My Winchester model 670 30-06

D

drhoward1988

Inactive
A little back story and then some questions.

Was my dad's first gun, given to him by his father in 1972 (30-06 seems like a large caliber for a 10yo...). My dad gave it to me when I turned 14 so I could have my own deer rifle. Man was I excited. Took and put a cheap BSA 3-9x50 and downed several whitetail. Years went by and I had began to use different rifles and my 670 soon stood in the corner of the gunsafe. Well about 6 years ago I had lent it to a friend who was in need of a deer rifle for a season. Time past and out of my own negligence lost touch with this friend. Well I happened into a new career field at the beginning of this year and ran into him. Few months went by then one day the guy shows up with my rifle. I felt kinda like a moron forgetting about it. Anyway, Ole girl has seen some wear from this guy. He Camo taped the barrel and receiver and put some cheap rings and scope on it. Well now I'm in the process of giving it new life. I'd like to get a gunsmith to do some work, mainly rebluing the receiver and barrel among a few other things. I've already removed the tape and cleaned up all the residue. Lightened the trigger pull up some as well. I plan to refinish the stock myself. I'm on the look for a scope too. I'm partial to Leupold but am open to suggestions. I know how to reblue (did it to my Remington 597) but it's not exactly the best quality ( kit I used cost around $20.). What should I expect to pay for a quality rebluing? Also what oil is most recommended to use on the wood? I'd like the color somewhat darker than what came from the factory. Sorry with the long post and the questions may seem a bit noobish but I'm here for advice and I'm willing to learn.
 
Birchwood Casey makes some great refinishing products. I think someone mentioned rebluing a 22 and it cost around $100. Not sure what was involved there and if the barrel was removed which seems like it would cost more on a larger rifle.

Midway USA has a lot of videos. Some one bluing and staining so you might take a look at their youtube page.
 
Thanks for the suggestion. After breaking the gun down I've found that it appears to have been glass beaded around the action and the recoil tab(at the front). I had been watching up on how to do it. I'd like to post a few pics but haven't figured out how yet as I'm doing these post from a mobile browser.
 
You should have gotten about $300 from the borrower to pay for fixing up the rifle after he messed it up.
 
It would only be worth about $250 in pristine condition. I'd clean it up, scope it with something decent and use it as is. Any Bubbaed re-blue will only look worse than it does now and it would cost more to have it done by a gunsmith than the gun is worth. Even after refinishing the stock you still have a rather plain cheap piece of wood.

I have a few older guns that have lots of nicks in the wood and the blue is worn thin with a brown patina from use. Those are all character marks that are signs of honest use going back several generations. They don't hurt a thing and I wouldn't dream of trying to "fix" them. They are just part of the guns history.

I wouldn't put a high end scope on it, but wouldn't waste my time with junk either. A Leupold VX-1 at about $200 would be a good choice.

If you do decide you just have to refinish, do it right. Have a gunsmith use the action for a true custom. Scrap the barrel and stock and have it built into something really special.
 
Thanks for all the responses. I don't plan on dropping a lot of coin into this rifle and I understand it's not worth a lot. It's more sentimental to me. Something I can pass onto my boy one day, like my father did with me. I plan to start on refinishing the stock tonight. I'm gonna call around Monday and check on some quotes for the rebluing effort. The VX-1 was the scope I was going for. Might see what I can find used. Hopefully I can get a few pics up of the progress
 
This is from my gunsmith's brochure on bluing jobs.
He has three levels of quality. His Micro-Diamond blue is the top of the line and is a very shiny high gloss result. $230.00
The next level down in the bead blast which is what I had done on my custom .280 Remington. The result is a soft matte blue job. $135.00
The least expensive is the satin blue, a deep semi-gloss blue job for $115.00.
This brochure is a couple of years old now so the prices may be higher now. At least that'll give you a ball park figure on what you're looking at.
Paul B.
 
Thanks Paul. Just what I was looking for. I figured $100-200 for a rebluing. I've got the stain drying now on the stock. Hope to get it finished up by Christmas. Then get it to a smith sometime after. It's not gonna be perfect showroom quality. Just something that will last, and can pass on to my boy one day.
 
Yeah, go for it. I commend you for keeping and refinishing the original stock. While the 670 was a budget priced gun for the times, it was still made of wood and blued steel. The trigger is the same as the model 70. It's a heck of a lot nicer rifle than the current trend of cheapo rifles with plastic stocks and many other plastic parts. For a topcoat after the stain, there are a lot of decent products; I preferTeakwood oil. By the way, the wood looks interesting, I like it.
 
Thanks again. It's had some money put into it. With the bedded action and jeweled bolt I'm guessing my granddad spent some money on it. I'm not sure but did the 670 come with any checkering on the stock. This has some at the grip and down the stock. Also found a scope. Think I'm gonna jump on it with some new rings and mount. leupold xv1 3-9x50 with leupold mounts and some Burris rings.
 
I have a 9422 T/Down & model 94 AE 307 Winchester

Lindseed oil/Tung oil, tung oil is a little better grade of oil for a stock, I used both oils when I was in Gunsmith School in Colorado. Actually for its time a Winchester 670 beats the crap out of the cheap stuff they are pushing now.. I had a model 670 when I was younger, good rifle.. BTW I have a love for Winchester rifles, I'm going to pick up a Standard Model 70 Featherweight 30/06 tomorrow, this one will be #4.. William
 
Once this oil coat wears off I'll try some of those. For now I'm just gonna used with what came in the kit. I take good care of my weapons in the woods. This one won't get used a whole lot due to the fact I've got a pretty sweet Remington model 7 .308 I use primarily. Still though the stock is coming along nicely. Hopfully I'll figure out a way to post some pics of it. I sent the bolt off today to have it rejeweled. Still searching for a local smith to do the rebluing. Seems like a lost art around here
 
Back in the old days if you did all the polishing, the gunsmith would do the bluing for cheap. That said, I have found a gunsmith that would do this anymore but it's worth asking around.

I just refinished a couple stocks with Minwax stain and spray on polymer finish. The 2 cans ran me less than 20 bux and I have enough to do 10 or more rifles. I figure I'll refinish 4 or 5 with this color stain then I'll get tired of the color and want something else. After I'm done with my H&R's, I'll refinish my 670 .30-06 next...

I've had my 670 for going on 30 years and it's always been a good shooting rifle. I have others now but this one isn't going away until I give it to one of my grandsons when I'm too old to shoot it anymore...

Tony
 
Like I said, this one is going to my son one day. It'll be a while, he is only 9 months old. Gonna start him out on a 243 bolt or single shot as long as he loves the hobby. My little girl (soon to be 5 yo) loves plinking. I help her shoot my .22 a lot. Trying to teach her gun safety at a young age is tough though.
 
Well a little update. I ended up sanding most of the oil back off. Seemed to streak up. I went by the directions but it still had light running. Well in my second attempt I "borrowed" one of my wife's little makeup sponges and applied the oil with it. Seems to be working well now. Gonna take several more coats but I think it'll be worth it in the end.
 
Minwax Spar Urethane Satin makes a really good finish. I've refinished no less than 10 stocks with it. UV resistant, water proof, and almost maintenance free.

The last rifle I did had 6 hand rubbed coats and the owner loved it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top