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I have a Pre-64 Model 70 Featherweight rifle in 264 Win Mag that has the factory-installed late-production Winchester ventilated recoil pad. The rifle is in excellent condition, but the pad is hard, brittle, cracked, and deformed from resting stationary on the butt for years. I’d like to replace it, but assume originals are almost impossible to find. Does anyone make an exact copy of the late-production Winchester recoil pad that would be correct for this rifle? Any chance originals are still available somewhere? Galazan makes a reproduction that’s close (See: http://www.csmcspecials.com/product_p/pp003.htm) but it’s not an exact copy. Again, I’m looking for the late-production ventilated pad, not the solid orangish-red version that came on the 375 H&H or the early 338 Win Mag Alaskan rifles. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
November 5, 2014
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Hi Fairlane*66
I happen to have a junk original stock from a Pre-64 Featherweight Westerner (264 Win Magnum) that came off a rifle I bought just to harvest the short magnum action for a custom rifle build. Both the rifle and stock were pretty well worn, the barrel channel had been “free floated”, etc. but as I recall the recoil pad is in good shape.
Anyway, I’ll give you the stock if you want it (it has no value beyond kindling wood – so if you can use the pad be my guest). You can take the pad off yourself and decide if it is worth using. Only downside is that the stock is at my Dad’s house and it would take me a couple weeks to get it mailed down to me and then sent to you.
Let me know if interested and if you want it please send me a PM with your preferred shipping address.
Best,
Lou Luttrell
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
One consideration when switching Model 70 butt plates or recoil pads: there is a fair amount of variation in the butt dimensions of Pre-64 M70s. Sometimes it takes trying several different butt plates or pads to get a good fit, although you can get lucky with the first one you try. You really need a good fit, not only for a good appearance, but also because a poor fit raises a red flag for what other features might not be original.
As an aside, over the years I’ve seen quite a few steel butt plate M70s that were totally original where the butt plates were not a perfect fit. I suspect they left the factory with a good fit but not perfect. Also, some stocks shrank over the years as they dried. I recall one NIB Super Grade, unquestionably totally original and “as new,” with a noticeable gap around the “widow’s peak” of the butt plate–most likely due to wood shrinkage.
Lou, PM sent, thank you.
Vicvanb, totally agree with you. I’ve seen some poorly fitting Pre-64 butt plates and recoil pads. I have an original Pre-64 Model 70 varmint rifle that belonged to my grandfather, so I know it’s pedigree, and the steel butt plate fits a little sloppy. However, rather than poor workmanship, I think the stock has dried out over time, as you pointed out.
Perhaps I’ve been very lucky. Of my pre 64 genre Models 70 as well as my 54 rifles, I have almost no ill fitting butt plates and no such pads where original. Only on a few of the later ‘plastic’ era presumably original plates seem not to be quite as well fitted. I’ve taken situation more as the general decline of the products as ‘the end’ neared!
I would also like a follow on to the original question here concerning a good quality replacement pad. Generally I’ve also been lucky in pads too; that as noted to always store pad guns butt up!
Yet the original question portends good info for the future! Responses would be appreciated.
– Also, Kudos Louis! What a kind Gentleman! –
iskra
i don’t know if this post is still active but I really need a stock for a pre 64 rifle (264). My grandfather gave me one but the stock had been cut down for my grandmother to hunt with. For a collecting point of view and for me to use next season, I’d like to replace it with an original! Please call or text 208-918-6609 if anyone can help. Thanks!
Griffin,
Your .264 came with a stock that had specific inletting for the pre-64 “short magnum” magazine box. Finding the right replacement might be difficult, as the standard and “long-magnum” (H&H magnum) stocks are much easier to find.
That being said, and particularly since you are looking to have a shooter and not a safe-queen, one option to consider is taking a standard stock and slightly opening up the magazine box inletting to work with the short magnum magazine box (less than 1/8″ of wood needs to be removed).
If you are willing to do a small amount of inletting yourself, you might be able to save quite a bit of time and money versus searching for and buying a short-magnum stock for your rifle. There are many uncut standard stocks available on eBay, at our pre64win.com website, etc.
Good luck to you, and if you need any guidance on making a standard sporter stock work with the pre-64 short magnum mag box, don’t hesitate to let me know. We’re happy to help!
Justin
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