Pre '64 dilema

[hookr88]

I have a 1947 era, SN#75,XXX, 30-06 Mod 70 Winchester. It has 70%- bluing left, the stock is not damaged, just well worn finish. Missing the original butt plate and the rear sight. Still shoots like a tack driver. I have owned it about 35 years or so. My father bought it, no real history, and gave it to me. It's my go to deer rifle. My dilema, do I cerakote it, and replace the stock and get it bedded and pillared, or leave it as is, a well worn but accurate and original Pre '64 Winchester Mod. 70?

[screedler]

I've got a similar dilemma with a rem 740 30-06 I was given by my dad before he died... want to get it cerakoted! Unsure though .   

[Biggerhammer]

You said it shoots well. Why fix it, if it’s not broke? 🙃

That being said. Do whatever the heck you want to do with it. I’ve taken a new unfired Rem700 Classic in 6.5x55 and had it rechamber to 6.5-284. I was good with it but the collector types sniveled a bunch on the forums. Then again there are a bunch of snivelers out there. ❄️❄️❄️

[Crunchy]

Im guessing that because of the current condition of the gun it may not be worth too much.  Maybe take the action off and slap a new barrel and stock, but keep the old parts so you can put it back in original condition??  I have a pre 64 in 338 win everything original and in awesome shape.  Mainly sits in the safe because I do not want to scratch it up.  Shot it a few times, but wont take it hunting.

[bobcat]

Personally I would do whatever is necessary to make it into the hunting rifle you want. If keeping it original isn't important to you, then don't worry about it.

[j_h_nimrod]

Kind of like taking grandpas good condition ‘78 high boy; ditching the original wheels and putting on chrome spinners, screwing a light bar to the cab, throwing on a flowmaster, and repainting it flat black. Why ruin a $1000 (maybe, just guessing condition etc. and the pre-64 market was pretty flat last I knew) classic to turn it into a $500 pawn shop special?

You said it shoots well. Why fix it, if it’s not broke? 🙃

That being said. Do whatever the heck you want to do with it. I’ve taken a new unfired Rem700 Classic in 6.5x55 and had it rechamber to 6.5-284. I was good with it but the collector types sniveled a bunch on the forums. Then again there are a bunch of snivelers out there. ❄️❄️❄️

There are a lot worse things you could do with a Rem 700, people even collect Beanie Babies, so why not a Remington 700

[BKMFR]

I was left a 1961 Pre '64 .270 Featherweight in excellent condition when my father passed away. I knew I would never sell it, so put a Borden Rimrock stock on it, did a steel inside trigger guard - floor release bottom metal, had the bolt release slightly enlarged and checkered, trigger job, then applied NP3 to all metal. Gun is matte Silver and Black and wears a 4.5x14 Leupold. Gun is a working rifle I'm sure my Dad would have been proud of, it's been a real slayer and I have never had any regrets. Original stock still sits in safe as well as other parts. Then purchased a Pre '64 .375 H & H and did same thing, no sentimental value on .375, and makes nice pair of working rifles.

[Skyvalhunter]

So do you hunt with your dads rifle?

[boneaddict]

I like original, what do you like? That’s the question....

[Goshawk]

If you want to paint it, then go right on.
If it were in my safe, I'd have the wood refinished and the gun blued like it used to be. I'm just not a fan of cerakote for a long lasting finish.  I have not found it as durable as blueing.

Bottom line? It's your gun, so choose whatever you think you'll be proudest of in 10 years.

[thinkingman]

There will be a time where you wished you'd left it alone.
All of what you described doesn't seem to diminish the function.
Leave the memories, patina, intact.

[Angry Perch]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but for me, there is nothing more beautiful than walnut and blued steel. Funny thing, I also own a 1947 Model 70 in 30-06 that I got from my Dad!

[JimmyHoffa]

You'd think collectors would want it messed with so the value of the others would increase.  Unless they think they are going to get their skinners on it for cheap.

[Jpmiller]

I don't like to mess with stuff too much, especially old stuff, if it's functioning as it should. 

If you're not a collector and looking to flip it and make a buck though who cares what a collector thinks?

[Angry Perch]

You'd think collectors would want it messed with so the value of the others would increase.  Unless they think they are going to get their skinners on it for cheap.

Some guys just can't stand to see something they're passionate about get defiled. Like the numbers matching Classic car guys.   

[cardinalguns]

I like j-h_nimord's answer.

Why take a classic hunting rifle and ruin the value? If you want to customize a rifle, you can buy any number of used rifles (not pre-64 M70's) for $350 and spend some money making it uniquely yours.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Skillet]

As an M70 fan, I say - do whatever you want with it unless you are counting on getting the most out of it if/when you plan on selling it.  Even at this point, a pre-64 M70 standard grade in the condition you describe isn't worth the big dollars they were bringing in years past.  So I'd say have some guilt-free fun with it. 

[Bofire]

I have 5 pre 64 Win 70's. all mint and stock. .220 swift, 2-30/06s, 300 H&H and .270,  I am going to keep them stock. BUT the reason is I just like hunting and field use with modern light rifles.
My Tikka is lighter, very accurate and damage proof(cuz I do not care about it)
Carl

[fly-by]

Still shoots like a tack driver.

Vintage look AND still shoots?  Enjoy it as is.

[pianoman9701]

When you look at it, you probably see your dad's rifle and the memories that go along with that. If you change it, it'll be different when you look at it. If it works the way you need it to work, just keep it dad's rifle. Spend some money on another, new custom rifle if your money is burning a hole.

[woodswalker]

Don't mess with it...its Dad's rifle as it is...and it still shoots.  if you want to mess with a rifle, find another one.

My granddad's rifle is just as he had it, with a peep and no scope, its shooting fine and i can still hit the 300 yard gong with it.  it brings back time with him in Eastern WA and ID

[magnanimous_j]

It's your gun, but if it were me, I'd restore it back to as close to original condition as possible. If you want a rifle to mess around with, I'd just get an off-the-rack Savage.

[Remnar]

 Do as you like,  your gun . I just couldn't do it . Nor would I have it refinished (kinda like seeing a 70 year old with a full head of coal black hair !)  Just not right  I have a pre -64 model 70 with aaprox 10% of original finish left . Wouldnt mess with it for the world....still puts them up

[yorketransport]

I would have already had that barrel hit with a 30 Gibbs reamer and a can of Krylon. 

It’s just a tool. The love is pre-64 Winchester’s is more about nostalgia than quality anyways. There are better designs, techniques and materials available today to build better tools.

[JimmyHoffa]

I would have already had that barrel hit with a 30 Gibbs reamer and a can of Krylon. 

It’s just a tool. The love is pre-64 Winchester’s is more about nostalgia than quality anyways. There are better designs, techniques and materials available today to build better tools.

Sort of depends on the models.  A pre-64 1894, for example, has a forged receiver unlike the cast ones that followed.  The quality--function, feel, fit/finish are better than after Olin's accountants took over.  The metal blues better too.   I've found that the depression era guns seem to be of the best fit, cleanest machining.  I don't disagree that the technology exists to make a better performing tool, but seems most gunmakers are making cheaper not better.  You can notice differences in Remingtons, Rugers and Savages over time, too.  There is a saying in manufacturing "Cheaper, Faster, Better....You can pick two."

[MadMooner]

I have a pre war M70 that I did what you are talking about with..

Rock Creek barrel, McMillan stock, trigger job. I love it. It’s my go to rifle. The rifle is about 6.5#’s,  with scope and mounts is maybe 7.5#’s. Greatly improved ergo’s. 

To be fair, mine had little collector value as it was DT’d for a side mount. Picked it up for cheap at a pawn shop.

[Alchase]

This is just my opinion, worth about as much as a fart, 

If it was my dad's rifle, I would leave it as is and mount it on the wall, knowing all those nicks and scratches were made while my Dad was doing something he loved.
I have my Dad's 1952 Montgomery Ward, Browning 12 gauge, screws buggered up, blueing gone, slight rusty pitted patina, butt plate hard as a rock (it hung on 2 nails in the my dad's garage for 40 years) I used it as is for grouse a few times years ago. Honestly it is worth only sentimental value.
I have other shotguns that shoot much better. Now it is a reminder how much my dad loved to duck and goose hunt, and the times we spent together.

As other have said, it is your gun, go with what you want to do with it.
You can't be wrong either way.

 

[Tracker0721]

If it’s already a tack driver, leave it as is. Maybe refinish, but the cerakote and synthetic stock won’t change anything except looks. I love cerakote as a product but it’s like saying you’re gonna cerakote a few thousand dollar over under. It just doesn’t look right. You’re choice but if we were friends and you mentioned that idea I would tease the shat out of you and find you some cheap armslist deals to upgrade.

[bornhunter]

 

There will be a time where you wished you'd left it alone.
All of what you described doesn't seem to diminish the function.
Leave the memories, patina, intact.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Keep it as is.

[bearpaw]

I have two pre-64's that have been rebarreled and shoot better than ever. They were hunting rifles that had been heavily used, they were not in collector condition, I'm very happy with the decisions to improve them!