Winchester Model 70 Gunsmith

[flat8]

Can anyone recommend a gunsmith to look over and perhaps refurbish an old and fairly banged up model 70? Unexpectedly just picked up a 1955 Model 70 and need to see what I’m dealing with.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Hill Country Rifle: https://www.hillcountryrifles.com/
or
Dennis Olson: dgolson@montana.com

 

[mdwest]

@Mark Biggerstaff might be able to help you out...

Fellow AH'er.. and all around good guy...

 

[450 Dakota]

How much of a refurbish are you talking about? I see your location shows Phoenix so you have McMillan in town for a stock, Robar can re-finish it. Axis gun works, Phoenix custom rifles can rebarrel. Just depends on what you are wanting done.

 

[flat8]

How much of a refurbish are you talking about? I see your location shows Phoenix so you have McMillan in town for a stock, Robar can re-finish it. Axis gun works, Phoenix custom rifles can rebarrel. Just depends on what you are wanting done.

I’m not sure yet what I want done - if anything. The Model 70 I am referring to is a .300 H&H that was built in 1955. A caliber I’ve always wanted. Threw out what I thought was a very low ball bid and it turns out I got it ... which concerns me! Could be scrap metal - haven’t handled it or seen it yet. But if it’s not garbage, I want a good Model 70 guy who can restore it to its former glory.

As for my AZ options, I know Robar well, and Phoenix Custom Rifles built my .300 Win Mag from scratch with a McMillan stock. I know they all do great work. But if this .300 is any good, I want it to be restored by someone with a heart for Winchesters. And if it’s junk I want someone who will be straight with me about what I’m dealing with.

 

[450 Dakota]

Ok, so you already know some options. I think you will have to get it in your hands and go from there. If your wanting re-blue and new walnut Dennis Olson as mentioned, Kevin Weaver, Mark Penrod, Canyon Creek are a few.

 

[BobT]

D'arcy Echols is a Model 70 wizard, https://echolsrifles.com/

 

[Butch Lambert]

Jim Kobe and Lee Christenson in Minnesota are m70 gurus. Koke is a great woodstock guy also. Pm for contact.

 

[Shootist43]

Flat8, when you get your hands on that model 70 post some detailed photos of it. Add your assessment of what needs to be done. Are you wanting it to look as new? Do you mind a few character marks as are typically expected on a 70 year old rifle?

 

[Ray B]

It seems you wouldn't need a Model 70 specialist to determine if the rifle was worn-out or not. When you get it, remove the stock, check the metal that was hidden from view. Look at the stock for any damage. Reassemble. Cock the action, put the safety to middle position. Remove the bolt from the rifle. Push in the tab on the bolt shroud so that you can unwind and remove the innerds from the bolt body. Check over the firing pin and spring for unusual wear or rust. Put the bolt body back in to the action (without the firing pin assembly). Get a factory cartridge and chamber it. Notice any resistance when closing the bolt. A simple check for headspace is to then add thin pieces of sheet metal between the cartridge head and bolt face, then reclose, noticing how many thousandths are added before you encounter resistance. Basicly what you are doing is making a GO, NO-GO gauge. One thing you might want to check is the chamber- get a cartridge such as a 300 Weatherby and see if it will chamber. If it does, the H&H has been reamed to something else and is no longer an H&H. If after all this, your rifle appears to be as issued from the factory with no undue wear/damage and the headspace is within tolerance, then you can take it to a specialist for a closer examination and valuation.

 

[Von S.]

Check the barrel for obstruction and fire it.

If the outside looking like it has been in the back of a pick up truck with a bunch of gravel bouncing around for years, forget attempting to put it back to "as me" condition.

If it's rusted and pitted do not shot blast it as it will bend the gun and it will never shoot right ever again.

Wire wheel and acid prime then a two coat of flat grey poly and some break up lines.

Enjoy it and save your money.

 

[flat8]

Will post pics soon. Thanks for all the great advice!

 

[CAustin]

Will post pics soon. Thanks for all the great advice!

Look forward to seeing the pictures!

 

[flat8]

Here’s what I’m looking at:

 

[Shootist43]

I may be blind, but I didn't see anything a that a good rust bluing job wouldn't take care of.

 

[Von S.]

In 300 H&H it is worth more than one in 06, but not so much more as to give it the full Monte.

Gee! Scrob it up with oooo steel will and start rubbing Brownell's cold blue into the whole thing if you need it to be beautiful.

I'd use it the way it is.......with a scope.

 

[Shootist43]

Flat8, how does the bore look? Have you fired the rifle for accuracy? If so, what were the results?

 

[flat8]

Flat8, how does the bore look? Have you fired the rifle for accuracy? If so, what were the results?

Bore looks pretty good to me, but my knowledge to determine that is quite frankly very limited. I haven’t fired it yet - may get out with it in a week or two - so I can’t speak yet about accuracy.

 

[farrokhrt]

Looking at pictures I don’t see anything wrong. If this was my 70 I would leave it as is (original). Clean the bore and enjoy shooting it.

 

[rookhawk]

Bronze wool 0000 and oil. Proper cleaning. Premium bases to cover the bluing loss of rear bridge. ($50)

You also need the correct Lyman folding leaf for $35 and a correct stock for $200.

Presto, 90% condition gun. Don’t do anything else, all $s spent reduce the value.