BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

moderator · Joined: 27 Jan 2002 Posts: 6554

June 2006 Poll:

Are the days of the Winchester Model 70, the Rifleman's Rifle, over?

WesternHunter · Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 685 Location: Western USA

Well there are currently no new ones being made as of March this year. I think that there will be plenty of good ones on the "used gun" or "pre-owned" market for years to come. Olin corporation will likely let some other US gunmaker use the name brand after 2007, but I'll bet those future Model 70's will likely be high priced custom guns, much like the new custom Model 21 is today. But yes I think it's days as a common factory "production" rifle are over. Although many folk will say that no good quality production factory M70 has existed since late 1963 :o

Serious Hunter · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 943 Location: Idaho

Speaking of the Win 70. My main gun for decades is my grandad's Win 70 Feather in 30-06. Through the years I shot mostly (and only) the 165 grain bullet thru it, and mostly for deer. In 2004 I filmed an outfitted hunt of my dad's. He was using a similar weight 30-06 but was shooting the 180 grain. The 180 grain had fantastic effect on his Rocky Mountain Bighorn, and a 5x5 Rocky Elk. I snuck out camp with it one day and got into a situation where I could only afford an instantly lethal shot on a mule deer, and so when the time came - his 180 gr slug did it perfectly. Since then I have switched over to the 180 grain and have enjoyed nice lethality in it with my win 70.

Question: I was checking zero this afternoon. With 180 grain slugs I was 1-1/2 inches high at 50, right where I want to be. I decided to crank thru some 55 gr accelerators and 125 grain `low recoil' rounds. They all came in at ZERO at 50. SO, THE QUESTION: AM I GETTING MUZZLE RISE WITH THE HEAVIER BULLET?

WesternHunter · Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 685 Location: Western USA

Well as you stated the 125 grains were "low recoil" so they are likely a low velocity for a 125 grain bullet. Generally a full power 125 grain bullet will travel at very high velocity in a 30-06. The full power 180 grain may have around the same velocity as your low recoil 125 grains do. The heavier the bullet the more velocity you will loose, due to longer bullet and less case space for powder and the bullet will drop quicker. Your 180 grainers are usually loaded to full velocity for that weight bullet. It's been my experience that no matter what is printed in books to the contrary, the higher the velocity then the higher your given bullet will hit at 100yrds. But this should be something we move to ammo discussion thread.

Serious Hunter · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 943 Location: Idaho

I'll go back and look at published muzzle velocities. The 125-gr bullet is actually from a box of full-power rounds, so it will be interesting. (My assumption was that they later renamed the lighter round without changing power.) I'll perhaps continue the thread in the ammo forum as appropriate. I started it in the Win 70 topic as the Featherweight is a light (weighing) gun.

ADK Jim · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 94 Location: upstate New York

Hi , dumb question but where do you find the place to vote in the poll?

Serious Hunter · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 943 Location: Idaho

Home page, over on the right side.

ADK Jim · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 94 Location: upstate New York

Thanks , I think that is the first time I have been to the home page !!

Mark Magnum · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Nova Scotia

moderator wrote: June 2006 Poll:

Are the days of the Winchester Model 70, the Rifleman's Rifle, over?

I sure hope there not over, Ill do my best to keep them days alive with my 300 win mag model 70 xtr sporter!

spd522 · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Fair Grove, MO

Serious Hunter wrote:

Question: I was checking zero this afternoon. With 180 grain slugs I was 1-1/2 inches high at 50, right where I want to be. I decided to crank thru some 55 gr accelerators and 125 grain `low recoil' rounds. They all came in at ZERO at 50. SO, THE QUESTION: AM I GETTING MUZZLE RISE WITH THE HEAVIER BULLET?

The reason your lighter/faster bullets hit lower on the target is because they shoot flatter. They are more in line with the actual bore instead of the arc of the slower/heavier bullets.

They also exit the barrel quicker leaving less time for recoil and movement to change the point of impact.

Serious Hunter · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 943 Location: Idaho

Thanks gang ... the wealth of knowledge of the people on BGH is fantastic.

HuntnFish · Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:30 pm Post subject:

The days are hopefully not over. I have a M70 classic sporter in 7mm STW and love it. I did notice that if you can find new in box model 70 classic sporter for undr $1000 you should buy it. Unbelieveable how much these rifles have shot up in price over past months. I bought mine 5 years ago for $500.