I've got a 1953 vintage M70 Featherweight in .308. You're right -- awesome rifle. It sure spoiled me when I started shopping for other rifles. It should be as strong as anything built now.

As far as collectability goes, I'm probably not the guy to ask. But there's a lot of pre-64s out there and I suspect buyers fall into two categories. The first bunch would be guys who buy for the action and workmanship. Floating the barrel may actually increase its value to them. The second is guys who buy for collector's value. Those folks are probably going to be pickier; if they're picky about configuration they're probably going to be picky about stock flaws, bore condition, and bluing consistency too. If those factors would preclude your rifle from appealing to collectors, that may affect the floating decision.

The only thing I could suggest that if your're using reloads sart at the lower/mid range and build them up from there.
Personaly, I bet it just as good as the day it came out of the box.
Bauch & Lomb made quality products,, Never know, the scope might be worth more than the rifle.
I did a"google search" on your rifle,,many articles for you to read.

I'm one of the guy's that doesn't but rifles for collector value. I'd also rather re-bed it myself. I heve one collectable, but I take it out and shoot it. Also refinished the stock once. Even so, I eas still offered a lot of money for it. Got it from a guy that was like a dad to me and it's not for sale. It was his present to himself when he got home from WWII.

Yeah, I don't want to reblue or restock, just things that would make it shoot better. Would free-floating the barrel require re-bedding the entire action? Any other suggestions (trigger is really nice already)?

sweet

hoser wrote:

Yeah, I don't want to reblue or restock, just things that would make it shoot better. Would free-floating the barrel require re-bedding the entire action? Any other suggestions (trigger is really nice already)?

Bedding the action of a rifle simply means removing the stock and filling up any rough or low spots with bedding(usually fiberglass) to make the action fit perfectly
As little as half a teaspoon or less is often all that is needed.
Adding a little more raises the action enough to float the barrel(no contact with stock. The entire bedding area of the stock is about three inches.
Has nothing to do with your trigger.
I'll try to find some good pics and post link

Here's a pic of what abedded action resembles ( this may be slightly over emplasized.

Does this make a pretty big difference for the gun? Does a free floating barrel tend to keep zero better in extreme cold or hear and wet weather?

Of course, if it shoots great, I'll probably just leave it (if it ain't broke...)!

YES

Even well seasoned wood(your rifle stock) can "swell,shift, move" under various conditions. The forward stock is there for yor covenience and should not be in contact with the barrel.

There are many bedding products out there at various prices. two ounces of marine fiberglass and an almost empty tube of hardener will do the trick
That's what I used for bedding my Remington 270, twenty eight years ago and it hasn't shrunk or cracked yet.
Since then I have used many bedding products on various rifles(not mine) and never found any bad stuff.
Bedding a rifle is still not going to make a poor firearm great, nor a great firearm poor. it will simply cure one potential/existing problem...