The Winchester Model 70

Introduced in 1936, the Model 70 is regarded as the highest-quality refinement of Mauser’s patented controlled-feed mechanism. The bolt-action dominated the market over the course of 27 years until the redesign in 1964 to cut costs knocked the Model 70 from its perch.

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

The History

It is the Winchester Model 70 is one of the most famous bolt-action rifles that have ever been made. The Model 70 from Winchester was originally designed to be a hunting weapon, but it quickly became very popular with hunters and competitive shooters. The Model 70 is renowned because of their accuracy, simple in use, and long-lasting. The reputation it has earned for its quality made to keep it as the most popular bolt-action firearm for many years. When technology for manufacturing improved but the market share of the Model 70 fell to other rifles which cost less and featured similar styles. Winchester implemented a series of improvements on its Model 70 in 1964 to ensure its continued competitiveness. The modifications were made in order to make this Model 70 more affordable while keeping the features that had been so popular in the first place.

Particularly Buywinchester.com notable was the addition of a “push feed” system. This system removed the ejector from the face of the bolt and replaced it with short extractor that rode over the extractor groove in the cartridge. It allowed the cartridge to be supported within the magazine and then ejected from the face of the bolt without having to use the long extractor like Mauser. Also, the flat breech introduced the new design of the bolt handle that made it easier to hold while cycling the action.

Other changes were made in an effort to reduce costs. To reduce labor costs as well, the original nickel steel bolt along with the design of receivers was replaced with a chrome-molybdenum forged bolt. The barrels that were hand-checkered were changed to checkered barrels that were press-pressed. Bolt lugs went from screw-in style to guide lugs that run on tracks inside the receiver.

The initiatives to cut costs were met by a mixed reaction. Most people preferred the models prior to WWI, while a lot of people believed those made after 1964 were not as good quality as their predecessors. To change the perception of this issue, a few improvements were made to Model 70. Model 70 to try to combat the impression. As an example, an efficient “antibind” feature was incorporated into the right locking lug. The bolt now felt more smooth, and this improvement made huge difference to the weapon’s reputation for being slow to move.

The Design

Winchester’s Model 70 is the bolt-action rifle with the evocative nickname “The Rifleman’s rifle.” Though many centerfire rifles are coveted with that title The Model 70’s place in the sporting world cannot be Buywinchester.com matched. From the forests of North America to big-game areas in Alaska and Africa The hunters have elevated the Model 70 to the top of their guns.

Model 70 was a huge achievement due to its exceptional trigger mechanism. But it also had the help of its Mauser-inspired two lug extractor bolt design that gave full control over the rifle right from the time it left in the chamber until it was fully removed from the chamber. A breech flat with built-in cartridge supports gave a superior fit to the barrel’s rim and smoother operation than competitor’s designs.

Following World War II, however, Winchester began to see its place diminish as innovative techniques for manufacturing firearms helped other companies to lower their production costs. In order to reduce material costs and labour it took several steps. In 1964the well-known Model 70 underwent a redesign with a variety of its functions were removed. The cone-shaped breech replaced it with one that was smooth and included a cartridge support. The old hook extractor was ditched in favour of a plunger ejector. Also, the nickel-molybdenum forged steel receiver and bolt was replaced with one that was milled from cast aluminum alloy for price savings.

Not everyone liked the new model’s design. In particular, many hunting enthusiasts were disappointed to learn that the new Model 70 no longer featured an adjustable-round push feed. Although some people were content with the flat bolt face, which did not require any kind of machining on the barrel’s breech, some would prefer to have a ring of steel around the case head to avoid erratic ignition.

To address the concerns from some of their customers, Winchester reintroduced the controlled-round push feed mechanism in 1992. The company also began using synthetic stock of McMillan Bell and Carlson that are less expensive to make than wood, and are stable over time.

Development

Winchester design team began work in reworking their Model 54 to create a modern and sleeker bolt-action rifle. Model 70 Model 70 was an instant bestseller and took over the market throughout the years. The Model 70 even gained the name “The Rifleman’s Rifle,” and it’s one of the top-selling American bolt-action rifle to ever be made.

Following World War II it was a while before in the years following World War II, though, Model 70 started to fall in comparison to modern manufacturing and design strategies. It became increasingly expensive to build it, and Winchester discovered itself in a bind when it came to Model 70 Model 70 as it struggled to keep up with the latest rifles on the market.

The engineers at Winchester began to improve the trigger on their Model 70, as it had been an issue for their customers. They took their override trigger of their model 52 rimfire Model 52 and fitted it on the Model 70, improving its function by better isolating the sear and trigger assembly. The trigger is customizable in terms of pull weight and travel.

The other important improvement they did was to convert of their controlled-round-feeding system into a push feed. The upgraded Model 70 is cheaper to fabricate and has less work of the barrel’s and breech.

The handle and the forend were also modified to be better suited to the use of scopes in the past, which was an important aspect. They flattened, for example the shape of the bolt handle so that it would not interfere with the optic’s ocular chamber while cycling action. The forend was also designed to be more compact and wider at the bottom in order to enable it to be positioned over the support hands of shooters while firing.

Winchester continued to introduce different variations and chambering adjustments for the Model 70 throughout the decades in addition to enhance and refine existing models. Through the 1960s, however, it had become evident that people were not happy with the modifications and desired to see more of the original design and features being reintroduced. The firm listened to customers, and started to incorporate elements of the original Model 70 throughout the next several years.

The Production

At its beginning, Model 70 swept the sporting world. It became a favorite choice with hunters throughout all of the United States and beyond, and several rifles set world records in shoot-offs. Even with the top-quality components firearm, it was not without flaws. There were a few issues, including the lack for walnut that was selected grade as well as the use of pressed instead of hand-checkering, and the barrel’s channel that allowed for excessive accumulations of twigs and grass firing. It still proved to be impressive despite the issues. Some individual year production numbers exceeded the 12 years of total production for the older Model 54.

In 1964, due to a growing competition from sport rifles such as Remington Model 700, in response to the increasing competition from sporting rifles like Remington Model 700 and rising cost of labor, Winchester introduced a new version of the Model 70 with a re-designed bolt as well as other improvements. In 1964, the old cone-breech design used in the Model 70 changed to a flat-breech design. The earlier nickel-steel bolt and receiver unit also gave way for one new, forged-chrome molybdenum style. The full-length extractor and mount-on-the-receiver ejector from the original design were eliminated as was a smaller claw extractor and plunger ejector situated on the bolt’s face were employed (similar to those of those of Weatherby Mark V).

Even though these changes didn’t pose significant issues to the performance of the firearm but they were not popular with numerous gun owners. It was also not unusual for the model 70 after the year 1964 to 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 current Model 70 line. Winchester updated the Model 70 action in 1992. It was returned to the fully-length extractor as well as an ejector mounted to the receiver of earlier models, in addition to the regulated feeding feature.

Winchester Model 70s continue manufactured at the FN/Browning’s plant located in Columbia, South Carolina. Model 70 is produced following ISO 9001 standards. Its traditional control-feed system remains the same. The Model 70 is available in various styles, designed in order to satisfy the needs for hunters and shooters who target. The models include light barrels as well as sightless models.