I just bought a NIB 1976 Winchester Model 70 .308. I've shot one from the 70's several years ago in .300 win mag and found it to be a superb gun in both function and accuracy. It's not the prettiest girl at the fair with regards to stock scrolling etc. but I sure liked the way it handled and boy was it accurate... sooo... a new 1976 one came up and I nabbed it. Now I'm reading all the reviews and hear that only the "pre-64 or new FN model 70's" are good and the ones manufactured between post '64 and the 90's are junk.... now I'm second guessing myself thinkin that I just bought a crappy gun... is this true?
I just bought a Winchester Model 70 manufactured in 1976 ... is it a piece of crap??
- Thread starter cdncowboy
- Start date
Nothing wrong with it. The whole pre 64 thing is mostly collectors and Internet experts. - dan
Well,the very first brand new rifle I ever bought was a Win.Model 70 in 30-06 in the fall of 1975.I still have this rifle and have put many,many rounds through it.Maybe it's the first rifle sentimentality thing or ?? but this is still one of my all time favourite rifles.Can't see myself ever selling her off.I believe them to be just fine,others may not.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Post 64 M70s have none of the cachet of the Pre64 but your #### absolutely will not fall off for using one.
Yes, it is true!
Better send it to me and I will dispose of it immediately!
Because I'm such a nice guy, I'll even pay the shipping...
I aint such a nice guy, send it to me and you pay the postage and insurance.
I'll test it to see if it is as truly hideous as you say and then keep it in the back of the safe behind the weatherby.
Shoot it, enjoy it and quit worrying about it.
Tight Groups with it,
Rob
Last edited:
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
Had a couple of them back then and other than tweeking the triggers and bedding,they were nice rifles that shot quite well.
Wouldn't say that, it's on par with others of that era and will get the job done for you . .
Some years back I took a shine to a pre-64 Model 70. . Sure liked that gun and bought a few more as the opportunity presented itself. . By the mid-90's the pre-64's were a collectible and I figured I shouldn't be using mine for hunting so I bought a post 64 30-06, from 1978, and set it all up for hunting and used it for a few hunts and sold it. . in all honesty I didn't care for it. . Didn't like the stock, it was skinny and had a rude kick to it, push feed I didn't like, the trigger and safety was not as safe as it should be, and after using a pre-64, it was not for me . It may have been just that particular gun, but I'd had enough and sold it. . .
Not a thing wrong with your rifle. The Winchesters produced from 1964 to 1968 were the worst quality wise but still adequate hunting rifles. On through the 1970's into the 1980's Winchester made great progress on the quality front. Keep her and hunt with her.
X2
My Father bought me a M70 featherweight in 30.06 when I was 12 years old. I've used it every year since and have dropped a gazillion animals with it. To this day, whatever it points at, just seems to fall over dead. The gun looks immaculate and has no signs of barrel wear after all these years of hunting , shooting and reloading. However, when I was a 12 year old skinny kid, I shot a reduced load in 125 grain, but not since.
I had a 670 Winchester, 25-06, not sure of the date of manufacture, but blind magazine, ugly stock and cheap scope, i wish i still had it. I shot deer, moose and coyotes with that gun. My longest shot on game was a coyote at over 500 yards with that rifle. Legal troubles forced me to sell.
You won't be disappointed, enjoy it.
You won't be disappointed, enjoy it.
