Upgrade or sell my current do all rifle.

[Jayhawk5]

What would you do in this situation? My current do-all rifle is a Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather SS in .270 Win. It has the first-generation stock, which I really don’t like. I’ve priced a McMillan replacement at around $900–$1,000, and I’m sure it would completely change the rifle. But at that point I’d have roughly $2,000 invested in it. It is a good shooter, and it’s easy to reload accurate ammo for.

Another option would be to sell the rifle to the gun/archery shop for $900–$1,000 in store credit and start over with something else. (I bought the rifle for $950 about 10 years ago, and they go for around $1,700 now.) I already have a bow on order from this shop, so the credit would cover most of that. Then I’d start fresh with a new rifle. I’ve been looking pretty hard at both the Proof Elevation and the Seekins Havak Element M3.

I’d also really like a rifle with a threaded barrel and a suppressor to protect my hearing. Despite reloading ammo, I’d probably still choose a common, do-all caliber, and my budget is fairly flexible. I hunt deer and hope to branch out to elk in the near future. My only other rifles are a .223 and a .22, but I may add more in the future.

Thanks in advance

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Tough call. I have an extreme weather 30-06 and it’s a really nice rifle but it is heavy. If you want to throw a silencer on it it’s going to get heavier. Not that every rifle has to be a light mountain gun but every time I hand my extreme weather over to somebody, that’s literally the first thing that comes out of their mouth….its heavy.

For that reason, mine remains unthreaded and almost unused for the past several years, it shoots and functions great but like you, I’m not a huge fan of the stock and I want to shoot suppressed.

 

[RWT]

Sell it and pick up something new that will be enjoyable to practice with. Since you bow hunt I assume you practice and don’t just shoot a dozen a week before season starts and call it good. Consider doing the same with a rifle. The 270 is no fun for me to shoot more than 8-10 rounds through and then I move on. For $1500 you can obtain a new rifle in a light recoiling caliber such as 6.5CM and a decent scope with rings set up. For another $1000 add the suppressor. 6.5CM practice ammo can be had for $1.00 per round.

I like the Seekins and it’s on my list to add in the coming year.

 

[RockAndSage]

There's a couple of ways to look at the situation, or approach it. On one hand, we know there's nothing wrong with your rifle, you have ammo and time on it, and a new stock would make it more "yours". On the other hand, most guys asking this kind of question are looking for an excuse to buy a new gun for no other reason than they'd like a new gun, they'd enjoy it, and the process of getting it would make them happy.

Figure out what would be more enjoyable and most satisfying to you.

 

[False_Cast]

Sell it and get a stainless/synthetic tikka T3x in 6.5 creed. Better bullets and less recoil. Add a vertical grip module. Factory synthetic stock is fine or upgrade to a rokstock. Cut thread and add a can. It’ll change your outlook on shooting a rifle permanently.

 

[waspocrew]

I'd sell it and go with a different rifle to fit your needs better. Agree with a 6.5 Creed. Lots of affordable ammunition out there and easy to load for also.

 

[JBradley500]

I am about as big of a Tikka/small cartridge supporter as you'll find, but I would never sell a stainless M70 in 270. That's about as quintessentially badass of a North American hunting rifle that you can get. I'd put a stock on it and live happily.

 

[TaperPin]

What would you do in this situation? My current do-all rifle is a Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather SS in .270 Win. It has the first-generation stock, which I really don’t like. I’ve priced a McMillan replacement at around $900–$1,000, and I’m sure it would completely change the rifle. But at that point I’d have roughly $2,000 invested in it. It is a good shooter, and it’s easy to reload accurate ammo for.

Another option would be to sell the rifle to the gun/archery shop for $900–$1,000 in store credit and start over with something else. (I bought the rifle for $950 about 10 years ago, and they go for around $1,700 now.) I already have a bow on order from this shop, so the credit would cover most of that. Then I’d start fresh with a new rifle. I’ve been looking pretty hard at both the Proof Elevation and the Seekins Havak Element M3.

I’d also really like a rifle with a threaded barrel and a suppressor to protect my hearing. Despite reloading ammo, I’d probably still choose a common, do-all caliber, and my budget is fairly flexible. I hunt deer and hope to branch out to elk in the near future. My only other rifles are a .223 and a .22, but I may add more in the future.

Thanks in advance

Not all rifles shoot well. If you like how it shoots I’d keep it, or you might spend as much on a dud. The cost of a custom stock isn’t wasted. A McMillan on a model 70 was one of my all time favorite rifles. Not the lightest, but steady to shoot and it felt solid.