Help Me Upgrade my 80's Shooter

[phildobaggins]

Hey folks,

I've had this Winchester Model 70 in 7mm Magnum forever. It's killed everything from mule deer, bears, and moose in its current configuration. My dad bought it in the 80's and slapped a Leupold Vari-X II 2-7 on it and it's been like this since then. I have bow hunted and muzzle loaded chronically the last decade or so, but I'm going to be going on some out of state rifle hunts this coming fall and I wanted to get something "new". After essentially remodeling my basement after the cold snap around Christmas time, I've decided I shouldn't spend $3500 on a sweet rifle right now.

Looking for some suggestions on how I can revitalize this old shooter. First thing I'm replacing is the scope. I don't know a ton about this platform, would love to put a trigger in it as well?

Take a look at the pics and let me know what you would do if you had a gun like this you wanted to breathe new life into. It's a good gun, just a bit dated. I shot a bear with it in 2018 and I remember thinking to myself "man, it's time to update this scope" and I put it back in the safe and haven't chased game with it since.

Let me know what you think!

[phildobaggins]

 

[phildobaggins]

 

[bustedoldman]

Searh on Stockys or Boyds (even Ebay) for a new stock, move up to a 4-12 scope at least, look for a trigger (Timney or Jard) or spring kit (maybe Mcarbo?)........

[jrebel]

outfit it with a new scope....maybe a zeis v4 4-16 so you have the ability to dial elevation with confidence.  Then pull the stock, strip and refinish it.  Put it back together and it will be good for another 100K miles. 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Wouldn't change a thing!  It shoots and kills.

[timberfaller]

IF it groups, just refinish the stock with an oil finish.  Replace recoil pad, glass bed and maybe do a trigger job of some kind.   Then its good to go!

Optic's are more a personal choice.  I've got some old $150 scopes that have never failed me, what-so-ever!!

[jay.sharkbait]

I’d roll with it as is.

[BULLBLASTER]

In the last couple years i rebuilt my late 90s mod70 7 mag. I put a bell and carlson stock, benchmark barrel, and an nxs on it. Mine was completely shot out.
If yours shoots keep on keeping on. If you just want to upgrade it new glass or stock are fun to do.
Leupold makes backcountry ring mounts for the scope that are nice.
I think i put an aftermarket trigger spring in mine also.

[boneaddict]

Wouldn't change a thing!  It shoots and kills.

I'm in this crowd

[Igor]

I have a Model 70, 1965 vintage, in .300 Win. Mag.  The stock suffered the same fate as yours, so my son bought a new composite stock for it.  The action dropped right into the new stock with no modifications.  We put a new Leupold 3x9 on it, and it looks like a new rifle.

My advice would be a new stock and new scope, and you will have a beautiful classic hunting rifle.

[bobcat]

Definitely a new scope. But if you're old school like me, you might not want to "dial." I just don't see the need for it, but I won't shoot beyond about 450 yards. I like scopes with holdover style reticles. Leupold has the Boone and Crockett reticle. At least they used to, not 100% sure if they still do. I really like the Leupold Long Range Duples reticle, which is very simple and uncluttered, with only a couple small dots for holdover. I just don't think it's available anymore.

Another really cool option which my brother just recently bought at the Portland Sportsman's Show is the Maven CRS.1 in either the 2-10x40 or the 3-12x40. They're very light and have what Maven calls a Simplified Holdover Reticle. Also very reasonably priced, $450 for the 3-12.

https://mavenbuilt.com/products/crs-1-3-12x40-sfp

I'd probably get a good synthetic stock, and maybe pay a gunsmith to glass bed it. Throw in a good trigger too while you're at it, like a Timney. For a stock I'd probably first look at McMillan, but they're not cheap.

That should be about all you'd need, will be like an entirely different rifle after those three upgrades.

[phildobaggins]

I appreciate everyone's insights here. I'm 100% changing the scope first and foremost, it's lived a good life but I'd like to be able to dial my elevation, and there is something loose inside this glass, but the bullets still hit the mark  I just need to be able to trust my optic when I'm out hunting and don't want funky business when I'm hundreds of miles from home.

I love the idea of putting a whole new stock on it, but I've never replaced a stock. Does a gunsmith need to replace it for me or is it a "bolt on" mod? I'd really like to try and improve this gun with about $1,500, including a scope. So a scope between $800-$1000 sounds good, and then I've got some spare change for ?? I would love a lighter trigger, but I've only replaced triggers on AR platforms. Is it sorta the same gig with bolt guns?

Also, if anyone's got stock ideas, I'm all ears. Just want to improve this gun, I've got a sweet Ruger M77 .270 from the same era that I'm going to keep as my "classic shooter" and not modernize it, but I am tantalized by the thought of modernizing this gun and reloading some sweet loads for it and making it a real slick hunter because I've always shot boxed ammo out of "basic" hunting rifles.

[phildobaggins]

Definitely a new scope. But if you're old school like me, you might not want to "dial." I just don't see the need for it, but I won't shoot beyond about 450 yards. I like scopes with holdover style reticles. Leupold has the Boone and Crockett reticle. At least they used to, not 100% sure if they still do. I really like the Leupold Long Range Duples reticle, which is very simple and uncluttered, with only a couple small dots for holdover. I just don't think it's available anymore.

Another really cool option which my brother just recently bought at the Portland Sportsman's Show is the Maven CRS.1 in either the 2-10x40 or the 3-12x40. They're very light and have what Maven calls a Simplified Holdover Reticle. Also very reasonably priced, $450 for the 3-12.

https://mavenbuilt.com/products/crs-1-3-12x40-sfp

I'd probably get a good synthetic stock, and maybe pay a gunsmith to glass bed it. Throw in a good trigger too while you're at it, like a Timney. For a stock I'd probably first look at McMillan, but they're not cheap.

That should be about all you'd need, will be like an entirely different rifle after those three upgrades.

I was eyeing Maven a while ago, but heard that their binocular's had a narrow FOV compared to other brands and I kinda stopped looking into their optics. Prove me wrong, I'd love a great scope at that price.

[phildobaggins]

I am looking to spend some money and change it up, I'm not quite a penny pincher when it comes to hunting gear and would love to dabble in modifying a bolt gun for once.