Grandpa's Model 70

[2ndovc]

I've been scrounging and hoarding .250-3000 brass and .257 bullets since my dad gave me grandpa's Winchester last year. He also gave me a few old boxes of brass and reloads, but they weren't stored well and are pretty corroded. I did find some load data he'd written on one of the boxes and duplicated it.

34 grains of IMR 4064 and a Hornady 87 gr. JSP ( he'd used a Sierra, but their production seems pretty limited these days).
One sighter way out to the left and the remaining shots were a little under two inches at 100 yds.
Part of the issue was a lousy rest. Forgot my sand bag this morning.

Shot a three shot group of factory Winchester 100 gr. Silvertips and was quite pleased, but still pulled that last round out to 1".
I don't have a lot of the Winchester ammo, but wanted a control group to work toward.

I sent the pictures and notes to my dad this morning. He said that grandpa experimented a lot with that rifle and various powder and bullets, but wouldn't be happy until he had it down to 1/2" at 100 yds.
I've been able to put five shots into 3/4" at one hundred yards, but that was a 100 gr Hornady and IMR 3031. I'll have to get back into that one.
Either way, I love shooting this rifle!


jb

[Bill in Oregon]

Jason, what year was it manufactured? I don't think Winchester repeated the Savage mistake of putting 1:14 twists in their barrels, so it should stabilize bullets in the 115-120 grain range. That is a wonderful rifle you have there.

[2ndovc]

Jason, what year was it manufactured? I don't think Winchester repeated the Savage mistake of putting 1:14 twists in their barrels, so it should stabilize bullets in the 115-120 grain range. That is a wonderful rifle you have there.

Bill,
I'll have to double check, but I'm thinking it was made in the '40s. I know it doesn't shoot well with the heavy bullets. Grandpa only used the 87s and 100 grainers.

jb

[GunnyMack]

What a grand ol rifle! Shoots pretty good too. Wish I could get my 257 AI to shoot that well!
I ought to try 87s in my rifle, that's one I haven't tried yet.

[Old Savage]

Nice!

[Old Savage]

250?

[Ysabel Kid]

Very nice!

[FLINT]

Very cool, and so special that it was your grandfathers rifle!

Isn't the 250 savage a sweet caliber? I got a model 99 in 250-3000 a couple years ago and really like it. has very little recoil.

I love 3031. I'm shooting 87 grain bullets at just over 3000 fps with a 3031 - don't remember the grains right now but was under max in the books.

I need to get after a deer with it soon.

Enjoy!

[2ndovc]

It is a great cartridge. My dad watched grandpa drop a running antelope around three hundred yards, offhand with that rifle. i have no reason to doubt it. That guy could shoot the needles off a pine tree at 100 yds!

Bill,

The rifle dates to 1948. He also had the identical rifle in .257 Roberts, but that one was stolen from mu uncles home. I also have a .257 Roberts he had made from a Japanese Arisaka. I'll have to get a picture of that one, it's a cool little carbine. My dad gave me the Arisaka and a custom '03 when I started deer hunting as a kid. That '03 and I have traveled a lot of miles and has accounted for a dozen PA and MI whitetail.

jb

[Pitchy]

Nice, i have the Feather weight in 257 Roberts i bought new years ago

[1894cfan]

Congrats on your Win 70. I've got my Grandpa's '70 made in May of '41 chambered in 30 G'ovt '06!

[308magtip]

Got my uncles m-70 in 270 win.sn 183xxx. Loves win 130 silvertips pushed with 1 gr less than max of win 740 and a win Mag LG rifle primer.Under 1" at 100yds.Still has steel buttplate and with the sharp drop in the stock can be a real kicker off the bench.Never noticed it though on Pa white tail.

[2ndovc]

Here's another shot of the Model 70 with grandpa's other rifles.

The custom '03 and Arisaka .257 Roberts below it.
The Model 63 went on most of his hunting trips as well. It's had thousands of .22s through it and it still shoots great.
Grandpa died when I was about eight. The stories I have came from my dad, uncles and cousins. Never have I heard an ill word spoken about the man. I feel very fortunate to have his favorite rifles.

Thanks for all the kind words, guys!

Jason

[.45colt]

Great post about some wonderful Guns. Thanks Jason. .

[JBowen]

Those are great looking rifles. I have always wanted a pre-64 Model 70, but it has escaped me.
This month's issue of Rifle magazine has a good write up about pre-64 Model 70s by Brian Pearce that you all
would enjoy.

JBowen

[piller]

Jason, you are fortunate to have a piece of history. Sounds as if you are treating it right.

[3leggedturtle]

Bet when you open up the case the smell instantly bring you back.