Let's talk Model 70's.....

[Wanttohuntmore]

Bofire mentioned his winchester's in the Tikka post, figured a chat on M70's would be interesting!  I have one, a 1992 Push Feed, stainless, 3006.  Not my best shooter, but very well machined.  It'll do 1moa with the right loads.  I'm working on beating that.  Anyone with some M70 stories?  Oh, and I wouldn't mind picking up a pre-64 in 300 H&H.  Our longtime hunting partner has one, what a sweet gun......

[BigGoonTuna]

really like my year-old featherweight in 7-08.  only thing that concerns me a bit is the slim stock has kind of warped from moisture and it's touching the barrel.  the accuracy is just fine for what i do though, i put a 3 round group into a pop can at 100 yards for my pre-season sight-in.

it's a real joy to pack around, even with a 3x9x40 scope on it, i'd be surprised if it weighed any more than my 12 gauge wingmaster.  the 7mm-08 is a pretty tame caliber in that light of a rifle too.

[JackOfAllTrades]

It'll be interesting to see who comes out of the closet for this thread. All too often people forget the rifles that paved the way for so many others. I'd love to have an old model 70. (pre64 Controlled feed) I have total disbelief that those actions are weeker than later models. That adjustable trigger. Metal trigger guard and floorplate. The way things should be. My trigger guard broke on my old Ruger77 (early 70's vintage where Ruger still needed to remain competitive with Winchester and Remington that were cutting production costs), and I replaced it with an aftermarket steel one. I don't care about the weight. There are some neat things about the featherweight models of the Win70's, but not enough for me to look at one if I was in the market for a rifle now. Composite stocks with factory pillar bedding, (Oh, but I do miss the fancy walnut of the higher grade Pre64 Win70's though.), triggers like the Savage (accu-trigger), or the Marlin (XL7), the Ruger varminter trigger, or an aftermarket Jewel or Timney available for just about any brand rifle out there, leaves Winchester/Olin/USRA with much to be desired.

-Steve

[oldschool]

Pre 64 70 30-338 wouldn't trade it for the world.Kick's like a mule.

[Wanttohuntmore]

I have shot some sweet shooting M70's as well, so even if they have a slow lock time, some still can shoot!  My dream gun would wear a true, pre-64 action, a carbon fiber stock, 280 Ackley with a stainless, 26" tube. 

[high country]

if you are a serious enough rifleman to be able to discern the difference in lock time between a m70 and any other production rifle, you don't need any info.

I have a few, they are slick, accurate, heavy and dear to my heart.....and earning more value then a paper dollar!

[Bofire]

Mine are a 300 H&H, 2 30/06's, a 270 and a 220 swift. I have not shot them in 20 years and will not. They are great guns, style and class in a functional firearm.
Carl

[JackOfAllTrades]

It would break my heart not to shoot them if I owned them. Your choice, but man.. What a waste.  Everything in my safe gets fired. (OK, there's a damascus barreled BP 10ga that doesn't but that's only because I don't reload BP shottie)

-Steve

[Fish4Fun]

I have 2 Model 70's in the safe. One was my Dad's that I got after he passed away in 1993. It is a 1965 Model 70 in .300 Win Mag with old time Balvar 2.5 - 8 scope. To adjust the scope you have to adjust the mounts as it doesn't have internal adjustments.

The other Mod 70 is a Feather wieght .257 Roberts.  Both of these guns are tack drivers, no way would I part with either of them. 

[Bofire]

Someday after my sons are gone thier kids will have them, they will likely be the last privately owned examples of wonderful work and a part of our history. The are in pristine condition, every year I get them out twice and wipe them down, play with them, it is hard to just put them away but.... to me they are irreplacable. I do not want to see one mark, one scar, on any of them. I have lots of guns to shoot but none with the character of these.
Carl

[7mag.]

I have a M70 in 7mm rem. mag. It is old and beat up. It has seen every hunting season since I was 16. It still shoots way better than I do.

[wsmnut]

I have four of them.  One is a late 70's sporter in 270 win. pushfeed.  Nothing special except shoots like a demon! (my first rifle)
The other in 270 win is my wife's.  A Classic stainless that is a good shooter.
My son shoots a Classic stainless in 300 wsm.  Tack driver.
The last one I got is from the latest production out of the FN plant.  It's an Extreme Weather stainless in 325 wsm.  Easily the least finicky rifle I load for.  Very smooth action.  VERY happy with this version of the Model 70.

wsmnut

[runningboard]

I currently only have 1, a left-hand classic sporter(Mauser claw extractor) with a 270 Lilja stainless tube at 26". Timney trigger set @ 2.5 lbs, Leupold VX-III 2.5-8. shoots 130 Barnes Tipped TSX's into .327" center-to-center for 5 @ 100 with a little bit of wind. love it hope I never part with it. in fact I want more like it in different calibers just for kicks.

[GregMcFadden]

I've got a 30-06 M70 featherweight, pre-64 that has been well used by my grandfather.  I still shoot it but can not get better than ~1.5" 4 shot groups at 100 yards, probably because of some noticeable wear in the throat area along with a little pitting just after.  I would love to replace the barrel, but the barrel is original and I am hesitant to risk screwing up the original barrel replacing it.... 

still has an exceptionally old 4x power redfield scope that I can't yet find the date of manufacture of

[carpsniperg2]

i always love a good model 70 i have one in 30-06 and am always on the look out for a good m70