I’m often asked, when at a meeting of the local Beer ‘N Treason chapter while we watch a luckless hippie turning gently on a spit: “Kim, what’s it all about with this ‘Pre-64 Winchester rifle’ thing? What’s so special about 1964, and why are these rifles so popular?”
At the risk of boring my Readers (who doubtless know all about this stuff), let me explain.
After 1964, the Winchester Repeating Arms Company changed their manufacturing methodology for their bolt-action rifles. [insert anti-beancounter tirade here] In the words of Scott Weber:
“Winchester went to stamped checkering on the gun stocks instead of hand checkering. Plastic replaced metal in some components, and a lesser grade of bluing was used on the rifle’s actions and barrels. None of that changed the basic function and accuracy of the Model 70s, but the downgrades in craftsmanship angered many customers, and Model 70s made after 1964 don’t carry the same value as pre-’64s.”
As I recall, the actions were likewise changed, from forged- to cast steel. While there is no appreciable change in efficacy, when working the bolt action there is a distinct change in the action’s sound from the pre-64 rifles to their post-64 successors. The change in sound is likewise noticeable in other rifle generation changes, e.g. the Swiss K11 to the K31: the cast steel makes a clacking sound, while the forged action rings. (No prizes for guessing which one I prefer.)
Anyway, what brought all this on was this rifle, newly-arrived at Merchant Of Death Steve Barnett:
Now let’s talk a little about the chambering of the above beauty. The .300 H&H Magnum is often compared to the older (and much more common, certainly in the Mod 70) .30-06 Springfield, but the H&H is actually more powerful. Frank Barnes gives the following data, using a common 190gr. bullet:
Muzzle velocity (fps)
.30-06 : 2,700
.300 H&H : 3,000
Muzzle energy (ft-lbs)
.30-06 : 3,076
.300 H&H : 3,798
I’ve used the .300 H&H myself back in the day, and its effect on thin-skinned game like warthog and impala is, to put it mildly, impressive.
Where the .30-06 excels, of course, is in the old “Bubba’s Bait & Tackle” test (especially in the U.S.). If you forgot your ammo at home, any ammo store will have .30-06 on the shelf, probably with a choice of manufacturer. (Actually, I think it’s against the law in some states not to carry any.) The .300 H&H? Not so much — in fact, unless there’s a large chain store like Cabela’s in the offing, you can pretty much forget about finding it anywhere.
And the price difference reflects that availability: .30-06 runs about $1.50 per round, whereas the .300 H&H will set you back $5 (!!!).
Not that this is too important, in hunting terms, because you’re not going to blast off hundreds of rounds, either way.
But if your other rifle is an old M1 Garand…
Note: this post was supposed to appear yesterday, but Mr. Fumblefingers cocked up the date. Mea maxima culo.
It is a beautiful rifle and i am sure it is a great shooter. However, in the end the Mauser is the original and I think better bolt action.
The Pre-64 Winchester model 70 is a work of art.
Twenty years ago I was looking for a Model 70 or Ruger 77 Mk II in 30-06 with open sights on it because I couldn’t afford good glass at the time to top the rifle. I went for the Ruger because it was a little less expensive. The Ruger is a nice rifle but a controlled feed Winchester model 70 would have been the Merc S class to me.
The real pre 64 Model 70s go for thousands of dollars and I would not want to risk scratching one in the field.
Kim maybe you linked to a site that sold pre 64 Model 70s in the past. I used to go to the site to drool over the rifles.
Thanks for posting classic rifles!!!
My go-to .30-06 would probably appall you…it’s an old Savage 110 in stainless, no open sights, wearing a bought-with-it 3-9x scope, and on a black synthetic (plastic) stock that’s battered, scraped, and so bashed up that it doesn’t even have the plastic cap on the pistol grip (got bashed off on a rock at one point, lost in the crick). It came with a trigger so bad that when I had the local gunsmith try to measure it, the pull was higher than his 12-pound gauge would go. I put in a Timney replacement trigget that I set for 3-1/2 pounds after my first range session with it a gazillion years ago. It’s harvested lots of whitetails for me, and I’m not afraid to take it out in a driving blizzard or thunderstorm since it’s probably not possible to damage it at this point. Shoots 180-grain anything to point of aim at 100 yards with about a 2-inch grouping.
Speaking of bullet weights, I’ve never actually seen a 190-grain bullet in a commercial load for .30-06. I standardized on 180-grain just because the Federal “cheap stuff” used to be their “PowerPoint” soft-nose, which could be shot for re-confirming zero, and which shot to exactly the same point-of-aim as their (much more expensive) 180-grain Nosler Partition.
As far as ammo availability, at least where I used to live in Minnesnowta, there was a period where even the local gas stations would have Federal ammo stacked on the shelves in .30-30 and .30-06 at stupidly low prices just before and during deer season. Not the good stuff, but good enough.
With regard to the Garand, I’ve got a couple I picked up without looking for them (one was a widow of a friend of mine who knew I shot .30-06), and I never shot commercial ammo through them. I was told by several people at the DCM matches I shot that the commercial stuff had enough higher pressures that consistent use of it would eventually bend the op-rod, and that I should shoot either surplus ammo intended for the Garand or buy DCM “match grade” ammo. I found a whole bunch of non-corrosive mil-surp ammo, on Garand clips, in bandoliers, and all of it was 150-grain. On t’other hand, Hornady now sells a Garand-specific soft-point hunting round that’s supposed to be pretty good. I’m not sure I’m ready to haul a Garand through the woods looking for a deer anymore, though.
I have a Remington Sportsman 78 in 30-06 for over 40 years. The 78 is the “economic” version of the 700. It has a maple stock and does not have the magazine port but can hold 4 rounds in the ammo well. I put an inexpensive 3×9-40 Simmons scope on it that had the windage knob break off while sighting it in. Simmons replaced it with their top of the line 3×9-44 TV view scope that had the gradient crosshairs. At the time the scope was worth more than the rifle.
” At the time the scope was worth more than the rifle.”
[snork]
My first M70 was a used post ’64 Ranger (econo model, birch stock) in 30-06, the acquisition of which may not be believed by some younger folks. I bought from a want add in our local paper in what was once California. Paid $150 for it. Eventually I mounted a Tasco scope and actually put some venison in the freezer with it. It is an excellent rifle and I still have it, although it wears a Hogue overmold stock these days.
After Winchester introduce their Classic model, I bought my second M70 new, SS in 308, with a black plastic stock. A real “ugly stick” that has been my faithful deer slayer ever since. Also decided that I was going to save my pennies and get a Cadillac scope.
Blind hogs and acorns, I found a Swarovski on sale. “I say, nice rifle you have mounted on your scope”.
All that being said, there is nothing that quite feels or sounds like–
1) Cocking a true Colt SAA.
2) Cycling the bolt on a pre-’64 M70.
3) Cycling the lever on a pre-’64 Model ’94