I haven't posted in a while, so thought I'd share a recent gunsmithing story/event.

I have re-stocked and bought/sold a lot of these rifles over the years and I love them in spite of what they weigh. This one is a standardweight in .270 that I bought from a kid in Utah many years ago. He told me that it was the ranch rifle of his grandfather. It showed up as expected and was all original with no buggered screws, metal butt plate and was an early one with the transition safety. I took it into the shop and started to clean the barrel and found copper in the grooves that looked like a jeweler had laid it in there. Fortunately a buddy told me to shoot it before I did anything else. It shot sub MOA with factory ammo the first time out. I have hunted with this rifle for many years without a problem. It is no lightweight, but it shoots. I have an ancient Leupold VX II 3-9 on it with old weaver mounts but it all works.

That copper is still there... 25 years later. So two weeks ago I needed to take the barreled action out because of some rust from our humid climate and after I put everything back together I went to sight it in. I had bedded it after buying it, but I had re-mounted the scope so the re-sight was necessary. It shot perfectly the first time, but now and then it would re-(This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) on closing the bolt. Back to the bench. Long story short... it was the sides of the sear that were not rusted but just gummy enough after 70 years of no cleaning that was the problem. I buffed it up a bit on the buffing wheel and everything works great.

Here's my target on a 20 litre bucket. I'm no Wolfdog by any stretch, but this was off of my hunting stool and a bipod at 80 meters with Winchester 130 grain ammo. I'm sure if I had a proper shooting bench it would still shoot MOA.


Anyway, just wanted to share, and appreciate all the other folks on here who share their stories too.

Pete

IMO sometimes copper fills in all the rough spots on those old barrels. Modern machining and alloys has made even cheap rifles pretty accurate. Again my opinion but breaking in just means a few rounds to do that.

P.S. carbon build up does the opposite. Copper/lead ontop carbon is another can of worms.

Thanks for sharing. The part about a the kid selling his grandfather's pre 64 model 70 ranch rifle made me a little sick though.

at least it found a better home than a pawn shop

some people have no used for anything gun or nostalgia or family history , you can't change their minds so it is just better that it finds a good home.

I here you Pete and I guess it's better than being sold at some stupid gun buy back...... but I guess for me nothing brings back fonder memories of a family member or friend than seeing a gun they used..... even feel like I'm taking them with me when I take their gun on a hunt.

Yep, I cringed when I read that part too. My grandfather's shotgun is my most prized possession.

I do not have any Family Heirlooms. BUT I have created a whole Truckload of them.

Few things bring me as much joy as handling a pre 64 model 70

I am with you on that. Recently sold my Browining A-Bolt chambered in 300 Winchester Magnum. Immediately replaced it with a M70 in the same caliber. Zero regrets, the Winchester is far superior and I should have made the switch years ago.

A range science researcher friend of mine asked me if I needed a .243 a few years ago. He had worked with a rancher down on the Rio Grande and the old man gave him his rifle he had carried in his truck since buying it new. He was going blind and couldn't use it. My friend had let his daughters use it but they had gotten married and didn't want it.
I asked my friend what model it was but he couldn't remember. When I met him, he handed me a Winchester 70 Featherweight built in 1954. Honest wear with a lot of fine dust inside but it has been my deer and hog rifle ever since. Shoots great and looks classy.

It's one gun I've always wanted...308

you can find them Nessmuck. Just have to get out your big checkbook. The little one won't work.


https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1035554938

I did some body and paint work for a new customer...about 10 years ago.

When I brought his finished truck to him..we got to talking

How was an older guy...and he showed me his gun and reloading room.

He had a collection of no less than 30...pre 64 model 70's..in every caliber.

He even had a separate Rock Crusher for each caliber....so he didn't have to mess with changing the dies ,when it came to reloading

I going to see if he's still alive ...and maybe pry one from his hands.

Some of the old classic center fire rifles are still out there looking for a new home Most are just collecting dust But otherwise just standing in a corner some where And with a little attention will still do the job they where made for The pre 64 Winchester the Remington 700 and yes the Ruger M77 have all been i production for more them 50 years And if you own one you should consider if you know someone that is worthy of having your gun passed on to them in the future ..

My early 50's M70 30-06 is still in the hands of my Father who sent it home to my Grandfather from Guantonamo PX when dad was active Navy. Gramp's used it once - shot at a deer and missed - said he'd never shoot that &%$*& foreign gun again. Been my Fathers rifle since and taken a deer every year since till this year when health/age has retired him from even being helped into his stand. Like all our firearms it has been cared for like a baby and is original except for being tapped for scope. Kicks like a mule so it is a hard rifle to not shy from trying to fill a target but the first shot is always in the 2" bull's on our range so that's a dead deer and the one that counts. It will be my most prized inheritance on the sad day he passes.