Pre 64 Winchester model 70 Updated

[madcow41]

So I have the ability to buy a excellent quality a pre 64 Winchester model 70 in .300 Win Mag with brake. I want this weapon as a straight hunting rifle (long range) and a shooter.

Do you guys think it would be wise to buy it and use it or is it better suited as a safe queen and a collectors weapon.


Shane

----update----

So I bought said rifle. as it turns out it has a Hart 28" HV Barrel and 4 port brake, Vortex Viper 6.5-20X44 with possible badger ordanance rings, farrel 20 moa rail which appears to be bedded and on the stock a custom glass/epoxy bedding job from the recoil lug back. the stock is some kind of custom job with an aggressive cheek rest that fits me like a glove. Also after I took it apart and cleaned it I found a timney trigger, measured it at 3lbs perfect. the only problem I found was that the internal magazine doesnt work right, but its not really important to me as it can hold one round under the bolt so I can have an empty chamber and a round in the magazine while walking.

[Dan-o]

Life is short.

Buy it and enjoy it.

If it were mine, I think I'd enjoy it more if i shot it and hunted with it.     


Post a pic when you seal the deal.

[JackOfAllTrades]

A pre-64 with a brake is no longer interesting to a collector since it has been modified.  Besides that point, Unless it was a low serial number action, or celebrity owned and in mint condition, there are thousands of them out there.
If you like it, buy it. Shoot it. Hunt with it. That is what it was built for.
 
-Steve

[iusmc2002]

Life is short.

Buy it and enjoy it.

If it were mine, I think I'd enjoy it more if i shot it and hunted with it.     


Post a pic when you seal the deal.

+1

[Bob33]

I agree with Steve. It has little value as a collectable because of the brake. If you're buying a rifle simply to hunt with, then compare the price and value of the Winchester to a new rifle. Also, some of the old Winchesters shot very well and some didn't.  There are several brands of new models that you could pick up for around $600 or less, and they would almost certainly be accurate shooters.  Just something to consider.

[JLS]

I shoot the heck out of my .243.

[Dan-o]

A pre-64 with a brake is no longer interesting to a collector since it has been modified.  Besides that point, Unless it was a low serial number action, or celebrity owned and in mint condition, there are thousands of them out there.
If you like it, buy it. Shoot it. Hunt with it. That is what it was built for.
 
-Steve

 

Forgot about the brake.

It is no longer a collectible.   It's now a tool.   That should remove all guilt form making it your hunting rifle.   

[high country]

It's worth about $700 in parts, unless it's a super grade and the stock is uncut.....then a fuzz more.

[hrd2fnd]

I love my pre64 in -06 have a few others in my life that have come and gone,but the  pre64 will always be my goto.

hrd

[bobcat]

I hate to see a good, old classic rifle just sitting in a safe. They were made for shooting and hunting, use it!

[Skyvalhunter]

Have to use it but take care of it

[JimmyHoffa]

What about putting one of the pre-64 mod70 barrels that are for sale on here? (I've seen a 300 h&h and 264 mag recently)  What would that factor for collector value? 

[madcow41]

I dont know if it would unless it was the original barrel

[Dan-o]

Cool!!!

Sounds like a fun rifle.....   kind of unique/custom.   

Let us know how it shoots.

[madcow41]

Looks to be a shooter thats for sure, cleaned the barrel out today and saw no evidence of erosion or fouling barrel has very good life, I will post a pic as soon as I am able

[wildweeds]

This is sort of off topic but still within it so I'll ask,What would be the collector value on my great grandmothers model 70 in 30-06 with a serial# of 836?,primo like new shape as it was the cabin gun.I think it was purchased new in 1936 or 37.

[high country]

I sent you a pm....it's worth quite a bit.

[300rum]

Had it already been rebarreled?

Looks to be a shooter thats for sure, cleaned the barrel out today and saw no evidence of erosion or fouling barrel has very good life, I will post a pic as soon as I am able

[madcow41]

Had it already been rebarreled?

Looks to be a shooter thats for sure, cleaned the barrel out today and saw no evidence of erosion or fouling barrel has very good life, I will post a pic as soon as I am able

Yes hart HV barrel 28" with 4 port brake

[300rum]

O.K.  I didn't read your update to your first post since I read it the first time.

Where you able to get him down from $1,000?

[madcow41]

My next question:

It came with 150 rounds of handloads with undecernable data on the load contents.

Do I shoot it and hope the maker doesnt have it out for me and was loading within the limits or do I chuck/salvage it?

[high country]

What kind of bullets were hand loaded?

[300rum]

Best to dump them unless (as suggested) you want the bullets, then you could pull them.  I would dump them though.

[madcow41]

Mostly hollow points, the guy isnt a pro at hand writing

[high country]

Being as you don't know exactly what bullets they are, you can't reproduce them easily. Toss em.

[mfswallace]

Pics, I need pics 

[JackOfAllTrades]

I will only shoot a FEW particular fellow shooter/reloaders hand/target loads. I don't trust many reloaders if I don't know them/their process of reloading. Pull the bullets, weigh the powder from every cartridge. Keep the cases, as, he may have known what he was doing with the resizing. Work up a set of new loads on your own, but you might work from the bottom end of his notes and the details of what the COAL, Bullet seating depth, neck length and any other measurement you can get from the cases including the powder weight average you learned from pulling all the bullets.  Otherwise just shoot factory loads and fireform new brass for reloading.
 
Oh, and since it has been rebarreled with a Hart, the collector value is nill.... Unless you have the original barrel. (Posting all of this information in the original post would have answered a lot of questions early on.)Now, the value is probably increased since it could be more of a tack driver than the factory original configuration. Buy it. Shoot it. Hunt with it.
 
-Steve

[JLS]

Agreed, reloading isn't something where you just trust anybody.  Obviously his gun hasn't blown up.  Do you have any of the empty brass from the owner?

[high country]

I am with Steve in thinking, and if the answer to my " what kind of bullets" question would have been " nosler partitions, 180's" I too would say shoot them......but since the only thing you can Id is the case.....start fresh. There is enough proven data for a win mag, and the odds of it shooting well with a hart is pretty good, providing it was chambered well and not cooked. I would hold onto the brass till you get some new stuff or new loads and compare neck diameter to be sure it wasn't built as a turn neck. Also use the existing loads to set your oal on th die and then check with actual on the gun.

[bwhntr350]

I hate to see a good, old classic rifle just sitting in a safe. They were made for shooting and hunting, use it!

 But, I have never fired my Pre-1964 Model 70 .458 Win Mag. Should I?







 Just kidding...