M14 Forum

30Caliber · October 30th, 2011, 02:23 PM

I noted a couple weeks ago that the local gunstore had a somewhat tattered (say 80%) pre-64 Winchester Model 70 in 30-06, but $600 was more than I wanted to part with for a rifle that I didn't have an immediate need for though.

About 2 weeks later, I was going through the safe with my Dad, looking at M1s when I thought about the Model 70. I then wondered if they'd take the rattier of my field grade M1s in trade (ok wood, but all correct Korean era Springfield--maybe 70% finish). The upper one here (this photo was taken before I worked all the goo out of the stock):

Two days later I was back in the store and they agreed on the trade. The Model 70 was buried under a deep and sloppy coat of varnish. In fact, what I thought was patches of surface rust all over the metal were varnish fingerprints. All that cleaned up nicely. The first picture is before; my small camera made it look a heck of a lot nicer than it really was, but you can see the heavy varnish on the white-line spacers. Fajen stock, btw. It looked a heck of a lot worse in the store and I thought the trade was a bit generous on my part.

Before:

Here's the after picture. I fixed a small crack in the inletting, bedded it, stripped the varnish, stained and put on 5 coats of tung oil. Put on a rear sight, and replaced the Tasco with an old Redfield 4x. Came out pretty nice! It's a little more red in color and less orange than it looks in this photo; the bottom one looks right.

Still need to get a Redfield base and rings, but other than that, I be pleased! Sighting in is next week.

IC2(SS)19Z50C5 · October 30th, 2011, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 30Caliber

Here's the after picture. Came out pretty nice!

No Kidding, WOW Great WORK!!!. I have two Pre-64 M70s, one I’m leaving as is, the other will be a 30.06 Match target rebuild with McMillan A3-5 stock.

http://www.mcmfamily.com/mcmillan-st...k-list.php#a35

buchkshot · October 31st, 2011, 11:05 AM

What a classy-looking rifle! One actually sees, from time to time, vintage wood for sale on gunbroker or ebay.

senecaap · October 31st, 2011, 12:17 PM

Congratulations on getting The Rifleman's Rifle. If I only had one sporting arm, I would have a pre-64 70 in .30'06, I've never shot a bad one.

Palladin · October 31st, 2011, 01:12 PM

beautiful rifle!

I have one and yours puts mine to shame...you'll dig shooting it!

Jet · October 31st, 2011, 01:30 PM

so how's it shoot?

30Caliber · October 31st, 2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jet

so how's it shoot?

We'll see this weekend. Got some 165gr SBTs loaded up.

tn hp · October 31st, 2011, 02:28 PM

Great looking Mod. 70 and a pre 64' to boot! Very nice job on refinishing the non-original stock.

I am fortunate to own four pre 64' Mod 70 rifles. Two are hunting rifles and two were built into match rifles with one of these being an original competition action cut for stripper clips.

My primary hunting rifle is the pre 64' in 30.06. A couple of years ago, while returning from a successful deer hunt, the rifle slipped out of the case and the butt of the stock hit the concrete garage floor. A slice of the stock toe was split off and the original butt plate was broken.

A friend of mine, who is a professional stock maker, repaired the stock and it is noticable only to me. I decided that since use this rifle for hunting, it deserved an "all weather" stock. Although I wanted a McMillian, because I have them on my match rifles, I "settled" for a Bell & Carlson. The B & C stock is great and is a super value.

The action was bedded and it produces 1/2" groups at 100 yards but, it did that in the original stock that wasn't bedded with the sight boss screw in the barrel. Hell, it will out shoot me!

You will never be sorry about trading the M1 for the Model 70! I have both and I know which one brings home the bacon!

RegularGolf · October 31st, 2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senecaap

Congratulations on getting The Rifleman's Rifle. If I only had one sporting arm, I would have a pre-64 70 in .30'06, I've never shot a bad one.

Without a doubt going to be my first center fire bolt rifle. Absolutely love the Model 70. I've heard the new production ones are back on par with the pre-64 ones, true?

30Cal, that thing cleaned gorgeously! Congrats; a solid trade!

BC · November 4th, 2011, 09:42 AM

This whole thread just makes me almost envious...

That seems like a good trade too.

30Caliber · November 20th, 2011, 05:29 PM

Shoots pretty good! About an inch at 100yds. I took it out today, but the weather was pretty crummy--drizzle and showers. Managed to do pretty good though. Kentucky whitetail, 100yds, 175lbs dressed (biggest anyone has seen here on my parents place in 20 years)

Beavis1971 · November 20th, 2011, 10:14 PM

Nice rifle and beautiful buck. Congratulations on both of them.

Palladin · November 20th, 2011, 10:16 PM

VERY nice deer! congrats!

That's a really interesting rack, btw.

nf1e@snet.net · November 21st, 2011, 02:15 AM

Very nice indeed. M70's rock.
Nice Buck.
In your first set on photos, I thought you had it to protect the berry patch. Looked like a blueberry scoop on the wall.
Semper Fi
Art

30Caliber · November 21st, 2011, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nf1e@snet.net

Very nice indeed. M70's rock.
Nice Buck.
In your first set on photos, I thought you had it to protect the berry patch. Looked like a blueberry scoop on the wall.
Semper Fi
Art

Good spot on the berry scoop. That's the wife's wall o' Norway stuff.