How many calibers was Model 70 made in?

27 January 2002, 17:41

LE270

Just for fun, and for the benefit of Model 70 collectors who want one in every caliber made, how many calibers has the Model 70 Winchester been made in by the Winchester factory? This excludes all after-market modifications or custom jobs. Only authentic Winchester factory chamberings permitted. But it does include any variety of Model 70 -- pre '64, post '64, claw extractor, push feed. Here's my list (I've left off the most recent Winchester short magnums):

22 Hornet
222 Remington
223 Remington
225 Winchester
22-250
220 Swift
243 Winchester
257 Roberts
250-3000 (Not sure about this one -- maybe not?)
25-06
6.5x55
264 Winchester Mag.
270 Winchester
270 Weatherby Magnum
280
7mm08
7x57
284 Winchester (Not sure about this one)
7mm Rem Mag
7mm STW
300 Savage (Not sure about this one)
308 Winchester
30-06
300 H&H
300 Win. Mag.
300 Weatherby Mag
338 Win mag
358 Winchester
35 Remington (I think this is correct -- maybe only a very few of this one)
375 H&H
416 Rem Mag
458 Win Mag

What have I missed?

[This message has been edited by LE270 (edited 01-27-2002).]

27 January 2002, 17:58

<Bill>

I think it was made in 375 JRS for a while.

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27 January 2002, 18:50

JackM

Ken Waters of Pet Loads fame had (still has?) one in .35 Remington. It was a carbine with the orginal 20" barrel. Not sure, but I think you're right about the other ones too.

Bye
Jack

27 January 2002, 19:24

Mike375

LE270,

What about from the Winchester Custom shop. I know your post excluded "custom" but not sure if you meant these.

One that comes to mind on standard M70s not your list is 300 RUM

Mike

27 January 2002, 19:30

LE270

quote:
Originally posted by Mike375:
What about from the Winchester Custom shop. I know your post excluded "custom" but not sure if you meant these.

I mean to exclude any caliber made by the Winchester Custom Shop that wasn't also made as a general production.

Alternatively, if a caliber was made by the Winchester Custom Shop that wasn't also made as a general production, it should be put on a separate list, or marked with a special asterisk to show its different status.

[This message has been edited by LE270 (edited 01-27-2002).]

27 January 2002, 19:42

Mike375

LE270,

A few I can think of from the Custom Shop. I suppose a consideration would be if some calibers were only on a catologue but never actually made.

338 Ultra*

375 Ultra*

358 STA*

416 Rigby*

458 Lott*

470 Capstick*

338/06*

35 Whelen*

Not sure if it qualifies but I thin a (or a couple) of 416 Taylors* were made.

28 January 2002, 06:25

Bill Leeper

I once saw an original winchester M70 in 8x57 Mauser. Other interesting Winchesters I've seen include the first 270 to leave the factory (a model 54 sent to Ashley Haines)and a 24 inch light contoured 375H&H(one of 6 made) Another neat one was a 22 Hornet that had proof marks and every thing but was obviously unfired since the chamber appeared to have not been finish reamed! Regards, Bill.

28 January 2002, 06:33

Customstox

Bill,
This is a little off subject and is actually about a pre64 Model 70 in 30/06. I saw an article about it and it was owned by a guy in Oklahoma and was given to him by his uncle who purchased it from a gunshop brand new. They had always suspected that the number 1 on one side of the receiver didn't mean anything in particular until a gunsmith pointed out what they had. Winchester has it now and said it had somehow slipped out with the first shipment. I believe the article was in Shooting times about 10 years ago.

Chic

28 January 2002, 06:49

LE270

quote:
Originally posted by Customstox:
This is a little off subject and is actually about a pre64 Model 70 in 30/06. I saw an article about it and it was owned by a guy in Oklahoma and was given to him by his uncle who purchased it from a gunshop brand new. They had always suspected that the number 1 on one side of the receiver didn't mean anything in particular until a gunsmith pointed out what they had. Winchester has it now and said it had somehow slipped out with the first shipment. I believe the article was in Shooting times about 10 years ago.

Yes, I remember reading about that one too. Except I think it was originally sold at a store in Durango Colorado. If I remember correctly, a Peckar or Unertl scope had been installed on it. I think the article I read said that the owner first showed it to a pawn shop owner, who offered him something ridiculously low -- maybe $1000 -- for it.

28 January 2002, 07:21

<manhasset>

7.65mm and 9mm.

28 January 2002, 08:32

<Harry>

Didn't they chamber the 470 Capstick?
I was at some show when Peter and some of my pals had to go get there photo taken for some press release.

28 January 2002, 08:46

D Humbarger

You forgot the 30-30 & the 7.65 Argentine.

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NRA Life member

28 January 2002, 10:09

Buell98

There was only one Pre-64 M 70 made in 45/70- completely factory gun too.

They also made only one 300HH with something like a 35In bull barrel. I believe it was a National Match model....They made many other 300HH's but this one was weird...

28 January 2002, 12:38

LE270

Manhasset and Bear Claw:

I think you're right about the 7.65. But Manhasset, which 9mm do you mean? I'm not aware of that one. Do you mean 9x57?

Bear Claw, did Winchester really make the bolt action Model 70 in 30-30? That's one I haven't heard of.

28 January 2002, 13:27

<manhasset>

LE270
I have to stand corrected, I read a story on W70 collecting which stated the caliber designations were a carry over from the old model 54. I can't find any info. to verify that the 9mm was chambered in the M70.
There were custom shop chamberings of 416 Taylor and 300 Petersen. The parent cases I'm not familar with.
The 300 Savage was the rarest with 362 made and the 30/06 was made in 208,218 units.
Bob.

28 January 2002, 14:03

<k wood>

I saw a new in the box, never fired pre '64 in 30-06 at a gun show once. It was $1000. Boy am I kicking myself for passing it up.

28 January 2002, 17:18

LE270

Anybody here know whether the Model 70 was ever made in .303 for the Canadian or British market?

28 January 2002, 17:58

rembo

I don't think the Model 70 was made in 303 British but the Model 95 was,for the Canadian market.It is listed as being chambered in 284 in the Blue Book,but only in the DM Model from a few years ago.Interestingly,it was never chambered in 6mm Rem.

29 January 2002, 08:54

CGB

In the pre '64 days the Winchester custom shop would do just about anything. There is a collector that shows up at some of the shows around here that has a bunch of 70's in about every flavor imaginable. As I recall (it has been a while) he had a 30-30, .303, 8x57, and I believe (may be wrong on this one) a .405! This fellow had documentation on all, and the prices were pretty impressive.
C.G.B.

30 January 2002, 18:10

JohnTheGreek

Manhasser and LE270,

The model 70 was chambered in 9mm Luger and I know where one is for sale if you got the cash. Dave Riffle Gun Sales in Fort Meyers Florida has one (see below). These were manufactured from leftover model 54 parts. Bust out your checkbook, this is apparantly the holy grail to model 70 collectors.

Item 26. Winchester Model 70, 9MM, Cal. Pre-War Carbine. Mfr in 1941, 98% blue and 98% varnish. Mint bore. Low Comb stock to original buttplate.
$12,895

Enjoy,

JohnTheGreek

31 January 2002, 02:36

<manhasset>

Thanks John,
I'm glad I was sittin down when I saw his prices for the M.70's.
Bob.

31 January 2002, 18:36

JohnTheGreek

manhasset,

Yup, his prices are up there but he has the advantage of having these things in stock. Where else you gonna find a .300 H&H bull gun in showroom new condition or a .458 or really most anything he has? As I recall, he actually had two or maybe even three of the 9mm's about a year ago. Somebody is buying these things!

Regards,

JohnTheGreek

01 February 2002, 06:51

dan belisle

Would that be 9mm Luger or 9mm Mauser? - Dan

01 February 2002, 12:07

JohnTheGreek

dan,

You might check the blue book of gun values as I'm certain they discuss this. I am almost certain, however, that it was the 9mm Luger.

JohnTheGreek

01 February 2002, 17:26

GrandView

The Rifleman's Rifle by Roger C. Rule, lists the following as non-standard chamberings in the Model 70.

.22 Wilson Arrow (verified)
.225 Win.
.240 APEX
.240 Page (verified)
6.5x55 Swedish Mauser (verified)
.280 Ross
.284 Win. (verified)
.30-30 Win (verified)
7.65x53 mm (verified)
.303 British (verified)
7.92x57 mm (verified)
.348 Win.
9x57 mm (verified)
.405 Win. (verified)
.416 Rigby

I presume the 9mm in question is a 9x57 rather than a 9mm Luger.

01 February 2002, 17:54

LE270

quote:
Originally posted by GrandView:
The Rifleman's Rifle by Roger C. Rule, lists the following as non-standard chamberings ...

GrandView:

What does "non-standard chambering" mean?

Does it mean that there were production runs in those chamberings? Or that they were listed as possible chamberings by the Custom Shop? Or that the Custom Shop actually made one or more in each of those calibers? Or something else?

01 February 2002, 19:48

GrandView

quote:
Originally posted by LE270:

Does it mean that there were production runs in those chamberings? Or that they were listed as possible chamberings by the Custom Shop? Or that the Custom Shop actually made one or more in each of those calibers? Or something else?

The text from this chapter doesn't mention the Custom Shop, but they are referred to as "special" manufactured, and not standard production runs. Many of the "special" non-standard chamberings were actually manufactured in "batches" from Winchester published catalog suggestions. Apparently the rarest of the Model 70's is the one-off that can be traced from request to production as an individual entity.

Many of the special chamberings are carry-overs from the Model 54, and in fact many used Model 54 barrels.

The above listed non-standard chamberings were nearly all made in Standard Rifle or Target Rifle style.