Winchester model 70

C

crazyyote

Active member
I have a beautiful Winchester model 70 featherweight in 22-250 that was manufactured in New Haven, CT. 1995 sticks in my head when I called them with the serial number. The rifle has a very nice stock and gorgeous deep bluing. I'm considering having it shortened a couple of inches and threaded for my Yankee Hill Phantom suppressor. My dilemma is this. Am I molesting a decent rifle or should I leave it alone and find a different 22-250? I know it's not super valuable or anything and it does right around 1 MOA at 100 yards with factory ammo. Maybe a 1 1/4 MOA. It's wearing a Zeiss 2x7 scope now. It's so darn nice looking I'm having a hard time deciding whether or not to have the work done. Thoughts from the masses....Thanks all.
 
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Thats a hard call. I got a feeling the Winchester is worth more than you think it is, but I don't know what value you put on it either. But like AWS said its yours, do what you want. It may not hurt the value but I don't think its going to help it any. You might look on s few gunsites and see what the feather weights are worth/selling for before you shorten the barrel. Just my thoughts, that and a nickle are worth 5 cents.
 
I ran into this same problem when my wife bought me a winchester model 70 coyote outback 243, I never shot it because it wasnt threaded for my suppressor and I didn't want ruin a gift by threading it till my wife told me that she bought it for me to use it and not just look at. Long story short I got it threaded and now its the first gun I grab to go hunting, best decision I ever made was to thread it and use it!
 
Originally Posted By: HuntIf it is a Classic and has a 'G' prefix with a 5 digit S/N, they are fairly well sought after.

They made 2 versions, the model 70 featherweight, and the model 70 featherweight "classic", the classic has the pre 64 claw foot extractor, the model 70 featherweight doesn't.
I have a unfired model 70 featherweight in a 270, they are beautiful guns and your call on what you want to do with yours.
 
I have suppressors but has been said it's a 22-250 and they are not known for long barrel life.. i'd threaded it and use it. It's a tool meant to be used, as the ads used to say a riflemans rifle ... not a wall hanger just a opinion from my end.

Unless i inherited it from my Dad and or grandfather there is not a one i have i would not rebarrel or thread the barrel on.
 
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Thank you for the responses. I'm in no rush. I've got a couple of others I use. I would still really like to see what it would do in the field.
 
Yes, and another thingy, most any gun will shoot better groups with clear, higher magnification optics. Say the one shooter has a 2-7 per scope, the next tops out at 18-24, clear, fine reticle. Most being equal, when you see better, you shoot better. Yes I like Zeiss scopes.

Then one can go into ammo experimentation, won’t all shoot the same.

I know somewhat obvious, just saying.
 
ToddNE said:
I ran into this same problem when my wife bought me a winchester model 70 coyote outback 243, I never shot it because it wasnt threaded for my suppressor and I didn't want ruin a gift by threading it till my wife told me that she bought it for me to use it and not just look at. Long story short I got it threaded and now it’s the first gun I grab to go hunting, best decision I ever made was to thread it and use i
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ToddNE said:
I ran into this same problem when my wife bought me a winchester model 70 coyote outback 243, I never shot it because it wasnt threaded for my suppressor and I didn't want ruin a gift by threading it till my wife told me that she bought it for me to use it and not just look at. Long story short I got it threaded and now its the first gun I grab to go hunting, best decision I ever made was to thread it and use it!
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Should just buy a Winchester Coyote Lite to keep in the safe.
 
I like the idea of shooting the barrel out, then considering what to do next. You probably have a couple hundred critters left in the current barrel.
 
crazyyote said:
Thank you for the responses. I'm in no rush. I've got a couple of others I use. I would still really like to see what it would do in the field.
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My .02 cents worth. As has been stated, your rifle, your decision.
Personally, I view a firearm as a tool and I like efficient tools. Over the years, I have bought a couple of (collector grade) Pre-64 Mod. 70 target rifles with the intended purpose of cutting them down, adding adjustable butt plates, forend stops, etc. for XTC match rifles, knowing full well they would no longer be collectible. They served me well for some 20 years and in that role, they were of more value to me than sitting in the safe collecting dust in their original condition. One of them now resides in my safe, as my competition days are far behind, and it is still worth more to me than it would be had I left it unmolested. :)
Take your time and weigh the value of the rifle as is, to you and once you figure that out, have at it and don't look back.
 
I was in a similar quandary.
I inherited my dad's tang safety ruger in 7mmrm with vari-x ii 3x9.
Used it on a hunt one year. Noticed after the accuracy was lacking and scoped the barrel. Roasted and fire cracked all to hell.
Options.
Keep as is and hang on the wall.

Rebarrel with similar contour and keep looking original

Transform it into something more useful.

I went with option 3.
Kept the action and stock. Rebarreled with a Christensen cf barrel with brake in 7mmrm. Added a weigatinny 20moa rail and installed Burris xtr ii 5-25 in seekins rings. Installed a timney trigger around 2#. It's now my main big game rig.
 
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