The Winchester Model 70

Model 70 Model 70, introduced in 1936 is considered the pinnacle of Mauser’s controlled-feed technology. It ruled the bolt-action market for a period of 27 years until an overhaul to cut costs in 1964 tore it off of its top spot.

The pre-’64 Model 70s remain the rifle that hunters prefer to use and collectors. Post-’64 rifles also have their spot, but.

History

The Winchester Model 70 is one of the most iconic bolt-action rifles ever made. The Winchester Model 70 was designed as a hunting weapon, but it quickly became very popular with hunters and competitive shooters. Model 70s are renowned for their reliability, efficiency of use and durability. Its reputation for quality made it the most popular bolt action rifle throughout its history. The advancement in technology made manufacturing more efficient but the market share of the Model 70 decreased to guns which were less expensive and with similar designs. Winchester had to make a few improvements in its Model 70 in 1964 to remain competitive. These changes were largely aimed at making the rifle more accessible to make, yet keeping the same features that brought this Model 70 so desirable.

One of the most important changes was the addition of a push feed system. This mechanism removed the ejector from the bolt face, and replaced it with a short extractor that rode over the extractor groove in the cartridge. The cartridge could be positioned in the magazine and then ejected from the bolt face without needing an extended extractor of the type used by Mauser. This breech design was flat and also included the new design of the bolt handle that was easier to hold when cycling the action.

In an attempt to reduce cost, various other improvements have been made. To reduce labor costs as well, the original nickel steel bolt with receiver was substituted by a forged chrome-molybdenum one. The barrels that were hand-checkered were replaced with checked barrels which were pressed. The bolt lugs too were modified from screw-ins of the previous design and a guide-lug that ran on a track inside the receiver.

The initiatives to cut costs were met with mixed opinions. A lot of people preferred the pre-WWII model 70 and thought the rifles manufactured after 1964 were less reliable. Some improvements were made in the Model 70 in an attempt to counter this notion and include the more secure “anti-bind” function that was installed on the right locking lug. The bolt now felt more smooth and the improvement made a huge difference to the rifle’s reputation for sloppy action.

The style

Model 70 from Winchester. Model 70 is the bolt-action rifle with the evocative nickname “The Rifleman’s Rifle.” Although other centrefire rifles have gained this title however, the status of the Model 70 in the world of sports is unmatched. From forests across North America to big-game areas in Alaska and Africa hunter’s have been able to elevate it to the Model 70 to the top of their list.

The Model 70’s success was in large part from its top-of-the-line adjustable trigger. The Model 70 also gained by its Mauser model of two-lug extractors which gave it complete control over the cartridge as soon as it left the magazine until it was fully out of the chamber. The breech’s flat design with integrated cartridge supports gave a better fit to the barrel’s edge, and smoother operation than competitor’s designs.

After World War II, however, Winchester began to see its status diminishing as modern techniques for manufacturing firearms helped other makers to decrease their costs of production. The company decided to take some steps in order to save on material and labour costs. The famous Model 70 was redesigned in 1964 and many of its original features were removed. In 1964, the cone-shaped breech on this model was changed to a flat one with included a support for cartridges. Hook extractor is replaced with a plunger ejector. The bolt and receiver that were forged was replaced with a milled aluminum alloy version.

Some were not happy by the changes. In particular, many hunters were unhappy in the fact that this new Model 70 no longer featured an adjustable-round push feed. Some were even happy with the flat bolt face, that didn’t require any grinding of the barrel breech, others would prefer to have a ring of steel around the case head to stop erratic ignition.

To address the concerns from some of their customers, Winchester reintroduced the controlled-round push feed action in 1992. In addition, the company began to use synthetic materials from McMillan Bell and Carlson that can be produced at a lower cost than wood and remain in a more constant fashion over time.

Development

Winchester developers set about in reworking the Model 54 to create a slimmer and lighter bolt-action centerfire rifle. Model 70 Model 70 was an instant success and was the most popular model for a long time. It earned it the title “The Rifleman’s Rifle,” and is the top-selling American bolt-action rifle ever made.

In the years following war, however, the Model 70 began to lose its ground due to better production techniques and design. Winchester had Buywinchester.com a difficult time with its Model 70 because it was growing more costly to produce.

Engineers from Winchester started working on improving the trigger of their Model 70, as it was a problem to customers. Override functionality of Model 52 rimfires Model 52 rimfire was adapted to the Model 70. This improved the function, as the sear now is better separated and from its trigger. The new trigger was also capable of being adjusted in terms pull weight and travel.

A further important modification they did on the Model 70 was to convert it from a controlled-round feeding action to a push-feed action. The updated Model 70 is cheaper to make and also requires less machining of the barrel’s the breech Buywinchester.com.

The forend and the stock was also altered to be more compatible with the scope in the past, which was a significant problem. The rifle was reshaped, for instance the overall shape of the bolt handle so that it did not interfere with optic’s ocular chamber in the course of a cycling operation. They also altered the design of the forend to be wider and flatter at the bottom, so that it is able to be positioned across the shooter’s hand support while firing.

Winchester offered new chambering options in the Model 70 over the years along with reworking and improving older models. The late 1960s saw the first major changes to the Model 70. however, it had become clear that consumers were dissatisfied with the design changes and desired to see the original look and the features that were missing. The company listened to its customers and started adding back aspects of the initial Model 70 throughout the next 10 years or so.

The Production

The first few years of its existence, Model 70 swept the sporting world. It was an extremely popular option with hunters throughout all of the United States and beyond, and many rifles held world records for shoot-offs. Although it was of high quality it had a few issues. One example is the deficiency in walnuts of the highest quality and the choice of pressing rather than hand checkering as well as a barrel that had a channel that allowed for excessive accumulations of twigs and grass firing. It still proved to be a success despite these issues. Certain year-to-year production numbers surpassed the 12 years total for Winchester’s older Model 54.

In 1964, in response to a growing competition from sport rifles, such as the Remington Model 700 and rising expenses for labour, Winchester introduced a new model of the Model 70 with a re-designed bolt and a few additional modifications. The cone-shaped breech used in the previous design was substituted with an elongated breech. the original milled nickel steel receiver and bolt layout was replaced with an forged chrome-molybdenum stainless steel model. The long-length extractor as well as the an ejector mounted to the receiver of the previous design were removed as was a smaller claw extractor, as well as the plunger ejector that were located on the face of the bolt was used (similar to those of those of Weatherby Mark V).

Despite the fact that the modifications didn’t cause any major issues with regard to the performance of the gun however, they did not go over well with most gun owners. In addition, it was common for post-1964 Model 70 to bind during the loading process or not be able to release fully.

The result was the creation of the more refined Model 70 Classic action that is now the core of the new Model 70 line. Winchester changed its Model 70 action in 1992. It returned to the fully-length extractor as well as Ejector that was mounted on the receiver from earlier models, in addition to the regulated feeding system.

Model 70s from Winchester are manufactured at the FN/Browning’s plant in Columbia, South Carolina. The Model 70 is made according to ISO 9001 standards. Its iconic control-feed design is still in use. The Model 70 is available in various styles, designed to meet the requirements of target shooters and hunters. These include lightweight barrels as well as sightless models.