Restoring a 1972 Winchester 70 in 30.06?

sunnydin

sunnydin

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I have a 1972 Winchester 70 in 30.06 bolt with 90 degree lift bolt, that I want to Restore.
It "appears" to be like a Supergrade with good walnut stock, white spacers, cut checkering etc.
I live in SW Ontario. I would prefer a Gunsmith that has had previous experience on Winchester 70's.

I won't be doing a Museum Quality restoration thats for sure.
I also know its not a "pre 1964" so I 'm not worried about losing the Heritage Value or any financial value.
Please let me know of your recommendations.
Thanks!
 
I would give Peter Sedman in Clifford, ON a call. He does great work. PM me if want his telephone number.
 
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"Restore" means to make it like it was when it was new. Sounds like yours already has an aftermarket stock. At this point you're still dealing with a $500 rifle...how much are you willing to spend on a rifle that isn't worth all that much?
 
I have no experience with them - had read that after 1964, the Winchester receivers were made from a "mystery metal" that appears very much strong enough, but does not take blue like "normal" iron/steel does. Very much a complication for that particular era / maker. Apparently their Win 94 lever action receivers are the same. No doubt can sand / polish / buff it down all nice but then how to re-finish??
The "push feed" Win 70 that we have here was made 1976 - is an XTR - has wood and accessories as you describe - so had the engine turning on the bolt body - is worn pretty good now - that would also be a special challenge to match up and re-do the areas that were worn.
Should not have to wonder "if" - if it was a Supergrade, that will be stamped on the metal - will be a much higher level of polish to it, compared to the "ordinary" ones.
 
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You’re wasting your time spending money on a push feed Model 70. If you wish to do any “restoration”, you’re best bet is doing a very diligent job of it at home. Paying someone else to do the work will not provide you with any major increase in value as push feed Model 70s are only worth around $500 regardless of configuration. They are not very desirable.
 
Blastattack said:
You’re wasting your time spending money on a push feed Model 70. If you wish to do any “restoration”, you’re best bet is doing a very diligent job of it at home. Paying someone else to do the work will not provide you with any major increase in value as push feed Model 70s are only worth around $500 regardless of configuration. They are not very desirable.
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I would certainly agree with the first part - if you have any interest or desire to learn, a push feed M70 would be very good one to work on. Lots of reference material available about metal re-finish, wood re-finish, tuning those open Win triggers, glass bedding, etc. And it seems parts readily available if you mess up some of yours. I have the XTR in 308 Win, and a "Sporter Magnum" in 338 Win Mag, and recently sold one in 375 H&H. The last part about being "not very desirable" - might be true - I can not understand why. As a lark, despite what earnest posters on an early Internet bulletin board were saying, (and I was much younger then), I satisfied myself that you can so cycle cartridges from the magazine into that chamber while hanging upside down from a tree branch - for whatever that demonstrated...
 
OP, I suspect that all you're really looking for is a reblue???

As mentioned, if the stock needs to be refinished as well, it just isn't worth putting the money into that rifle.

On the other hand, if there is some personal/emotional attachment to that particular rifle by all means carry on with the project. I've done more than a few such projects for my own needs.

If you strip the rifle down to it's component parts, then ship only the parts you want refinished to a smith for a hot blue, that will save you some money and if you clean those parts of all traces of oil and grease, that will likely get the job done in the next batch he's setting up his tanks for.

I believe the receivers on those rifles, as well as the magazine swing floor plates were made from high grade nickel steel and may require a different bluing mix. I've just parkerized the barreled receivers, plugging the barrels of course, and the floor plates. Did the same thing with a Model 94 a few years ago. Looks good and is much more durable than any blue job.

As for being a "push feed" to me, that isn't a detriment. That's more snob appeal than anything else. These rifles aren't combat rifles, other than specialized sniper variants. Even then, I've yet to see one that didn't feed properly, when fed the ammo it was designed for or fail to eject the spent case.

I like both the Remington and Winchester push feed model rifles. The actions are usually a lot smoother than dragging and external extractor through the rear bridge during cycling.
 
sunnydin said:
I have a 1972 Winchester 70 in 30.06 bolt with 90 degree lift bolt, that I want to Restore.
It "appears" to be like a Supergrade with good walnut stock, white spacers, cut checkering etc.
I live in SW Ontario. I would prefer a Gunsmith that has had previous experience on Winchester 70's.

I won't be doing a Museum Quality restoration thats for sure.
I also know its not a "pre 1964" so I 'm not worried about losing the Heritage Value or any financial value.
Please let me know of your recommendations.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

If you were to post a couple of quality pictures it would go a long way in making recommendations. Is it a rifle you inherited and it has that sort of value?
 
In my limited stock re-finish experience - and some turned out very badly - do not even think about sand paper!!! Removing what is left of the old finish is best done with a chemical stripper of some sort, so that you do not remove any more of the wood than has already worn away - getting into the sanding will cut that wood down so it no longer fits to the metal parts, likely end up with wavy surfaces, rounding off edges that should be square and sharp, etc. It is a good hobby, to research how to do and then to do correctly. It has been decades since I just had "one" rifle, so my thoughts might be different than someone looking at their first one, or their "one and only". I have very seldom worked to refinish someone else's rifle - have almost all been my own - I still own many of my "mistakes" - some of the more successful ones have moved on to new homes, but that, for me, is unusual.

Your rifle is nearly 50 years old - I am of the thought that it should not look "new" - should look its age? Yesterday, I finished up a 1955 M70 30-06 to my satisfaction - it looks like a well used, and well cared for, 65 year old hunting rifle. Even found the age appropriate Weaver scope for it. Certainly not "modern" by any stretch. Has a "built in" usage limiter - it weighs 9 pounds 3 ounces with empty magazine and no sling, so this "old guy" won't be "packing it around" much...
 
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Potashminer said:
I would certainly agree with the first part - if you have any interest or desire to learn, a push feed M70 would be very good one to work on. Lots of reference material available about metal re-finish, wood re-finish, tuning those open Win triggers, glass bedding, etc. And it seems parts readily available if you mess up some of yours. I have the XTR in 308 Win, and a "Sporter Magnum" in 338 Win Mag, and recently sold one in 375 H&H. The last part about being "not very desirable" - might be true - I can not understand why. As a lark, despite what earnest posters on an early Internet bulletin board were saying, (and I was much younger then), I satisfied myself that you can so cycle cartridges from the magazine into that chamber while hanging upside down from a tree branch - for whatever that demonstrated...
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I would argue they are not desirable as they were meant as a direct competition to the Remington 700, yet provide no major advantages and have very limited spare parts and upgrades. I think the whole Push Feed vs Controlled Feed argument is largely meritless and the fervor is directly related to historical fancy that is is to reality. However, CRF actions have a major disadvantage over push feed rifles, as they generally cannot be single loaded and can only be fed from a magazine.
 
why not just do it . its a good project it shouldn`t always be about money . i reblue all my rifles i did my grandsons $250 xr7 marlin ceracoted the stock ..i do it because i want to .
 
A re-blue and re-finish is probably going to cost you 400 to 600 dollars. Post-64 Model 70 actions are not "some mystery metal" and blue readily. There is sometimes a bit of a "shadow" at the rear of the bridge where the extraction cam is hardened. The 1972 stock was really kind of a decent shape and checkering is better than on earlier models.
The typical Model 70 of that period will feature an excellent barrel and accuracy is usually very good.
 
I agree with Bill... I blued a few post 64 Model 70's and they blued fine. The stock configuration is considerably better than the pre 64's as far as using a scope is concerned.

The only mystery metal post 64's I have encountered are model 94's. They do not blue. I always blasted the action and had it nickel plated, blued the rest.

After refinishing from 4 to 6 hundred dollars it should be worth at least $500 if the bore is good.
 
guntech said:
I agree with Bill... I blued a few post 64 Model 70's and they blued fine. The stock configuration is considerably better than the pre 64's as far as using a scope is concerned.

The only mystery metal post 64's I have encountered are model 94's. They do not blue. I always blasted the action and had it nickel plated, blued the rest.

After refinishing from 4 to 6 hundred dollars it should be worth at least $500 if the bore is good.
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Exactly. My first 94 ended up purple because of that. - dan
 
sealevel said:
why not just do it . its a good project it shouldn`t always be about money . i reblue all my rifles i did my grandsons $250 xr7 marlin ceracoted the stock ..i do it because i want to .
Click to expand...

This above.

I bought an old Model 70 that someone had left in a safe for over 30 years. It was covered in surface rust and the wood had a weird shine to it. But having paid only $200 I refinished the wood (checkering included), removed all the surface rust and sanded down the barrel and reblued it after. A friend polished the checkered bolt for me (it was faster and saved me some labor). Today with a new leather sling (another $100...) this firearm looks brand new and with a dialed in hand load is one of my favorite 30-06's.

Go ahead. Make it a project. You will love it !.
 
Hello & Thanks!
Just a short note to express my Gratitide to all of you that contributed, for your informative and educational advice.
Its truly amazing the information that is on CGN if you only ask!
Many, many thanks!
sunnydin
 
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