“Pre ’64 Winchester” has become a mantra that attempts to define an era of quality Winchester firearms. A very unfortunate and very inaccurate determination, as the Winchester brand has been representative of excellent firearms throughout its history, with current production arguably the best.
The less than exciting years for the Model 70, in my opinion, were limited to 1964 to 1972 when stamped steel trigger guards and pressed checkered stocks were the norm. A case might be made that some aesthetically challenging cost reduction measures persisted until 1978, but that would be a stretch.
Maximum verbosity…
Winchester’s history is similar to other large scale American firearms company; long in persistence, but changing hands, fortune and structure over time. There hasn’t been a Winchester family member at its helm since 1918. By 1981, U.S. Repeating Arms was producing and marketing Winchester firearms under license from the Olin Company.
U.S. Repeating Arms’ fortunes were mixed and ended in 1990 when FN Herstal became the sole owner of U.S. Repeating Arms. Today, Winchester firearms are produced under license from the Olin Corporation by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company of Morgan, Utah. Same location as Browning, both companies owned by FN Herstal.
Associations amongst Winchester, Browning… or at least John Browning and Fabrique Nationale d’Herstal date back to the 1800s, however, it was this more recent FN control over the Winchester brand that has paved the way to a better product. When FN closed the New haven, CT plant, the company ended a disruptive conflict with the city and labor unions that dated back to the early days of Winchester ownership. FN also retired much of the old tooling.
The original Model 70, and the standard weight Model 70 Super Grade were announced in 1936 and produced until the 2006 plant closing in New Haven, CT. In 2008, FN Herstal resumed manufacture of the Model 70 in its Columbia, SC, facility.
The current Model 70 Super Grade distinguishes itself from the standard grade Model 70 Sporter with all steel hardware, including grip cap, and a satin finished fancy grade walnut stock. The Super Grade’s cheek piece has a shadow line and the forearm is tipped in black. The cross bolt is engraved and the swivels studs are inset. Like the Sporter, the Super grade has a Decelerator recoil pad and an M.O.A. Trigger.
A couple… A few details.
The Model 70 Super Grade has a pre ’64 type controlled feed action. The non-rotating claw type extractor picks up a round from the magazine when the bolt is cycled and holds it right up until the bolt is rotated closed. Missing is the mid stoke drag and occasional hang that persists in even the most expensive commercial Mauser actions. The twin locking lugs result in a 90º bolt lift. The bolt handle is artfully swept back and knurled for a no slip surface.
The three position swing safety locks both the firing pin and bolt when rotated to the aft position when the firing pin is cocked. With the safety rotated to the mid position, the firing pin remains locked, however, the bolt can be opened to facilitate unloading a chambered live round. The safety is “off” when rotated fully forward. The positions index positively.
The Winchester Model 70 Super features the company’s proprietary M.O.A. trigger, below left. By increasing the trigger’s mechanical advantage, preloading to eliminate creep and by controlling overtravel, the new trigger has a short, crisp and light pull and is fully adjustable. The M.O.A. represents a significant improvement over the earlier Model 70 trigger, below right.
Adjustable for pull weight in the range of 3 – 5 lbs, Winchester presets the trigger to 3.5 lbs at the factory. The subject firearm’s trigger checked 3 Lbs 12 Oz and was left as received. The detail of adjusting the trigger is covered fully in the rifle’s manual, but both adjustments are accomplished with two screws at the front of the trigger with the stock removed.
The Winchester Model 70 Super Grade has a hinged floorplate to facilitate unloading. The magazine capacity is three rounds for magnum cartridges, 5 rounds for 30-06 Springfield class rounds. The release button is at the top/front of the trigger guard bow, well out of the way of accidental contact with bare or gloved fingers. The bottom metal is all steel and the guard and floorplate frame are one piece. The Super Grade has such a classical look and flawless gloss blue finish, it would have been a shame if Winchester had fabricated these pieces from aluminum or poly.
At 8 1/2 lbs, the Super Grade isn’t a heavyweight or lightweight. The little bit of extra heft does well in dampening magnum recoil. WSM versions weigh a half pound less, non-magnum versions a quarter pound less; more metal removed to accommodate the WSM rounds. The Winchester Model 70 Sporter weighs a pound less. The Model 70 Featherweight weighs one and one half to two pounds less depending upon chamber selected.
The recoil pad is a Decelerator, one of the best for recoil reduction and one that doesn’t detract from the looks of the firearm. Again, steel grip cap and inletted swivel bases. The shadow line around the cheek piece is a solid touch of classic styling. The stock grade provides enough feather, figure and color to give it a very nice custom look, but not so much as to not render the rifle unserviceable for hunting or to make it weak at load bearing points or susceptible to walking with changes in humidity. The barrels is floated as an additional contribution to stock/hardware fit stability and firearm accuracy.
One of the things I really like about new Winchester and Browning firearms is the way they are packaged and the way they come out of the box; clean, no production handling marks and flawless wood and metal finish. I don’t know how many times I’ve unpacked new firearms from other manufacturers and found scratches near pin or screw holes or bluing rubbed off of sharp lines or corners, or a sloppy stock fit or poor done inletting. Those are the types of problems that detract from pride of ownership.
For the time being…
The Winchester Super Grade is the type of nice rifle that once filled the pages of Stoeger’s Shooter’s Bible and still appeals to a great many of us. Available in:
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270 Winchester
30-06 Springfield
264 Winchester Magnum
7mm Remington Magnum
300 Winchester Magnum
338 Winchester Magnum
300 WSM
270 WSM
Belted magnums are supplied with a 26″ barrel, 24″ for standard and short magnum cartridges.
The subject rifle is a 264 Winchester Magnum, a 6.5mm round that outperforms other similar bore cartridges. Winchester 140 grain loads are rated at 3,150 fps. Double Tap 125 grain Nosler Partition loads generate 3,250 fps. For lighter game, Nosler offers 100 grain loads at 3,400 fps. There are currently 11 factory loads produced by Winchester, Remington, Nosler, and Double Tap.
The 264 Winchester Magnum appears to be making a strong comeback. Out from under the weight of a negative industry press and able to exercise more of its potential with better bullets and more appropriate powder, the 264 Winchester Magnum is gaining the respect it deserves. Matching it up with a rifle of this caliber… sorry, couldn’t help myself, was a good move on Winchester’s part. It pokes at the nostalgia surrounding the original African, Alaskan and Westerner Model 70 series.
We’re going to take a short break, round up project bullets, powder and other components and see how the Winchester performs in live fire.
Winchester’s Model 70 Super Grade – Part 1
Winchester’s Model 70 Super Grade – Part 2
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