It’s difficult to continuously write about firearms with unbridled enthusiasm, even when a firearm deserves such accolades. Sometimes it is necessary to think of another more… inspirational firearm while writing, just to get into the right frame of mind, always with the danger of blurting out a competing manufacturer’s name in uppercase letters in the during of a critical closing paragraph.
The Winchester Model 70 Super Grade has an appeal that stands on its own and it keeps evolving; a fresh look to keep pace with the times ever since its 1937 introduction. In current production, the wood finish is flattened, but not flat… the look of a hand rubbed oil finish. The walnut grain, figure and color are more pronounced then in prior years, the hardware has remained a deep, gloss black.
The Winchester Model 70 Super Grade has gone a little “Euro”, but in a good way. Perhaps moving a bit closer to Browning’s product line in appearance. The Old World influence is a good one. It offers a refinement not found with high gloss poly finished wood or the popular, and always cheap looking, injection molded plastic. The Super Grade is a rifle made for people who appreciate quality firearms.
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Winchester Model 70 Super Grade |
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| Manufacturer | Winchester |
| Item # | 535203264 |
| Type | Bolt Action |
| Caliber | 270 WSM |
| Mag Capacity | 3 |
| Barrel Length | 24″ |
| Rifling | 1:10″ |
| Weight | 8.0 Lbs |
| Overall Length | 44 1/4″ |
| Stock | Satin Walnut Grade IV/V |
| Hardware | High Gloss Blued Steel |
| Length of Pull | 13 3/4″ |
| Drop at comb | 1/2″ |
| Drop at heel | 1/2″ |
| Sights | Clean |
| Scope | Drilled and Tapped |
| Trigger Pull | 3 Lbs. 12 Oz. |
| Safety | Swing 3 position |
| MSRP | $1,339.99 |
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Nominal Weights & Measures |
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Following through in the look…
There are many nice touches that set this Model 70 apart from other firearms; blended, black forearm tip, steel capped pistol grip, cleanly cut 20 LPI checkering, and recessed sling swivel studs are just a few.
The Winchester has a low profile three position swing safety for ease of use and to provide low mounted scope clearance. The bolt is jeweled, the long Mauser type extractor has a bead blasted finish. The bolt handle is knurled and even the cross bolt nut has a touch of decorative pattern.
Flip the Winchester over and the bottom metal is all steel including the “Super Grade” roll engraved hinged floor plate. The socket head fasteners are a nice touch and a very clean look. The trigger is Winchester M.O.A.; zero take up, zero creep, zero overtravel.
Winchester lists this as a Grade IV/V walnut stock. I certainly couldn’t disagree. The stock is heavily figured from recoil pad to forend without interruption and with lots of color and contrast. The fact that the grain is so distinctive, even with this flat of a finish, is pretty amazing. The recoil pad is a laterally stable, but very recoil absorbing Pachmayr Decelerator.
While inletting is precise, and all of the surfaces are sealed, the action is solidly supported at fore and aft action fasteners and glass bedded for consistent compression and dampening.
The current Model 70 is listed as U.S. manufacture, however, final assembly in in the Browning plant in Portugal. This rifle was received in flawless condition and nicely boxed.
And a selection of cartridges to give it personality…
This particular Winchester Model 70 Super Grade is chambered for the 270 Winchester Short Magnum, however, the rifle is available in a wide array of chambers to suit most hunting needs. The 243 Winchester is good for everything medium size varmints to deer and if you can’t drop the biggest North American game with a 338 Winchester Magnum, you might be better off fishing.
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Why does the WSM have a 2″ shorter barrel? I would associate this decision in keeping with the whole short cartridge, short action compact magnum philosophy. However, the WSM holds approximately 5 grains more powder than a 30-06 Springfield length belted magnum which suggests parity in bore length would be reasonable. The WSM cartridge is more than a half inch shorter than the belted cartridges, which does extend net bore length.
Or as Leo Gorcey would say, “It must be an optical contusion”…
When the 270 WSM was introduced in 2001, I did not own a rifle chambered for the 270 Winchester. Experienced in shooting and handloading the 270 Winchester, I had felt I had that ballistic slot covered with the 25-06 Remington and 7mm Remington Magnum rifles; the 25-06 Remington was faster with lighter bullets and the 7mm Remington Magnum was faster with heavier bullets.
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Bullet |
Muzzle Velocity FPS | |
| 270 Win | 270 WSM | |
| 110 | 3300 | 3400 |
| 130 | 3100 | 3200 |
| 140 | 3000 | 3200 |
| 150 | 2900 | 3100 |
| 24″ barrel in both cases. | ||
Generally speaking, the stubby 270 WSM holds a significant velocity advantage, particularly as bullet weight increases, over its altitudinous cousin, the 270 Winchester.
The 270 Winchester has a case capacity of 67 grains, the 270 WSM approximately 80 grains. The 270 Winchester operates at 65k psi while the WSM peaks at 63.8k psi. While folks with 270 Winchesters may present data that closes the velocity gap, it is usually with a rifle on the verge of bursting its receiver.
The only 0.277″ bullet production cartridge I’ve fired that has been faster than the 270 WSM is the 270 Weatherby, center above. With a couple of grains more capacity, and almost always with a 26″ barrel, the 270 Weatherby gets a boost from a barrel 2″ longer than the 270 WSM standard.
Since every 270 WSM I have shot has been an excellent performer, from push feed Winchester Model 70 Super Shadow to Grade III Featherweight, the only thing left to do is to load up this Super Grade and see how it shoots. A Leupold VX-6 scope has been mounted on Leupold QD bases and rings, ammo is ready, however, we’re are going to take a break until the snow stops falling and we can plow out the range. Soon…
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