Old Target Rifles

[45bpcr]

I read the posts on this site because the folks here have "The Latest and Greatest" information on our sport.

The accuracy and skills of modern riflemen is the art form of the rifle elevated to a level never envisioned even 5 years ago.

There are posts here of damm near 1in groups at 1000 yds, with a quarter lying there as proof.

So my question is, how do we research and remember how we got here? Is there an "Old Target Rifles.com" ?? I love reading German Salazars blog. I'm a member on many other sites as well. All the way from the old Shooters.com to BPCR.net and Cast Boolits and a host of others.
Where do Old Target Rifles go to retire? Are they purchased and reviered for what they've accomplished in thier past? Or are they just put out to pasture and forgotten about.

I ask because I just bought a Pre 64 Winchester M70 in . Heavy barrel. Redfield sights and Unertl scope. I intend on caring for it as a piece of history, but I'm going to shoot it as well.
Just some ramblings on a quiet sunday afternoon,



45Bpcr

 

[HPMike800]

Sounds like an older Highpower match rifle set up, hopefully in 308W. As long as the barrel is still good that set up is still competitive. Have fun with it.

Target rifles built to be used until their no longer serviceable, I hope that is what happens to most of them.

Mike

 

[45bpcr]

No it's chambered in 30-06.

Craig

 

[GermanS1]

Craig, that sounds like a great rifle! Shoot it and enjoy it in your club's matches. No need to worry about world records, I leave the range smiling every time regardless of the outcome.

Sadly, most older target rifles get updated a little at a time until they are unrecognizable. The desire to do so is natural, but all those old 40X and Model 70's that have been "lost" in their original form would be nice to see again. Take it out and enjoy it, it's a great rifle in the world's best chambering!

 

[johara1]

I too went for a mod.70. Years ago i was shooting a smallbore match in northern Pa. and a young fellow ask me if i was interested in buying an old target rifle. I told him i would like to see it and i followed him to his Grandmothers house and she gets out the rifle,a pre 64 mod. 70 in a post 64 varmint stock and i ask if there was an other stock and she yes but that was the one he used for hunting. I left the house with both stocks and R.K. Nelsons 30-06 match rifle and his stock he hunted with.
I rechambered it to .308 and put all the short parts in it and set my 20x programer on it and went to the range with some white box Lake City and shot a 3/4 group at 200 yds. for 20 shots. Yes those old gun will shoot.......jim

 

[nfhjr62]

Started out with an 03 Springfield i purchased for $10 and packed in cosmoline shot it till barrel went away then full rebuild with help from Steve Smith of Delran NJ. using my 03 Action, a Trigger by Steve Smith, 26 inch Douglas 1/10 barrel in 30/06, MO'S rear sight Redfield front, Fagin stock and shoots very well and better than me most times.

 

[45bpcr]

This rifle is a Pre 64 M 70 Target, chambered in 30-06. It has a Unertl 16X scope and Redfield Olympic sights.

If it looks as good in person as it does in the pics I'll be a very happy fellow. It's coming out of an esate sale.

Things like this are cool. A piece of history. An Antique ( like me ) I'm dying to shoot it.

There's just something nice about old rifles. The soft look of the wood. The deep blue of the metal. The minor imperfections in the machine work and the careful hand fitting done to correct it.

Guess I just had a rough day today dealing with the modern imperfections that todays " Fine German Automobiles" have. I should post some pics of the failed balance shaft chains and gears in an 07 ML350 we just wrapped up.

Craig

 

[GermanS1]

Craig, I hope you get the rifle and post some pictures for us, that one sounds like a real gem. I'll take it over a new car of any sort for good Gestalt.

 

[jonbearman]

I bought an old light varmint xp-100 made into a really nice older bench rifle,and can be converted to left eject simply by installing the extractor on the opposite side. It has a standard benchrest stock and a hart barrel and trigger.Now this is used and used alot in 6mmbr.It shoots wonderfully with a ragged hole at a 100 yards,cant wait till I can shoot it at 200 yds.The moral,old rifles just get boring to the people with disposable income and we get them for pennies on the dollar.Keep them coming to me I will buy them all,LOL.

 

[cattlebuyer]

I love the old school , with the new ammo Im finding these ole gals will shoot .75 and better with pet factory ammo, both are mod 70 targets in 30-06 , top gun is a '54 in a '49 sporter stock bottom a '59 in marksman, I have irons for both as well as an unertl 15x ultra varmint / calibrated head FCH / 1/8 th moa diamond dot. Top gun is my 'Carlos Hathcock' bean patch whitetail hammer.

'56 mod 70 varminter in .220 swift, '57 in .243 and a'56, mod 52c

 

[JLDavid]

What a nice collection of "historic" and classic rifles. This is a really good thread to see some great guns from the past that can still shoot with the guns of today. I am not very old but I can still remember the first time I held a pre-64 Model 70. It was a 30-06 with a Lyman scope. What a gun.

 

[45bpcr]

I finnally got around to picking up that M70 last night and snapped some quick pics.
I hope to get it up to the range this weekend with some hand loads and see what it'll do

Craig

 

[cattlebuyer]

Nice! , A reload ,shooter buddy of mine is running 168 berger vlds in his mod 70 and loves em, what he is doing at 2 & 300 yards with 55 yr old Win 70 target 06 is an inspiration. A lot of these ole Gals are not shot out! very best

 

[FroggyOne2]

I have a 1978 Winchester Palma Rifle.. it has been rebarreled.. but it is a fine shooting rifle.. with Lapua brass, 47grs of Varget and a SIE (2156) 155 will hammer the 600 yard target!

 

[SpencerC]

I just acquired a Swing actioned rifle and after shooting it today, I will not be letting it go anywhere while I'm still alive. First time shooting it since I bought it and it did 4, 5 shot groups between .364" and .119" at 100 yards. It took some getting used to the Davies trigger that is on it (BTW if anyone has a manual on how to adjust the trigger it would be greatly appreciated).

 

[JERRYHM]

Davies Trigger

 

[SpencerC]

I appreciate that diagram, JerryHM, really helped a lot.

I'll try to snap some pics of it tomorrow, It came with a scope base, so I have a scope on it now just to see if it would shoot or not. Will have to get a set of sights on and see how it looks. Some of you may know Bob Barwise, a decorated and respected Canadian shooter, he actually made the stock it's in now and put the rifle together a number of years ago. I have the privilege of shooting with Bob during the season. I may refinish the stock over the winter just to "freshen" it up. This old action still has a LOT of life left in it.

 

[jonbearman]

This thread should go longer because there truly a piece of history. I love old rifles as I have about a hundred or so right now.It is the most rewarding hobby I have ever had.

 

[45bpcr]

I'm going to head to the range today with the M70. I loaded 3 different loads last night with IMR4350.
210Berger VLD's
190 SMK
175 SMK
I just used New Lapua brass with R 9 1/2 primers and seated all to touch the lands.

Not looking for anything too spectacular but just want to get a feel for the rifle and figure out the Unrtil scope asjustments!

Craig

 

[cattlebuyer]

Please let us know how the heavy bullets run in your mod 70 target . The 165,168 gr stuff is as heavy as Ive shot. I also want to stretch out past 300. Great guns that shoot as good as they look.