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Winchester 70 Varmint .243
Ambrose
Member Posts: 3,225 ✭✭✭✭
While looking for something else, I came across an envelope with old receipts for guns that I have. One was dated Sept. 30, 1961 for the above rifle. It was not new, made in Sept.,1959. The price was $74.50 + $2.98 sales tax. But it appears the $77.48 was not that easy to come by since it was on lay-away and I was still paying for it in Feb. '62. Later on when I must have been a bit more flushed, I bought a Weaver mount ($7.75) and K10 ($39) post paid from S. A. Wentling of Palmyra, PA. I started with 40 gr. of Hodgdon 4895 bulk powder and a 75 gr. Sierra HP and never changed. I wonder how many crows and woodchucks I shot with that rifle!
Comments
Do you still have it? The first new gun I bought myself was a Model 70 in .270 Win.
In 1975, it cost $212. It was stolen in 1982.
Yes, still have it.
It's fun to find memories like that. I've been going through my mom's stuff and found some great stuff from the 60's. No guns but there is an old, still valid, $15 gift certificate to Nordstroms.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
I bought the same thing but in '74. It came from The Outdoorsman store in Ontario, OR.
Seems like I had to pay closer to $220, though. It's still my 'go to' rifle.
My Father purchased a Model 70 Heavy Barrel 30/06 pre 64 I remember shooting when I was 11. That gun had a fat forearm on it which my hands wouldn't go around. Had a 20x Unertl . I shot a lot of ground hogs with that rifle and sure wish he hadn't sold it. Not until later in my life did I discover that was the exact rifle Carlos Hathcock shot only with a 8x Unertl. That gun sure was heavy but being heavy Dad told me it absorbed a lot of the recoil. I needed that since I was not real big. I do remember how heavy it was.
I have an early Model 70 varmint with a Stainless barrel and a Litschert Spot Shot 10X scope. I have had it for years. Shoots 1/2" groups with 89 gr. bullets. Had a couple people tell ne it doesn't have a stainless barrel. Have not shot it in 4 yrs since moving out of NY. Don't remember the year of manufacture. I will have to get it out of the safe and check.
In checking my notes, I noticed that I had last fired that rifle in 2012. So a couple of weeks ago, I took it to range along with other rifles. I fired two 5-shot groups with that Sierra 75 gr. HP and the first was .40" and the second .53". I was 24 years old when I took possession of that rifle and now that I'm 83, it still shoots just as good!
Looks like you still shoot as good too!
Ambrose, my Dad bought one exactly like that at about the same time. His had a Unertl target scope on it; I don't remember what power it was but it was the cat's meow at the time. Big external adjusting turret mounts, recoil spring and all. Not exactly "field friendly" but remarkably accurate. Like many other things, it was something Dad just had to have but never used for its intended purpose - either competition or groundhog hunting. It went away in favor of a different Win 70 in .270 - which he never used for deer hunting, either.
Those were the only .243 and .270 rifles I ever shot, much less owned. Ditto for a .22-250 I now recall him buying as well. I was always of a "greener grass" mentality when it came to chamberings, almost never owning more than one of any.
I love 243s!! Making that statement here is a sure way to have someone make fun of you but I will stack my number of deer up against anyone here on GB. I guarantee there may be members with more deer taken but I will also guarantee that there are few members in that group!!
If you use the 243 the way it should be used it is deadly!! My limit was always 200 yards or less. Squeeze the trigger, go gather up your deer!!
A model 70 varmint. WOW!! Just WOW!! You are a lucky man!!
Never get rid of a rifle that shoots that good. I hope you get some more years of enjoyment out of it.