I have a Featherweight, blue barrel with open sights.
Serial # G 25591xx, Caliber 30-06 Sprg.

I`m not able to find a Featherweight with open sights on the Winchester home site.
Can it be a Classic of some sort?


The rifle is at the gunsmith right now getting a Lothar Walter barrel in 338-06 A-Square, will be my dedicated moose rifle.

Just curious about what specific model I`ve got.

Could be a custom shop job.
Don't I recall you had a 35 Whelen SS Ruger as your moosey gun? I liked that one. I've put together a similar Ruger in 9.3x62 but it has a laminated stock and comes in all up at 8.75 lbs with a scope. Nice to carry and very pleasant to shoot even with a peep sight at 8lbs!

You remember correctly Bluefish
The M77 in 35 Whelen was my go-to gun for many years.
It went in a deal when I get hold of the Featherweight and a Kimber 8400 Classic.

Sort of miss the 35 Whelen, as it hit like the Hammer of Thor with 250 grs Woodleigh.
And great accuracy as well.

I have had a soft spot for the 338-06 even though I haven't owned one yet as it seems like a lovely bush rifle. A modern 318 WR if you like.

Last summer at our annual moose lottery we set a world record for largest and longest moose call - over a thousand people moose calling for better than 30 seconds and the Guinness Book of World Records just certified it. What a hoot.

How do you plan to set up the 338? Heavies? Lighter monos? Something in between?

Sounds like a heck of a noise

The 338-06 will be loaded with 225 grs Woodleigh PP and Vihtavouri N-150 powder.
The Woodleigh has become my favourite bullet for moose.

Average shooting distance on our moose lease is between 30 and 200 meters, so the 225 grs Woody work just fine.

I`m sort of "re-arranging" the Kimber and the M70, as the Kimber has had the 338-06 barrel for the last two seasons, and I have shot four moose with it and the Woodleigh bullet.

But I will put the 30-06 barrel back on the Kimber and the 338-06 on the M70.

It`s just the "feeling" of the M70...it must be my moose rifle in 338-06

The Kimber will be used as my stand hunting rifle from high seats over hay fields for red- and roe deer and pigs in low light, as it has a light trigger and exellent accuracy with the 165 grs Swift Scirroco in 30-06.

Nice. I am in the process of securing another ss ruger and will make a twin in 7x57 for deer.

First rifle I purchased in 1986 was a XTR (push feed) Featherweight in .308 with open sights. I've seen one open sight Featherweight since that was chambered in 7x57 (also a XTR). I've never seen a "classic" action Featherweight with open sights. I don't think they were ever formally catalogued. Just runs occasionally made with open sights.

All pre 64 FWs had open sights and some post 64s do; seems to be no pattern to it.
FWIW, I have a 338-06 reamer should anyone want a Rigby barrel in that caliber.

What DPCD said +1.
My pre 64 FW in .308 with folding barrel sight as bought from original owner some 40+ years ago:

BTW, Tom I'm sending you the new Ruger for the same treatment as the 9.3. Dpcd did a great job of taking down that factory laminate into a svelte little number that is so nice in the hand.

I`ve been looking around on internet, and according to the serial number it seems to be made in 2003 / 04. As the rifle is at the smith at the moment I can not check what is written om the barrel, but I`m pretty sure it is a Featherweight Classic.

So far the only Featherweight with open sights I have found are those made pre 64 like the one crshelton posted a picture of.

Mine could very well be fitted with sights by a local smith here in Norway...guess I will never know.

i ve seen in europe 300 wsm mod 70 with open sights that we did not have on the NA market.

Winchester post-64 featherweight push feed guns with open sights are quite common. The model 70 “classic” CRF post-64s with open sights were made for the European market, with a few uncatalogued guns staying stateside. I recall CDNN Sports selling some of these years ago.

I can't recall ever running across "any" post 64 Featherweights with iron sights. I often thought about having some added but was always told the barrels were too thin for the front sight screws, etc. Anyhow, I had an 80s PF 30-06 FWT rebarreled to the 9.3x62 that handled very nice. I am just spoiled by the 35 Whelen Ackley Improved and ended up giving the 9.3 to a young Minister friend. I too like the Woodleighs!

I also have two post 64 featherweights with open sights, in .308 and 30.06. Both are factory original. As mentioned, there were quite a few post 64's made with open sights - not the majority, for sure, but I have run across several.
Bill

I have a friend who has one in 6.5x55 but none of mine have iron sights.

The post 64 push feed mod. 70 with the schnable forend wood didn't come with iron sights, they are all slick barrels as far as I know..I one in a 7x57 that Im quite fond off..I may put a set of iron sights on it one of these days..I recently bought it on AR, and its a dandy rifle.

Thank you guys, lots of interesting info.
Looks like I got a pretty standard control feed M70 Featherweight Classic in 30-06.
Even though not so common?

When the new barrel in 338-06 A-Square is fitted, it will be a light and handy moose rifle for the long days and treks afield.

I will keep the original barrel with the open sights, as it is merely a screw on job to alter the caliber on this rifle back to the original.
And it my be more attractive if I should sell it in the original configuration.

Good thinking, and enjoy.

BTW, a gentleman sent me a picture of his post 64 with the schnable and it had iron sights, still learning at 84...All pre 64 mod. 70 fwt and std. wts came with iron sight right??

I have the same rifle as the OP.

The post -64 Winchester featherweight with open sights were intended for the European market. (I read on the internet somewhere.)

Virtually all of them in my country have factory open sights, only the recent manufacture classics that do not.

I was surprised to find they were so rare in the States.

I intend to mount a NECG barrel band iron sight on my push feed mod. 70 fwt. and get a talley QD peep for the rear..It has Talley QD rings and bases and a 2x7x28 scope..They are a neat rifle, wish they were control fed, but what the hell, its just no big deal anymore to me one way or the other. It must only go bang when I pull the trigger these days, Ive left all the rest behind, other than Im still an accuracy nut, I have no use for inaccurate guns.