About a week an a half ago I reported that I had picked up a Winchester Pre-64 Model 70 in 220 Swift in 98% condition. I had previously owned several other Pre-64 Winchesters in this caliber and they were real shooters. Not having a swift in my varmint/predator rifle battery, I caved into that feeling of nostalgia and bought another one at a recent collector's gun show.
A week later I loaded up some standard swift loads that were my accuracy standbys through the years and anxiously sat down at my local gun range expecting good things. When I couldn't get the rifle sighted in I thought that maybe I had a bad scope. Returning to the range with another scope mounted and bore sighted I ended up with the same results…a scattering of bullet holes all over the target.
That sinking feeling started to set in. I had cleaned the barrel thoroughly and checked the action and fore end screws. When a rifle cooperates I am willing to go the extra mile but this rifle wasn't cooperating. Today I took the rifle to a gunsmith friend to have a look see with a borescope and the result was devastating. There was a bulge in the barrel near the end which couldn't be seen with the naked eye even with a bore light. Apparently it was fired with some dirt in the end of the barrel at one time. Long story short..it was never going to shoot with that barrel. I'm not one to pass on something and deceive another person.
So, today I bit the bullet and ordered at 26" XX Premium, air gauged, stainless steel barrel from Douglas Barrels and will enjoy that wonderful Model 70 pre-64 action and shooting an accurate rifle after rebarreling it. I'll forget the collector value and just enjoy the rifle while chasing coyotes in Kansas.
A week later I loaded up some standard swift loads that were my accuracy standbys through the years and anxiously sat down at my local gun range expecting good things. When I couldn't get the rifle sighted in I thought that maybe I had a bad scope. Returning to the range with another scope mounted and bore sighted I ended up with the same results…a scattering of bullet holes all over the target.
That sinking feeling started to set in. I had cleaned the barrel thoroughly and checked the action and fore end screws. When a rifle cooperates I am willing to go the extra mile but this rifle wasn't cooperating. Today I took the rifle to a gunsmith friend to have a look see with a borescope and the result was devastating. There was a bulge in the barrel near the end which couldn't be seen with the naked eye even with a bore light. Apparently it was fired with some dirt in the end of the barrel at one time. Long story short..it was never going to shoot with that barrel. I'm not one to pass on something and deceive another person.
So, today I bit the bullet and ordered at 26" XX Premium, air gauged, stainless steel barrel from Douglas Barrels and will enjoy that wonderful Model 70 pre-64 action and shooting an accurate rifle after rebarreling it. I'll forget the collector value and just enjoy the rifle while chasing coyotes in Kansas.