ARTV: The Winchester Model 70 Story
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 พ.ย. 2022
- Of all the various rifles that have been manufactured by Winchester Repeating Arms throughout the firm's long history, the most well-known is the Model 70 family of bolt-action centerfire rifles. Still in production today, some eight decades after its introduction, the Model 70 has earned the nickname of "the rifleman's rifle," which is a lofty moniker for a rifle, considering the great many other centerfire rifles that populate the market.
Like Remington, Winchester held a contract for the production of Model 1917, .30-'06 Sprg.-chambered, bolt-action rifles for the U.S. during World War I and produced a fairly large number during the conflict. When the war ended, like the other civilian contractors for the M1917, Winchester saw orders for further production canceled, leaving the production lines stagnant and a surplus of parts and tooling. Winchester had spent a considerable amount of time and money ramping up for the production of the military-contract rifles and sought a way to turn a profit from the investment.
In 1919, a Winchester employee named Thomas Crossley Johnson developed a sporting rifle based off the M1917 design called the Model 51, which he proposed as a high-end sporting rifle for the commercial market. The design was shot down at the time by Winchester's vice president, but the company was forced to take a second look at the concept when Remington introduced its Model 30, also based off the M1917 design, to the market with success. In response, Winchester developed the Model 54 in the 1920s, which featured many of the slimmed-down features of a sporting rifle, while still drawing influence from the design of the M1917. While the rifle had success, and introduced the .270 Win. cartridge to the market, it still had some issues inherent from the M1917 design.
Thus, Winchester designers went back to the drawing board, and in 1936, unveiled a new, sleeker bolt-action design called the Model 70. Using a three-position safety, five-round internal box magazine and Mauser-style feed and bolt system, the Model 70 immediately proved to be a commercial success. This was furthered by the fine quality of the rifles, which were also fairly priced. Winchester then began to introduce several different variations over the decades, along with a wide variety of chambering options for the Model 70. The design wasn't limited to commercial success, either, as the U.S. military examined the Model 70 as a possible sniper rifle in the lead-up to World War II, and it even saw use in the hands of USMC snipers in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Today, the Model 70 is still produced and offered by Winchester Repeating Arms, with several different versions ranging from classic blued metal and wood stocks, to camouflage patterns and synthetic furniture for more intensive all-weather use. To learn more about the current versions of the Model 70 offered by Winchester today, visit winchesterguns.com.
To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the following links to learn more about your NRA:
National Rifle Association of America - bit.ly/32dwH2D
NRA Publications - bit.ly/38GpKtj
NRA's American Rifleman - bit.ly/39IW2E4
NRA’s American Hunter - bit.ly/2HF0oAa
NRA’s Shooting Illustrated - bit.ly/2udFtRR
NRA Family - bit.ly/2HEYNdC
NRA’s America’s 1st Freedom - bit.ly/3bNhBW2
NRA’s Shooting Sports USA - bit.ly/2wvFRvK
NRA’s Hunter Leadership Forum - bit.ly/37FkK77 - กีฬา
My grandad used a pre-64 Model 70 Featherweight in 30-06 using 165 partitions to kill everything from buck antelope to a couple of inland grizzlies. I now have the rifle and it still shoots very well.
It alway will, if you take care of it. I have 31 pre 64 Winchester rifles.
I'm a Winchester guy and no rifle on this planet creates such an emotional attachment with me as the model 70. Everytime I manage to pick up a used pre-64, it's like Christmas.
Having said that, the quality of post '64 rifles made after 1976 or so, even though they are push feed actions, had improved greatly.
My dad has a post 64 but it still is one of the highest quality and coolest guns I've ever shot.
I bought my model 70 Classic Featherweight .243 in '96 and has been no less than superb, most accurate and flat shooting rifle I've ever shot.
I don’t think the quieter controlled feed action is as much of an advantage as the one dude on here says. If you’re within 30 yards of a deer or most other critters racking any bolt on a gun is going to spook it. Of course the obvious answer is to keep a round chambered and then exercise the fundamentals of safety like you should be anyway.
His scenario was with his PH in front of him, walking him to the game and getting him in position. In the real world most of us don't have that luxury and carrying a hunting rifle without a round in thr chamber is as useless as carrying a handgun for self defense unchambered.
Best Damn Rifle Ever Made Period! Three-position safety before its time and everyone else all the others you had to put in fire position to load or unload
I have two Model 70s..both made in 1950...one is a .270 and the other is a .375 magnum...they were my fathers guns and I received them after he passed away...I love them both and have hunted with the 270...I'm very blessed to have two "Rifleman's Rifles"
The modern model 70's are my favorite rifles. Well built, and quality looks.
I am fortune enough to have a 270 in made in 1948. It is in outstanding condition and shoots sub .5 MOA. I love it.
I have a pre 64 in 300 H&H mag and one in 30-06 fantastic rifle’s. Made in USA 🇺🇸
I am saving my lunch money for a Model 70, Super Grade in 30-06. I cannot wait to get it.
I have a 270 and it is fantastically accurate!
This guy at a local rifle range, using a 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser .. original..no scope.. he beat two guys ( at 100 yards) two against one, with the Swedish Mauser made in 1921!. They had a high dollar scope on their "270". All to no avail
I own several New Model 70s that I use for hunting. Truly a classic firearm that I am proud to tell others I carry one in the field. I recently bought my son his first Model 70 youth. I mean how can you be a hunter and tell people you carry a Bugara rifle or some other mass produced stamped POS with zero charactor that seem to be the vast majority of rifles being sold today.
I have a newer 70 and a couple Bergara the more the better. The 70 is just an incredible rifle. I got a very unique configuration that I’ve never seen anyplace else it’s a featherweight with a high gloss stock
Greatest rifle ever made
Amen to that!!
Yes this American Mauser is really a legend.
Coupled with the 30-06 it remains unequaled in many categories.
The Model 70 descends from the 1917 Enfield, outright. The 1917 Rifle was called the "British Mauser", ironically.
@@joeruiz4010 The cone breech came from the 1903 Springfield.
@@blackpowder4016 That Extractor Claw's dimensions match the Mauser G98 more son than the 1903 Springfield and 1917 Enfield.
Winchester tested the 1903, 1917, and G98. The G98 was the strongest of the 3.
@Black Powder Forgot to add. The 1903 and 1917 have less moving parts compared to the G98. Winchester discovered that the G98 could handle "+P" level rounds better than the 1903 and 1917. So in actuality, the Model 70 8s a fusion of the G98, 1903, and 1917 Rifles.
I had a 1969 Model 70, push feed, but still a great and accurate rifle. I had to sell it to get money to close on my house, so I don't regret it, but I sure do miss it. I wanted to buy it back, but it sold too quickly. But at least there was a good rifle there that took its place, a 30-30 Marlin 336 SC.
I have a Mod 70 1967 year make that’s practically new in .30-06. It has been in the family since no later than the 1980s, maybe even earlier. I remember seeing it on rare occasions growing up, but don’t ever recall firing it.
i have my dads model 70 pre 64 in 30-06 but i had to send it to a gunsmith 25 years ago and got a new barrel and customized it its still a shooter for sure and i'm going to had it to my oldest grandson and hope that he will hand it to his son or grandson
It's not difficult to understand why Winchester could not continue with the pre-64 model 70. It took 80 hours to machine the receiver out of bar stock using 1930s technology. Even in the days when union machinists made $3.50/hour plus benefits that was more ($280) than they could sell the rifle for and it didn't include the barrel, bolt, stock, cutting tools, and other parts. Remington was turning their receivers from round stock on automatic lathes using semi-skilled labor. Ruger was casting theirs. Savage was making very serviceable inexpensive rifles from preform components. Remingtons and Savages were going for around $110-120 in 1964. Winchester was losing money for years and the new management knew it was change or die. Imagine making engine crankshafts from steel billets. Racers can do it today using modern CNC machinery but at great expense. It didn't exist in those days. Crankshafts are either cast or machined from pre-formed forgings both of which cut machining time drastically. The new management simplified the design, got rid of the Mauser-style claw extractor which many though was clunky and old-fashioned. (Mausers have never been top sellers in the US except as war surplus.) They machined the new receivers from forged preforms which cut the machining time to 20 hours. The new bolt surrounded the case head which was one of Remington's main selling points. "Three rings of steel" was one of Remington's slogans. Impressed checkering does not explain the outrage as everyone was using impressed checkering back then. I have a 1977 Remington 700 with impressed checkering made after Winchester went back to cut checkering. Naturally the machinists union resented losing work and publicly dissed the new rifle. As someone who lived through this period I remember the hysteria caused by this change. Winchester was in a no-win position: Lose money on the old model or lose customers with the new one. It's no wonder they went under. Despite the hype the pre-64 model 70 was never a popular rifle. Winchester sold less than 600,000 original pre-64 Model 70s while Remington sold over 7 million 700s. I own a pre-64, a post-64 XTR, and two modern (1997 & 2002) New Haven-made pre-64 Model 70s. All are fine rifles. I'm not sure I don't prefer my post-64 XTR rifle which is extremely well made and accurate. Had I been in charge I'd have kept the old Model 70 as a Custom or Super Grade model at a sustainable price. I'd have brought the new rifle online as a different model. That might have satisfied everyone.
If the new Winchester had been called the Winchester 64, it would have out sold the Remington 700.
It’s not only in the name.!!
Rifle people, nowadays, know what they want.!!!
In my collection, I have several pre-64, and also post-64, and I much prefer the “controlled feed”, ( safer ),
than the “push feed”.
I’ve donne a lot of dangerous game in Africa, and for real dangerous game, it will be the Pte-64, and with a elevator magazine plate, from Mauser’s Kar.98.
Gess why.??
( You can’t close the bolt on an empty magazine.)!!!
Thank you for sharing this. I really like the features of my push-feed 1967 Model 70 vs my formative years pre-64 Mod 70 Featherweight. The pre-64 is what I was raised on and thought of as a classic centerfire. Controlled Feed is much harder to plus-up when shooting because I can’t just drop a round in the action and close the bolt. I have to seat the cartridge in the internal magazine in order for the rim to align with the extractor of the Mauser action. I prefer push feed where I can just drop a round in and chamber.
I still own an early Model 70 (.270) made in 1947 and it is everything they say it is: a wonderfully built firearm with classic lines and performance second to none. The Remington 700's were good too, once, but they were never quite what the Model 70 was and it's just something most of us simple laymen who are not gun smiths or engineers can explain. You just have to hold one, point one, shoot one and hunt with one to see for yourself. The model 70 Winchester, pre-'64, may never be equaled in a modern production firearm. Maybe it was that intangible "something" that makes no explainable sense - but something has to be the best at what it is and maybe the pre-'64 model 70's are just that - the best. I'm sure there are many who might disagree but they probably never owned or hunted with one.
Got 3 model 70s,3006 supergrade,new .270 push feed made around 1977 and a .388 win mag push feed made around 1990,all are just top of line straight shooting1 MOA rifes, ace fit and finish in American black walnut and for the price you can buy them for,so much bang for your buck,proven since 1936,good enough for Carlos Hathcock in Vietnam, good enough for any hunter,riflemans rifle said Jack O conner, nuf said
Got a 70 Super Grade in 338 Win. Mag. Lot of good it does. Can't find ammo.
I have 2 pre 64 Model 70's. 30 06, and 270.
Thank you for sharing
Have a pre-64 Standard in .270, a FWT Classic in .270 and a SC built EW Stainless in .300 WSM. The quality and feel of the pre-64 is unmatched, tho the Classic is my favorite as its so handy and fits me the best, and the Extreme Weather is definitely the most accurate.
The modern Model 70 is made like the old Model 70 Rifleman’s Rifle. I like it in the Classic Featherlight in 7mm-08.
I bought one last year in 7mm-08
Great video guys
These are Amazing Rifles that are so Accurate .
Iv Got the Model 70 in the 300wsm... A fantastic handling and shooting Rifle.
Nice. Could you take down Lions or Tigers with 300 WSM?.
I own a Model 70 that was made in 2011. A Supergrade. 270. I will say that is a premium rifle that shoots as good as it looks.
Great video. I’d love to see you produce a video on the history of the Marlin 336 in 35 Remington
Oh yeah! Me too! It's my absolute favorite deer rifle. Thanks for bringing that up.
Bought one from an uncle in the 90s had it for 3 years, then sold it. Been trying to replace it since then.
Winchester should bring back the Left Handed bolt action Model 70. In case some don't know - the archery world has proven that around 40% of people are Left eye dominant.
Amen. I have two plus two RH models. I wish I'd bought several back in the 90's but they were forcing the short magnums on us lefties and I wasn't a fan. I've since found that the WSMs are actually good rounds.
I have a modern one from Portugal in 375 h&h magnum it's fantastic
Safari Express or Alaskan?
Safari
I have a collection of Model 70 Classics: Stainless Steel B.O.S.S's. Everything from .22-250 through .338 Win Mag. Plus a couple other's in .30-06. One of them is a 'one off', supposedly build for a Winchester employee that has a blued receiver and a stainless barrel with a blued B.O.S.S. The other is a blued classic with B.O.S.S. Still looking for the unicorn Model 70 Stainless Steel Classic B.O.S.S. in .270 Weatherby Mag. The brochure from the era lists it, but I have never seen one. If anyone has, I'd love to see a picture of it!
I have 5 of the new Portugal built Model 70's. All flawless. I've owned 3 of the pre-64 which were of course also very fine but I'll take the new ones every day. I don't care where it's built. I care about quality.
They’re made in usa only assembled in portugal
Hey NRA, my WWII sniper rifle was an animal all by itself, in the leather gun bag I had a cleaning Kit, and a set of Allen wrenches, it had a K4 weaver but also a flip up Redfield peep sight, plan wooden stock, but the barrel had this BIG block of iron on the barrel (the harmonic balance) that fit near the end of the stock, so total rebuild, now I have a very nice rifle.
Would have loved to get me a new one from the early years. If only I could travel back in time.
The ones that are made today are fantastic ! I have one, absolutely no regrets despite the price tag
@@danramzinski2957 the price tag today is really no different than it was then factoring inflation.
History!!!
Best rifle ever made... Period
Best quality rifle for the money. Not cheap, but way under priced.
I’ve been looking at getting a new production Model 70, unfortunately, I can’t find them in stock anywhere.
They are imported in batches because of customs fees. And yes, they are scarce right now. Look towards the end of August.
12:07 Sadly they blew it when they took production out of the USA. I don't care how good they may be at present, a real Model 70 is made in the USA...PERIOD. The models made from 1972 onward are good rifles that are well fitted and finished despite not having the claw extractor and controlled feed, just in case you consider buying used.
The FN model 70s made in Portugal are really well made. So are winchesters made in Japan's miroku plant. While it's nice to have domestic manufacturing, the plants they switched manufacturing to are making top notch rifles.
I would buy a model 70 made today over a pre 64. Better built, better finishing, and better quality metallurgy. Same with any of their lever firearms.
I have the fn special police .308 24” heavy barrel with Macmillan stock and its mod70 basically..bedded action and base…I put 3x15 viper gen 2 and short Harris bipod and my old sling off 700 and built me a marine style cheek pad with black duct tape to match the all black rifle and I’m hitting a 1” bottlecap at 254yrds shootin handloaded 110gr v max and varmageddons at over 3500fps…my 2020waypoint in 6.5prc I just done some 95gr v max and there at 3625fps…I hit same lid with $100 simmons mounted on it..mod70 action vs rem700 the 70s way smoother…it’s like wore out feelin best way to describe it
I bought the "extreme sporter" version last summer and can constantly shoot 3/4" groups with the LRX bullets. That's plenty accurate enough for me- I just use it to shoot deer, pronghorn, and pigs.
I have an unfired model 70 in 7mm, but the old Winchester cardboard tag on it says model 7066. Serial number appears to be 1977. Just wondering if anyone can assist me in knowing what this gun is, thinking of scoping it and seeing how the old girl handles. Thank you.
Awesome do one on the Ruger 77 next I want to see the real difference between them if there is one
Which Ruger 77? The original M77 or the Hawkeye? The M77 is a push feed and the Hawkeye is a control feed.
@@russellkeeling4387 Actually, I think the M77 is a controlled feed.
Winchester uses forged components in the receiver and Ruger uses castings.
@@smithwesson7765 it has a claw extractor but the original M77 is a push feed. The Mark II and the Hawkeye are control round feed.
@@smithwesson7765 The original Model 77 with the tang safety was a push feed. Although it had a Mauser style extractor the bolt encircled the case head and the extractor snapped over. They tended to send bullets in the same general direction, but just barely. I think Ruger was still machining then. They made the big move to investment casting and the Model 77 redesign sometime in the early 90s.
I've had 2 new production model 70 featherweights both in 30-06 both were beautiful rifles I bought the first one as my "dream all around rifles" nice wood stock and blued barrel just missing the iron sights shot it and the best it would do at 100 yards was 2 inches I tried all kinds of ammo called winchester they said it should atleast shoot 1.5 inch groups to send it back so I did they said something was wrong never said what sent me a new rifle and it was the same story all over again kind of did me in on winchester was wondering if anybody else had a experience like this
I had the same experience with a Ruger .22 Hornet, eventually sold it and bought the model 70 and never looked back.
I have a new supergrade 30-06 and a new sporter 30-06, and they both easily shoot one inch groups with factory ammo. I also have a new featherweight in 257 Roberts that is more finicky but shoots inch groups with ammo it likes. Contrary to what seems to be popular opinion, a fine hunting rifle does not have to shoot one inch. But most today would say that was blasphemous. I have had quite a few rifles over the years that were deadly rifles at normal hunting ranges and didn't shoot any better than 1.5 to 2 inch groups. But that would never fly today, everyone knows a rifle is useless unless it can shoot to 6-800 yds.
I have a 300wsm Post '64 that I turned into a custom with a HS precision stock, Bartlein MTU Barrel, MDT Comp Brake, stock trigger and a monstrum scope.
It was my father's rifle that he won at a gun club auction. There are better calibers and better manufacturers but none of them were my father's gun.
I prefer a Remington 700 but I do own a model 70 super shadow sport in a 25 wssm, actually just harvested 2 deer with it
700 was definitely a better rifle
Only one other rifle is as accurate - the swedish Mauser in 6.5×55 but the Winchester model 70 it was the best
The Model 70 is THE BEST. It perfected the Mauser design.
Beutiful wooden stock unlike the plastic crap today!!
How can I tell the year that my model 70 was made?
Search it’s serial number on Winchesters’ website
“Stands head and shoulders above the rest”. Bro forgot about any Mauser action rifle.
Was this ever made in left hand
Some in the classic series made in the 90’s. Keep searching you’ll find one. I have two and both are fabulous guns and both are stamped on the barrel as being made in New Haven Connecticut.
9:07 I question the validity of that story. Mythbusters once tried to re-create it at different distances all the way up to putting the barrell right in front of the lens and EVERY single time, the bullet would go through the first lens and then deflect off the 2nd convex lens and out the side of the scope tube. Not once did any of the bullets make it past the second lens and there's usually at least 5 lenses in a rifle scope. It's a great story but scientifically impossible, especially at the long range Hathcock claims to have done it at.
I have model 70 in 270
My Dad's Model 70 was made about 1949. My Model 70 was made in about 1973. There is no comparison, really. The pre-'64 Winchester is far superior in quality, in handling, in balance, and in pride of ownership. As for my Model 70 made in Japan? I'd rather have a Remington 700 in the same caliber.
It's a Mauser. U.S. edition.
It's a "British Mauser". The Model 70 descends from the 1917 Enfield.
@@joeruiz4010 Nope. It descends from the 1903 Springfield.
Nearly all bolt guns descend from the Mauser action.@@dukeford
@@jerryw6699 Yes, certainly. But the comment was specifically on the M70, which was patterned after the 1903 Springfield.
👍🏻🇺🇸
Model 70 still has a coned breech, IIRC.
Model 70 ranger?
It’s sad that Winchester is not made in the United States anymore. I will not buy a Winchester gun until they come back to the US. And sadly that might never happen.
On all of these videos it talked about how well the old guns were built. Not just Winchester. So why don’t the company’s listen? I will pay more for a better built American made gun then something made overseas.
The new model 70 that is assembled in Portugal are really high quality rifles. Far better than any Remington, Savage etc.
There's nothing wrong with buying good guns from Europe or even asia
Buy a Steyr Pro Hunter. Made in Austria, free float barrel, adjustable trigger and length of pull, detachable mag and Sako extractor. I only spent $600 on mine in .308. It's everything you would want to do to a Rem 700, but it's already been done at the factory. I'm hitting soda cans at 200 yds.
A Des Moines fella considered Winchester an inferior gunmaker. Tom was very wrong. He did not own a Model 70 nor a 101 O/U shotgun. A Model 21 double barrel was legendary. Poor Tom missed the boat entirely. I would be delighted to own one of each. Sorry, not rich enough.
Anyone ever hear of the Weatherby Mark V?……
Best 70 is 300 WSM
At any point in this video did they explain that this is based on the mouizer action
thanks for the laugh
They make a Model 70 in .308 and/or .30-06?.
Both calibers
The post 63 should have gotten a different name.
Today's Model 70s have coned breeches.
I'm not sure if I have a sporterized m1917 or a model 70. It is 303 British calibre. Anybody have an idea?
Shame FN has no love for Southpaws….
Your absolutley right - or should I say Left.
Portugal is cheap labor. An average craftsman there makes less than twenty thousand dollars a year yet the model 70s made there are sold at a premium.
Huge markup.
Give me one Americano
I have nothing against the model 70. My gripe is that these videos and their producers would engage with knowledgeable accurate historians. Funny, immediately following WW1, Winchester found itself in competition with the Remington model 30. No mention at all of the Savage model 1920 which beat both to market. Shameful.
Might have the best history but the Remington 700 was a better rifle KEY WORD WAS
The new fn made 70s are so un accurate. Lucky to shoot 2inch group and that's if ur lucky even w the best hand loads
Unless you buy a rifle made for dangerous game you don't see open sights on a new hunting rifle.
And I think that's stupid.
Some, like the Model 70 Alaskan have open sights. The real reason is simple. Most people don't use open sights, scopes are reliable and adding open sights would raise the price of the rifle which the cheapskate American gun buyer would whine about non-stop.
It has been 30 or 35 yrs since I handled or viewed a Mod 70. You be out of touch with the gun owners of 2022
YOU don't represent all of today's gun owners.
This gun comes with sneakers and a mustache and dad shorts.🥸
When a man can go buy a weatherby vanguard or howa 1500 for half the cost of a model 70, and that rifle then shoots twice as small of groups for half the money. I don't see how the model 70 can compete. Unless they make a more off the shelf accurate platform then they do now. Them fn made 70s are so in accurate . There going bye bye in my opinion
Great all around hunting rifle still today used in Vietnam by snipers but they stole the action from the 1903 a1a2 A3 from the German Mauser
they actually paid for it after the law suit.
@@russellkeeling4387 Winchester didn't. The U.S. government paid the Germans for patent infringement.
Well of you like the post 64 thats fine but you are not very knowledgeable about using a firearm
A hunter so intimidated/incinompitant that he won't hunt with a round in the chamber while stalking prey. Get some professionals/compitant people to discuss America's greatest hunting rifle...!😠
Maybe he's just a clutz. or overly cautious, nothing wrong with that.
Old pre 64 were awesome. The new ones are piles 💩