Joey just finished putting together one fine hunting and he did it on a budget! This is his Winchester Classic Model 70 Stainless chambered in 270 WSM and it turned out really nice.
I look at my rifles in many different ways. I love to shoot them AND love to just look at them hanging on the wall. They are works of industrial art. My model 70s, one made on 1953 and the other made in 2021 are beautiful for different reasons. Thanks for doing these vids.
I have been very successful buying used rifles. My favorite was a M77 Ruger in 25/06, just a beautiful rifle with the #2 contour heavy barrel, walnut stock and a 4x12 Leopold scope. I don't believe there was more than a box of shells through it and I paid 1/4 the cost of a new one. The latest rifles have all been Savages. I bought a standard Axis for $125 in 270, the owner said it was junk and wouldn't shoot. Problem #1 was he never cleaned it, I don't even think he owned a cleaning kit and the trigger was heavy as a chunk of lead. It took me 3 weeks to clean out the carbon and fouling, I added an M*Carbo trigger kit for $20 and with standard 130gr Federal ammo that it shot just under 1moa with the Bushnell scope and Tupperware stock. Fantastic hunting rifle. The latest find was a Savage 12FV, 26" barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor, no scope but the stickers were still on the stock for $250. I looked down the barrel and knew something was up, I could hardly see light down it, as usual novice buyers with no knowledge or money for a cleaning kit. Once again 2 weeks of soaking and cleaning finally finishing with many passes with JB Bore paste cleaned it up. I mounted a Vortex 6x24x50 scope on it and long story short with my 123gr handloads if I do my part it shoots 5 round groups that measure just under 3/8's of an inch, just a ragged hole at 100 yards again with the Tupperware stock and all. There are deals out there, I always look at the bolt face and muzzle but lately IMHO the biggest problems with used rifles is the lack of care they get and then are sold off as supposed junk with just enough rounds down the tube to really crap it up, their loss, my gain.
Many rifles today, while quite functional, are incredibly ugly. That rifle by contrast is gorgeous. That’s the kind of rifle it would be a pleasure to own and use. Absolutely gorgeous.
Bought a used Kimber 8400 in 270wsm 13 yrs ago. Love the fit of that rifle perfect weight and fit for me. Was a little picky about the loads it likes. Magpro powder with 140gr btsp was a great load. Shot the barrel out having a new one put on with a faster twist to shoot the 175 grainers. Hope you like yours and brass don't disappear.
Great channel and great guys. It's nice to get real practical information from real down to earth honest men. It's not a gun review to sell a product, it's not flashy and full of tricks for entertainment. There is not many places a person can get ideas and knowledge from folks they would proud to sit and have coffee with. You don't target high end rifle buyers, you talk to everybody, you include everyone. Big fan of channel, it's grown almost double since I found it and I hope it continues. You boys take time out of your lives to prepare and bring this content to all of us and we truly enjoy it.
A great video, and tell Joey that a very nice rifle and I love the stock...your totally correct, with a little careful inspection of the rifle you can tell if it's been taken care of....I personally think rather than buying one of the cheaper rifles on the market nowadays, a used quality rifle is the way to go...and Joey's rifle is a great example of that as is your A3. These days folks that work for a living and folks like me who are retired can not afford many of the new rifles, no matter how much we want one...the cure is to buy a quality used rifle...God Bless and thanks for a great video.
Thanks for the video again and great information. So as I mentioned before, most of if not all of my older rifle builds are on the Mauser action. Take for instance the 25-06 that was my fathers. ( I have a video of it on my channel) It originally started out as a ground hog gun in the hills of TN. Then in the late 70's early 80's we started deer hunting and his 25-06 became his deer rifle. In the mid-80's he'd missed a couple of deer and found that he could not get it sighted in so he took it to his brother in TN that originally built it for him. My father felt there was something wrong with the barrel and my uncle could not believe that because he'd built that gun using a Shilen barrel which he had a lot of faith in. In any case when it came back, the stock was changed out, the barrel was changed out with a new (raw) Shilen barrel and the only things that remained the same were the action and the scope. I ended up having the barrel hot bath blued for my father. I also sighted it in off the hood of my car and it held a 1/2 inch group at 100 yards consistently. That is without the action being bedded and I doubt it is free floated either. In any case, I assume the original barrel was shot out but I have no idea how many rounds were actually put through it. I doubt many, unless it was a barrel that my uncle had used previously as he shot a lot more than my father. Currently with the rifle being 40 years old I doubt more than 25 rounds have been shot through the current barrel. It will make a nice collector piece for someone in the future. I have no children to pass my collection on to so I assume these Mauser builds I have will end up in an estate sale one day
I really needed to see this video. I think I’ve been a little impatient over the past couple of years buying budget rifles, instead of holding out for a better built used rifle and doing what Joey did. Don’t get me wrong, the Ruger American rifles I bought all shoot really well and serve me well in the field, but I could have done better now that I have watched this video. Thanks you guys for helping me out!!
Hi Tom, Your channel continues to improve especially with the addition of your friend Joey. I look back to the time when you chose him to be your "expert" on the 243 video. I've watched that video many times and bought a 243 because of it - a great decision! Joey's purchase of the model 70 will hopefully make new shooters pause and reflect before they rush out and buy the latest budget rifle. Watching this video reminded me of times past visiting my local gun shop in Vermont and listening to the old timers talk about guns. You have a great channel - I feel like I know you guys and some of the people who comment every week. Keep up the good work 👍
You know I've had a great time, with old savages, because If I want a new barrel, I order it, get a barrel nut and go-no-go gauges and can change my barrel over here in my padded vise. I love being able to do that. I sure want a Win model 70 though. Maybe a Featherweight in 7mm-08. That's for another day. I just hope Winchester doesn't discontinue them.
Congratulations to Joey on having one sharp looking rifle! I agree with your thoughts on going for a used rifle over the new budget rifles, and it is something that I actively encourage people to do. I also like to recommend that people instead of trying to get the scope and gun all in the same year is to take the approach of buying them in separate years. In one year they can buy the scope, and the next they can buy the gun. That is what my father did back in the 1980's when he purchased his first hunting rifle. He got a Leupold VX-2 3x9x40 scope one year, and the next year he bought a Remington Model 700 BDL in 30-06. While not cheap it is a solid hunting setup for most if not all game in North America, and the longevity such firearms provide in service can be more budget friendly than a budget rifle that may not last decade after decade of use in the field.
It's nice to see a beautiful work stock rifle. It actually makes me sad to see those ugly plastic stock rifles. I was lucky to buy a new wooden stock Winchester stainless feather weight in .270 WSM. I've never seen another one. I had to pay retail price $856.oo at Gander Mountain, Greensboro, N.C. 63.1 grains of IMR 4064 = ½ groups @100 yards with the 140 grain Sierra HPBT.
The rebuild looks nice and used rifles in magnum cartridges seldom have large shot counts shot thru the barrel. There many magnum rifles setting in gun shops traded in for lighter and less powerful cartridges. People find that magnums are more costly, heavier, kick harder and decide something less powerful and costly is more to their liking. That is a reason you get better deals on used magnum rifles. If someone buys a magnum cartridge rifle, and does not reload. It is likely it has not had but a few boxes of ammo ever shot out the barrel. Buying used is always saves money over new, now days. New rifles that cost less to buy have reasons why they do. This one is still is a good bargain after all you did from buying a new one like it. 🤔☺
I did the same thing with both my pre 64 model 70's, 30-06 & 308 Featherweight's. Bedded & free-floated the barrels.. Smarten- them right up. I went little farther with my 308 & shortened the barrel & extended the stock, now its full stocked & lighter.. Its so nice to hunt with in the timber. No Tom we thank you for a wonderful channel you started..
Some folks stay away from used guns, but through the years I've bought many used rifles and pistols and it is amazing how most firearms really are not shot or used much! Keep up the great videos and I'd love to see you do one on the 7mm-08. I believe that this is such any underestimated cartridge for deer.
In my opinion, if you want a great new rifle on a budget, Take a look at Bergara B-14. They are loosely based on the Remington 700. Also Howa 1500 series, Howa does build rifles for Weatherby's Vanguard series. Those rifles are offered for all budgets. I agree that rifles like Ruger American have their place. I've seen folks upgrade their stocks on Ruger American rifles with good success. Boyds stocks makes excellent aftermarket components for the Ruger American. It does take a little effort on your part. You get steel bedding blocks and bedding compounds with your stock kit from Boyds. I believe you can upgrade the magazines on them as well. Here is another budget friendly alternative,if you can find one, Zastava makes a budget friendly commercial Mauser98 I believe it's their M-70. Also Zastava has a mini Mauser for cartridges like .223 and 7.62x39mm Russian. There is definitely a lot to consider if you want something new. I think getting a used Winchester 70 or Remington 700 and improving them is the way to go. That rifle shown is one sweet rig!
Tom, I throughly enjoy your views and Joey’s as well. One thought comes to mind from to time. Thats the vast collection I’ve acquired over the years. It’s nice to think of leaving them to my relatives, but have the appreciation of my . I may eventually be the old at the gun show selling his collection as I’ve seen before. I would love to hear your analogy.
Great Looking rifle. I had just found some 270 WSM ammo for my Brother-in Law and got him a few boxes, and saw his rifle and he found himself a left handed Browning A-Bolt Hunter in a wood stock. It sure is a pretty rifle, and so is yours. Only down side is his is under 7 pounds without a scope....so I'm glad he's got more shoulders that I do. :)
Fantastic! I live just west of Chicago - my wife and I are going to move south when I retire - I sure hope I can find friends like the two of you when we move - great video - keep up the great work!
Enjoy seeing you fella’s team up,nice to have a good friend to share similar interests with and you guy’s always do a great job,hope you can get that 270 wsm shooting bug holes
As always great content and really like the back and forth with Joey. The original m77 is a crap shoot. Many look great cause they never did shoot well. My cheapest rifle is also my go to and has likely put more critters in my freezer then all the rest combined. I sometimes think it aims itself cause I know I can’t shoot as good as it makes me look. 👍👍 Tom the channel just keeps getting better.
I have many Rugers m77 rifles. They all shoot great. A person has to mess with them more than other rifles. That's the art to them. Do the right load. Get a great trigger. Glass bed the stock and lap the barrel and they are awsome.
Early M77 rifles were a crapshoot as far as accuracy because at that time Ruger was farming out barrel production to an outside company. Once Ruger began hammer forging their own barrels the accuracy issues were pretty much a thing of the past. They’ve never been built for bench rest duties but more than accurate enough for hunting duties.
I had a 270 wsm synthetic stock. The recoil was sharp. I convinced my cousin he needed it. He has several scope bite scars from it but hunts with every year.
As for the .25-06, Ron Spomer seems to love his. I got interested in it because one of my high school friends had a Remington 700 in the caliber...and I was like .25 WHAT? All I had had up to that point was .30 calibers.
My self i was saving for bergara in 308 found a model 12 savage from the 90s. Threw 20 moa rail on it and my swfa 10x from my 20 inch tikka in 300 winmag. Rifle took a tumble off cliff and shatter stock. Im now waiting to put mdts oryx chassis, its 430 for a stock that i wont break. I prefer the m40a3 style stock but the aluminum chassis will do, until i build my 22 308 coyote/ match rifle
The Model 70 Classic Stainless are excellent rifles. Comparing the Winchester to a Tikka T3 or the Rugger American is like comparing a Lexus to a Volkswagen. Yes they both get the job done, but there is something to be said about the workmanship, the fit and finish, and the overall quality of the Winchester. Fantastic find.
Thanks for sharing this. I own a Winchester model 70 Classic Stainless in 300 win mag. with the Boss system. I bought it in 96 and though I have several other deer rifles it has harvested twice as many deer as the next favorite. I've owned a 25.06 in Weatherby mark V ultra light, a 270 win. in Win 70 Classic and a 257 wby mag in Weatherby mark V ultra light. I still have the 257 wby mag because it does what the 25.06 and 270 do well only better. Enjoying your channel, God bless.
Thanks Kenneth. And if I were to ever get a Weatherby it would have to be in 257 Weatherby. I've just heard to much good stuff about that cartridge over the years.
I have a Voere Stutzen rifle in 270 with a full length stock and double set triggers, that I purchased from the Rod & Gun Club when I was stationed in Bamberg Germany from 1978-1982. I love that rifle. I also have a Weatherby Vanguard in 25-06 that I love. I had always wanted a Weatherby rifle, I also wanted to try a Howa rifle and I had for many years been curious about the 25-06. I have a friend from my time in Bamberg who retired to Utah and he only has one rifle a Remington 700 I believe in 25-06 that he swears by. The Vanguard gave me the opportunity to satisfy 3 itches at once, so when I stumbled across it on my dealer's used rack I jumped at it. I am into my 7th decade and have arthritis in my legs, so I don't hunt anymore. All my guns are at this point in my life range toys. But my son and my son in law both hunt. My son in law has a post 64 Winchester model 70 in 257 Roberts that his father gave him when he was in high school. It has never failed to provide him with a deer. And the deer can't seem to tell the difference between my son in laws 257 and the post 64 model 70 in 308 that I gave my son when he was stationed in Alaska with the Air Force. They (the deer) seem to be just as dead regardless of which rifle they are shot with.
Love your rifle! It is beautiful well balanced and timeless. I appreciate that you did not go for stainless optics and rings. The only thing I would change is have Tom put some hand cut checkering on it... That would be the perfect all around American rifle then
A lot of guys are savvy enough to not over shoot their deer rifles. I have three partial boxes of Peters and Win 300 Savage rounds that my Grandpa bought with his 99 in 1957. That gun doesn't have 60 rounds through it. I have pre 64 Model 70s that have great barrels. Many of the smaller ( .22 hornet, .220 Swift, etc) have sent many a prairie dog to heaven. Of course they are much more gentle on barrels.
I just finished a budget rifle for myself last week. Its a JC Higgins in 30-06 max in 1950 never fired that I got pretty cheap . It built on a 98 Mouse action has a chrome lined barrel . I beaded the action, free floated the barrel and polished the bolt and may after deer season jewel it . I paid more for the scope on it than the rifle and it shoots 1 MOA for now with the first loads I have run through it. It will probably do better once I do some proper load development for it. But one MOA is good enough for what I need . Shooting 150 grain Nosler Partitions at 3150 Ft/ sec using superformance powder and not pushing it to the max by any means. I for one much prefer to work with older rifles that still sport wooden stocks and such .... something I can work on myself. The original 98 Mauser action has often been copied but never surpassed IMHO . I must say that that Winchester looks pretty nice as well though. and chambered in a good cartridge for reaching out there to boot
Really nice rifle! I suspect the price was due in part to the chambering, since the 300 wsm is the most popular of the wsm series. I've read that the wsm cartridge concept was originally designed for the 30 cal and the others followed as necked down from the 300 (or necked up for the 325). You may be well advised to stockpile brass when-and if-you can find it. The wssm's are all but dead and the Remington saum's are on life support as we speak. Regrettably, many fine cartridges have fallen by the wayside and brass is tough to find for those such as the 6mm Rem and even the 300 Savage.
I have a 25 06 and a 270. I like both calibres a lot. If only hunted deer a 25 06 would be more than enough. 120 grain bullet going 3000 ft per second is lethal on whitetail. Pleasant to shoot with modest recoil it can't be beat for deer in my opinion.
Hello, Joey glad you guys are merging channels sometimes. We'll done on the 270 wsm. I did the exact same thing with my 300wsm. That 270 wsm has a 1:10 twist and is the parent cartridge to the 6.8 western only difference is the shoulder angle and the twist rate a 6.8 is 1:7.5-8. I'm sure you guys will find great long range loads. Anyways great video.
That is a good looking rifle. I'm with Tom on the sling studs adding just the right amount of zing, but the matte scope/rings on stainless have the "right" look IMHO. Good luck and God bless.
Thanks for another nice video. I agree with what you all said. That used model 70 with the wood laminate stock looks beautiful! I often wondered if say a Win 70 with a stainless barrel would last longer in an overbore cartridge caliber rather than the standard steel barrel material? Obviously not overheating a barrel is very important regardless. But often wondered if stainless is a longer lasting material for all these overbore sizes such as .243 Win, 25-06, .270, .270wsm and others? Thanks again my friends, God bless.
Mike, I've heard that stainless does extend the barrel life for overbore cartridges. The properties in stainless just make it better for that for whatever reason.
@@TomRiverSimpleLiving I know chromium and nickel play a big part in stainless steel. I also know that toaster coils and other type heating coils use Ni-Chrome wire for the heating element. Apparently this alloy can handle many cycles of heating and cooling without breaking at least. Have a great week Tom, keep up the great work my friend. ✌️😎👍
The new Tikkas come with steel recoil lugs. It was the older T3's non lite that had aluminum lugs. I had to get a aftermarket for my T3 in the same caliber. Tikkas IMO are the best rifle out there per $ but ya, I would rather have a better recoil lug. Definitely a weak point.
Howa are such a great rifle. I’ve owned two heavy barrel models in 6.5 creedmoor as target rifles. Both shot easily sub moa out of the box. With handloads both are very common sub 1/4” moa rifles.
Just had to chime in. Over bore means that the casing has more volume than the rifled portion of the barrel. The Creedmores are not overbore unless maybe you get to a 22Creedmore. Most of your short action cartridges used to not be close to overbore but these new fatties may be. The advantage to short action rifles is you can go to a 24 or even a 26 inch barrel and still have your rifle the same overall length as its long action counterparts.👍
Dewes, the term overbore is actually pretty subjective with no definitive this is or isn't. There are some cartridges we all just agree are but then there are the grey areas. And the best predictor of overbore that I've seen is the ratio of case capacity to the bore diameter. The volume of the barrel really doesn't matter because that would change with barrel length. And you are right short actions generally aren't considered overbore. But if we go by the ratio of bore diameter to case capacity the 243 is actually more overbore than a 270 Winchester. But the 6.5 Creedmoor is not considered overbore and is less overbore by that ratio than the 257 Roberts which has never been considered overbore. But all of those are more overbore by that ratio than the 30-06. I just didn't want to get into an Indepth discussion on that topic since Joey's point was still valid which is the 6.5 Creedmoor was going to lose accuracy before the larger diameter 30 calibers. And as for the short action, short actions are only approximately 1/2in shorter than long actions. So no matter what barrel length you get a short action rifle is only going to be 1/2in shorter. Target shooters tend to prefer shorter actions because they believe that they are more accurate because the shorter length makes them more rigid? Personally I believe it's the manufactures that push short actions and that's because it saves them in material. A half an inch less in steel just means cost savings in material that would add up over a few thousand rifles. Or at least that's my thoughts on it?
Beautiful rifle. I get what is quality and a bargain. I’d also rather buy a 30+ year old rifle than a newer one. That being said my newer Mark V rifles are wonderful to shoot
Wow, what a beaut! I’ve got a Remington CDLSF in the 270 WSM that shoots bug eyes with pretty much everything I’ve fed it. That being said, I’m having sooooooooo much trouble finding ammo. I guess Winchester introducing the 6.8 western has declared death to the WSM version, almost. What’s y’all’s thoughts on the new 6.8W? Personally, it offers no real advantage in my opinion, over the 270 WSM.
Thanks for the video very informative. However I disagree about the Remington Model 700 recoil lug being solid. Maybe for a 270 but there’s a reason why they only chambered their own 416 Remington Magnum for such a short time
Did the same to a m70 coyote bell and Carl so on 300 wsm w a krieger # 5 target crown cut to 23” jewel trigger so about 400 w blueing do in all about 1 k And it’s one hole rifle
I shoot a .270 but my son inlaw shoots a 270wsm, my problem is brass. I found out today that 270 and 300 wsm use same parent brass . Can i use 300 wsm brass to make 270wsm?
Question - you're talking about Ruger Americans...the local Walmart, when they sold Ruger Americans a few years ago, had a bunch that had the roughest bolt faces imaginable. Looked like coarse old vinyl records. (how do you headspace on that rough surface?) Do big box stores get lower quality rifles?
Blake, I don't know of any chambered in 280ai but that doesn't mean they don't exist. But I'm guessing a gun Smith could easily chamber a standard 280 to 280ai? He would probably have to order the remmer but the overall cost shouldn't be much.
You're right it could have! I noticed when I went back and watched it that I kept repeating myself and I did waste a lot of time doing that. It's something I'm working on and just part of the learning process. And just so you know I do appreciate honest feedback, and I wanted to thank you for that.
It also could have been 10 min. Longer! When talking guns we have all the time in the world 🤔😳😂 Tom just keep the video’s coming and take just as much time as you need! After 60 years of collecting, hunting talking guns is music to my ears!
Ha ha, on a "budget". Should have left it in the factory tupperware stock. Just sayin. If you didn't like the looks of the plastic stock, you could have painted it. That's really how you do it on a "budget". Glass bed the plastic stock and you'll be surprised how well they shoot. Also, .015" clearance is not enough. If you are going to free float them, do it right. Minimum of .025". Barrel should not touch the stock even when flexed. That's a nice hunting rifle, no need to add extra unnecessary weight to it. You are taking a step backwards there.. To each their own though..
