• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Any Winchester Model 70 Gurus?

A

Aeds151

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2018
Messages
2,448
I have inherited a Winchester Model 70 made in 1948 (according to SN). Here is the kicker, the barrel is stamped 30GOV’T03. The 30-03 ended production after only 3 years when the 30-06 came out. The model 70 was not made until 1936. All of the few google searches turned up old forums (2006) but no one could explain it or put a value on it. Has anyone come across this before?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Not a model 70 expert but I'd guess that's an aftermarket barrel somebody had chambered in 30-03. Unless maybe it's some sort of commemorative rifle they made. Do you have a close up pic of the barrel markings?
 
00a45db550069fe2f8eef7982ab3f09b.jpg


There is some talk that winchester had tried to use a 03 stamp converted to an 06 but it didnt turn out. The 03 on this rifle looks odd. Maybe it was stamped with a modified 03? If that is the case, its a collectable. Kinda like a misprinted coin. I was a little bummed seeing the 03 since I was hoping to get a rifle I could/would hunt with but seeing how I have never hunted a deer with a rifle ever, I guess I wont start now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
My understanding is the 30-03 was in the catalog and could be ordered that way. If the gun is in good working order and is indeed a 03 chamber you can fire 30-06 ammo in it. It’s recommended to stick with 180+ grain ammo. The 03 had a longer neck for the 220 grain loading it was designed for. As the government switched to lighter bullets the neck was shortened. Since both rounds headspace on the shoulder the neck length isn’t important as far as safety is concerned. The heavier bullets are recommended only for accuracy reasons as the 150 grain bullets would have a long jump to hit the lands.
 
Good stuff thanks guys. I think it will just reside in the cabinet as a conversation piece for now


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Aeds151 said:
Good stuff thanks guys. I think it will just reside in the cabinet as a conversation piece for now


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I"d agree! Clean it up good an put a nice layer of oil on it! Very cool piece.
 
Aeds151 said:
I just cant help but wonder if its a collector item being miss stamped. I told my self not to go down this rabbit hole but it got the best of me. Haha
Click to expand...

Just an opinion and worth what you paid for it :D...A lot of times "collectors" are somewhere off in LaLa land with what they believe things are worth. It's the age old conundrum, collectors can say it's worth whatever they want but the reality is it's only worth what someone will pay and that's the problem with something like a misstamp, I doubt anybody is going to do anything but talk about it's value. Getting somebody to cough up cash for it is unlikely. Go to the Tulsa gun show and there's literally miles of tables stacked up with old Winchesters with crazy price tags on them but nothing's moving, those same guns have been hauled from show to show for years. At my local show there's still stuff that's shows up every year on the same tables for the decade since I've moved here. I don't mean to be a downer but if you inherited the piece I think sentimentality is where the value is in that one (I mean in addition to what an '06 Model 70 is worth ).
 
Why don't you just confirm the caliber with a 30 06 round or a credible gun smith?
 
I will have it check out. Thanks. all good information.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
well if you do decide you want to hunt with it I have a brand new black synthetic stock you could swap out to keep that wood nice and healthy. cheap ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top