Accuracy from factory Win M70s?

[XTR]

I'm kinda sort of in the market for another hunting rifle (I haven't bought anything since May) and I'm really looking at Win M70s for a new to me hunting rifle.

My interests are in rifles from the early 50s and before or the newer versions either from SC or Portugal. Probably looking at an -06 esp if it's a Pre64.

Who out there has experience with them? How well do they shoot? I'm going to guess that with hand loads you can surely get sub MOA at 200 yds or so, but how much better? Or is that not achievable?

 

[DRNewcomb]

A pre-'64 Mod. 70 is widely considered to be the "gold standard" for quality but I'd sure want to have any 50+ year-old barrel gauged before I dropped a hunk of "tin" buying it. Yesterday, my shooting buddy hauled his father's pre-'64 Mod. 70 (.22 Hornet) out to the range to check the sighting. He couldn't get it on paper because something seemed wrong with the old Weaver scope and/or the Redfield mounts. So, I can't tell you how it shot.

 

[XTR]

I'm less worried about the new ones.

I've bought enough barrels at this point that I'm surely not above re-barreling a rifle, what I'm a little concerned about would be rebarreling an older M70, esp trying to get someone to match the contour with the wide spot for the rear sight to match the inlet on the old stock and then finding someone to blue it on top of that. (who still blues rifles these days). Obviously I am more interested in a shooter than a collection piece.

 

[MQ1]

In the last few years I've helped sight in 3 new "pre-64" classic actions...7mag, .270 WSM and .270 Winchester. All shot MOA with factory ammo...

YMMV,

MQ1

 

[effendude]

I would have no concerns purchasing a pre-64 rifle, especially in a 30-06 or other hunting caliber and the barrel scoped ok. I own several and they all shoot really well but bedding helps. Jim Kobe in Bloomington, MN (Gundokter on the forum) has great experience with Model 70's. He recently rebarrled a 1952 .375 H&H to .458 Lott for me. Bluing was exceptional.
Scott

 

[savagedasher]

Pre 64 model 70 were never known for accuracy . 721 and 700 Remington always shot better. Back then 2'' at 100 was good. The difference between them now. A 85% Remington brings $600 Pre 64 85 % model 70 can bring $2000. Bedded $ 1000. re barred $1000 . Custom grade $3500 Plus.
If you bore scoped you wouldn't buy. After 64 shoot good some even very good. I have two that my FFL dealer has I 'm trying to make shoot. They both need bedded a trigger job and a longer COAL. or a new Barrel..
Because of their value Bullet change and powder is the only thing I can do. My advice don't buy one for accuracy. Buy it for the value they go up yearly. Larry

 

[yenak]

You can call me a Model 70 SLUT. Which I am. My Model 70's range from 1952 to 1995, 22 Hornets up to 30/06. I have yet to find one that won't shoot. Especially if you are a reloader.

 

[effendude]

Pre 64 model 70 were never known for accuracy . 721 and 700 Remington always shot better. Back then 2'' at 100 was good. The difference between them now. A 85% Remington brings $600 Pre 64 85 % model 70 can bring $2000. Bedded $ 1000. re barred $1000 . Custom grade $3500 Plus.
If you bore scoped you wouldn't buy. After 64 shoot good some even very good. I have two that my FFL dealer has I 'm trying to make shoot. They both need bedded a trigger job and a longer COAL. or a new Barrel..
Because of their value Bullet change and powder is the only thing I can do. My advice don't buy one for accuracy. Buy it for the value they go up yearly. Larry

A search of the equipment used for Camp Perry over the last 60 years begs to differ. Integral lug, massive bedding surface, easily adjustable trigger, easy to maintain bolt. Beautiful design for its purpose. Most Model 70's will outshoot their owners in field conditions. Maybe not benchrest accuracy, but real world accuracy the OP is looking for in a hunting rifle.

Scott

 

[LHSmith]

You can call me a Model 70 SLUT. Which I am. My Model 70's range from 1952 to 1995, 22 Hornets up to 30/06. I have yet to find one that won't shoot. Especially if you are a reloader.

LOL- Brings back fond memories of a local gun shop -long gone (actually gun shop/ barroom/ gas station under one roof) where I spent a tons of money buying off the used rack. Larry the owner always claimed any gun he sold was guaranteed to "shoot"- (that is = it WOULD fire rounds).
IME, it will take some luck getting a factory Model 70 (especially pre-64) that meets your accuracy standard. I have to wonder what type of hunting requires that accuracy? <1" @100 yds, 3 shot groups as determined by the aggregate of several groups.

 

[dryhumor]

I've never had a pre 64. I've had one or more of about all of them since then though. And also rebarreled several into what I wanted that the factory didn't make. Seems like I've got 7 or 8, I'd have to count.... :

The 30-06s are plentiful on the used market. I've had several XTRs, and a Classic. They all shot pretty dang good. I've had a few of the SC made rifles, fit and finish very nice, as was accuracy. I've had one Portugese made 7mm08, finsh could have been better, but it wasn't bad. It is in the process of becoming a 220 swift.

The stainless rifles hold value better, but are few and far between at a good price. The better deal out there on a new one is the Ultimate Stainless model. The better deals on a blued one would be an XTR or a Classic.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Here is a brand new model 70 straight off the brown truck from a distributor i got in a few weeks ago for a friend of a customer. 7wsm i believe. I got it in to mount a scope. When i opened the bolt it looked like hair growing off the end so i snapped this pic. This gun was unusable in its factory state due to poor quality control. That is bluing salts that were not neutralized. Instead of sending it back he just wanted a new barrel since he needed it to hunt. Sad sad day for winchester whoever they are these days.

 

[jonbearman]

I had a model 70 feather weight in 30-06 and a 3 shot group was under an inch. Like an idiot I sold it to buy something else. I have regretted it ever since. Model 70's are super nice rifles if you can find the earlier ones. I once saw a place called creekside gunshop and they bought about 50 model 70"s and 2 were hornets. In one week all the good ones were gone.

 

[Bigguy1951]

I had two pre-64 model 70's in 30-06. Both were bought the same day at the same same store in the mid 40's, by my grandfather and great-uncle, and were just 40 serial numbers apart. Both are still tack drivers. One of them, my g-uncles has less than 200 rounds through it. My grandfathers gun probably has 400 rounds through it. Neither is for sale as both of my sons now own them and wouldn't part with them for love nor money. My grandfather and Bill Weaver were hunting buddies. Mr. Weaver gave my grandfather the scope that is still on it, a 2.5-7. Not the biggest scope but it will stay on that gun until it fails.

 

[Jammer Six]

I'm about to buy a new Model 70 in .30-06.

Buying from someplace like Cabela's, I'm not really worried about quality control.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Dusty, the Winchester rifles are covered by Browning Arms Company these days, and if you send a defective rifle to them, they will repair or replace. I bought a Win Mod 70 Extreme Weather a few years ago that had a ring in the neck, most likely caused by a chip getting caught on the reamer. Thought they would replace the barrel maybe, but instead they sent me a whole new rifle. I have 4 Winchester/ FNH Mod 70's and they all shoot very well for factory rifles, all are in 308W. I find it interesting that Winchester brand rifles use the MOA trigger, but FNH rifles use the old style Mod 70 trigger. IMO some of the best factory hunting rifles are the FNH PBR type rifles with DBM. they are rugged and work flawlessly.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

That is my opinion as well joe. But deer season is a holiday around here so i had to act. He wanted a full custom eventually anyway he just got a winnie instead of a predator now

 

[Jammer Six]

IMO some of the best factory hunting rifles are the FNH PBR type rifles with DBM.

What does "FNH", "PBR" and "DBM" mean?

 

[dkhunt14]

DBM means detachable box magazine. Matt

 

[dryhumor]

IMO some of the best factory hunting rifles are the FNH PBR type rifles with DBM.

What does "FNH", "PBR" and "DBM" mean?

http://www.fnhusa.com/products/rifles/spr-series/

Patrol Bolt Rifle, IIRC. No longer offered though some are still popping up NIB from time to time.

 

[XTR]

Another question about Win Model70s. In 300WSM the measurements look like a short action. How much bullet can you load in those before you run out of room?

Can you open up the bolt face on a 30-06 bolt to shoot the WSM?