Winchester M70 ???

[The Surgeon]

Hey folks, I have a question for you all.

I have a good friend member that has found a Mid 1990's Winchester Model 70 300 Win Mag for sale for $250. What he is wanting to do is strip the action out and make a long range precision rifle out of it. He is wanting to have the action trued up and put a custom barrel on it.

What he wants to know is if he is wasting his money by going with a Winchester long action? What would be the pro's and con's of using a Winchester action versus a Remington or a Savage? I have read a lot about people using donor actions from a Remington or Savage, but I have seen very little about people choosing a Winchester action as a donor action. What problems, if any at all, could he run into by going this route?

Thank you for all of your information on this. I greatly appreciate it.

God Bless!

 

[Bullet bumper]

If it's a controlled round feed ( big Mauser style claw ) extraction then it is not that great as a varmint / target / precision action as teh push feed Mod 70 would alow easier loading iof single rounds that may be too long for the magazine.
Most gunsmiths prefer to accurize a Rem action as it's just a tube.
The mod 70 has a flat base and a fixed recoil lug to contend with when holding the action for truing but it can be done ok.
As soon a s you use the word " precision " you change the whole ball game.
Why buy a custom top grade barrel , a target grade trigger , a custom stock an expensive long range scope and all the other stuff but then use a secondhand donor action ? I don't get it.
If you are going to do a cheap as chips job then fair enough.
I think you should just buy a new precision action as the basis for an accurate gun .
The New Zealand Barnard are good and not that expensive Home

 

[strombeckj]

Model 70's are my choice for builds. My guess is that it's a push feed. Excellent extractors, safety's, triggers, bolt release, super simple and stiff action to work with.

A good smith can turn that into a 1 hole rig for less than $500 into the action.

Jon


Ten shots that can be covered by a dime with my .223AI built on a M70. My 6-06 shoots just as well and it is also built on a M70. I am having a 7 WSMimp built as we speak on a M70 LA.

 

[Nimrod]

I just picked up a push feed M70 for about the same $$, it's a 7MM RM. I was going to use it as a donor for a project I have wanted to do for a long time. I shot it first and it is a great shooter so far so I will leave it as is except for a new stock. I have had great luck with the push feed M70 action and around here they seem to run about $100.00 cheaper than a Remington in equal condition. I say go for it!

Bob

 

[The Surgeon]

I am sure the Barnard's are a good action, problem with them are that they are not inside the U.S. I agree for $250 for the gun,, $500 to true it up, and your sitting at around $800 with tax and all and then he would have to buy the bottom metal. By then he will be around a grand. For a couple hundred dollars more he could have a complete Surgeon action w/bottom metal, which is in our home state, but it is his gun. What I can tell you is that the money will stay in the U.S. and not go over seas to support some other economy.

 

[strombeckj]

I am sure the Barnard's are a good action, problem with them are that they are not inside the U.S. I agree for $250 for the gun,, $500 to true it up, and your sitting at around $800 with tax and all and then he would have to buy the bottom metal. By then he will be around a grand. For a couple hundred dollars more he could have a complete Surgeon action w/bottom metal, which is in our home state, but it is his gun. What I can tell you is that the money will stay in the U.S. and not go over seas to support some other economy.

A good true job should run around $200, not $500. I meant $500 TOTAL into the action. A good smith should be able to get the trigger to perform. So now your saving more than $500+. Custom actions make a true custom rifle and are VERY nice. For 98% of most shooters they will never tell the difference other than the name. Most of this boils down to $$$. I would be happy to put any or my M70 based builds against a custom action, so would my smith.... I bet unless your just shooting paper that a animal will not be able to tell the difference between .1 or .3 but I sure can in my wallet!

I will buy your action for $250 + shipping if you decide to go another route. This is not a joke, PM me if interested.

Jon

 

[Joaquin B]

The most accurate rifle I have ever owned was a Winchester model 70 push feed post-64 Varmint in .243 Winchester. It would shoot dime-sized groups at 200 meters with Hornady 75 gr. hollow points all day long

My current long range rifle is also a Winchester model 70. It is a stainless long action that uses 3 interchangeable barrels, in 30-06, 25-06 Ackley and as of next week, .284 Winchester. All barrels have a clock mark that aligns with a mark at the bottom of the receiver. I use a readily available rear action wrench and a barrel vise to replace the barrels and tighten them just a little past snug. They do not need to be tightened to extreme, like factory barrels are.

I had the action trued up and the lugs lapped by Pac-Nor when they installed the 25-06 barrel about 15 years ago. The action is bedded to a McMillan GP Hunting stock and I replaced the original slot headed action bolts with hex socket bolts, for even torquing at 50 in.-lb. I had a friend stone the trigger sear and minimize trigger wobble, and set the trigger pull at 1-1/4 lbs.

The rifle consistently shoots 1-1/2 inch 5-shot groups at 300 meters with Sierra 168 or 175 grain bullets in .30-06 and 2 inch 3-shot groups, also at 300 meters, with 110 Gr. Nosler Accubonds, when using the 25-06 Ackley barrel. Work on developing .284 loads srtarts next week with Sierra and Berger 168s.

I really don't think you can go wrong with a Winchester model 70.

 

[The Surgeon]

Storm,

I called the few smiths we have here in Okla. and the price is $400 - $450 regardless of the action type. I was going to send you a PM and ask what smith you were using. Like I said earlier, the M70 is not mine, sorry. But he is set on not selling it. He is going to have it worked. I sent him a copy of your post and without a doubt, we were both impressed. Which is another reason I was wanting to get ahold of you to find out what smith you would recommend. One smith we talked to today seemed a bit hesitant when talking about the M70 action.

As far as smith's, we are very limited unless you know a independent here in Okla. I have heard there are several good "Private" gun smiths in Oklahoma but they only advertise by word of mouth and I do not know who they are. The ones that are heavily publicized are high... No doubt! But it is like anything else in which you have the corner on the market you can pretty much charge what you want and the majority of people will pay because they feel they have no other options. I figured it was possible to work this action into a great shooter just as you and Nimrod stated. Now the problem comes in finding a qualified smith to do the work at an affordable price.

 

[strombeckj]

Storm,

I called the few smiths we have here in Okla. and the price is $400 - $450 regardless of the action type. I was going to send you a PM and ask what smith you were using. Like I said earlier, the M70 is not mine, sorry. But he is set on not selling it. He is going to have it worked. I sent him a copy of your post and without a doubt, we were both impressed. Which is another reason I was wanting to get ahold of you to find out what smith you would recommend. One smith we talked to today seemed a bit hesitant when talking about the M70 action.

As far as smith's, we are very limited unless you know a independent here in Okla. I have heard there are several good "Private" gun smiths in Oklahoma but they only advertise by word of mouth and I do not know who they are. The ones that are heavily publicized are high... No doubt! But it is like anything else in which you have the corner on the market you can pretty much charge what you want and the majority of people will pay because they feel they have no other options. I figured it was possible to work this action into a great shooter just as you and Nimrod stated. Now the problem comes in finding a qualified smith to do the work at an affordable price.

I can't help you as far as a smith goes in OK. I use Kevin Weaver here in Colorado. He builds and ships all over the US. He's one heck of a smith and great guy and will treat you fairly. He loves M70's, he charges $200 to true up a action.

Weaver Rifles Web

Jon

 

[Bullet bumper]

I am sure the Barnard's are a good action, problem with them are that they are not inside the U.S. I agree for $250 for the gun,, $500 to true it up, and your sitting at around $800 with tax and all and then he would have to buy the bottom metal. By then he will be around a grand. For a couple hundred dollars more he could have a complete Surgeon action w/bottom metal, which is in our home state, but it is his gun. What I can tell you is that the money will stay in the U.S. and not go over seas to support some other economy.

I know a guy in Texas that bought two just recently but I think he had them sent over from NZ. However they do have a distributor in the US Link : MT Guns
Surgeon was my first thought but I thought he was trying to do it as cheap as possible so I said Barnard , but as you say it may be just cheaper in the long run to buy at home as there is only a few hundred in it and it can be soaked up in shipping costs .
The Mod 70 is great action but why bother with all the extra smithing that could be done wrong . If a precision gun is the aim then start with a precision action.

 

[grizzlydueck]

I JUST CONTACTED ONE OF THE TOP PERCISION GUNSMITHS HERE IN CANADA =TOLD HIM THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GET MY EXISTING MOD 70 ACTION WORKED OVER =HE TOLD ME WHAT FOR ! IF IT WAS A STOCK REM THAN WILL DO IT ! BECAUSE REM FINISH THEIR PRODUCTS WITH HEAT TREATING WHICH WARPS THE BOLT FACE =WHINCHESTER ACTIONS DON'T NEED TO BE SQUARED DUE TO THERE DIFFERENT PROCESS-SO WITH MY WIN HE SAYS - NEED A TRIGGER JOB -BED THE ACTION -RECROWN THE BARREL=THEN SEE HOW IT SHOOTS ! THEN WE TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND REBARREL IT ! I WAS TOLD TRIGGER -BEDDING-BARREL... LIKE SOME ONE ELSE MENTIONED THERE'S NO REAL NEED TO WORK OVER A WIN ACTION ! tHIS SMITH HAS BUILT SEVERAL WORLD RECORD RIGS SOO I'M GOING WITH HIS EXPERIENCE !

 

[winmag]

Storm,

I called the few smiths we have here in Okla. and the price is $400 - $450 regardless of the action type. I was going to send you a PM and ask what smith you were using. Like I said earlier, the M70 is not mine, sorry. But he is set on not selling it. He is going to have it worked. I sent him a copy of your post and without a doubt, we were both impressed. Which is another reason I was wanting to get ahold of you to find out what smith you would recommend. One smith we talked to today seemed a bit hesitant when talking about the M70 action.

As far as smith's, we are very limited unless you know a independent here in Okla. I have heard there are several good "Private" gun smiths in Oklahoma but they only advertise by word of mouth and I do not know who they are. The ones that are heavily publicized are high... No doubt! But it is like anything else in which you have the corner on the market you can pretty much charge what you want and the majority of people will pay because they feel they have no other options. I figured it was possible to work this action into a great shooter just as you and Nimrod stated. Now the problem comes in finding a qualified smith to do the work at an affordable price.

HOLY COW MAN!
"shortgrass" right here on LRH!!! He owns Teds Custom Shop, in Weatheford Ok. & is a former LRH Sponsor. His reference list is extensive, I know cause I checked, & made a lot of inquiries, & phonecalls to previous customers, on my own, not from a reference list. He's top notch from every person I contacted.
That is why he is currently doing my long action, 300WSM, push feed Model-70 build. PM me for his phone #, or just visit his website. Great guy to work with. Very patient, & knowledgeable.

Win Model-70's are an excellent platform to build on.
Rem-700's are good platforms too, but I like the safety, & integral Recoil lugg of the Model-70 better. It's just a personal preference thing. Both have TONS if aftermarket support. For the price, your buddy is gettin a SMOKIN DEAL! I'd jump on it in a heartbeat.

 

[jakes10mm]

The most accurate rifle I have ever owned was a Winchester model 70 push feed post-64 Varmint in .243 Winchester. It would shoot dime-sized groups at 200 meters with Hornady 75 gr. hollow points all day long

Was it a Winchester 70 Heavy Varmint model with a blued action and Stainless barrel by chance? I have one that'll do the same. Last time I had it to the range, I was aiming high, low, left and right within the 1" center trying to cut it out like an arcade game. The bullets didn't print outside the center circle.

I have not had a Winchester 70 that wouldn't shoot under MOA at 100yds; claw or push feed. Picked up my first Remington 700 recently and hoping it will deliver as much accuracy as my Winchesters have.

Finding the right gunsmith is the trick. Seems like anyone will work on Rem 700's. I'm debating a custom barrel/cartridge combo on a Ruger #1 action.

 

[Joaquin B]

No, this was a factory post-64 Winchester Varmint model 70. It had a heavy, 26" blued barrel. It had a ding in the back of the receiver. I paid $175.00 back in 1980 for it.