Hello all,

I haven't dropped by in a while. But I know all y'all (plural of the Texas singular "y'all") like reports of new/old rifles . . . and I could use a few suggestions.
So I picked up a 1949 M70 .270 recently. It is in pretty good shape, original butt intact, with an old slightly foggy Weaver K4 post and cross hair.
I know the old "thread is worthless without pics", and I agree entirely. I have a pic. I even have a pic of the first two groups: WW 150gr. Power Point factory rounds, 5 shots, 100 yds., 1.5" and 1.6", 10 shot composite group 1.75".
But I am having a hell of a time getting pics to load up to the Image Gallery, and I don't want to post small, grainy 97KB pics. I'm on a Mac using Firefox for a browser, if that helps.

Best,
Gun Doc

While I am awaiting advice for how to post decent pics, I will say that I was reasonably impressed with how this rifle shot. No, it is not MOA, but a sub 2 MOA 10-shot group (5 shots starting with a cold barrel, then 5 from a "cooled down" barrel) is pretty darn consistent.

I'm pretty sure that slightly foggy 4x post and cross hair reticle, aiming at a 3" dot was costing me some aiming error. The rifle is going to get new glass, likely a 3.5-10 x 40 Leupold, and a different stock. I want a pad and I won't cut an original butt. I have a few already cut and otherwise molested vintage Monte Carlo stocks, and I won't be reluctant about bedding those if I so desire. Finally, I haven't done any load development yet.

Now, it may be that the rifle will not respond to different bedding and those factory loads happen to be the best ever for it. There are no guarantees, but experience tells me it will respond at least a bit to both. But I know I can aim better with a better scope, that's for sure!

Best,
Gun Doc

This is how I post pictures here. Set up an account (free) with a photo hosting website. I use https://postimages.org. Upload your photos to that site and from there you can post them to this forum by copying the image address and pasting it in this dialog box. It's simpler than my explanation.

Sounds like a cool old rifle. A modern scope should help a ton.. keep us posted

Rifle with old scope, the scope it will likely get, first two groups (100 yards, aiming with old 4x post and cross hair, WW 150 grain Power Point factory load), composite of first two groups. I think she has potential. Hope it proves out!

Fine looking rifle, you did well. The more I see thes old M70's the more I like 'um. I too have a '49 in .270. Mine really shines with 130's and 140's (RL22 & IMR4350). Can't remember if I've tried 150's in it.

Thanks gunnut308.

Does your '49 wear a scope, and if so, which one and what mount/rings? Have you done anything to the bedding? How well does it shoot? Not the best it ever did, but most of the time (# shots, distance, group size.)

Beautiful rifle. You did good.

My '50 30-06 wears a 3.5-10x40 VX3 in dual dovetails.

Leupold 3.5-10 and Talley lightweights. It's not bedded. Shoots hand loads 1/2" to 1" at 100 yards. MOA out to 500 if it's not windy.

Gundoc7
I have one of those made in 48. With a quality scope I am sure it will do much better. Fine, Fine rifles.

Honestly, too many people agonize over tiny groups or the lack thereof. Your rifle is certainly a more realistic example of what many rifles are capable of. Improvement is very likely too, but when you see so many small groups posted, I wonder what group of how many most people post to show the rifle's real accuracy.

I had a 1949 270 and it shot very well. I sighted it in and put the crosshair on the center of the group and shot lots of critters with it. I now have a pre-war carbine in 270 with a 2-4 scope on it and I don't worry about groups, but I can tell you there isn't any animal within 300 yards that won't be killed instantly with that rifle and 130 grain bullets...

Thanks all for the comments and information.

Shrapnel, I hear you. I'd much rather have a rifle that consistently gave me 1-1/2 MOA than one that had to "warm up" to give me 3/4. And I probably don't really need 1-1/2. After all, you can hold only so well in the field. Not to mention we don't get warm ups or sighter shots. Further, although we tend to shoot five shots for statistical purposes, what really matters to me is that first shot from a lightly oiled bore. That and then maybe the next two. After that, you are having the kind of day another MOA ain't gonna fix!

I think it was Ross Seyfried who came up with the "one shot group." If I remember, the idea was one shot, give the bore a swipe of oil, put the rifle away, and repeat the next day. You might even take a break for the weather to change. That test told you how good a hunting rifle you had. I figured the next two shots were a worthwhile addition . . . because things happen.

Even so, 1 MOA seems a nice round number, so I do hope to get that. But anything more on a big game rifle is just bragging rights, and I won't bother chasing better.

Also, bullets! I care what it does with good, proven game bullets. I could care less about "target" bullets, or the ones that work great "most of the time."