A Few Model 70 Questions...

[Guyon]

I've been thinking about getting a Classic Featherweight in .30-06 for about two years now. In fact, I just looked at one last week. When I heard about Winchester's possible demise on Friday, I immediately called and had the store hold that gun for me. And to my happy surprise tonight, it rang up $70 cheaper than the store's list price when I got to the register.

Here are some questions for those of you who shoot a Model 70 CF.

1) What scope mount options do you like? I do like my Dual Dovetails on my Rem 700. Was thinking of the same setup on the Winchester.

2) Can you recommend a factory load for deer? One reason I chose the .30-06 is that I'd like to get into reloading in the future. But for the time being, I'm going to shoot factory ammo.

3) Perhaps an odd question, but I'll ask it anyway. Are there any parts you've ever had to replace on your Model 70? If there's anything that might likely wear out ten years down the road (ejector, bolt spring, whatever), it occurs to me that one might want to go ahead and buy that part from U.S. Repeating Arms and just drop it in the gun box for future "just in case."

 

[dakotasin]

1- in a featherweight, talley lightweights make far more sense than dd's.

2- anything but federal! seriously, if you are going to reload for it eventually anyway, start by using good brass - and stick w/ that brand so you don't have a ton of mixed brass to have to sort. in magnum chamberings, i prefer winchester brass. in standard chamberings, i like remington brass. so, i'd buy a few boxes of factory remington loads in various weights, find what shot best, and then buy a case of it. by the time you shoot that all up, you will have a lifetime's supply of brass.

3- no... but i don't shoot my winchesters much (remington fan)...

congrats on the new gun! went to the gunshop w/ my wife yesterday, and she walked into the winchester section, and noted how empty it was. she thought i should have a stainless featherweight of my very own, since winchester shut down... what a woman! mine's a 270, though...

 

[Guyon]

if you are going to reload for it eventually anyway, start by using good brass - and stick w/ that brand so you don't have a ton of mixed brass to have to sort.

That's a good tip and one that I've taken to heart with my other two hunting rifles. I've shot the fairly inexpensive Winchester Super-X (silver box) in a Rem 700 .308 and the unexciting, but plenty effective, Remington Express Core-Lokt in a Marlin .30-30. Both work well in their respective guns, and I've been saving that brass all along. One of these days, when I get some more space, I'm calling Midway for one of those RCBS Rockchucker kits.

 

[cmb3366]

1 I've got Burris Signiture Dual Dovetails on my Classic Stainless and a Standard set of Leupold bases and rings on my pre64 featherweight. I'll take the Burris' over the leupies anytime.

2 Before I started reloading I tried alot of factory ammo. The Federal Classic loaded with Sierra Pro-Hunters was by far the most consistant and acurate of any I'd tried. I recomend that as a starting point.

3 There is nothing to break on a model 70,,, My featherweight was bought lightly used by by grandfather in 1957, 3 generations, 50 years, and thousands of rounds and hundreds of hunts later it has had zero parts fail.

 

[birddog]

I have a model 70 Black Shadow. I think it's about 8...maybe 10 years old. I've used Remington Core-Lokt 180 grains for countless deer, one nice black bear, and a coyote. At least 20 kills with that gun/ammo, every one of them decisive.

Nothing has given out, worn out, or been replaced.

I think you'll like the Model 70.

 

[mtnbkr]

I've had a FWT in 6.5x55 for over 3 years and have put nearly 1000 rounds through it. Nothing has broken yet.

Chris

 

[plinker223]

I bought my Winchester model 70 in .243 in 1964, other than the Canjar double set trigger replacing the factory one and the addition of a laminated target stock, (both before first shot was ever fired) it hasn't had anything replaced. I still have the trigger, front and rear sights, and the original stock set aside if they are ever needed.
It has seen the demise of a large number of prarie dogs, 13 stripers, gophers and misc. other small critters, killed hundreds of 10 rings on paper targets, coke cans and other fun things. I wouldn't be too concerned about spare parts. Reload reasonable loads, the really hot ones tend to wear out the barrel, I normally pick a load in the mid range of the reload table and after 40 some years it will still outshoot my skills. Leopould 4X Gold ring scope/mounts/rings have been great for hunting and target use.

 

[xd45gaper]

not sure what mine are called but they are leupold 2 piece mounts and rings. and a leupold VXII 3-9x40 nice set up cost me about 400$ though

 

[Jim Watson]

My 1942 M70 with 1955 dated barrel is past its prime for accuracy, but it is as mechancially sound as ever. But get spares if it makes you more comfortable to actually shoot the gun and not make it a wall hanger.

 

[stoky]

I have a Model 70 Classic Featherweight in .30-06 with a Leupold 3x9 Compact and Leupold rings. I got lucky with this one. It shot sub MOA right out of the box, which was more than I was expecting of its whippy barrel. I shoot 180gr Sierra handloads, so I don't know what to say about factory loads except that I hear good things about Remington Core-Lokt. They seem to be a premium bullet a reasonable cost. 140 or 150gr should work well on deer. It seems unlikely that anything is likely to break, but you could get an extra firing pin and an extractor. It might need a new barrel first.
Go for it.

 

[Rockstar]

Adjust the trigger; it's easy.

 

[stoky]

Adjust the trigger; it's easy.

+1
As opposed to Remington, that epoxies the adj screw and says that you void the warranty if you melt it out.

 

[dakotasin]

if a remington trigger is hard to adjust, you ought not be pulling rifles apart. and don't melt the epoxy out - it peels out in one nice piece.

as for voiding warranties, i refuse to shoot factory garbage through any of my rifles, so all my warranties have been long voided... and i would be surprised if other things didn't void warranties that most rifle cranks do as a matter of course as soon as they get ahold of a new gun.

 

[Chawbaccer]

Adjust the trigger; it's easy.

Yes they are easy to adjust, if just turning screws is your idea of an adjustment. I've seen too many 70's with tinkered with triggers that aren't safe to handle in my opinion. Loosening the trigger return spring is no way to adjust a trigger, especially a hunting rifle.

 

[stoky]

Well geez, I should have paid my dues by jigging and stoning and polishing or buying a Timney, or at least peeling some epoxy.
I'm really sorry that I got a 2lb trigger that breaks like a glass rod by just adjusting a screw.
no, really

 

[BIGR]

Just glad I bought the 300 Winnie and 06 model 70 classics a few years ago. I was just thinking about buying another one in a different caliber but I guess not.

:banghead:

 

[Rockstar]

+1
As opposed to Remington, that epoxies the adj screw and says that you void the warranty if you melt it out.

Ah, grasshopper, guess better next time! It's not epoxy, just an easy-to-remove sealer. Remington triggers are superior to Winchester triggers, at least from an adjustability standpoint.

Call Winchester and see if they'll advise you to adjust their triggers. Yeah, do that, and see if they'll put it in writing.

 

[Chawbaccer]

Well geez, I should have paid my dues by jigging and stoning and polishing or buying a Timney, or at least peeling some epoxy.
I'm really sorry that I got a 2lb trigger that breaks like a glass rod by just adjusting a screw.
no, really

If it works it works I guess. You did cock the gun and bang the butt on the floor to check your work didn't you?

 

[USSR]

Remington triggers are superior to Winchester triggers, at least from an adjustability standpoint.

LOL, thanks for today's chuckle.

Don