|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,698
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,698 |
Thought I'd post a few photos of my '55 .30-06 standard grade, which went in recently for some cosmetic surgery. I found this one sitting on the front seat of a friend's p/u during a hunting trip...it was owned by someone else that wanted to sell it to my buddy. I bought it because it was in nice, but very used shape, and it was in '06. Bore was spotless, but there was rust on the floorplate, and the stock was missing most of the finish. I got it for $500.00. I had my favorite gunsmith, Justin McMillan, refinish the stock, reblue the triggerguard/floorplate and smooth out, polish and re-cut the buttplate checkering (it was pretty beat up) and recut the stock checkering. Justin, also an M70 pre-64 freak, did the refinish with an eye towards keeping it looking original; we didn't want to make it "better". No re-bedding was done. The floorplate wasn't given a high polish, and the factory mistakes in the checkering were left in. I think it came out quite well. I sold my pristine '49 M70 because it was too nice. This one's refinished (just the stock and floorplate assembly), so I can use it. It's wearing a favorite Lyman 4X Permacenter with a duplex. I shot it before the work; nice round 5-shot groups of just over an inch with Win 180 grain factory sofpoints. THIS is the M70 I've always wanted. And it goes well with my other standard grade in .270. It's a working rifle. Bob
Last edited by RGK; 02/23/15.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,367
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,367 |
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Hunter S. Thompson
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 316
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 316 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,966 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,966 Likes: 1 |
Very nice I had a similar experience with a FWT 308. Almost no stock finish. It's a great shooter now.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,063
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,063 |
There's 2 dates they carve on your tombstone. Everyone knows what they mean. What's more important is time that is known as the little dash inbetween.
Razz
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,025 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,025 Likes: 1 |
Very nice rifle sir, thank you for the pictures.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17,841 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17,841 Likes: 2 |
Very nice M/70, I have the same scope and mount on my prewar .257 Roberts.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 125
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 125 |
Walk slow, get down, hurry up and be quiet.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,169 Likes: 14
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,169 Likes: 14 |
I'm drooling. Your frined, Mr. Mcmillan, does some fantastic work. You need to tell him we are drooling over here!!!! Thanks for sharing. I'm really liking it. Your pictures are always very professional looking too. Great job!!.
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,935
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,935 |
That is just a really pretty rifle. To me, there is just something about the "Winchester Red" stock color. Standard M70s may not be super flashy, but they are "quietly classy", and this one is all that.
Very tasteful and thoughtful "refereshing"! Not "all over", just where it was most needed, and back to original appearance. If you want to do something to old rifles, this is IMHO, exactly how to go about it.
As I said in another post, I think the standard .30-06s and .270s, along with the .375, are the rifles that made the reputation of the M70.
I also happen to like one piece bases.
I notice the rear sight slot has a filler. What did you do with the front?
Last edited by GunDoc7; 02/22/15.
Clinging to guns & religion since 1959
Keyboards make people braver than alcohol
Election Integrity is more important than Election Convenience
Washington Post: "Democracy Dies in Darkness" More correct: "Killing Democracy Faster Than Darkness"
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,253
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,253 |
My hat off to you sir, I guess Im not a puriest as I love to see these ole gals brought back or up to good looking and hunted like they were built for! very best winpoor
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,698
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,698 |
Hi GunDoc I left the front sight on the rifle. It looks "right" on an M70. Rear sight (and front sight hood) was long-gone when I got the rifle. I put a rear sight slot blank and front sight hood on for appearance. Bob
Last edited by RGK; 02/23/15.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 407
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 407 |
Looks fantastic. Great job!
I like it here. They let me swear.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,559 Likes: 12
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,559 Likes: 12 |
Nice rifle and great choices doing the "refresh"!
Slaves get what they need. Free men get what they want. Rehabilitation is way overrated. Orwell wasn't wrong. GOA member disappointed NRA member 24HCF SEARCH
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,296
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,296 |
yep, looks like you brought it back just the right amount. Fine job. John
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,935
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,935 |
Hi GunDoc I left the front sight on the rifle. It looks "right" on an M70. Rear sight (and front sight hood) was long-gone when I got the rifle. I put a rear sight slot blank and front sight hood on for appearance. Bob I hear you about the "looks right." Logic tells me to pull the hood and both front and rear with mine and fill with proper width blanks. But "looks" say a M70 should have a slick barrel or a sight and hood. Even "loonier", but I am on the correct subforum for it, is I worked a bit to get a vintage having the integral to the barrel front sight ramp! Go figure. I don't know what you paid for the refresh work, and I don't really care. I suspect you are sitting pretty good on the whole deal. What I really commend you for is being able to see what was possible when you first saw the rifle on the seat of the pickup. Where you at in Texas?
Last edited by GunDoc7; 02/23/15.
Clinging to guns & religion since 1959
Keyboards make people braver than alcohol
Election Integrity is more important than Election Convenience
Washington Post: "Democracy Dies in Darkness" More correct: "Killing Democracy Faster Than Darkness"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,361
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,361 |
Don't speculate when you don't know, and don't second guess when you do.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,698
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,698 |
Hi GunDoc I left the front sight on the rifle. It looks "right" on an M70. Rear sight (and front sight hood) was long-gone when I got the rifle. I put a rear sight slot blank and front sight hood on for appearance. Bob I hear you about the "looks right." Logic tells me to pull the hood and both front and rear with mine and fill with proper width blanks. But "looks" say a M70 should have a slick barrel or a sight and hood. Even "loonier", but I am on the correct subforum for it, is I worked a bit to get a vintage having the integral to the barrel front sight ramp! Go figure. Where you at in Texas? New Braunfels. Bob
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,935
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,935 |
Well then, I got you bracketed! I was born and raised in San Antonio, and have lived in Austin for years. And spent a lot of time on Lake McQueeny back in the day.
Clinging to guns & religion since 1959
Keyboards make people braver than alcohol
Election Integrity is more important than Election Convenience
Washington Post: "Democracy Dies in Darkness" More correct: "Killing Democracy Faster Than Darkness"
|
|
|
|
525 members (007FJ, 1lessdog, 160user, 01Foreman400, 1badf350, 1Longbow, 56 invisible),
2,145
guests, and
1,149
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,193,240
Posts18,504,527
Members73,994
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|