Family Pictures, (my hand-me-downs)

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To follow up on my last thread asking for opinions on my perfect hunting rifle, I thought I'd share some pics of what I already have.

My dad always had these at his house because my FAC was minors only even when I turned 18 and moved out, so I wasn't able to take them and keep them with me. I didn't see them very often and so I wasn't able to really share what they were until now because all I knew was the calibre, and nothing else. So for Christmas I was given a pre-paid certificate for re-taking my firearms training so I can get my license back (with restricted this time) which has me excited, and while at the parents house for turkey I got to snap some shots of them so I could research where they came from and hope to find some interesting history on these models.

Without further ado:

The rifle I've used since I was 16. Bagged about half a dozen mule deer with it. Lots of sausage, smokies and jerky :)
Remington Model 788, 3rd detachable box magazine. .243 WIN What I like about it is the thickness of the stock, it has a nice blocky shape to it. Shoots straight enough I often shot it high by about 3-4 inches. From what I've gathered it may have been manufactured in 1980. anybody have some insight? Think there might be any possibility I could find a 2nd magazine for it?

243WINa.jpg


243WINb.jpg


243WINc.jpg



And the one that isn't mine but may someday end up mine, maybe. It's grandpas gun, (like the .243 was before he gave it to me) but it was "grandmas" if you get what I mean. She doesn't hunt anymore, and dad had this at his place because he used it for bear hunting up by Slave Lake this fall. I thought I might get it but I really don't know what Gramps is planning to do with it.

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .264 WIN MAG. I know little about this gun, and I don't know if its one of the newer models with the stronger barrels that somewhat fixes the problem of shooting the barrels out too early with this cartridge. I know that ammo isn't really all that readily available, but we have all the handloading stuff for it and primarily that's what we shoot. So this one isn't mine yet, if it ever will be, but there it is. I find it looks nice, but could use a nice light sanding and a buffing. Again... thoughts?

264WINMAGa.jpg


264WINMAGb.jpg



I've got my shotgun as well, but I'll post that in the appropriate forum :)
 
I have had a win. 70 in .264 win. mag. for a long, long time. I have used it for just about every species of big game you can hunt in Alberta. I have several other rifles but it is what I reach for most often.

I bought a Rem. 788 in .243 for my kids to hunt with when they were younger. My daughter still hunts with it. I have never been really happy with how the .243 kills or at least the problems we have had recovering game sometimes. On advice from some friends we are switching to a different bullet type that they have had better performance with.
 
The Winchester is a pre-'64 Featherweight. Except for the pad it looks to be in original condition, so it has some collector value. so I wouldn't make any other alterations to it... no "sanding & buffing"!

I've never owned a .264 but I have heard they lose quite a bit of velocity in the 22" barrel, as opposed to the 26" used in the standard rifle. Use it sparingly and you should be able to hand it down to your grandkids.
 
9.3 is correct about your 264, it is a pre 64 M70 Featherweight and it is a hard to find model in that caliber, they bring a premium
on the used gun market, keep it clean and keep the barrel bore clean and well lubricated, nothing will devaluate your rifle more
quickly than a rusted bore or a modified stock, these guns usually shoot on par with the 270 balistically since they loose speed due to the
short barrel for caliber. I have owned two and still own one and I love owning and using it muzzle blast and all.
Ammo can be hard to find if you don't reload but in my case I reload for it and never felt wanting factory ammo.
As was sugested do not modify the gun in any way since it is valuable as a collector, BTW I have the same recoil pad on my gun, I believe it is factory.
The barrels on these guns are top notch and do not wear out any quicker than others,
If you shoot slowly and keep the barrel cool that barrel will last you and your childrens children, not to worry, there are worse calibers today and they last for thousands of rounds. Enjoy your Pre 64 and don't modify it.

BB
 
I had a 788 in 243 that I paid $90 new at sears with a scope. :) . It was wonderfully accurate with 75 gr sierras but like Duffy I had issues using it on game with cup and core bullets ( I was young and didn't know about partitions back then) but with today's boutique bullets it would be fine for deer. Getting a spare magazine will be problematic but they do come up sometimes but go for significant $.
 
Remington added the .243 version to the 788 line up in 1969. The carbine version of the rifle ran from 1980-1983. I don't know if the rifle version was continued during that same time period, but I suspect that your full length barrel means the rifle was made prior to 1980 even though it may have been purchased new in 1980 or shortly after.
 
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