Winchester Model 70 Barrel Question

How do you determine the date of manufacture of a Pre 64 Model 70 barrel? I am helping with an estate that has an unfired, unmounted, 300 H&H barrel purported to have been in the estate for 50+ years.

If the two digit date ("19" is assumed) is not stamped on the bottom of the barrel, then perhaps someone extremely knowledgeable about the barrel roll markings can give you an "era" or "range."

300 H-H Magnum is 1950 and newer .300 Magnum is 1936-1949ish. Soldered ramp would be 1953 and later. If it is unshortened and not rechambered to 300 Weatherby or similar, it is a $500 barrel if in good shape.

^^^^^^^
sbrmike is one of the more knowledgeable members here when it comes to M70 rifles. I completely forgot about the front sight ramps. (Doh!)

Just to clarify, sbrmike is talking about what the barrel roll marks have on them: ".300 Magnum" or "300 H-H Magnum." I'm assuming he was specific that the "300 H-H Magnum" did not have a decimal to the left of the "3" and that there is a "-" between the two "H's" as opposed to an "&".

Neither marking is to be confused with those for the different .300 Winchester Magnum.

Originally Posted by GunDoc7

sbrmike is one of the more knowledgeable members here when it comes to M70 rifles.

JFC. That's the funniest/most ridiculous thing I've read today.

sbrmike is SOOPER SMART

Originally Posted by sbrmike

As far as my feeble mind can remember, the "red W" meant nothing special. It was used during an era. I want to say like 1965 or so, possibly 1975. I believe it was only on shotguns.

sbrmike -- telephone researcher

Originally Posted by sbrmike

Heck Winchester themselves told me mine was an uncatalogged 1980 model for heaven sake. I took them at there word. I always call the manufacturer on used guns for DOM for my records.

There are a lot of knowledgeable Model 70 guys on here -- Poconojack stands out as one as does gunswizard -- but sbrmike stands out as another yahoo on the woodpile.

Thank you for the answers. It is a soldered front ramp with stippling rather than grooves. There is not a date marked on the underside of the barrel. The caliber mark is "300 H & H MAGNUM"

Stippled soldered would be the earlier ones 1953 or 1954 For whatever reason a lot of 300 H&H had no dates. That is a good barrel to have if not rechambered. Guys need them to restore the Weatherbys, etc.

Originally Posted by Jackie_Treehorn

Originally Posted by GunDoc7

sbrmike is one of the more knowledgeable members here when it comes to M70 rifles.

JFC. That's the funniest/most ridiculous thing I've read today.

sbrmike is SOOPER SMART

Originally Posted by sbrmike

As far as my feeble mind can remember, the "red W" meant nothing special. It was used during an era. I want to say like 1965 or so, possibly 1975. I believe it was only on shotguns.

sbrmike -- telephone researcher

Originally Posted by sbrmike

Heck Winchester themselves told me mine was an uncatalogged 1980 model for heaven sake. I took them at there word. I always call the manufacturer on used guns for DOM for my records.

There are a lot of knowledgeable Model 70 guys on here -- Poconojack stands out as one as does gunswizard -- but sbrmike stands out as another yahoo on the woodpile.

IMO, you are a waste of bandwidth. I doubt I am alone in that opinion. But honestly, I don't care one way or the other.
The other thing poconojack, sbrmike, and some others are . . . are gentlemen.
Are you old enough to know what that is?

Originally Posted by GunDoc7

IMO, you are a waste of bandwidth.

Others think highly of you as well.

Well, mine was born 1950. Barrel reads MODEL 70-300 H&H MAGNUM. Sight ramp is stippled. I don’t believe it’s soldered on.