Winchester Model 70 Classic Stainless .300 WSM - Worth Investing In?

[Winchester44]

Guessing around 2003 or so. Not sure cuz i hydrodipped mine shortly after getting it. I felt like being different

Man, that looks great!

 

[Winchester44]

That’s a good rifle, put up a want add on a few forums and see if you can pick up a better stock.
I like timber on a M70.
If it shoots, get it ceracoated.

Well, those are both really good ideas. Thank you

 

[Winchester44]

I think you already have this at the front of your mind as the problem based off your comments, which is fine. The barrel might well be the problem. A few things to consider:

1) thats a cheap scope on a stiff kicking rifle you need to eliminate that as a potential source of the problem somehow. Borrow a known definitely good scope from someone, or something like that. I have burned enough money in ammo chasing ghosts to pay for a good scope before.

2) if you can get it under 2 MOA, thats plenty good enough to make solid hits on game out to pretty good range. Dont get hung up chasing more accuracy than you actually need.

3) those stocks are indeed pretty janky and if it has the hot glue bed job, id fix that first just outta principal. Good rife to teach yourself with. Its cheap and relatively easy to do.

1. Yeah I think I’m gonna mount up my Trijicon Credo on there if this next trip to the range doesn’t improve things with the 180 grain
2. Completely agree!
3. Janky! That’s the perfect word to describe it. I’ve never bedded a stock. However, after watching a few YouTube videos, it doesn’t look like rocket science. If I’m gonna go to that end, I’ll probably grab a new stock. I need to do some research on the exact stock I know it’s a short action, but I need to read up on the different types of bottom metal and barrel profiles to find out which one matches this rifle.

 

[Winchester44]

I too love the model 70 smooth action and 3-position safety. Growing up my dad had one in 338 win mag that just fel so much more refined than my ruger m77. I ended up finding a donor rifle to customize because I wanted a gun like dads but with some modern tweaks. It may be worth it for the emotional connection. I shot my friend's $6-7k custom 7prc on a defiance action the other week and felt pretty good about my Winchester: smoother feeding, bolt lift, and general operation than that rifle for whatever reason.

Cant speak to the rest but: I agree the factory stock sucks and for me it was worth the money to upgrade. I went for a new barrel on mine too as I wanted a different chambering, so I never shot the donor rifle to know how well it performed.

If you want more of a vertical grip option instead of a sporter you should also check out stockys vg (would require new bottom metal) or Pendleton composite stocks.

Thread 'Winchester Model 70 - My First Customized Rifle' https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/winchester-model-70-my-first-customized-rifle.428649/

Very cool. I’m kind of waffling on how much emotional attachment I have. It was one of my first true rifles. I seem to have more sentimentality around my shotguns. I can always blame myself and not the gun when I miss!

I think I’m going to probably draw the line at replacing the barrel. Apparently that’s a little expensive on a model 70.

Actually kinda liked those stainless M77. Ruger really leaned into making a very utilitarian hard use rifle. I can respect that.

I’ll be sure to check out your post! It’s a great looking rifle!

 

[Choupique]

If you put that trijicon on it, bed it or put it in a good stock, and it still shoots poo poo, time for a barrel.

 

[elsb0048]

Very cool. I’m kind of waffling on how much emotional attachment I have. It was one of my first true rifles. I seem to have more sentimentality around my shotguns. I can always blame myself and not the gun when I miss!

I think I’m going to probably draw the line at replacing the barrel. Apparently that’s a little expensive on a model 70.

Actually kinda liked those stainless M77. Ruger really leaned into making a very utilitarian hard use rifle. I can respect that.

I’ll be sure to check out your post! It’s a great looking rifle!

Barrel replacement on a model 70 will cost $50-150 more for the chambering labor than any other rifle. Reason being there's an extra operation to do the extractor cut. You may also have to look a little longer to find a gunsmith that will do it but they do exist. Whether that's a deal breaker or not for you I can't say. I think I ended up ~$600-700 range for the barrel+chambering cost for stainless steel fluted barrel