I wasn't sure which forum to post this in, but thought I'd give this one a try. My cousin has a Winchester model 70 and we were going to order Leupold dual dovetail bases for it tonight but he isn't sure if it's pre-64 or not. Does anybody know how to tell the difference? On the barrel it says model 70 XTR, and in a book I have it shows the XTR being made from 1978 on, but for some reason my cousin seems to think it's a pre-64. If the serial number will help, it is G1387xxx. If anybody can help with this, I'd really appreciate it!

The prefix "G" in the serial number was only used on post-64 guns, and is still in use. It is certainly a post-64.

XTR is a push feed, post 64.

the difference between pre and post 64 model 70?

the SAME difference between SUCK and DOESN'T SUCK

With the exception of the "classic" action (return to pre-64 kinda) every post 64 is a push feed.

Easist way to tell...

take the bolt out of the gun.
turn it a full 360 degree turn along the long axis (like you are working the bolt)

if there's not a strip of springy metal (extractor) running just about the full length of the bolt, it's post 64.

XTR model is post 64.

what happened was the bean counters determined that their competition was remington, and the remington was cheaper to make. the pre64 required quite a bit more time and fitting, which costs more to produce. They came up with several "improvements" and like most improvements from bean counters, it SUCKED. The Controled round feeding, a la mauser, was replaced with a shoving action, copied from the the remington, to a degree...

the gas handling may or maynot have been improved then, it certainly is on the classic,

net effect, the best mass produced american made action downgraded themselves to the next CHEAPEST action, without regard to quaility... and for 30 years, the winchester name just meant another pushfeed bolt action rifle

jeffe

The last pre-64 Model 70 receiver ever made in late 1963 was in the 581000 serial number range.

With the introduction of the 1964 version, Winchester began that series with serial number 700000. So there is a gap of some 120,000 unassigned serial numbers which bridge the gap between pre and post-1964 Model 70 production.

Beginning in 1968, in accordance with certain provisions of the Gun Control Act of 1968, Winchester assigned the prefix "G" to all Model 70 serial numbers, from that point forward. Even today, some thirty-six years later, all new Model 70s are assigned a serial number with the "G" prefix.

When the Model 70 Classic, controlled-feed action was introduced in around 1990, Winchester began with a whole new serial number range, beginning with "1". These numbers will duplicate original pre-64 serial numbers, however all of these Model 70 Classic serial numbers are prefixed with the letter "G". For example, my .338 Win. Mag. Model 70 Classic carries a serial number in the G325XXX serial number range.

AD

Wow..thanks so much. You guys really know your stuff. I was aware the pre-64's are somehow better than the post-64 guns, but I wasn't quite sure why. I think I will just tell my cousin it's post-64, and leave out the part about how it really sucks!

There are some good things about the post 64 action and they are favored by target shooters in my area.

I was here when the pre/post 64 debacle happened and I did not buy another Winchester product for decades. Winchester cheapened their other guns as well at that time.

I don't happen to feel that they suck, they just don't have some of the better features of the pre 64 and "new" pre 64 models.

I've owned pre-64s and post 64s and classics as well.....all of them fine guns IMO.....However there's a lot of folks that demand the CRF feature on their DG rifles.....The best feature is the three position safety which has always been on the M-70.

I've never had any trouble with push feed guns either but then I haven't taken one after dangerous game. When you have a feeding failure hunting deer the consequences seem trivialized compared to a failure to feed while shooting at a wounded cape buffalo.