I want to buy a left hand Mod 70 in a "standard" cal. and don't want any kind of magnum. It appears these are only available as a "custom" rifle for almost $2800 instead of $778 for the same rifle in a short mag. Do you actually get anything your additional $2000 from the custom shop besides a nicer piece of wood? Am I missing something in their online catalog or is this just their way of "pushing" short mags?

Jon

Jon,

I see the Model 70 Classic Sporter III still on the list in 30-06 and 270, as well as the standard-length mags. These are there "standard" rifles, despite Classic in the title. Featherweights are now short mag only for left-handers, it looks like.

I noticed that WalMart is only special ordering short mags in LH, though.

The custom shop guns have nicer wood, cut-rifled Krieger barrels, and hand-tuned actions.

To summarize the usual flow of threads on the Custom Shop rifles: Many folks on the board indicate that they think the factory customs are overpriced, but the folks who have bought these have indicated that they are smooth, good-looking, and accurate. FWIW.

Steve

Thanks Steve.
You're right, I missed that...the Classic III LH is offered in standard cals. Now I'll have decide whether to get one (probably .270) instead of what I really want...A Featherweight in 7mm/08 or .308.

Jon

Walmart has great prices on the sporter, but I paid my local guy 70 more because he helps me out when I need help..

Jon,

I totally understand where you're coming from! I have been rather unhappy with Winchester since I noticed this ugly trend last model year. I've got to believe that they must be pretty desperate to push their short mags in order to practically push out all of the tried and true numbers. I can't believe that it's fueled by the buying publics "demand" for nothing else but the "fabulous" short mags or else all of the competing manufacturers would be offering the same! Needless to say the only Winchesters I see in my future are used or the 94 in 25-35 or 38-55.

Winchester wants to sell short mags so that they will also get drag-along sales of ammo and brass. It's kind of like if Chevy decided to only sell gas guzzlers because they also own gas stations.

There is NO WAY the USRAC Custom Shop rifles are worth the asking price... I'd find something used on-line or locally (a smarter way to buy anyway) or find an action and build it to your own spec's...

Jon,

I like the Featherweight, too. I've thought about the Custom Featherweights in left hand. Or you might find an older short action LH gun and buy a Featherweight replacement stock from Brownells. The Winchester Custom Shop rifles I've seen have been beautiful, and the folks on the board who have them usually say they're accurate and they are happy with them.

Ropes,

I haven't bought any guns at Walmart yet. I really try to use my local guy, but through 20 guns in 18 months he always charges full retail, he never had anything odd (10mm, QR mounts, etc) I needed in stock, and it was always too much trouble if I needed help with something a little oddball. About the same as Walmart, except 40% higher, and one of the guys who works part time at the gun counter at my Walmart is a competitive shooter who wants to help, is polite and friendly, and is really knowledgeable. Still worries me that I might get a lemon and not be able to return it, though. I want folks to appreciate my business, though.

500grains,

I am pretty sure that Olin/Winchester the ammo company is now completely divorced from Winchester trademarked guns, from USRAC. Except for the name license. Though I've often had a similar thought: That Remington might be taking a loss on rifles to make it up in ammo and components.

Steve

The left handed options have actually gotten better with both USRAC and Remington. A plus no doubt. These short mags might actually lead to better short action offerings from USRAC.

Chuck

quote:

Originally posted by skl1:
Jon,


500grains,

I am pretty sure that Olin/Winchester the ammo company is now completely divorced from Winchester trademarked guns, from USRAC. Except for the name license. Though I've often had a similar thought: That Remington might be taking a loss on rifles to make it up in ammo and components.

Steve

As a stockholder in Olin, I can assure you they have been completely separate from "Winchester/Browning" for a number of years now. Good investment too...they pay dividends every year, and the price has gone from $11 to well over $20 in the 4 years I have held this stock. Most of their sales is actually various metals...such as the various "Brasses" that Hornady makes gas checks, bullet jackets, and cartridge cases from....

Remember the old "luballoy" of Winchester-Western fame? That's what Hornady makes its gas checks from, provided in sheet form by Olin.

Best wishes,

Alberta Canuck

My last custom was a 35 Whelen on a pre-64 action -- nothin' fancy, just a working-grade medium-bore bolt gun made from top-flight parts by a small custom maker I've used for the last ten years. Field-ready cost was about $2,500.

If I were seriously considering another custom or semi-custom, I'd probably go this route again instead of buying a custom shop rifle. There are valid reasons to pick one over the other, but things could go wrong with either approach. Okie John

quote:

Originally posted by Jon:
I want to buy a left hand Mod 70 in a "standard" cal. and don't want any kind of magnum. It appears these are only available as a "custom" rifle for almost $2800 instead of $778 for the same rifle in a short mag. Do you actually get anything your additional $2000 from the custom shop besides a nicer piece of wood? Am I missing something in their online catalog or is this just their way of "pushing" short mags?

Jon

The standard Model 70 Featherweight is also available off the shelf in several left hand calibers.

quote:

The standard Model 70 Featherweight is also available off the shelf in several left hand calibers.

HP Shooter, where?

Chuck

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Nelson:

quote:

The standard Model 70 Featherweight is also available off the shelf in several left hand calibers.

HP Shooter, where?

Chuck

Oooops, my mistake. This year USRAC has limited the left hand M70 Fwt to WSM calibers.

I don't see this as an issue to get all fussed up over. There are literally tens of thousands of mint-condition, second-hand, high-quality factory rifles out there in standard as well as belted-magnum chamberings that you can get for less than the retail price of current factory offerings. And many of these rifles are older specimens, built in the 1980s or earlier, and on average they are of much higher quality than what is currently available from the big manufacturers.

All you have to do is know where to look for them, and have the ability to see past what your local retailer has on the new-gun rack. I ALWAYS look at the used gun rack first at any gun or sporting goods store, and I prowl gunshows as well. Given enough time, the right rifle always has a way of turning up.........

AD

I stopped buying brand new rifles quite some time ago - the used rack is the place to look. Older rifles tend to be of better quality (on average) and are less expensive. If I were going to spend $2000-$2500 I would have a hunting-class custom rifle built on an action that was approproate for the task. For a 338-06, Whelen, or 9.3x62 I'd go with a pre-64 model 70; for a ultralight mountain rifle in 257 Roberts I'd go with a 722 or pre-wart 700 SA.

9.3 x 62

You might go with a pre-war model 70, but Jon said he is looking for a "left hand" rifle, and I don't think they made them in left hand prior to 1964.

I agree with Allen. In addition, I have found that late spring, early summer is the best time to buy used guns. Not much demand and reasonable offers seem to be more readily accepted.

If you want a new 30-06 in left hand, here is one. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=29733743 and here is one in 7mm Remington magnum http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=29552659

As a left handed shooter, I find the usual over the counter rifle makers provide better lip service than true service. The usual choices are 30-06, 270, and whatever new thing they are trying to push. Many of the listed "available" other cartridge options were never made or only produced in limited quantities. Heck, Winchester has only been making left handed actions receintly so count your blessing you can get them at all. The best option for a left handed 70 is to buy an available 270, etc, and take it from there with a good gunsmith. I currently have two NIB left handed 70s in the closet purchased on clearance sales as a gaurd against the future.

For you younger hunters, if there is a left handed gun you really like on the market now, buy several and store them away for future projects. They may not be there next year. Companies have an annoying habit of dropping their left handed products just when you decide you are interested in them.
Paul

LH model 70's, especially used ones in this country, are not easy to come by. By any stretch of the imagination.

HP Shooter, when have they ever offered a LH featherweight in anything but the short mags?

Chuck

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
9.3 x 62

You might go with a pre-war model 70...

No thanks, I'll stick with transition era and early-to-mid 1950s.

Anyone who is even dreaming about a pre 64 70 action on a left handed forum thread is either right handed or ignorant. There are no pre 64 left handed 70's. I repeat, the Winchester company has only offered left handed actions receintly, as in the new "classic" controlled feed actions. A small number of pre 64's were converted to left hand by various gunsmiths. I know two people who own old 70 left hand conversions that worked OK.

In the 70's, you could get a very cheap Savage, a Rem 700(270,30-06 or 7mm maybe) or a Weatherby if you were left handed.

For the ignorant right handed 85-90 % of the population, all pumps, lever actions, autoloaders and most doubles are set up for right handed shooters also.

quote:

Originally posted by ppod:
Anyone who is even dreaming about a pre 64 70 action on a left handed forum thread is either right handed or ignorant. There are no pre 64 left handed 70's. I repeat, the Winchester company has only offered left handed actions

Duh! I don't think there is a pre-64 afficiando anywhere that doesn't know this, though you seem to think you're the blessed seer among the blind regarding this issue.

I suggest it because MANY LH shooter have adapted to RH actions. Some have taken the extra step to a LH stock with a RH inlet, but nevertheless proceed with a RH action. In fact, most LH shooters I know care about stock fit, and actually PREFER a RH bolt (perhaps because of years getting good with a RH bolt). Nor am I right-handed, I can and do shoot as often left-handed as right-handed with shotgun, rifle, pistol, and bow.

Jon origionally started the thread bemoaning the lack of standard cartridge offerings in the LH Win featherweight (there are seven offered in the RH version). An answere that most lefties actually prefer to shoot rifles with right handed bolts because they have had to for so long does not address the heart of his question, even if it were true. I can shoot RH actions and have hunted with a variety of "second choices" as big game rifles because what I wanted was not easily available in a left handed bolt of reasonable price. That does not make the situation ideal. This problem is particularily acute if you are hunting dangerous game.

Most lefties are more or less ambidextrious, but most have a dominant left eye. They would be better served by left handed guns. I wholheartedly understand Jon's frustration.

Paul

Well, I can hardly disagree that lefties get the short end of the stick with any number of products (chain saws for example). He did not say anything about a DG rifle. Eye dominance is irrelevant - I shoot shotgun RH with both eyes open (right eye dominant), and close my right eye when shotgunning LH, same with a bow. No big deal. Perhaps it is just me, as I am wholly indifferent to RH or LH rifles for non-dangerous game, and hunt with some of each.

quote:

Originally posted by Brad:
There is NO WAY the USRAC Custom Shop rifles are worth the asking price... I'd find something used on-line or locally (a smarter way to buy anyway) or find an action and build it to your own spec's...

I agree. If you have to spend $2800 to get a great rifle from ANY company, that is too much.

quote:

Skl
To summarize the usual flow of threads on the Custom Shop rifles: Many folks on the board indicate that they think the factory customs are overpriced, but the folks who have bought these have indicated that they are smooth, good-looking, and accurate. FWIW.

Steve

Which is what an $800 rifle should be:
smooth, good-looking, and accurate.

Ah Flippy! Not fair!,

I also said they come with fancy wood, Krieger match-grade, cut-rifled barrels, and a hand-trued action.

Those things are hard to find at $800. But I agree that smooth, good-looking, and accurate should be more consistently included, even if they have to raise the price from the usual retail of $650 or so to $800.

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Nelson:
HP Shooter, when have they ever offered a LH featherweight in anything but the short mags?

Chuck

Ooops. You're right. Bad memory corrected by a trip through the USRAC website.