Winchester M70 Featherweight 7x57 Value?

R

Rockchucker333

Inactive
I have been in the market for a Winchester fwt 7x57 for a while now and know a fellow that has one and is asking $725 for it. It was made in 1982 and he is the second owner. It has a scope but it's crap and I would replace it but it has nice bases and rings. The blueing is near perfect except for the bolt handle has some blueing wear. And a few dings and light scratches from hunting but overall I would rate it between 90-95%. Any thoughts or advice will be greatly appreciated. I am new here and I look forward to chatting with you guys.
 
Around $400-$450 would be a fair price for one in a more common caliber, maybe $500. Maybe as little as $350 for one with a lot of wear. To get one in 7X57 should bring a premium, but not that much for me. There is no collector value on those pushfeed rifles from the 80's although they are a good rifle. And usually considered a good value as a shooter since they can often be had at a good price.

Unless you just have to have a 7X57, for about the same money you can get a brand new one chambered in 7-08 and have a much better rifle. The 7-08 loads are almost identical to 7X57 and ammo is a lot easier to find.

If the price is worth it to you to have a 7X57, you'll have a nice rifle.
 
Well I have been hand loading ever since my father would let me help and already have a Ruger Mark II chambered in 7x57 that I just absolutely love. I am pushing it rather hard with a 139/140 bullet with H4350. I am just a fan of the 7x57 just like some are partial to the 270, 30-06, and so on. I always liked the looks of the older Winchester featherweights and have always wanted another 7x57 to tinker around with I just wasn't sure what a fair price for one was in that caliber.
 
I have a Winchester 7 X 57 Featherweight, that would be early 80's vintage. Bought new, got a low power scope (maybe 2X or 4X) on it, Leupold, IIRC. Very nice gun, good shooter, thought I doubt that I have much more than a box or two shot through it, after I developed the load that worked best in it. I am the only owner. For a value on it, given the condition (at least excellent, with no marks on the stock or barrel), I would say around $550 to maybe $650 on a very good day.

For value, I'm using comparable values I've seen over the past two years at gun shows I've attended.
 
Thanks for the info guys. I see on gunbroker and such these rifles going thru the roof at times and some aren't mint or have anything special going for them either. I kind of think thatswhere my buddy is getting his price of $725 from (basing it off sold prices from online auctions) because he has mentioned if I don't buy it he is selling it online.
 
Around here you could pick one up for $400 to $500 in push feed. The controlled round feed go for a higher price.

Personally I think people sell the push feed short, they are decent guns. And there are advantages to the push feed just as there are to controlled feed. I believe ejection is more positive on push feed. Also the military does not have any controlled feed bolt actions that anyone knows of.
 
Also the military does not have any controlled feed bolt actions that anyone knows of.
Click to expand...

Not any more, but Win M70 actions used by the USMC Sniper back in the day were controlled round feed. As was the 1903 Springfield. The Mosin Nagant and Rem700 are both push feed.

Other militaries are still using M98 based sniper rifles, although many are getting replaced with push feed newer designs the old claw extractor seems to be going strong.

Nothing wrong with a push feed action. Nothing wrong with crf either. If you like a rifle, get it.

Jimro
 
Well, I think your friend's price is a little high but my philosify is if I want it that bad to heck with the price. I wouldn't part with my M70 7x57 FWT for double what your friend is asking. I like it that much. Accuracy is superb, it's lightweight enough that it doesn't break my antique arches down and it just flat out feels good in my hands. What's not to like?
I guess my point is, just how bad to you want one? Answer that question and you'll have your answer.
Paul B.
 
Haha well I just got off the phone with him and I am picking the rifle up tomorrow for $625 but I have to machine him a few things at work on the side when the boss isn't looking (I am a machinist/tool & die maker) so I guess I can forget about a lunch break the next few days I work next week. I can't wait to get my hands on it!

I have never owned a Winchester featherweight but have shot and handled a few and have always wanted one and finding one local in my favorite hunting cartridge was enough for me to close the deal. Now my poor Ruger M77 Mark II 7x57 will have to share some hunting time next fall :D
 
Rockchucker,

Ya done did good! If you like that rifle half as much as I like mine (7 X 57 Featherweight also) you'll have gotten your money's worth. Mine shot well with virtually anything I would put to it, but at the moment I cannot recall the final recipe that I settled that produced the best accuracy.

You forget about the money spent every time you handle the gun!
 
Nice! I love mine--got it new when I was 13 and put a Redfield 5-star 2-7x on it with Redfield base and rings. A 140gr Sierra gameking and 48.5gr H414 shoots beautifully. I also had superb results with a 110 gr Speer HP and IMR3031 if I recall correctly.

The now-gone 139gr Hornady Light Magnum shot was for all purposes, interchangeable w/ my 140gr handload. Haven't tried the Superformance that replaced it. Looks like the bullet's changed.
 
Well I picked the rifle up today after work and I was surprised to find it in better shape than I remember it being in. I would rate it easily at 95% for sure. The scope on it looked horrible so I went to my local gun shop and did some trading and I now have a Leupold vx-1 3-9x40 (gloss) to put on it later. I am currently soaking the barrel trying to get the copper out of the bore. The guy I bought it from told me the barrel was wore out as the accuracy had fallen off and I have been telling him for years he was not cleaning it correctly and he wouldn't listen. After I get all of the copper out I will show him the 500 rounds that has maybe went thru the barrel has not hurt it one bit.

Overall I am very excited! It looks perfect laying beside it's Ruger brother. Oh and the trigger was horrible at almost 8lbs but after I took it out of the stock she has a crisp 2lb trigger now. Figuring over the next few days I will have it clean and ready to take it out next Wednesday or Thursday possibly to shoot it a bit. I will have to get some pics posted later on once I get settled down.

And speaking of my Ruger (7x57 as well) I shot it today and put 5 shots into a group you could cover with a nickel easily (100 yards) so it's been a good day all around.
 
RC333. Some of those 80's era 7x57 FWTs came with a somewhat rough barrel and foul up rather fast. I know mine did. If that's the case, just get a Wheeler firelap kits and do a light lapping job. The instructions say do 10 shots with each of the grits but I did mine with 5 and now it does not foul hardly at all and accuracy is superb. Why only 5? I didn't want to possibly wear out the throat. There's 3 grits in the kit and I coated a fourth bullet with JB bore paste. Now I can even shoot Barnes TSX bullets with very little fouling. The FWT and my .35 Whelen have become my two favorite rifles.
Paul B.
 
That is very good information I appreciate the advice. The previous owner cleans all his rifles with oil alone so he has a lot of rifles with what he calls 'worn' barrels! Haha poor guy has dirty rifles.

I tried posting some pics but am having problems doing so. Got my new scope on and I took some pics with my other 7mm.
 
Great rifle. Great calibre

Good to hear there are other M70 Fwt 7x57 fans out there. Have had mine since new and still going strong though it looks a bit battered after 3 decades on the hills and in the bush. But everything I point it at still falls over.

And great to shoot a cartridge with a 100+ year history behind it.
 
My 7X57

is not a Fwt, and my Fwt is not a 7X57.:( Sure wish the 2 rifles I own were the same.

Did Win ever make the M70 Fwt 7X57 in a Lefty, or are all of them righties?

Both of my rifles are Lefties.

For those of you who reload, what velocities do you get with a 139/140 bullet?

My load gets 2,950 fps MV (according to my Chrony)

My 7X57 has a long throat, resulting in a bullet "jump" of 0.25 inches to engage the rifling. My magazine limits me to a COL of only 3.050, so I can't extend the bullet out of the case neck to reduce the bullet jump distance. My best 5 shot groups are about 1.25", which is good enough for "minute of deer", but certainly doesn't qualify the rifle as a tackdriver.

So I ask:
1. What kind of MV does your 7X57 get?

2. What kind of groups do you get?

3. Is your M70 Fwt 7X57 a Leftie?

4. What is your Fwt 7x57 worth, in your opinion?
 
Some answers

I don't use my 7x57 as much as I used to as I have gone to flashy stainless/synthetic Sakos, not because I don't like the 7x57 but because the Sakos (260 & 270WSM) are more tolerant to being lugged around the hills for up to a week in all weathers.

In answer to your queries, Dave

1) I load for accuracy not velocity. I get 2,640fps with 139gr SSTs using 46.7gr ADI AR 2209 (=H4350) and 1.7mm off lands (governed by magazine, =79.7mm COL). In general I have found accuracy drops off with higher velocities.

2) That load gives me 0.8 MOA 4 shot group.

I have shot a 0.35MOA 3-shot group with 44.3gr but velocity was only 2,480fps. I also found in a DOL test that accuracy was sub-MOA for 1.4, 1.6 & 1.8mm DOL then jumped to 1.5MOA for 2.0mm onwards. DOL was measured using a collimator and Hornady OAL gauge.

3) No

4) Don't know and don't really care as I would never sell it.

Incidentally, my rifle has been recrowned, the barrel free floated, the action bedded and it is fitted with a Timney trigger set at 1.75lbs, the same as my Sakos.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top