Winchester Model 70 Made in 1983

[Barrelhorses]

A LGS has a Winchester XTR in 223 Remington that has caught my attention. Per the serial number, it was made in 1983. It's in near mint if not mint condition. It is a classy and classic looking rifle to be sure. I'm not really familiar with the Winchester M70, except I know some purists prefer the pre-64 models. How was the quality of Winchester rifles in 1983?

I took this screenshot from the shops Armslist post. I did handle the rifle in person today and it looks to be in excellent condition. I doubt if it ever saw time in the field.

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

Good guns.

 

[tominboise]

I'm not a M70 expert but I own a few and like them. That looks like a push feed rifle, which should be quite accurate and well made. It's probably oversized for the .223 cartridge but you probably aren't hunting mountain goats with it anyway.

 

[dryhumor]

M70 223s are usually harder to find, I’ve had several through the years. I’d buy it and not look back.

 

[rfwind]

That’s a Model 70 Featherweight. I bought a M70 Featherweight in .280 Remington in 1985. It has been a favorite ever since. I absolutely do not need it but would probably buy it.

 

[whatsupdoc]

I have had a few 80's featherweights, they are fine well made rifles for what they are.
Remember its a featherweight not a bull barrel target gun. All mine had the recoil lug epoxy bedded
from the factory and the stock design was more comfortable to shoot vs the standard 70XTR with
the high cheekpiece.

My main deer rifle for the NE woods was a 30-06 featherweight with a Redfield fixed 4 power optic.
It was a pleasure to still hunt with it being so light.

 

[243winxb]

Asking price? Would have to be considered, for a gun that old.

made in 1983

Old is not always better, accuracy wise. 42 years old.

 

[Barrelhorses]

Asking price? Would have to be considered, for a gun that old.

Old is not always better, accuracy wise. 42 years old.

I think the asking price might be a bit steep based on what I can determine. $1295 out the door. This includes the Redfield 2-7x that is on the rifle.

Old may not be better, but I usually like old better. If I were a hunter or competitor, I'd probably want new. But I'm just a recreational paper puncher and like walnut and blued steel.

 

[243winxb]

I think the asking price might be a bit steep based on what I can determine. $1295 out the door. This includes the Redfield 2-7x that is on the rifle

Its a $800 package Nothing special about it. Sorry.

I had bought one of the cheap promotional models in 223, sometime in the 80s. Hardwood stock, coated with a epoxy type, cardboard looking finish.

Could not get it to group under 1" @ 100 yds. Glass bedded it, no help. Removed the stock finish & refinished it. Lot of grain & colors in the cheap wood. Put it in the sale rack & it sold right away.
The high gloss spray polyurethane helped.

My accuracy test is 5 shot groups x 4 for a 20 shot average. Winchester didnt make the cut.

This Savage Axis 223, passed accuracy test with flying color, but its ugly.

 

[Barrelhorses]

Its a $800 package Nothing special about it. Sorry.

I had bought one of the cheap promotional models in 223, sometime in the 80s. Hardwood stock, coated with a epoxy type, cardboard looking finish.

Could not get it to group under 1" @ 100 yds. Glass bedded it, no help. Removed the stock finish & refinished it. Lot of grain & colors in the cheap wood. Put it in the sale rack & it sold right away.
The high gloss spray polyurethane helped.

My accuracy test is 5 shot groups x 4 for a 20 shot average. Winchester didnt make the cut.

This Savage Axis 223, passed accuracy test with flying color, but its ugly.
View attachment 1715613View attachment 1715614

Nothing to be sorry about. I appreciate your opinion and experience. I like the rifle but not enough to overpay for it. FWIW, I had a Savage Axis 223. It shot good but I never fell in love with it. It went down the road in exchange for something else.

 

[distinguished]

As others have said, it is a featherweight. The only issue I have seen is that the thermoplastic bedding does not hold up well. It is fairly simple to remove the thermoplastic and re-bed with something like Marine-Tex. I have owned quite a few model 70's over the years and there is a .223 custom shop version with McMillan stock sitting in my safe now, it is very accurate with 52gr.- 53gr. handloads.

 

[White Eagle]

I have a thing for those rifles I have owned and still own a corral of them both Featherweights and Super Grades. It is hard to beat them in my opinion. The first one I bought was the same era as the one you are looking at but in 280 Rem. absolute tack driver, push feed in all. Go for it you won't be sorry.

 

[Barrelhorses]

Just to update and bring some closure to this thread, I made an offer on the rifle and it was accepted. I will pick it up next week. I appreciate the input from everyone who contributed. I also had a thread in the centerfire forum at Rimfire Central that has over 90 comments so far. Lots of varying opinions there as well. In the end, it's a classy sporter that I couldn't pass up.

 

[AWS]

I've owned a couple in 222 Rem a 7mm Rem Mag and gave my dad a Featherweight in 270 W. The 222s were a n the heavy side due to being on long a tions but more than accurate enough to kill coyotes. The 7mm came through my shop and I used it for deer up in northern MN with 175gr RNs, it worked great, a friend in ND wanted a longer range deer rifle than his 30-30 so it found a happy house me out there. Dad loved his 270 shot it right up till the end, it is still up in a safe spot n WI waiting for it's next season.

My nephew has a push-feed model 70 Featherweight in 22-250 with a Leupold 1.75-6 of n it and it is his favorite coyote calling rifle.

If I found a good deal on a push-feed 70.i wouldn't turn it down. The 222s are sleepers, will do 90% of what the 223 at half the cost.

40 year old rifle Mod 70 222

I needed to cut it an inch for me but found a synthetic youth stock from a much later Mod 70 so used that and preserved the nice wood.

It getting the job done Meopta Artimes 1.5-6x44 scope 52gr Speer varmint bullet.

With a Weaver 1-4x24 scope

Sold it to a fellow that wanted a rifle could grow with his son.

 

[spencerhenry]

Are Winchesters of that vintage known to be accurate?

$1300 is way too much in my opinion, and I am a winchester fan.

 

[Barrelhorses]

Are Winchesters of that vintage known to be accurate?

$1300 is way too much in my opinion, and I am a winchester fan.

I'll find out about the rifle's accuracy one of these days.

I paid enough for it, but not $1300. Ultimately, I bought it because I wanted it not as an investment.

 

[effendude]

You're the only person that has to justify the price. I thought it was fair. Enjoy!
Scott

 

[SSchnd]

Love my M70 prone rifle. Far from the original 1984 version it started out like I am certain.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Did you buy it with the scope?

 

[Barrelhorses]

Did you buy it with the scope?

I assume this question is directed to me. Yes, it came with Redfield 2-7x. I will probably replace the scope with a gloss Leupold 4-12x40AO that is not currently in use.