Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles PRE 64 WINCHESTER MODEL 70

Hey guys and gals,

Here in Oz we don't hear much about the pre 64 M70, the "Rifleman's Rifle". What's your inpression of this classic rifle in the US? Is it still what it was cracked up to be "the definitive action and rifle" or was this just a fiction by gun writers of the era?

Tells us your impressions and gripes (if any) about this action and rifle.

Magnum308

well if you can get your hands on the recent issue of Rifle, John B. discusses the 3 main versions of the Model 70, their strengths and weaknesses. personally if i was going to build a custom rifle on one of the three actions it would be the newer Classic model with CRF. but then again im a young guy and not heavily influenced by some of the older writers who were big defenders of their Pre-64 Model 70's.

I certainly like mine. I owned a 7 mag made in 1969, and it truly was a piece of crap. Had to work on the bedding to make it shoot and then the extractor kept breaking. I don't have any experience with the new ones, but when I take mine out, an elk dies.

The "new pre '64 style" is basically the same action, I like them better because they don't have the permanent iron sights that snag on everthing. Also the older rifle stocks dropped more at the heel causing the recoil to move the stock upwards into your face.
All M70's have the same trigger asssembly.
I would not want to customize an old one and hurt the collector value.

Magnum308

If they were made today they would probably cost about the same as a Dakota because of the amount of hand work and the high number of machining operations required to make one. All it takes to make a believer of the pre-64 is to hold it in your hands and work the bolt. Thanks...Bill.

I have 5 of them, been collecting them for the last few years. A featherweight 30-06, a Standard grade 270, 300 Win Mag, 338 Win Mag, and an old Model 54 in 22 Hornet. The 54 was the pre runner of the Model 70. All the actions are as slick as glass and all are shooters. My favorite is the featherweight 30-06, it is the handiest rifle I have and it there is no other rifle I have ever handled to me as well balanced as it is. I love them. I also have two of the newer supergrades, a 7 Rem Mag and a 25-06. Same action, but there is still something about the pre-64, you would just have to fondle one once to know what I mean.

I have owned 33 of them since 1968, I currently own 10 and one H&H fact. mod. action; I also own classic Brnos, such as the 21-H, ZG-47, classic FN Mausers such as Browning Safari, Husqvarnas, Mannlicher-Schoenauer and a Dakota 76. The P-64 Mod. 70, while not absolutely perfect, was and is, one of the very finest sporting rifles ever made anywhere, period.

I preferred mine in .375H&H for a working gun while doing solo, three-five month stays in deep wilderness, among Grizzlies, over any other rifle I have ever owned. I have one particular .338 Alaskan of the four I have that I would not sell for any amount of money and none of my other fine guns, even those costing several times as much, give me that feeling.

If, I could only have one hunting rifle for B.C., I would pick a P-64 Alaskan in .338 over absolutely anything else. with very inexpensive mods. and reasonably priced mounts and scope, it will do it all and do it very well.

magnum308,
If you are growing suspicious about a small, but over zealous group caught up in nostalgics having biased opinions, you may be right. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well, I owned one, a model 70 30-06. It of course was a right handed rifle, and me being a lefty, I sold it to a friend. He loves it, everything he has taken since has been with that rifle, while his Rem700 7mag sits.

Like the man said, get a hold of one and work the action, heavy and smooth. I remember I used to work the bolt with my whole hand, but on newer rifles I use two fingers and the thumb.

The original standard felt pretty heavy, not sure, maybe nine pounds.

Simply put !! The best of the best. The Super Grade
pre 64 is pure beauty and function. Supposedly had select barrels. While weight will not be in favor of today's
shooter,other atributes are superb.

Magnum308, I like them . But I like the mystic of old well made rifles that are solid

I have 2 so far , a 1949 standard 30-06 and a 1953 feathewieght 308.

The actions Compared to a newer classic they are the same but with a plain bolt(no jeweling), smooth bolt knob, kind of a bead blasted ,course blue finish (instead of polished) reciever.
They are just simple, solid, well made well fit and tight.

Some you see for sale are way overpriced however, in some of the rarer calibers like 257, etc.

I found my '53 308 feather wieght at a gun shop for $225. Some one brought it in and sold it to the gun shop for cheap im sure. Not knowing what it was worth. To the average joe it looked like a old dirty rifle with loose scope mounts.

I cleaned it up and put new mounts and scope on it, now its a jewel...

Straydog,

I might me classified as one of them. I own 2 pre 64 M70s both featherweights, in .270 Win and.308 Win. I would like to expand my small collection. Next would be a fwt in 30-06 or a std weight in either 338 WM, 300WM or .375 H&H.

There doesn't seem to be much of a following on the Oz boards. Most people seem to consider that the reputation is overrated or related to the lack of any decent competition in that era (1936-1963). I disagree. Mine are smoothe as silk and a delight to use. I think the fwt is just balanced right in a handy light package.

I must agree with the comment that the gun auction sites tend to overprice some of them. But being in Oz there is limited ways we can access their availability other then on line. Though I would be interested in hearing of other ways to increase my small collection.

Mind you I did ask for gripes and well as impressions, and in the interests of gaining a balanced view would invite those detractors, if there are any, to plead their case.

Regards,
Magnum308

Agree with the Dakota comparison analogy. Along with the Belgian made Browning Safari Grades, they are truly wonderful rifles. Kutenay, here's one for you: A Winchester Custom Shop pre-64 in 338. Rick, I'm not smart enough to crop the picture so if you would be so kind.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> jorge

A comfy couch, a big game hide, a beautiful rifle, and a remote. An attractive lady and life would be nearly perfect! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

It is.....:)

Jorge
"Livin' the dream!"

Hey boys, I AM fortunate. How a guy with a mug like mine managed to latch on to that babe-and make it last 23 years- is truly my greatest accomplishment in life! She's going with me to Zimbabwe next summer so more to follow!:) jorge

Outstanding Jorge! Especially the lady!

Are you talking about the lovely rifle or the lovely lady? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Actually, it was she that found and bought the rifle for me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> jorge