New dress for old girlfriend!

[35 Whelen]

I bought a new Winchester Featherweight Model 70 in 1989. It had the old pre 64 style receiver; they had recently reintroduced. Back then it was called the 'All Terrian Rifle and sported a black plastic stock and stainless steel metal. It has been a wonderful Rifle. We have killed many head of game with it in New Zealand, Canada, Alaska. It's in 30/06 and weighes 8 1/4 lbs with a Zeiss Conquest on top. I have shot almost exclusively 52gr/4064 with 165gr bullets out of it for last 35 years.
I have always wished it wore a Walnut stock....... well I recently bought one for it. I prefer a cheekpiece, the gun would never group better than 1.5" it now shoots under an inch.....what say all you fellas ????

 

[truck driver]

Very nice. I only have 2 rifles still in the factory wood, but both have had extensive bedding jobs to stabilize the wood to maintain accuracy in them. The new carbon poly stocks with a full metal bedding block will usually take a pig's ear accurate rifle and turn it into a very consistent shooter.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

The old girl looks good, and you improved her accuracy as well. I like the looks of stainless and wood.
Dan.

 

[Slimfinn]

Looks great! Here is to her next 35 years

 

[DrMike]

I like the look of stainless and walnut. The Featherweight is a favourite rifle for me. I do own a few, and love each dearly.

 

[RL338]

All I can say is that you doubled up. A stock that you wanted and now it shoots better

 

[JD338]

Looks great! She is a shooter too.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

Outstanding!

Great looking rifle.

Guy

 

[6mm Remington]

It looks fantastic and it shoots better. What is not to like!

 

[35 Whelen]

I had attempted to restock it back in 2020 with Super Grade wood; and for those that remember the stock was $450 which was fine; but one side only was figured....... back side was exactly like this standard grade wood.... so we sent it back. This stock is not figured BUT it is brand new and fits like a glove.
I am now suspicious that the plastic stock must have a high spot in it as after we installed this wood the gun shot 17" lower....... so because this stock was for a "Classic" it is certainly "free floated" all the way from the lug! At $150 I am happy as a clam at high tide!
E

 

[lefty315]

I think it looks great! As I am becoming the minority of people who still prefer a good looking rifle to have a wood stock, it pains me to see companies no longer providing them as much as they used to.

 

[gbflyer]

Looks great. I have a Win 70 classic ss in walnut as well. Lefty, walnut was the only offering. Also put my ss Tikka T3X in walnut. With a bedding job that took me 3x to get it stress free, it really woke up in the accuracy dept.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I’d say you’ve got one heck of a rifle there Earle!!

My absolute favorite is a standard grade M70 Classic Stainless! Serial number puts it at 1994. I’ve owned it since 2003. It was the first rifle I ever saw with the stainless matte finish and walnut stock. It was love at first sight.

I had my initials engraved on the floorplate in 2023. But I’m a Model 70 fanatic. My wife thinks I need psychological help, maybe even a straitjacket and a muzzle.

 

[DrMike]

My wife thinks I need psychological help, maybe even a straitjacket and a muzzle.

There seems to be quite a bit of this malady running through this forum.

 

[Bruce Mc]

I bought a bell and Carlson with aluminum bedding block for my Model 70 classic in 7mm mag. The original wood stock grouped better than the synthetic. Skim bedding the stock may help the B&C group better but I haven't gotten around to it.

 

[truck driver]

I bought a bell and Carlson with aluminum bedding block for my Model 70 classic in 7mm mag. The original wood stock grouped better than the synthetic. Skim bedding the stock may help the B&C group better but I haven't gotten around to it.

It seems all stocks whether factory wood or aftermarket synthetic Composits with metal action blocks will shoot better with a little help from skim bedding at least all of mine have and then I've had some that didn't need it. Mass produced stocks are made to just drop in so yeah skim bedding will help a lot.

 

[SJB358]

Looks great! Now that’s a great upgrade!

 

[cloverleaf]

Have said it here recently, If Cerakote had been as common 25 years ago my old 250 might have received a "Gun metal Grray" paint job to go in its walnut stock. Had her blued instead. Yours is a HANDSOME rifle! Continue to enjoy..... CL