Winchester's Model 70 bolt-action rifle is without a doubt, one of the darlings of the American rifle shooter. There are more than 2 million Model 70s out there, and it is often a standard by which other rifles are judged. Features such as controlled-round feeding and the three-position safety--not to mention classic good looks and a reputation for quality and accuracy--are just some of those measures.
In March 2006, U.S Repeating Arms Co. announced that its New haven, CT, plant was being shut down and that the Model 70 would no longer be made. Since then, a long-term license agreement has been struck with Browning to manufacture and distribute Winchester-brand rifles and shotguns. It should go without saying that one of the new guns is a Model 70. You can read an extensive shooting review of the new gun by picking up a copy of the May/June issue of RifleShooter magazine available on newsstands now.
The most collectable Model 70s are the "pre-64" guns, manufactured before a significant production change in 1964. For those Model 70 owners interested in when their specific rifle was made, the table below shows serial number range by year made.
North American Whitetall North American Whitetail is designed for the serious trophy hunter. It provides authoritative coverage of world-class whitetails, the latest approaches to deer management and advanced hunting techniques.
