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November 5, 2014
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Hi farmerrick-
The pre-64 M70 300 H&H Magnum had a 26-inch barrel and no recoil pad. They also did not have a counterbored crown. What I suspect is that this was a standard 300 H&H Magnum barrel (it does appear to be a Winchester barrel based on what I can see of the roll marks), that was turned down to remove the barrel boss and shortened by 2-inches. Removing the rear sight boss does not require you to turn the barrel down so much as to remove the roll markings provided that you follow the regular taper of the barrel.
They don’t show me the right pictures. I’d want to see the stock from the top to see if there was inletting for a rear sight boss that was filled in, and figure out whether the hole under the fore arm contains a functional barrel bedding screw. It shouldn’t, b/c removing the barrel boss also removes the dovetail for the bedding screw escutcheon underneath. The presence of the hole says it’s a standard stock, not a Featherweight stock with the barrel channel opened to sporter contour.
I believe that Winchester did (rarely) make standard weight barrels without the rear sight boss on special order and that they did make stocks for them. But I don’t think this is one of them. The usual “sight delete” option (cataloged extra cost option beginning in 1960) involved omitting the top and bottom dovetails, but keeping the barrel boss. This one, a 300 Winchester Magnum, is more of a typical “sightless” standard rifle.
Best,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
I too was suspect of the crown. not matching my other 300 barrels. Thanks for the pictures, those help determine a sight delete. I do not believe I have ever seen one in person.
November 5, 2014
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Rick-
The best known “sightless” pre-64 Model 70s, of course, are the Gopher Special Featherweights. But in 1962-63 Gopher also offered a sightless standard Westerner (264 Winchester Magnum, 26-inch barrel, no sights, with barrel boss). It’s listed in the Gopher catalogs, so you could certainly buy one. Winchester didn’t specifically mention the $5.60 extra cost “sightless” option until their 1960 catalog, but I think they made a fair number of them in calibers besides 264 Winchester Magnum.
The one I pictured above used to belong to Bob Porter. It’s possible (???) that he had it rebarreled at the factory well after 1963. But it is a genuine sightless 24-inch pre-64 Model 70 barrel in 300 Winchester Magnum. The (R) symbol on the roll mark (instead of the words “TRADE MARK”) is found on about half of the 300 Winchester Magnum barrels made in 1962-63.
I don’t think I’ve seen first hand a genuine sightless Model 70 standard barrel that omitted the barrel boss. Maybe one… It belongs to a WACA member.
Louu
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
August 8, 2024
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I have a .300 H&H Magnum Model 70 that had the same treatment done to it as the Cabelas rifle. So, some must of thought the same (shorten the barrel to 24 inches, and remove the rear site boss). It is a Pre War rifle that was later modified, and restocked. They also added a tab to the Pre War safety that allows me to quickly move it to the fire position. The rifle is very accurate, and I did take it out West a few times when I was younger. Not a collector by any means. But, a very nice rifle chambered in one of my favorite cartridges.
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