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Hi All,
Information wanted for research of Model 70 single shot rifles. I’m at the end of the research process on Model 70’s with single shot receivers. I would like to see if I can fill in any final information.
In addition to identifying existing rifles, I’m looking for any pertinent historical information and documentation.
These would be both Pre64 & post64 rifles. In particular, I would like to obtain survey information on some of the known rifles that reside out there in the collector community. For example some of these will fall into the serial number range 499801 to 499850. Other numbers would be around the 905,150 range. Possibly also close to S/N 782360. Others will have unique S/N’s such as EXP1, CTX-2, SS1, etc. If anyone owns any of these, or knows someone who does, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.
Feel free to contact me via PM or email. [email protected]
I’ll likely post in the research survey section as well.
Thank you,
Ned
November 5, 2014
Offline
Hi Ned-
Fascinating topic… 
Unfortunately I have no special knowledge of these rifles to share. Hopefully you’ve gotten some PM replies. If not, I just wanted to “bump” your thread back up to the top of the page in case someone who can help hasn’t seen it.
Can you tell me a little more about the rifle in your photo? S/N 499842? What’s the barrel length (in the photo it looks like 26″) and what is it chambered in for?
Good luck!!!
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Hello Louis & James,
Thanks for the interest. I have not received any messages. I rather doubt that I will. This is the mostly unknown chapter of the M70.
This particular rifle was one of a group constructed in conjunction with a contract group of barreled actions built for the US Army Advanced Marksmanship Unit that fall in the S/N range 499810 to 499842. It is part of the 3rd of 4 distinct groups of M70 single shot’s built between 1956 & 1968. It’s built in the national match style, with a 26” standard weight barrel with no provision for rear sight and chambered on .308 win. Front sight ramp is standard height.
The most interesting feature is the bolt. This series of rifles were built with a newly designed post 64 style bolt and fitted without a safety. This is likely when the post 64 bolt was first conceived. The members of the marksmanship unit were not entirely happy with pre 64 bolt design. In particular the lock time. Winchester responded with a new design incorporating a fully enclosed bolt face. The barreled actions that went to the AMU and the various test configurations that Winchester built into complete rifles all exhibit the new design. Some were fitted with aluminum firing pins with steel tips in order to reduce weight and lock time.
Iv’e attached some additional photos of this rifle.
I’ve been able to verify the existence of and or surveyed more than 50 rifles.
Thanks,
Ned
Hello. I am in possession of Winchester model 70 single shot 22 250 with serial number CT 1x. It has factory tags from the Winchester museum and was part of my Fathers collection of model 70 Winchester’s. It also indicates this was for Canada market. Any information or valuation would be greatly appreciated for estate purposes thank you
Hello Larry,
First, and to set the records straight, “Winchester” never manufactured a Model 70 rifle in the 22-250 cartridge. Instead, it was the U.S. Repeating Arms Company (U.S.R.A.Co.) that manufactured trademarked Model 70 rifles in that specific cartridge.
That stated, I have never heard of a Model 70 “single shot”. Can you post a link to clear pictures of the rifle looking straight down on the receiver/action?
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
The rifle in Larry is referring to is one of a specific group of 7 single shot M70 rifles built in Canada in the mid 60’s, The receivers were built in New Haven and sent to the Canadian offices where they were completed. There were a number of single shot M70’s built in separate groups the mid 60’s. I refer to this as the 4th and last period when single shot model 70’s were built. The other 3 groups were spread out between 1956 and 1962. Of the roughly 20 identified rifles of this last period, 6 were built in 22-250. Interestingly, there is a 1960 S/N pre-64 M70 single shot chambered in 22-250. I won’t go into the lengthy details of this one here.
Check above for some M70 SS images.
Ned
1ned1 said
The rifle in Larry is referring to is one of a specific group of 7 single shot M70 rifles built in Canada in the mid 60’s, The receivers were built in New Haven and sent to the Canadian offices where they were completed. There were a number of single shot M70’s built in separate groups the mid 60’s.
Very interesting info! Do you know why these SS models were built?
Hi Clarence,
In a nut shell, the first 3 groups were projects initiated over a 5-6 year period for the newly-formed US Army Advanced Marksmanship Unit @ Fort Benning Georgia. The CTX series referenced here were a later offshoot made up by a Winchester executive.
I have been researching these for roughly 15 years. I really need to hunker down and complete the research paper I’ve been assembling.
Ned
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