Help Me Upgrade my 80's Shooter

[RB]

Agree with everyone about new stock and glass, only thing I would do different is have a gunsmith nock the iron sights off and re-blue the barrel. Did that with an old Mauser 30-06 and made it look really nice with the new composite stock. 

[bobcat]

Most stocks you can just bolt right on yourself, but I think it's best to glass bed them for the most consistent accuracy. Since it sounds like you don't mind spending a little money, I'd find a good gunsmith and have it done right.

[phildobaggins]

Cool, I’m going to do some shopping 🤑

Gunsmith recommendations around Entiat/Wenatchee? If I keep this project under $1800 I won’t feel like I should’ve just yolo’d on a CA Ridgeline like I wanted 😂

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Agree with everyone about new stock and glass, only thing I would do different is have a gunsmith nock the iron sights off and re-blue the barrel. Did that with an old Mauser 30-06 and made it look really nice with the new composite stock. 

As a hunting rifle I'd leave the iron sights on for the instance one falls on scope and you have reliable back up sights. 

[BULLBLASTER]

I had to open the barrel channel on my bell and carlson to fit the barrel i had put on. Some minor fitting at the bottom metal as well. It has an aluminum bedding block so bedding isnt absolutely necessary, but may help. Mine shoots as good as it needs to with no bedding so i didnt bother. Working on the barrel channel is very easy with just some sand paper. Trigger springs are cheap and easy to install in them, instructions with the spring or online. Another thing i did with mine was remove the spacer block at the back of the magazine so that it could fit longer shells, also had to work the bolt stop to let the bolt go back further but wasnt a big deal, if you shoot factory ammo that isnt necessary as its all sammi spec.

[jrebel]

Not sure with the winchester rifles, but triggers are usually a plug and play.  You have to do some minor adjusting to get your trigger pull set to what you like, but it is very easy.....I'm gonna try a timney in my savage and it will take about 5 minutes and very little effort. 

If you buy a replacement stock, just make sure you torque the action screws to the appropriate torque specs (go buy a fat wrench and add it to the gun bench....best money you will spend in the venture).  Before I paid a smith to bed it, I would shoot it without having it bedded to see how it shoots.  Some rifles shoot very well without bedding in the aftermarket stocks these days.  Just my two cents. 

Also...it is a super rewarding feeling knowing you did the work yourself.  Give it a whirl.

[Skillet]

Nice rig as-is!  I really like the gloss finish scope on a blued gun, and if I already had one that worked on it I sure wouldn't take it off.

If anything, a stock would be a good upgrade.  Or refinish in satin? Those press-checkered M70 stocks weren't my favorite, and they sure flaked off the finish. 

Don't take off those irons either, imho.  Functional as backups, and a classic look that honors the gun's history.  I wish more guns were offered with irons these days.

 

[b23]

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. 

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!

Before you do anything I'd start by deciding the max you are willing to spend and write it down at the top of your list.  Next, I would write down your "must haves" with the most important at the top.  It sounds like a new scope, one that you can accurately and reliably dial with, is highest on your list of wants.  For me, keeping cost in mind, I would look for a nice used NF NXS 3.5-15 or 5.5-22.  They are as solid a performer as you can get and if you search around you can usually pick up a good clean used one for 1100 +/- but don't forget you'll need good rings/mount and that'll set you back another couple hundred bucks on top of the scope price.  If dialing is something you want to do and you want to be successful at it, do not, skimp on the scope.

You didn't quite say but do you want to replace the stock or reuse the one you have?  If you want to replace it do you want to stay wood or go with a synthetic type stock and do you have a $$$ range you want to stay in if you do decide to replace it? 

Cost wise, a Boyd's laminated will probably be your best choice and when it comes to wood stocks I highly recommend having pillars installed and the action bed by a professional.  If it's not something you are already proficient in, this would not be the rifle I'd make my first attempt on.  Boyd's + pillars and bed by a smith probably be somewhere in the $450 +/- range.

For a synthetic stock, unless you can find a good used one, if you have to buy new a B&C is probably going to be you best option.  Even though the B&C stocks come with the Aluminum bedding block they don't always match up perfectly to the underside of the action which causes pressure points as well as those alum. bedding blocks aren't always straight in the stock and the barrel won't sit centered in the barrel channel.  I always have everything with alum. bedding blocks skim bed, it'll create a perfect mating surface to the action eliminating pressure points and whoever does it can also fix any alignment issues if there are any.  B&C + skim bed probably around $500 +/- range.

Another stock option is to refinish the one that's on it yourself.  The biggest PITA with those factory gloss finished stocks is stripping that gloss coating off.  I don't know about the Winchester stocks but getting that gloss finish off a factory Remington BDL stock is a real chore.

Replacing the trigger spring in the trigger you have won't cost much and is pretty straight forward.  Even if you completely replace the trigger with an aftermarket one that too is a pretty straight forward job that you can most likely do yourself.

If this particular rifle has sentimental value to you, understandable if it does, maybe just leaving it "as is" is what you should do.  If you think something is broken internally on your scope, take it off and send it to Leupold for repair.  Leupold is usually pretty good about fixing their stuff.

As an option, instead of updating something with sentimental value that you possibly want to preserve instead of making it look completely different than what it currently does, maybe, consider buying a new rifle.  Something like a Tikka that are known for shooting extremely well right out of the box that won't cost a whole lot more than the stock swap on your current rifle and use that as your platform to put a scope you dial with on not to mention something like a Tikka gives you lots of customizable build options down the road.

[jeffro]

Refinish that beautiful stock, it’s pretty simple

[Ingwe]

I bought a model 70 in .270 Winchester in early 70s with that exact scope. I have many newer scopes on other rifles but would never change that scope as it just belongs on that rifle. And it still works

[Ridgeratt]

If you think the scope is not right.  Send it back to leupold they will rebuild it and return it for FREE.
Tuff to beat the price.

[Westside88]

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.




I’d probably go with like a 4-12 power scope on that rifle. I’d definitely send that Leupold in and have them work it over though. It’ll be good as new and worth keeping.

[Alchase]

If you are looking to upgrade your scope, take a look at the Leupold Firedot options. I have six Firedots, and hey are great for aging eyes like mine 

[RB]

If you are looking to upgrade your scope, take a look at the Leupold Firedot options. I have six Firedots, and hey are great for aging eyes like mine 

 

Have one and will be getting more!

[300rum]

With no disrespect, as long as it it shooting well and the recoil is fine, you would be stupid to do anything with it. 

I went with the new fandangle once and never again.  When it's time, I reach for the 1960 something model 700 that has the blueing worn off, stock all nicked up.  The animals don't care for it, I know that. 

Let me know what you think!