Interesting (Special Order?) Model 70 Target Rifle|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

James-

That is a nice looking M70.  Thank you for posting the extra photos.  

Seewin is right that this is a G7044C 30-06 SPFLD target rifle based on the clip slot, since only the competition models in 30-06 had clip slots after the pre-war period.  The barrel is original and the blocks (scope and front sight) have been replaced, which is no big deal.

My best guess, as seewin points out, is that it has been restocked using a nice looking pre-1959 standard rifle stock.  A few reasons (apart from the steel butt stock being a bit early for the action S/N) are that: 1) as far as I know, the factory did not glass bed/free float M70s in that time frame; 2) the hex head action screws are modern replacements; and, 3) the barrel bedding screw in the fore end is absent (b/c there is no corresponding dovetail/escutcheon in the bottom of the target barrel).  Most M70 target barrels (excepting some mostly pre-war ones) did not have the dovetail cut in the bottom of the barrel.  

Obviously, the regular Marksman stocks did not have the hole for a bedding screw while the standard rifle stocks did.  FWIW the early .375 MAGNUM ramped straight taper barrels with the exact same barrel contour did have provision for a barrel bedding screw (were dovetailed underneath).  When the factory did fit a standard stock to a target barreled action, that hole in the barrel was often fitted with a dummy screw that did not engage the barrel (rather than leave the open hole).

Intriguing question as to why somebody would either order or build up a M70 target rifle with a standard stock?  Until Winchester introduced the Varmint rifle (243 WIN) in 1955 there was never a catalogued M70 in that configuration (except those early 375 MAGNUMs) and even then the varmint rifle was only available in 243 WIN or 220 SWIFT.  But a “heavy barreled rifle” was apparently a popular enough option that the Winchester parts catalog offered standard stocks inlet for medium heavy target barrels (even bull barrels!!!) as early as 1937.  This probably accounts for some of the pre-war rifles pictured in Rule’s book.  Also (somebody help me here) my recollection is that at one point in the 1950s, there was a weight restriction on rifles used for service rifle competitions (like Camp Perry) that made the regular M70 target rifle with heavy barrel and Marksman stock too heavy.  So to stay within weight, you either had to lighten the barrel (hence the M70 National Match rifle) or lighten the stock (hence the Evaluators Limited special order Van Orden “snipers”).  

Finally, and today I think the most common reason, is that M70s of that configuration were made famous by Carlos Hathcock and colleagues as sniper rifles early in the Viet Nam war.  Of course those rifles were pre-war actions that were arsenal retrofit with 1950s Winchester or Douglas target barrels and put back into their original (checkered) standard rifle stocks.  I’ve no idea how many/if any of those original sniper rifles exist (clearly the ones that saw combat were exposed to the harshest of conditions), but the legend has led a good number of folks to want a M70 in that configuration.  Iron Brigade Armory will do up a M70 for you in that configuration on request, and given how well your rifle shoots it might even be one of theirs???  You could always contact them and ask.

Whatever it’s history, it’s really nice and would be a heck of a bean field rifle!!!

Hope this helps,

Lou

Hi Jim-

Good question!!!  IMHO your rifle is definitely a M70 target model (clip slotted receiver) in which case the barrel is far and away most likely original to the gun.  I doubt that the current stock was fitted at the factory for the reasons I mentioned, but who knows?  I have SN 499381 (close to yours) that is a regular Marksman stocked M70 G7044C and the barreled action is the same.

Iron Brigade Armory will do high quality rebuilds starting with whatever the customer has got.  If they’re given a M70 ’06 standard rifle they have to rebarrel and original Winchester ’50s target barrels are thin on the ground (though they sometimes turn up on Ebay).  So the best way to make a Carlos Hathcock repro is to go with a Douglas barrel.

Maybe this was a target model that had a messed with stock?  Target shooters love to tinker, which is one reason why the target configurations of M70s are hard to find in original configuration.  I can only guess…  If it shoots great it’s a very nice rifle…  Pretty and functional!!!  If it were one of theirs it would make it a pretty pricey gun given the custom work from a known builder…

Best,

Lou

Hi Jim-

I always get into trouble answering this sort of question b/c I approach it from the perspective of what I imagine I would be willing to pay for a given rifle IF I were interested in buying it.  I’ve even been accused (on this site) of trying the “steal” someone’s “rare original” M70 by undervaluing it (even though I was not offering/interested in buying the non-original item in question)…  My bad for responding in the first place!!! 

So…  For perspective… I paid $2250 (plus buyers premium) for my Van Orden (SN 351439) in 2014.  That rifle was sold on RIA and they apparently did not know it was a VO sniper (its provenance was not mentioned in the catalog description).  So I think (maybe) I got it cheap…  I’ve read on another forum that genuine VO rifles were going for $4-5K when they came up for sale on the East Coast (no proof…)

I will also confess that I paid about $3500 for a nearly mint unaltered G7044C (SN 499381) around the same time.  Probably paid too much for that one to offset the good deal on the VO sniper…

Of course neither of those is your rifle.  If we assume (note I am assuming, not concluding) that yours in a quality rebuild and not factory, it is not a “collector” gun per se.  But it would be by far the “coolest” sniper rifle to take to the range if your circle of friends includes those who are into M40 (Remington) sniper rebuilds.  So… if it’s quality work and can deliver the goods on the range (which it clearly can), I would probably not part with it for less that $2500…  And I am not including the value of the scope.  Could be worth significantly more to the right buyer?

Just my opinion… 

Lou