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Winchester M70 in .22 Special and .27 Special
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steve004
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August 2, 2025 - 8:10 pm
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Ok, I know there are more M70 collectors here than M54 collectors.  Morphy is offering these two rifles.  What adds to their appeal (i.e. apparent legitimacy)  is they are both pictured and mentioned in Rule’s book.  Interestingly, the .22 Special is listed as .244 caliber – even though the barrel is marked 22 CAL SPECIAL and the underside of the barrel is marked 219.

I’ll also mention I’d never heard of an .18 caliber Model 70.  Morphy doesn’t offer one but apparently it was one of several experimental calibers Winchester made at least one M70 in.

This will get you to the .22 caliber rifle and click, “next lot” to see the .27 caliber.  

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_C__EXPERIMENTAL__22_SPECIAL_WINCHESTER_MODEL_70_B-lot643863.aspx

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Louis Luttrell
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August 2, 2025 - 9:05 pm
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Hi Steve-

Yes… Those are legit R&D rifles made on contract with the US Military.  One (or all) of them were once in the Vaninetti collection and discussed in an article by John on M70 R&D rifles printed in Gun Report in 1990.  The “homologous series” was based on the T-65 (7.62 NATO) cartridge and like you said, were supposedly done in 18, 22, 25, and 27 caliber.  Of course Winchester also did 6mm (243 Winchester) and 35 caliber (358 Winchester) as commercial developments…

I’d like to have one of them… Even though you’re not going to find ammunition anywhere… Laugh

Lou

WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters

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