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May 30, 2026
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Recently I rescued a gun collection that was about to be in bad shape. I knew what I was looking at as I have a 1956 Target in 243. Long story and not important but it wasn’t until I got home and started cleaning and inspecting that I realized this gun had the earlier safety. The gun serial number is 469XX. Currently has an 8x unertl (maybe hunter model). I can find many examples of post war 220 swift target models but just wanting to make sure I don’t make a mistake in my evaluation. I found a thread here that was talking about these rifle from 2019 but I wasn’t a member here yet and can’t find it now. Thanks in advance for any information regarding this.
November 5, 2014
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Hi duck1022-
The M70 Target rifle in 220 Swift was cataloged from 1936 through 1950, although quite a few were made later. The earliest ones had the 26-inch target weight barrel with a front sight ramp (M54 style), but most have a dovetail at the muzzle for a front sight mounting block. Very late ones that used 220 Swift barrels that were made for the 220 Swift Varmint rifle have two 6-48 D&T holes at the muzzle.
If you are willing to send me some photos I can post them here for you. Otherwise it’s hard to say what exactly you’ve got and whether it’s altered from original. My emails are [email protected] or [email protected]. The maximum size of attachments that will go through is 20 MB.
Meanwhile, here are two 220 Swift Target rifles. Neither is exactly what one should look like if it’s got a 46,000 serial number. First is the early pre-war (s/n 3374) with the front sight ramp. Below it is a transition era rifle (s/n 64932). Your rifle basically should have the (pre-war) action of the former but the matte stainless barrel (with muzzle dovetail) of the latter.
Hope this helps,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
May 30, 2026
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Thanks,
I will absolutely send some pictures, the front sight dovetail is as you described. No front sight just a filler. No threaded holes in the rear of the receiver, just on the front and mid barrel. I’ll send some pics shortly.
November 5, 2014
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Here are the photos…
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
June 1, 2023
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That is an interesting custom stock on that rifle. I wonder who created it.
BRP
May 30, 2026
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I agree would love to know the provenance of the stock, its gorgeous. And it certainly wasn’t somones first attempt at making a stock. No marks that I have found, thought I found an easter egg under the front of the trigger guard. A perfectly folded piece of paper, but it was just the corner of a target, I think it had Boyles printed on it. Must have been using it as a thin shim.
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