I was out cruising gunshops this morning and ran across one of the current production Model 70's for sale.

G312xxx serial number. I called Winchester and their shop says late 1999.

I know there were some teething pains, but by the serial number range I assume they were as good as the OM.

It's a Classic, no iron sights, in 300 Win Mag.
Metal is 99%, just a very few minor handling marks on the stock.

The rifle has Weaver bases and rings, and a B&L 3200 series 4-12X AO scope.

They want $799.95, which seems reasonable.

They will hold it a week for me, payday issues you understand...

Any opinions from owners?

thanks,

Rich

I've got 5, 6 and 7 digit M70s' (42K (270win), 137K (338 Win) and 3000K (30 06) respectively. The 137K is the roughest,with a few sharp spots and mill marks but all three shoot sub MOA.

Talked me into it...

It isn't a current production Model 70.

Chuck,

I wonder. Can you explain the various iterations ?

thanks,

Rich

Rich I like this model (the "Classic" I think it was called) as it retained the simple trigger.

Only thing I did was change the extractor out for a Williams one a ssome of the original factory ones were cast and, reportedly, prone to break.
Check that the receiver rings are unifrom and aligned, some went out pretty rough, I think mainly towards the production end of life before resurrected by FN.

Cheers, Chris

Rich,
I'm not a M70 expert by any means and someone will probably be along to correct me but I believe the Classic was the resurrection of the CRF made in New Haven. The newer rifles are made by FN in SC and say BACO (Browning Arms Co.) on the barrel. The latest twist is that they will now be made in USA but assembled in Portugal which has some M70 aficionados up in arms (pardon the pun).

there's another good reason to build your own. The ones I have seen with those markings are in the $1500+ range.

thanks,

Rich

Some things are just painful to watch!

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
there's another good reason to build your own. The ones I have seen with those markings are in the $1500+ range.

thanks,

Rich

The M70 Extreme Weather 264 WinMag I bought last year was nowhere near $1500. In fact, I paid less than $1100 out the door of my local gun shop. It is the best rifle I have ever purchased; smooth feeding, accurate, and high quality. I think it was well worth every penny.

I have bought several Classic Model 70s in the past few years, all left-handed, and of course CRF. They have ranged from $750 to $1510, depending on features, caliber, condition (one even Custom Shop NIB),etc. -- so I think you got a deal.

For me, the LHs are getting rarer, so I pick them up when I can and if the price seems fair. I do not believe that they will ever go down in price if I take care of them.

I now have .30-06, .300 WSM, .338 Win Mag and .375 H&H, and no doubt will get a few more. (In addition to other guns.) I hope I live long enough to hunt with them all, when I get back to the US.

New Haven M70s run 500-1200 IME depending on caliber and configuration (wood vs synthetic, blue vs stainless, etc)

IME, the blued ones are smoother than the stainless, except the SS/wood stocked rifles are some of their nicest.

Like anything mass produced, some will be lemons, some stellar, and most, somewhere between.