The Accurate Reloading Forums
Pre-War M-70

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9411043/m/570107343

03 October 2005, 03:47
tomk
Pre-War M-70
Gents:

Have been cleaning up a M-70 for a friend SN#10162 in a 375 H&H. The gun is not for sale as it was a gift to him from a patient...I was encouraging him to take better care of it as he knows no M-70 history. The old boy that gave it to him in appreciation of his care, had hunted Africa and Alaska quite a bit with it.

It has a Pachmayer tip off scope side mount which covered the SN and a peep behind it. Bluing is thin with surface pitting on the exposed barrel and floorplate. Stock shows lots of use and has a Pachmayer pad.

He asked what it was worth and I said I really didn't know. Any input is appreciated.
04 October 2005, 13:27
vigillinus
does it have 24" straight taper barrel or 25" with curved concave taper ahead of the breech?
04 October 2005, 17:37
tomk
Don't know--will check tonight...noticed it had no crown at the muzzle
04 October 2005, 19:48
Prewar70
I have the same rifle and very close to your friend's serial #. When you say no crown at the muzzle, I take that to mean a flat style target crown and if that is the case then your friend has the 24" straight taper barrel. This was a very heavy barrel and later Winchester switched to the 25" contoured style. My rifle is all original with no modifications or extra holes and it is a pleasure to shoot. Collectors will pay a premium for this rifle because they are rare to find in an unmolested condition and the 24" heavy barrel was not a big seller due to the weight. Your friend's rifle has a lot of issues, condition, extra holes in the receiver for the scope mount, a no-factory recoil pad, etc. So for a collector there is no value outside of parts. But for a hunter or a shooter, there is value. So whatever the market will bear and a good starting point might be 1500, could be less or more. For 1500 though a person could probably find a nice post war Winchester 375 with no modifications, so it could be even less than that. It's a nice rifle and one that is not often seen, but all the mods hurt the value a lot.
05 October 2005, 06:51
tomk
Indeed it is. 24" straight taper.

Thanks for the info, I certainly appreciate it. She does have some weight to the barrel.. barreled action sans bottom metal and bolt goes 5# 6 oz.