Winchester Model 70 Super Grade Maple

[vmuth]

I live in San Diego. Nearest Big Box sporting goods store like that would be Basspro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga / Riverside. A solid 1:45 minute drive from me.

Well worth the drive if they have it though. I looked at the link on Gunbroker and 1 guy wants $1,700 for a 308. Crazy times when they ask 400-500 MORE than retail.

[sigstroker]

Isn't there a Cabelas in San Diego?

[Cowboy T]

$1400 will buy a pretty nice used Weatherby MK V (granted, .308 will be hard) and they usually sport some pretty nice wood. And I agree with ElSquid, if you are building a rifle around the wood, you need to start with the wood, the action is a lot more straightforward.

That's true. Actually, during normal times $800 will buy you a pretty nice used Mark V, with the beautiful glossy wood, especially if they're in Anything Weatherby Magnum. Barely shot. I don't know about right now, though.

I don't see a lot of Mark V's in .308 Win, though. Usually those chamberings are in the Vanguard series (also a very good gun).

If the OP wants a Winchester 70 with a certain type of wood, then I would suggest a Winchester Black Shadow or similar used Win 70, with the Tupperware stock, and then get a nicely figured walnut stock as a replacement from that vendor listed above who lets you choose the blank. That would be the best approach, I think.

[sigstroker]

Still won't hold a candle to a Super Grade because of the metal finish on them. I also doubt you can get the wood looking as nice as a Super Grade for anywhere near the Winchester's $1400 total price, unless you can carve and finish the stock yourself. They buy and carve the stocks on machines by the dozens. You can't hope to beat their value by paying a human to do it and paying retail for the blanks.

[23 Blast]

I live in San Diego. Nearest Big Box sporting goods store like that would be Basspro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga / Riverside. A solid 1:45 minute drive from me.

Well worth the drive if they have it though. I looked at the link on Gunbroker and 1 guy wants $1,700 for a 308. Crazy times when they ask 400-500 MORE than retail.

Well dang - sounds like i should sell my Win70 at a profit!

It is definitely a sellers market when it comes to guns right now.

I do like my Model 70 (Featherweight, .308 - this is one of the newer manufactured ones that feature the reintroduced Mauser-type claw extractor, like the old pre 1964s), but the wood on it is just okay. I got it off a fellow Calgunner who hadn't shot it so it was LNIB. Had he had a Super Grade available, I wouldn't have hesitated to pay the extra $500 or so.

YOLO, as the kids say. Plus, as someone who has bought many guns, most of which are common, functional ones easily attainable and easily replaced, I never regret buying that Winchester or the few of my others which I consider higher quality (and accordingly higher price). There is certainly that je ne sais quoi you get with a luxurious, high quality firearm. I'm pretty sure my Savage Axis can shoot every bit as well as the Winny, but it's like a Corolla versus a luxury car.

[Garandimal]

The .308 isn’t a classic round for a classic model 70. I’d pick the .270 or .30-06.

Yes, indeed...

Even when it's a soul-less stainless/synthetic killin' machine.




GR

[vmuth]

So what do you guys think my 2 rifles are worth?

1) Howa Varminter Supreme in SS 308. Has probably 40 rounds through it. Sighted it in and then took it for a pig hunt. Killed a pig and put it back in the safe. It has the Gray/Green pepper laminate stock. I also purchased the detach mag kit for it with both a 10 and 5 round magazine. The rifle shoots better than my skills.

2) Cetme C308. All black. Has probably 60 rounds through it. Probably less. I sent it to a guy to have the trigger smoothed out, recoil reduction, and button mag release done. Bill Springfield i think was his name. Great guy and great work.

What do you all think each rifle is worth?

Thanks.

[Bull Elk]

Beautiful guns are great to look at; however, functional guns that will no doubt get a few hunting scars over time are far more important to me.

[mlazarus5388]

I had a lengthy conversation with some of the Winchester service reps at SHOT Show a couple years back. They said they get a disproportionate number of the maple stock rifles back for cracks. That made me sad because I had planned on buying one.

[Cowboy T]

Why not just get a really nice maple riflestock for the Howa? Howas are fine rifles as well.

[sigstroker]

Like I said before, you have to see one of these Super Grades to make a reasonable comparison. a Howa with a maple stock on it doesn't compare.

[The King]

I purchased my heirloom rifle 6-7 years ago. Sako Bavarian. Old school stock with enough drop to allow for iron sights. Then topped off with low variable power leupold. Nice wood, nice blue. My two cents.

[bigbossman]

I had a lengthy conversation with some of the Winchester service reps at SHOT Show a couple years back. They said they get a disproportionate number of the maple stock rifles back for cracks. That made me sad because I had planned on buying one.

I wonder if the cracking issue is with the more robust recoiling calibers such as .300 WinMag? Perhaps the "normal" calibers don't have that issue?

[theduracellbigd]

Walnut might be a tad lighter .
The guy whos said use a Howa, it is a fine rifle but the metal bluing is not as nice as a super grade. I choose a Super Grade in traditional American walnut. It is the most beautiful gun I own hands down. Mine is not a safe queen, I got it because I hunt whitetail in Arkansas out of stands so I can take care of it for the most part aside from some scratches here or there. If I am going to be sitting there for hours on end , I might as well look at a piece of art then some plastic tool. My coyote gun is synthetic stocked Howa and it is a tool workhorse that gets a lot of bumps and bruises in and out of truck and through cover etc.

[sigstroker]

Nice. I'm not sure I could take one hunting if I got one. I've seen the walnut too. Also gorgeous but not as unusual as the maple.