1988 Winchester Model 70 XTR Chambered in 300 H&H Magnum
Fairlane66
Member Posts: 338 ✭✭
About ten years ago, I bought a NIB Winchester Model 70 chambered in 300 H&H Magnum from a fella in Ohio. The rifle has one of the most magnificent stocks ever on a factory Winchester, far surpassing any Super Grade rifle I've seen. According to the seller, he bought the rifle in 1988 from Wammes Gun Shop, in downtown Bellefontaine, OH. Supposedly, Wammes often worked with gun manufactures, notably Winchester and Colt, to produce special runs of firearms specifically for sale in its Ohio store. That supposedly was the case with a 1988 run of Winchester Models 70 XTR in 300 H&H Mag.
I've heard several versions of the story surrounding this run of rifles. One version has it that Winchester was producing a run of XTR Models 70 in 300 H&H and Wammes asked them to turn out some in "Safari Grade" with exceptionally figured walnut stocks. Another version claimed Wammes commissioned a run of 300 XTR rifles in 300 H&H, 200 Standard Grade sporters and 100 Safari Grade examples. Both examples periodically come up on the auction side. Here's a picture of a "Safari Grade" rifle that's currently on the auction side with wood that's similar to the one in my gun safe.
I'm hoping one of you experts, maybe someone from Ohio familiar with Wammes (now defunct) or who knows about this special run, can tell the gospel on these 1988 Winchester Model 70 XTR rifles chambered in 300 H&H. Thanks in advance.