Model 70?

The post-2007 FN / South Carolina model 70s are outstanding. But JMR nailed it - get the serial number, then go to a site that lists serial numbers, and find out exactly what you have. Then go from there.
 
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People are silly when it comes to M70s. Every push-feed I've ever seen that isn't a Wal-Mart exclusive blind-magazine model is better than ANYTHING you can buy for $450 today, IMHO.

I didn't even believe that the Wal-Mart ones were that bad until I handled one that my stepdad was keeping in his safe for someone. They are distinctly awful. The only M70 I would not pay money for.




Mosin-Marauder,

I have a "Ranger Youth" .243 and it is an amazing rifle. It's basically an XTR Featherweight with a plain birch stock. It's accurate, the fit and finish is just about perfect (deep gloss bluing), and it's got a great 3-3.5lb trigger. I actually want to find a featherweight stock for it so it'll fit me better until my son is ready for it. I just use it with a slip on recoil pad and it fits ok.
 
Yeah, I got the talk on the way home from dad, lol. "You've got too many guns..." Hahaha
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Just remind your dad that the National Dairy Council says: "You never outgrow your need for guns." :D (I hope he's old enough to remember that ad. LOL)
 
While on the subject of Model 70s, can any of you 70 gurus tell me whether a pre-war safety will work on a post-war (1954) gun?
 
I kid you not the one I laid away looks exactly like a featherweight with a birch stock. It has the knurled type of bolt handle and a hinged floor plate as well as the three position safety. It just seemed to "fit" you know? My eyes picked up the iron sights immediately when I shouldered it. As it wasn't uncomfortable or anything.
 
Now we all want to see the pictures! Congrats on becoming a Winchester model 70 owner. For a good, no, great, bolt action, I look no further.
 
I have a 1978 vintage XTR in 308. On a fall afternoon in 1979 in fading light I fired a 1.5" group at 100 yards with iron sights and GI ammo.
 
Dang, that's nice grouping, I've thought about getting some HXP just to plink with, since no one seems to load an FMJ except PPU and I can never find it.
 
I've thought about getting some HXP just to plink with
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I shoot a lot of the CMP GSM matches which is shot at 200 yards. I reload and have some good Match Load Data,

BUT

In the CMP Games I don't bother, I shoot HXP as its plenty accurate enough to clean the 200 yard targets.

The brass is good, I use it to load 168 A-Max bullets for the Vintage Sniper Matches which are shot at 300 & 600 yards.

I also have a Pre-64 Model 70 (made in 1949) in '06 . It shoots the HXP quite well.
 
I have a few M70 push feeders and they're just fine.
To the fellow that apparently don't like Walmart M70s, I'll put my Wallyworld blind magazine M70 against any one currently made. Three rounds of 200 gr. Speer Hot Core will do an easy half inch and usually a bit less. Another M70, an XTR in .270 also has a synthetic stock as does the .300 Win. Mag. Both look very suspiciously like McMillans. :eek: Found another stock like the one on my .270 and my gunsmith is putting it on a .338 Win. Mag. and he swears that it has to be a McMillan. If it isn't and is a clone, then it's an extremely good clone. The rifle is getting a Decelerator pad and muzzle brake. I value what's left of my shoulder. :rolleyes:
The rest are two Featherweight, a .257 Bob and a 7x57. The "Bob" is the only one that so far has been a problem. I think it's the bullets I've tried. The 120 gr. Speer may not spin right in the 1 in 10" twist and the 100 gr. Barnes TSX bullet isn't behaving as well. Got to play some more with the seating depth. The last one is a "Youth Ranger" in .308 that I won in a raffle at a gun show. Got rid of the ugly hardwood stock and temporarily have it in an equally ugly Ramline stock until I can find a short action wood Featherweight stock to replace the Ramline.
The only CRF Winchester I have is a Stainless Classic that is the one I mentioned as being at my gunsmith's.
Paul B.
Edited because auto correct strikes again.
 
Paul B. said:
To the fellow that apparently don't like Walmart M70s, I'll put my Wallyworld blind magazine M70 against any one currently made. Three rounds of 200 gr. Speer Hot Core will do an easy half inch and usually a bit less.
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I've only handled one. It was a late New Haven Wal-Mart exclusive in .300WSM. The metal work was terrible, bolt was like unfinished metal and very rough. The stock was black with a Winchester 'W' molded into the side and it was as bad as it gets for a synthetic stock. My Marlin X7 factory stock was far, far stiffer in comparison. I don't know how it shot, but it was a poor specimen of quality workmanship.

The real catalog model 'Black Shadow' rifles that were NOT sold in Wal-Mart were nothing like the Wal-Mart versions. They had a good matte finish and good quality metal work, jeweled bolt, hinged floor plate, etc. The stock was still a cheap synthetic but they at least looked good with no molding lines or cheesy hard plastic feel.
 
I have a pretty push feed USRAC Lightweight 308 with a 4X Leupold that will put 5, 165gr Speer Hotcores under 3/4" at 100 yards. It will also chamber a magazine full of cartridges while held upside down if that's your bag.;) Nice weight light rifle that I find myself going to most often.
 
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