The Winchester Model 70

In 1936, the Model 70 is regarded as the highest-quality refinement of Mauser’s controlled-feed action design. It reigned supreme in the market for bolt action for 27 years before an overhaul to cut costs in 1964 tore it off of the top-of-the-line pedestal.

Both hunters and collectors enjoy the pre-’64 Model 70s. After ’64 guns have their own place, however.

The History

Winchester Model 70, one of the most well-known bolt-action firearms. The Model 70 from Winchester was created as a hunting rifle, but was quickly extremely popular with hunter and competition https://buywinchester.com/ shooters. It is the Model 70 is known for its accuracy, ease to use, and long-lasting. Its reputation for high-end quality has helped it to remain the best-selling bolt-action gun for years. When technology for manufacturing improved However, the Model 70’s market share fell to other rifles that were cheaper and had similar designs. Winchester had to make a few improvements in the Model 70 in 1964 to maintain its competitiveness. The main reason for the changes was to make the Model 70 more affordable while still retaining the features which had created it such a https://buywinchester.com/ popular.

The biggest change was the addition the push feed system. The ejector rod was removed from the bolt, and replaced by a small extractor which rode across the extractor groove. It allowed the cartridge to be positioned in the magazine and was ejected out of the face of the bolt without having to use an extractor that was long like a Mauser. The flat breech was introduced to provide a bolt handle that is simpler to grasp when you cycle the movement.

Several other changes were also created to lower costs. To save labor costs and to reduce costs, the nickel-steel bolt along with the design of receivers was changed by a forged chrome-molybdenum one. The hand-checkered barrels were replaced with checkered barrels that are pressed. The bolt lugs were changed from the old-style screw-in to a guide lug which was a part of a track within the receiver.

The budget-slashing initiatives were met with mixed opinions. People generally preferred the models prior to WWI, as well as many believed that the post-1964 rifles were not in the same level of quality like their predecessors. In order to alter the perception of this issue, a few improvements were made on this Model 70 to try to counteract the perception. For example, an effective “antibind” option was added to right locking lug. The bolt now felt more smooth as a result of this upgrade, which makes a huge difference to the rifle’s reputation for sloppy action.

The Design

Winchester’s Model 70 is the bolt-action rifle that is known as “The Rifleman’s rifle.” Although many centerfire rifles are coveted with this title, the Model 70’s status within the sports world cannot be matched. From forests across North America to big-game areas in Alaska and Africa, hunters have relegated it to the Model 70 to the top of their arsenals.

Model 70 was a huge hit due to its superior trigger system. The Model 70 also gained by its Mauser style two-lug extractor which allowed it to exert complete control over the cartridge when it was removed from the magazine and until it was completely out of the chamber. The flat breech with built-in cartridge supports offered a more secure fit to the barrel rim, and it was more comfortable to use than the designs of competitors.

Following World War II, however, Winchester began to see its standing diminish as the development of processes in the manufacture of firearms made it possible for other companies to lower the cost of production. In order to reduce material and labor cost and increase efficiency, the firm took few steps. In 1964the well-known Model 70 underwent a redesign and many of its features were eliminated. The cone-shaped breech replaced it with one that was flat and came with a built-in cart support. Meanwhile, the previous hook extractor was eliminated in favor of an ejector plunger. In addition, the forged nickel-molybdenum bolt and receiver were replaced with one that was milled from aluminum cast for price savings.

But not everyone was pleased by the changes. Many hunters were unhappy in the fact that this new Model 70 no longer featured an adjustable-round push feed. Some hunters were pleased by the smooth surface of the bolt, as it didn’t need to be re-machined in the barrel in the breech. Many preferred the metal ring that was placed around the head of the cartridge’s casing, that would stop an unsteady firing.

To alleviate the worries of some clients, Winchester reintroduced the controlled-round push feed in the year 1992. Also, they introduced synthetic stocks like those made by McMillan, Bell and Carlson, that were cheaper to manufacture than wood and also remained more consistent over time.

The Development

Winchester designers went to work, reworking their Model 54 to create a sleeker and lighter bolt-action centerfire rifle. The Model 70 was an instant success and was the most popular model for decades. It was even dubbed “The Rifleman’s Sifle” and it is arguably one of the top-selling American bolt-action rifle to ever be made.

In the years following World War II, though it was apparent that the Model 70 started to fall back in the race of modern design and manufacturing methods. Winchester had a difficult time with its Model 70 because it was increasing in cost to make.

The initial change Winchester engineers introduced on Model 70 Model 70 was to improve its trigger. This has been for a long time a nagging point with customers. The feature that allows override on the Model 52 rimfire was adapted to the Model 70. This improved performance, because the sear has been isolated and from its trigger. They also made their new trigger adjustable to draw weight and the overtravel.

The other important improvement they made was the conversion of the controlled round-feeding mechanism into the push feed. The updated Model 70 is cheaper to make and also requires less machining on the barrel’s front the breech.

Other small changes were implemented to the barrel and forend, to make the gun easier to use with scopes, which was a major issue for many hunters at the time. In particular, they lowered the contour of the bolt handle to make it easier for it to stay out of the scope’s lens housing when cycling the trigger. The forend was also modified in order to be more spacious and smoother on the bottom so it could be laid across the support hand of the shooter while firing.

Winchester included new chambering variants to its Model 70 over the years while also improving and enhancing older models. In the latter half of 1960, but it became clear that consumers were dissatisfied with some of the changes and desired more of the original design and the features that were missing. The company took note of its customers, and started to incorporate elements of the original Model 70 throughout the next decade or so.

The Production

At its beginning, Model 70 swept the sport world. It was a popular choice with hunters throughout all of the United States and beyond, and several rifles broke world records in competition shooting. Although the build quality of the gun was good, it wasn’t free of flaws. A few examples include a absence of walnut that was select grade, pressed checkering instead of hand-checkering, as well as a barrel channel that allowed excessive accumulation of twigs and grass during firing. Despite these problems, the rifle sold well and some year-to-year production figures surpassing the twelve-year average of Winchester’s earlier Model 54.

In 1964, as a response to a growing competition from sport rifles such as that of Remington Model 700 and rising expenses for labour, Winchester introduced a new version of its Model 70 with a re-designed bolt, as well as a couple of other improvements. The cone breech of the old design was replaced by an elongated breech. the original milled nickel steel receiver and bolt model was replaced by an forged chrome-molybdenum stainless steel model. Instead of the long extractor, the receiver-mounted ejector had to be removed. The smaller plunger as well as a claw extractor were added to the bolt face (similar to the Weatherby Mark V).

Although these changes did not cause any major issues with regard to the operation of the rifle however, they did not go over well with most gun owners. In addition, it was common for Model 70 to malfunction after 1964. Model 70 to bind during firing or failing to exit completely.

The result was the creation of the sleeker Model 70 Classic action that forms the foundation of the contemporary Model 70 line. Winchester changed its Model 70 action in 1992. It was returned to the full-length extractor along with mountable ejector on the receiver that were used in the previous model, along with the regulated feeding system.

Model 70 Winchesters are being produced at FN/Browning’s complex in Columbia, South Carolina. Model 70’s are produced according conforming to ISO 9001 quality standards, with the classic control-feed action remains unchanged. The Model 70 comes in a variety of styles so that it can meet the demands for hunters and shooters who target. The models include light barrels and models that are sightless.