Mod 70 from the 70s

[Stuart C.]

What specifically make these less desirable than the pre-64 guns?
The more modern ones were push feed, but weren't the pre-64 push feed also, or were the older ones controlled round feed.

A friend and I were looking at one in 30-06 (Super Grade) and it seemed like a good buy, but we wondered what makes these so much less desirable. 

What's the better investment, the 70s mod 70 or a new one???

Thanks!

[Rangr44]

[What's the better investment, the 70s mod 70 or a new one???]

It's well known that, in 1964, Winchester made drastic, almost unacceptable, changes to the Model 70 - so unacceptable that they eventually caved in due to poor sales & upgraded the lousy stocks, impressed checkering and other cheap parts starting in the early 1980's, culminating in the pre-64 clone 1991 Model 70 Classic.
The very best was the 1991 M70 Classic Super Grade, which was the year that had the stock designed by a good custom stockmaker.
Later Super Grade stocks were desgned by a custom stocker, too - but a different one - and they look a little differently shaped.

A 1991-2006 Model 70 Classic ( CRF - controlled round feed) would be preferable to a 1964-1983ish push-feed.

FYI - pre-64 M70's were all CRF, in 1964 all were push-feed until the CRF Classics introduced in 1990-91 (IIRC), at which time both types were offered until production stopped in 2006.

You said "new one".  I have no knowledge of the new (2008) Winchester FNH Model 70's, as they're not expected to hit the marketplace until early next Summer.

[Arizona Jake]

Although Winchester cheapened the Model 70's stock and cosmetics, the Post-'64 action is an improvement over its predecessor.

The action is stronger because the case head is completely surrounded and supported, whereas in the pre-'64, part of the case head was exposed in the barrel's feed ramp. Another improvement was the anti-bind race cut in one of the locking lugs. These changes were eventually incorporated into newer versions of the current Model 70's.

By the way, the most accurate "out-of-the-box" rifle I have ever owned was a M-70 Varmint rifle in .243 Win. made around 1972. It had a heavy 26 inch barrel and would shoot dime-sized holes at 200 meters with Hornady 75 gr. hollow points. I traded it, with some cash for a Sako AII in the same caliber, and I'm still kicking myself for having done so.

Best wishes,

[rickt300]

The post 1964 "push feed" actions are good actions. They didn't have the mauser like extractor but were stronger and handled escaping gas better. In fact they were very similar to the Remington 700 though the model 70 had and still has a better safety. The 1965 to 1969 model 70's had poor finishes and stocks but shot well enough and were rugged hunting rifles. After 1969 Winchester adressed the finish and stock issues and put out rifles every bit as nice as the then Remington model 700.