I have the opportunity to purchase a Winchester Model 70 Pre-64 chambered in .300 H&H. The gun is in fine shape
except for a non original ventilated recoil pad, 5 holes drilled into the left side of the receiver for what I presume was a
side scope mount, and a wee bit of metal taken off of the bolt handle presumably to clear a low mounted scope.

The bore is perfect and the rifle seems to have seen little use. The seller wants $800 firm. Is this a fair price for pre-64 in this condition?
I'm not looking for a collector piece but an "Real" rifle that is made of steel and that I can hunt mule deer and elk with.

Thanks all.

P.S. This rifle has a stippled front sight ramp in lieu of the grooved front ramp that I have seen on other Pre-64's. Is it original?

I think a little high, based on the fact that it is not original. I'd say more like $600; however, that caliber is getting harder to find. I've recently purchased two pre-64's in .30-06 caliber that are almost "as new"; one for $900 (100% condition) & one for $800 (99%). Both are TOTALLY original, but NOT .300 H&H's.

The prices of Pre-64 70s have been a source of confusion since the evil year of 1964. I have owned 26 of them and have ten now plus two minty H&H actions. I have owned three in .300 H&H and three in .375H&H as well as 5 in .338, you could say that I like them; I even had a genuine Al Biesen .270 FWT. in the O'Connor style.

It varies with region and they tend to be cheaper in Canada as there is not the cult following that exists in the USA, but, I would not pay more than $500.00 USD for one in the condition you describe; butchery of these rifles rates right up there with child molestation and environmental pollution in my book!

You can find a very nice one for about a grand on either side of the border and these rifles will shoot Nosler Pts in hot loads into groups you have to see to believe, 1/2" at 100 yds. is easily done with W.W. brass, Mag. primer, 200gr. N.P. and 65 grs. IMR-4350 or H-4350, some rifles will take 66 grs.

I would pass on this as I have found that I lose interest in damaged guns and then sell them at a loss. The nice ones are out there, check "Gun List". A good metalsmith can repair the holes and the bolt handle, but, good work costs as it should. I can reccomend Jim Wisner or Ed Lapour in Washington state, hope this helps.

Don't buy that rifle. Side mount holes are bad enough but a bolt handle ground away is a sin. If it were $450 then maybe. Just let it go.

I bought one that's orginal except for the pad and I wanted that. My pad is solid "Winchester" also. I paid $700 and got a boxes of ammo and dies also.

They are sort of cool rifles but more of a want than a need. It may take a while so stay calm and keep looking.

$600 is max for that gun..It's been through the chopper and has no collector or resale value left...I have seen the same gun in NRA very good condition for $700 as recently as several months ago...and a number of nice ones in the $900 to $1000 market...I'd rather spend the extra $200 and have a gun that would go up in value every year I owned it...

frontlander, that rifle in origional shape is worth about $750-$1000, depending on condition. As a general rule, subtract $100 per extra hole.