Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Pre-64 300 H&H values

How much should I expect to spend on a standard pre-64 model 70 in used, but unmolested condition? How much harder are they to come by than the standard chamberings such as the 30/06 or 270?

These seem to go from $900 for a good shooter to well over $2000 for pristine example. They made over 30 thousand of them, but most have been modified and the collector value is gone. Typical mods are cut stock and recoil pads, rechambering to another 300 magnum etc.

unmolested is going to be the sticking point....some troll apparently went around sawing off stocks and installing white line spacers and waffle pads on most of them.

Or, as smithrjd mentioned, rechambering them to an "improved" .300 magnum, whether the .300 Weatherby or some unstandardized bastard round.

Sometimes the rechambered rifle was never marked that it was changed. A good friend of mine (and a very experienced gun trader) recently ended up with a pre-'64 7x57 in very fine shape that had been rechambered to a 7x57 improved round. But the seller didn't tell him (and may not have known), and in the meantime the rifle changed hands for a premium price.

Pre 64's are niche unto themselfs, many different grades, mods over the years, different sights etc. At the shooter grade one can usually be OK money wise, but at the collector grade you better know what you are doing or you could get stung. I inherited mine and know it's history, dead bone stock unmodified. I bought a beater stock and do use the rifle, but the original stock stays in the gun cabinet.

Its hard to find one that has not been either re chambered or extra holes drilled for that Griffin and Howe Side mount. I had seen just one and it was a Super Grade with not a mark on it. These days it would be just easier to find a 375 H+H in recent made M-70 and do a barrel job. But those M-70's that were made after World War II to about 1956 or so are most certain some of the finest rifles Winchester ever made. I saw just one Pre 64 M-70 in 7 x 57 and it had the tags and the box too, and a 5000 price tag on it, and that was around 1984!

I wouldn't mind an aftermarket recoil pad like the standard, red Winchester add-on pads. Hopefully the stock would be otherwise unmodified, and no extra holes in the metal. I'm seeing some around the 1300 dollar mark on Gunsamerica.

the last really pretty one I saw that was all original had $1600 asking price at a gun show here...it was nice but not mint, with some blue thinning on floorplate and a couple of stock marks.

I was tempted to offer him 1300, but decided against it.

Thanks, Steve. A pre-64 300 H&H just sounds like a classy rifle to be had.

I agree....a classic rifle in the classic .30....and the slickest feeder around. I guess a lot of people agree with us.

I got one for next to nothing because it had been re-chambered to .300 Weatherby Magnum (it even had a box of reloads thrown in; never have figured out what to do with those). Too bad for the rifle as it would have been real nice if unaltered, but I used it for making into a .375 H&H.

I bought one with the original stock in pretty good condition. Only mod was someone had inlet a small compass into the buttstock! I was going to build a 375 with it. I shot it and it was just too good to tear apart. I put a Brown Precision stock on it and had it Cerakoted. It has been to Alaska and lots of other parts in the west.

Oh, I paid $550 for it with a case of ammo and a Vari-X-II scope on it.

Heck, this thread is worthless without pics!!!

I have a very nice pre-64 M70 in 300 H&H with the original stock, that I have since restocked. If you can find something with good metal but a not so good or original stock, let me know. Mine was all original, the stock is in used but very good condition and would part with it.

Mine is a 1952 model and shoots amazingly well. Should you find the opportunity to pick up one of similar manufacture, I'd jump on it. I would not buy one for an investment, but as a great rifle, I'm not sure it gets any better...