The Winchester Model 70

It was first introduced in 1936. Model 70 is regarded as the ultimate refinement of Mauser’s patented controlled-feed mechanism. Bolt-action was the dominant feature for a long time, until the redesign buywinchester.com in 1964 in order to save money knocked the Model 70 from its perch.

Both hunters and collectors appreciate those pre-’64 Model 70s. Post-’64 firearms have their own place, however.

The History

Winchester Model 70, one of the most famous bolt-action guns. The model was initially designed to be a rifle designed for hunting which quickly grew in popular among competition and hunting shooters. The Model 70 is renowned for their precision, ease of use and durability. The Model 70’s quality reputation has helped keep it as the best-selling bolt action rifle for a number of decades. But as technology in manufacturing progressed and the Model 70 became more efficient, it was evident that the Model 70 lost market share to lower-cost rifles that had similar designs. The year 1964 was when Winchester was able to introduce some changes to make their Model 70 competitive. The changes were made primarily to improve the Model 70 more affordable while still retaining the features which had been so popular in the first place.

It was notable that the cartridge came with the inclusion of the addition of a “push feed” system. This method removed the ejector from the face of the bolt and substituted it with a shorter extractor which rode across the groove of extraction on the cartridge. It could be placed in the magazine, afterwards ejected using the bolt without the need for a Mauser sort of extractor. This breech design was flat and also included a brand new handle for bolts that is easier to grip while cycling the action.

A variety of other modifications were made in an effort to lower costs. To reduce labor costs in the first place, the original nickel-steel screw along with the design of receivers was replaced with a chrome-molybdenum forged bolt. The hand-checkered barrels also were replaced with checkered barrels that were press-pressed. The bolt lugs were also modified from screw-ins of the previous design and a guide-lug that operated on a track in the receiver.

The budget-slashing initiatives were met with mixed reactions. There were many who preferred models before World War II 70 and felt that the guns that were made post 1964 were inferior. In order to alter the perception of this issue, a few improvements were made on models prior to the war. Model 70 to try to neutralize the perception. One example is a reliable “antibind” feature was incorporated into the right locking lug. The bolt had a smoother buywinchester.com action as a result of this upgrade, which makes a huge difference to the firearm’s reputation as a sloppy operation.

The Design

Winchester’s Model 70 bolt-action is the rifle that has earned the nickname “The Rifleman’s rifle.” Although a variety of centerfire rifles have the same title, the status of a sporting rifle is unparalleled. From woodlands across North America to big-game areas in Alaska and Africa The hunters have elevated this Model 70 to the top of their list.

The Model 70’s popularity stemmed largely from the rifle’s superior adjustable trigger. However, it also received the advantage of its influenced by Mauser bolt with two lugs that gave full control of the cartridge as soon as it was removed from its magazine, until the time it was completely ejected out of the chamber. Its breech was flat, and its integrated support for cartridges, offered an easier installation with the barrel’s edge as well as a more smoother operation that those of competitors’ designs.

Winchester’s position began to erode after World War II as other manufacturer of guns reduced the cost of production using new manufacturing methods. In order to reduce material and labor expenses it took several steps. The famous Model 70 was redesigned in 1964. Some elements of its design were dropped. The cone-shaped breech of the Model 70 changed into a flat design with the support for a cartridge built into. The hook extractor was replaced by a plunger ejector. The bolt and receiver that were forged were replaced by milled aluminum alloy version.

Not everyone liked the new design. Some hunters, like, were upset because the Model 70 did not feature the ability to control round feeds. Many hunters were satisfied with the flat-surfaced bolt that didn’t require to be made again by the barrel Breech. Some preferred the stainless steel ring on the top of the cartridge, which would prevent an erratic firing.

Winchester introduced the controlled-round feeding action to address concerns from certain customers in the year 1992. Additionally, the company started using synthetic stocks of McMillan Bell and Carlson that are less expensive to make than wood and remain stable over time.

Development

Designers at Winchester set out to rework their Model 54 into a lighter and sleeker centrefire bolt action. The Model 70 was an instant hit and dominated the market for a long time. It was even dubbed “The Rifleman’s Rifle” which is the most popular American bolt-action rifle that has ever been made.

Following World War II, though in the years following World War II, though, Model 70 started to fall back in the race of modern design and manufacturing techniques. It became increasingly expensive to produce it, and Winchester discovered itself struggling on Model 70 Model 70 as it struggled to keep up with the latest rifles in the marketplace.

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. Override functionality of the Model 52 rimfire was adapted to the Model 70. This improved its function since it is now more isolated and from its trigger. This trigger was capable of being adjusted in terms the weight of pull and its travel.

Another significant change they made was the conversion of its controlled-round-feeding action into a push feed. The new Model 70 is cheaper to fabricate and has less work on the barrel breech.

Small changes were also added to the stock and forend, to make the gun easier to use with scopes, which was a significant issue for most hunters back then. The first was to flatten the profile of the bolt handle in order to help it stay clear of the lens housing of the scope while cycling the action. The forend was designed to be flatter and wider in the lower part, in order that it could be used to support the shooting hand while firing.

Winchester introduced new variations of chambering for Model 70, and added chambering variations to Model 70 over the years while also improving and enhancing older models. It was in the 1960s that it became obvious to the Winchester team that their customers were unhappy with the new appearance, and were looking for to see more unique design and features. They listened to their clients and began to add back parts of the original Model 70 throughout the next several years.

It’s A Production

The first few years of its existence, Model 70 swept the sports world. It was a popular choice for hunters in all of the United States and beyond, and several rifles held world records for shoot-offs. While the performance of the gun was good, it wasn’t free of flaws. There are several examples of this, including a absence of walnut that was select grade as well as pressed checkering rather than hand-checkering, and a barrel channel that allowed excessive accumulation of twigs and grass during firing. It was successful despite these shortcomings. Certain year-to-year production figures were higher than the 12 years of total production for the older Model 54.

Winchester came out with a new model of their Model 70 in 1964. This was to counter the increase in sporting firearms like that of the Remington Model 700, and the increasing cost of labor. In 1964, the old cone-breech model of the Model 70 was changed to a flat-breech model. The older nickel-steel receiver/bolt device also became a part of a a new forged chrome molybdenum-steel style. Full-length extractors and a receiver mounted ejector of the previous design were removed in favor of a shorter extraction claw and ejector plunger located in the bolt face were used (similar with those in the Weatherby Mark V).

Although the modifications didn’t cause many major problems to the operation of the rifle however, they did not go over well with many gun owners. Also, it was not unusual for the Model 70 to malfunction after 1964. Model 70 to bind during firing or failing to exit fully.

The result was the creation of the more streamlined Model 70 Classic action that is the heart of the contemporary Model 70 line. In 1992, Winchester had a second time revised their Model 70 action, returning to the full-length extractor as well as a receiver-mounted ejector as well as the control feed function of the original version.

The production of the Winchester Model 70 continues at the FN/Browning factory facility in Columbia, South Carolina. Model 70 is manufactured in accordance with ISO 9001 standards. Its traditional control-feed system remains the same. The Model 70 is available in a variety of styles to meet the requirements of hunter and target shooters. These include lightweight barrels and models that are sightless.