The Winchester Model 70

Introduced in 1936, the Model 70 is regarded as the highest-quality refinement of Mauser’s patented controlled-feed mechanism. Bolt-action was the dominant feature for a period of 27 years until the redesign in 1964 to cut costs knocked the Model 70 off its throne.

Pre-’64 Model 70s remain the rifle of choice for many hunters and collectors. After ’64 guns have their own place, however.

The History

The Winchester Model 70 is one of the most iconic bolt-action rifles made. The Model 70 from Winchester was designed as a hunting firearm, but soon became very popular with hunters and competitive shooters. The Model 70 is known for its precision, simplicity of use, as well as its long lasting. The reputation of its high-quality made it be the highest-selling bolt-action firearm for many years. When technology for manufacturing improved and the model’s design improved, but it was also a sign that the market share of the Model 70 was lost to rifles which were less expensive and with similar features. Winchester introduced a variety of modifications with respect to its Model 70 in 1964 to maintain its competitiveness. The changes were mostly aimed to make the gun more cost-effective to build, while maintaining the features that had made it the Model 70 so desirable.

The most significant change was the addition of a push feed method. The ejector had to be removed from the bolt and replaced with smaller extractors which moved across the extraction groove. The cartridge could be put within the magazine and it was then released by the bolt without the need to use an Mauser kind of extraction. This breech design was flat and also included the new design of the bolt handle that made it easier to hold in the event of cycling.

Other changes were made in an effort to save money. For labor savings as well, the original nickel steel bolt with receiver was replaced with a chrome-molybdenum forged bolt. The hand-checkered barrels were changed to checkered barrels that are pressed. The bolt lugs too were changed from the old-style screw-in and a guide-lug that operated on a track in the receiver.

Cost-saving measures have been met with mixed reviews. People generally preferred the pre-war Model 70s and many people thought that later-model rifles weren’t the same quality than their pre-war counterparts. There were some improvements made in the Model 70 in an attempt to alter this view and include an improved “anti-bind” option that was placed on the left locking bolt. The bolt now felt more smooth and the improvement made a significant difference in gun’s reputation of being sloppy in its action.

The design

Model 70 from Winchester. Model 70 is the bolt-action firearm that has earned the name “The Rifleman’s Rifle.” While many centerfire guns have been able to earn this title however, the status of the Model 70 in the world of sports is unrivaled. Hunters have placed Model 70 Model 70 at the top of their list for forests throughout North America, as well large game zones such as Alaska as well as Africa.

The Model 70’s popularity stemmed in large part from its top-of-the-line adjustable trigger. It also benefited of its Mauser designed two-lug extractor which allowed it to exert total control over the rifle immediately after it had left the magazine until it completely exited the chamber. And its flat breech, featuring a built-in support for cartridges provided a more comfortable installation with the barrel’s edge as well as a more smoother operation than competitors’ designs.

Following World War II, however, Winchester began to see its status diminishing as modern processes in the manufacture of firearms made it possible for other companies to lower the cost of production. It was decided by the company to take some steps in order to reduce material and labour expenses. The iconic Model 70 was redesigned in 1964. A few characteristics that were originally included in the model had been eliminated. The cone-shaped breech on this model was replaced into a flat design with the support for a cartridge built into. Hook extractor has been replaced with a plunger ejector. Also, the nickel-molybdenum forged steel bolt and receiver was substituted with one that was milled from cast aluminum alloy for the sake of cost reduction.

However, not all were pleased with the new design. Many hunting enthusiasts were disappointed to learn by the fact that the updated Model 70 no longer featured an adjustable-round push feed. And although some were happy by the bolt’s flat face, which did not require any kind of machining on the barrel’s https://buywinchester.com breech, some preferred a ring of steel surrounding the head of the bolt to prevent erratic ignition.

To alleviate the worries of some customers, Winchester reintroduced the controlled-round pushing action in the year 1992. It also started using synthetic stocks of McMillan Bell and Carlson that are cheaper to produce than wood and remain in a more constant fashion over time.

Development

Winchester’s designers set to work to rework their Model 54 into a lighter and slimmer bolt-action centerfire rifle. The Model 70 was an instant hit and dominated the market for many decades. It was even dubbed “The Rifleman’s Rifle,” which is the top-selling American bolt-action firearm ever produced.

In the years following war However, after the war, the Model 70 began to lose its ground due to better manufacturing and design. Winchester struggled with its Model 70 because it was becoming more expensive to produce.

The engineers at Winchester began to improve their triggers on Model 70. The engineers at Winchester began by improving the trigger on Model 70, as it was a problem for customers. They took their override trigger from their Model 52, a rimfire Model 52 and fitted it onto the Model 70, improving its effectiveness by better distancing the sear from the trigger. This trigger was adjustable in terms of pull weight and travel.

One of the major changes they introduced in Model 70 was a significant change they made to Model 70 was to convert the controlled-round feed action into a push-feed one. The updated Model 70 is cheaper to make and also requires less machining of the barrel’s Breech.

The forend and the stock were modified as well to make them more compatible with the scope as it was at the time was a major aspect. They rounded the contour of the handle on the bolt to make it easier for it to stay out of the housing for the ocular lens of the scope during the cycle of the trigger. Also, the forend was developed to be broader and flatter at the bottom in order that it could sit on the supporting gunner’s hand when firing.

Winchester introduced new variations of chambering in Model 70, and added chambering variations to Model 70 over the years along with reworking and improving the existing models. By the late 1960s, however, it was obvious that customers were unhappy by some of the improvements and desired to see more of the original model and features being reintroduced. They listened to their customers and started adding back parts of the original Model 70 throughout the next few years.

The Production

At its beginning, Model 70 swept the sport world. It became a favorite choice among hunters all over the United States and beyond, and several rifles achieved world records in competition shooting. While the performance of the weapon was superior, it was also not without its shortcomings. A few examples include a lack of select-grade walnut and pressed checkering in lieu of hand-checkering, and a barrel channel that permitted a lot of twigs and grass during firing. Despite these problems The rifle was sold very well as well, with certain year-to-year manufacturing figures surpassing the twelve-year average that was the case with Winchester’s previous Model 54.

Winchester came https://buywinchester.com out with a new model of the Model 70 in 1964. It was designed to fight the rising number of sports rifles, such as Remington Model 700. Remington Model 700, and the cost of labour that was rising. The cone breech of the original design was replaced with one with a flat breech. the older milled nickel-steel receiver/bolt layout was replaced with the forged chrome-molybdenum alloy unit. The extractor with a full length and the mount-on-the-receiver ejector from the original design were eliminated in favor of a shorter extraction claw and ejector plunger found in the bolt’s face was used (similar with those in the Weatherby Mark V).

While these changes did not cause serious issues to the operation of the firearm but they were not popular with the majority of gun owners. Also, it was common for after 1964 Model 70 to bind during loading, or to not eject fully.

It was the result that became known as The result was the Model 70 Classic, a more refined and precise action, that forms the base of today’s Model 70. Winchester updated its Model 70 action in 1992. It returned to the full-length extractor and Ejector that was mounted on the receiver from the previous model, and also the controllable feeding feature.

Model 70 Winchesters are made at the FN/Browning’s factory in Columbia, South Carolina. Model 70’s are built in accordance with ISO 9001 quality standards, and the traditional control-feed mechanism staying the same. The Model 70 is available in a variety of styles to meet the requirements of hunter and target shooters. This includes barrels with lightweight construction and models that are sightless.