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August 13, 2025
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Need some assistance in finding what calibers were produced for the Pre-64 Model 70 Featherweights. Any info would be helpful. thanks
January 20, 2023
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When first introduced, the pre64 Featherweight was available only in the .308 WCF. In 1955 it was made available chambered in the .243 and .358 Winchester cartridges and the 270 WCF and the .30 Gov’t ’06. The .358 version was withdrawn later because it was unpopular. Near the end of production, a version of the rifle called the “Featherweight Westerner” was chambered for the .264 Winchester Magnum.
Interestingly, the majority of all pre-64 Featherweights produced were chambered in .30/06.
As you may know, the Pre-64 Model 70 action was made only in a single length, one designed for .30/06 length cartridges. Winchester installed shorter bolt stops and magazine boxes when the model was chambered for the .308 family of cartridges.
For the Standard, Super Grade, and Target models chambered for the .300 and ,375 Holland & Holland Magnum cartridges, the Model 70 receiver ring was milled away to permit extraction and ejection. The Featherweight was never chambered for the Holland cartridges.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 5, 2014
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Hi Timmy-
Below is a clip from the December 1955 Winchester catalog showing the calibers and stock styles available at the time.
As Zeb said, from 1952-1955 the Featherweight was only available in 308 WIN with either low comb or Monte Carlo stock. The caliber offerings expanded in 1955. None of these rifles came with a factory-installed recoil pad. Butt plates were originally aluminum but were replaced by plastic in 1958-1959. The “Featherweight-Westerner” in 264 WIN MAGNUM was only cataloged in 1963 (most were made in 1962) and featured a factory-installed ventilated recoil pad.
Hope this helps,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
January 20, 2023
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Lou, other than the bolt stop and magazine box – forgot to mention the follower – were any other parts for the Featherweight dependent on cartridge length?
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 5, 2014
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Hi Zeb-
Look at the Table below, which gives the action components by Chambering. You may need to consult your copy of Rule’s book for pictures. Since the FWT was chambered for Standard length (270 WIN, 30-06), Short (243 WIN, 308 WIN, 358 WIN), and Short Magnum (264 WIN MAGNUM) cartridges, they were built with internal components adapted to Cartridge Groups IV, Va or VIb depending on chambering.
The defining characteristics of the Featherweight were the barrel contour, stock, and aluminum components. The other action parts were determined by Caliber, not Style.
Hope this Helps,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
January 20, 2023
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Lou,
It makes most things clear and is a very useful document.
I recall the late Townsend Whelen opining that owners of a Model 70 chambered for the 257 Roberts would do well to replace the bolt stop, magazine box, follower and possibly the ejector to allow the rifle to function with the longer spitzer bullets the Roberts needed to perform well.
I note the Roberts was furnished with the “220 Swift” ejector whereas the 7mm Mauser got the “Standard” ejector.
I’m not sure why the short cartridge group would need an ejector designed to cope with a semi-rimmed case but assume the reason had more to do with the length of the Lee Navy case than rim and groove details.
But the Roberts is based on the 7mm Mauser case, for which a Standard ejector is furnished.
Curiouser and Curiouser but I guess they did what actually worked.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 5, 2014
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Zeb-
I personally agree with Whelen, as did quite a few owners of Model 70s in 257 ROBERTS back in the day. It is not uncommon to find M70s in Roberts whose magazine box, follower, spring, extractor collar/bolt stop extension, and ejector were replaced with the Group V-a (standard) parts to permit loading longer spitzer bullets without seating them well into the case.
The only difference between the 7 M/M (V-b) and Standard (V-a) action is the magazine spring, which on the 7 M/M was given a slightly different “set” when hardened. I presume this had something to do with the body taper of the 7x57mm case. The springs were identical (made from the same part) before hardening.
On both the Swift (Group III) and Roberts (Group IV), the #4 ejector went with the “Swift” extractor collar/BSE. The ejector was necessarily longer than Standard to adjust for the shorter bolt throw caused by the BSE. It has nothing to do with Swift being a semi-rimmed case, just the bolt throw. The slanted partitions in the #6 (Swift) versus #5 (Roberts) magazine box dealt with the semi-rimmed issue while using the same “Short” follower and magazine spring. Swift, Roberts, and the 308 Winchester based cartridges all used the Standard extractor b/c they have the same case head diameter.
I know this would be easier to understand with pictures, but the whole chapter is over 40 pages long (!!!)… If you want a picture of something specific I can post it here…
Best,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
June 1, 2023
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Zebulon said
I recall the late Townsend Whelen opining that owners of a Model 70 chambered for the 257 Roberts would do well to replace the bolt stop, magazine box, follower and possibly the ejector to allow the rifle to function with the longer spitzer bullets the Roberts needed to perform well.
I did the same thing on two Remington Model 30-S rifles that are chambered for the .257 Roberts. By replacing the magazine box, and follower with parts intended for the Remington Model 30-S chambered in 7mm Mauser, I gained enough extra length to allow the loading of ammunition using the longer spitzer bullets I like to hunt with.
BRP
January 20, 2023
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Lou,
Thanks for your incisive and complete answer. I understand it well enough without illustrations. I’m more familiar with the 6mm Remington than the .25 Roberts but have dealt with the issues with which cartridges based on the “in between” 7mm case must contend.
If I were starting a custom rifle from scratch to be chambered for any of the three, I’d be inclined to ignore the Model 70 as overlarge and lay about me for an Oberndorf Type A commercial action, one built on the intermediate size version of the original 1898 design.
But i’m past that stage and will instead concentrate on perfecting .250-3000 loads for a couple of S*****e 99s that have followed me home.
Thanks much for illuminating what was dark,
Bill
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
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