lovers.

Really stupid luck that I ended up with it even though I do certainly spend time "looking". I had been in the specific "pawn shop" many times as I lived in that community for close to 10 years. There was actually another shop in town where I had scored many more "finds" including a Colt 2nd series "Woodsman", Win 64 30/30, and a pre64 308 FWT, all for amazing prices! Those are the ones that stand out anyway. The "pawn shop" where I got the '06 in the pictures did not display their guns very nicely AND had the reputation of calling and letting the local LEOs sift through everything first before putting them up for sale! That was fine but I never really had my hopes up for purchasing anything worthwhile there... until the day I walked in and spied the '06 sitting as described in the cluttered safe. When I saw it was a pre-war '06, I really was not that excited as I don't find them optimal for "using" unless they have been drilled/tapped/"altered", etc. This one had an old rubber slip on pad on it as well so I wondered, too, if it had been "cut". As mentioned before, I was totally unprepared/in disbelief when I turned it over and saw the SN. I'm lucky I did not drop the gun trying to rub my eyes!!! I told the owner I was "really interested" in the gun and asked if I could try to take the slip on pad off... he said yes and it literally just crumbled off leaving that beautiful steel buttplate in full view. I didn't "dicker" on price (like I usually do!) and could not get my wallet out fast enough (it would have been on a very fair price on any '06 (std. or fwt) at the time).

Luck? or something was shining down on mw that day... I also bought a NIB Colt CLR '06 that was standing in the safe, too! That gun was later sold to a member of the 'fire here. I should have directly driven 4 hours to Colorado or Idaho to buy a lottery ticket!!!

Wrt the M70, I happened to know one of the local LEOs (mentioned earlier) who had purchased some nice Winchester levers and Colt pistols over the years at this pawn shop over the years. He was a good guy for sure but pretty "competitive", too! When I told him about the '06, he did not believe me... when I showed it too him he just went silent, smiled and shook his head. I think he was a little pissed!

Will close by saying that I liked how Melvin Forbes said his guns were on ?"temporary loan" to their new owners like he still retained a significant "interest" in them! That said a lot about the man and his commitment to his craft/skill. I feel the same way about the "70" mentioned when I pull it out of the safe to hold and stare at occasionally. Not sure who "loaned" it to me but it will likely be around long after me, hopefully serving a purpose of some sort greater than what it was doing in that old safe. ACTUALLY, it would have been "BEST" if the original owner's family knew what they were getting rid of but that is another mystery.

308 Win
300 Win Mag.

I would like to se the .270 worked over by RJ Reiner!