Need help with (old) Winchester Model 70

A

anubis

Inactive
Recently acquired a Winchester Model 70 in 30.06 It seems pretty old, based on appearance and four digit serial #, 28XX.

In good shape, clean bore and such. Though I haven't even taken it to the range to see what it can do, I am thinking about having it bedded into a new laminated stock.

Is this a REAL old rifle, and if so, is modernizing this piece like having a compensator put on a collector vintage Colt 1911 ?

Don't really know much about rifles, and would appreciate any of your sage counsel and advice.

Cordially,

BCA
 
From the sound of the sn, you have a prewar m70. I have a
5 digit sn made in 1938....under the barrel is stamped a 2 digit number...thats the year it was made. My own opinion is to leave it original. You have one of the finest rifles ever made.IMOO.Before you do anything to this classic, let me know if you decide to get rid of it!
Dan
 
anubis, Looks to me like your rifle was made in 1937. The sn range of the Model 70 went from 2239 to 11578 in 1937.
Personally, I wouldn't screw around with it very much.
 
You could have it bedded into a laminate stock and wrap the vintage stock up in bubble wrap and store it in your safe...

That way, you could actually shoot the thing without worrying about dinging up the Pre '64 stock. I would not modify the metalwork in any way.

Enjoy.
 
At the price those pre-war Model 70's are bringing, I would leave it alone. Even swapping off the stock could be a problem if someone tosses "that old piece of wood" into the fireplace.

Jim
 
I think it would be a real shame to do anything to this rifle. Even shoot it. Why not sell it for big bucks and then buy a new winchester just to shoot. As a matter of fact you could probably buy two or three new ones with the money you get from the original. And they could all be differenent calibers.

The new Model 70's can be had in a controlled feed model and most of the ones that I have examined have top notch workmanship and the wood in the stocks is actually better than most of the standard model original Winchesters. W.R.
 
Thank you all for taking the time to answer.
I think I will leave it as is.
This forum is a great resource, I feel like I have (on this board) a collection of grandfathers, uncles, & older brothers (and sisters !) who know a great deal more about these subjects than I do, and are quite generous and gracious in sharing their knowledge.
Have a great weekend, all !
 
Thanks for your generous comments. I still get a kick out of taking Deer and Elk with these classics. Got son a 1956 post war 70 for his 16th birthday. It was wonderful watching him drop to one knee and drop his first mulie at about 275 yds. The oldies shoot like a dream too.
Dan
 
I found a pre war model 70 30-06 at the flea market. Some nimrod had drilled holes in the side of the action to mount one of those cantilevered aluminum B-Square excressences sold as scope mounts. :barf:
Since the weapon had already been "defiled' I had no qualms about redoing the stock, filling the holes in the action, and shooting the heck out of it.
The oldies are only really collectable if they are in essentially pristine condition, otherwise they are just great shooters.
 
Anubis,
Good comment about all the help you can get here.
While inividually some of us may be occasionally wrong (hey, we are human, well most of us), collectively this is a great source of wisdom.
Personnally I would leave it alone, but I'd have to shoot it once in a while.:D
 
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