I have just inherited (for Christmas)a Pre 64 Win. Model 70 in .30-06. I am planning on using the Nosler 150, 165 and 180 gr. Partition bullets. I would like to hear about your favorite loads to include bullet, powder and primer. Thanks!
------------------ Washington, DC -- where they took a perfectly good swamp and made it into a sewer.
Posts: 487 | Location: Central Texas | Registered: 07 December 2001
Shark Bait - A good load for the 165 grainers (any of them)that Barsness recommended in Handloader a few years ago is 56 - 59 grains of one of the 4350's, and whatever brass and primer your rifle likes. Some version of this load works well in every 30-06 I've tried.
I've seen a few posts here in the past extolling the virtues of 60 grains Rel. 22 with 180 grain bullets. Didn't work for me, but, might for you.
Good luck,
R-WEST
Posts: 1483 | Location: Windber, PA | Registered: 24 January 2001
4350 is excellent for the 180 grain (about 55-56 grains, depending on the gun), but may be a little slow for the 150. I've used 4320 in the low 50's with 150 grainers with good results, but like 4064, it's a bit fast. Have recently switched to VV N-160 for 150 grain bullets. It is definately on the slow side for 150's, but with a heavily compressed load (about 62 grains) it is doing well (3000 fps/24" barrel) with Nosler Ballistic tips.
As for the 165 grain bullet, although it would kill anything a 150 would and most things that a 180 would, it seems neither fish nor fowl, so I haven't found a use for it.
Remember, however, when you ask people for their favorite loads for a given cartridge, you are really talking about their favorite loads for a particular individual rifle. Rifles vary a lot in a given caliber, so be careful and don't expect your gun to exactly match the performance of others.
Posts: 13263 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001
You may want to investigate the collectors value of the 30-06 rifle you hav been given. Pre 64 model 70 Winchester rifles have high dollar collectable value and hunting with the rifle may ruin it's value in short order. You can purchase a Savage 30-06 Pasckage rifle at Wal-Mart for $299.00 on sale. Your Pre 64 Winchester will shoot no better, but is highly prised by collectors. I also own a pre 64 30-06 Winchester and have retired the old rifle to keep it's collectable value in tact. In any case the choice is yours, that will make mine more valuable when yours is gone from heavy use in the field.
Thanks for all of the feedback group! I think I am going to take Reloader 66's advice and see what the rifle is worth from a collectors standpoint. The rifle is perfect on the exterior (not a scratch) and the bore is pristine. My great Uncle only used it in the field about a 1/2 dozen times for deer and has been sitting in a gun cabinet after being lubricated for the last 20 or so years. It also has an early Weaver K4 mounted on it. Can anyone tell me the best way to determine the gun's value?
Posts: 487 | Location: Central Texas | Registered: 07 December 2001
You can look it up in any of several used gun price guides, the "Blue Book" being the most widely used. However, the prices listed are always higher than you can sell for and lower than you can buy for.
The pre-64 Model 70 is a fine classic rifle. But a lot of them were made, and in a common caliber like '06, it will be worth no more than the cost of a new rifle of similar quality, and perhaps less. For example, a new Winchester 70 Classic with a scope and mounts comparable to your gun will cost you, including sales tax, probably 20% more than you can get for your genuine article. If you want to shoot a quality gun, shoot the one you have and be proud of it! Besides, it's bound to have some sentimental value which can't be replaced.
Posts: 13263 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001
