Winchester Model 70 Featherweight

[Hunt]

I am looking at a used Winchester M70 XTR Featherweight, two questions if anyone knows. 1) What is the XTR designation on an M70? 2) Does this model a have factory bedded action? Thanks

[bigbossman]

The action will not be factory bedded.

I believe the XTR series came out sometime in the late 70's/early 80's, so definitely a post-64 push feed rifle...... not that here is anything wrong with that. I have a 1977 edition (not Featherweight). The curious thing about mine is that (while it has a nice walnut checkered stock) it has a blind box magazine, not a hinged floor plate. Also - while it is chambered for .308, it has a long action and a factory blocked magazine well. So, a fancy Model 670 I guess. Marked Model 70 XTR on the barrel though, and came to me as NOS with hangs tags, so original.

Fantastic shooting rifle, and I would assume that the Featherweight would be even nicer. I pillar bedded mine, and you'll have to do the same if you buy it.

[Hunt]

Thanks, looks like a real nice rifle. Was kinda hoping it would have been factory bedding. No big deal.

[sigstroker]

Very few rifles from major manufacturers came bedded, then or now.

I think they only made Featherweights as the XTR model. They're somewhat "deluxe" in the Winchester lineup, with nice wood and checkering, hinged floorplate, and high polished blue finish.

I would shoot it before I tried to bed it. They have pencil thin barrels so their potential is a bit limited anyway.

[dogrunner]

Gave my old std pre 64 to a favorite nephew...........but I was out of the M/70 game for only a very short time when I found a 1980's XTR FW my dealer had taken in trade...Leupold compact VX attached thereto...........7 bills later I walked out with it in hand!
Both guns are in '06, the FW has great wood, nice metal finish and for at least the first two shots will hold with that old 1948 model using my 165/4350 concoction...........and regardless of any criticism of the push feed arrangement I'm here to tell you that it works....it'll even feed upside down no less,,,,,,oughtta fit right in with the sideways pistoleros!

And no, it's not bedded in terms of glass or pillars......just well fitted.

I consider it a steal at the price I paid................and a LOT easier to pack around than my usual BAR sporter.

[theduracellbigd]

I am a Winchester guy, and own four. They are all outstanding hunting rifles. I believe the XTR has nicer wood than the basic sporter. For me, now that I get older, the aesthetics of a rifle are more important now.

[ACfixer]

I am a Winchester guy, and own four. They are all outstanding hunting rifles. I believe the XTR has nicer wood than the basic sporter. For me, now that I get older, the aesthetics of a rifle are more important now.

Yep, the XTR were just a nicer grade all around. Prettier stocks and bluing, and I agree... turning 60 this year and that stuff matters to me now.

[sigstroker]

Gave my old std pre 64 to a favorite nephew...........but I was out of the M/70 game for only a very short time when I found a 1980's XTR FW my dealer had taken in trade...Leupold compact VX attached thereto...........7 bills later I walked out with it in hand!
Both guns are in '06, the FW has great wood, nice metal finish and for at least the first two shots will hold with that old 1948 model using my 165/4350 concoction...........and regardless of any criticism of the push feed arrangement I'm here to tell you that it works....it'll even feed upside down no less,,,,,,oughtta fit right in with the sideways pistoleros!

And no, it's not bedded in terms of glass or pillars......just well fitted.

I consider it a steal at the price I paid................and a LOT easier to pack around than my usual BAR sporter.

That's exactly the way I had mine set up. I figured a compact Loopy just matched batter. Unfortunately it was stolen. My stolen AR-10 was recovered, and the idiot thief had taken the Loopy compact off the featherweight, and put it on the AR-10! Looked really stupid.

I'm a bad shot, but shooting off of a rolled-up jacket I got 5 shot 2.5 inch groups at 200 yards in a counter-sniper match. I was very happy with that, and surprised, TBH.

[Horsewright]

I have one in 7x57 and it's a shooter besides being a looker. I always figured XTR was pronounced EXTRA and it is a very nicely finished rifle with nice wood. Easy to carry around.

Years ago, I once loaned it to a friend, a former Marine sniper. He was getting together with another friend to teach him how to shoot a bolt gun correctly. When he bought the rifle back he also brought back a target with three holes almost touching. He told me that this rifle shouldn't shoot as well as it does. Skinny barrel, wood stock etc etc. I looked at the target and said I can't shoot that well at a hundred yards anyways. He said:"That was 500 yards." Should of kept the target.

I bought mine at the Big 5 in Simi say 1984 or so, maybe 85. Paid like $375 or something stupid for it.

[MARKFP]

Got hung up on the 70 featherweights when my dad and bros bought me a 243 in early '80s. Been on a binge since, can't resist one on a rack for sale!
The "skinny" barrels can be an issue if you do too many repeat shots. I use mine for hunting and play with some mid-range precision shooting. Just slow your cycle of fire. Also the schnabel stocks on some of the featherweights can wander and pinch the barrel.
I taught myself how to glass bed and float the barrel. My advice is to give more relief on the fore stock and a full bed on the reciever. The other thing I do is replace the parts on the adjustable trigger. I found some kits at I believe MCARBO. these worked so well I ordered about 20 kits, so it's been awhile since ordering these kits. The guys that operate the company are big time 70 fans.
These rifles are real shooters and have alot of potential, they shoot better than I can !!!

[bigbossman]

Yep, the XTR were just a nicer grade all around. Prettier stocks and bluing, and I agree... turning 60 this year and that stuff matters to me now.

It matters to me, too. But....... My Winchester XTR was bought to hunt with, and it was too pretty and I am too rough on equipment to take in the field as-is. So - I fished a factory Winchester synthetic stock off of eBay for $50, pillar bedded the action to it, and did a DIY camo paint job on it. The pretty stock is stashed away safely, and the synthetic one gets the abuse. The gun shoots into just over .5 MOA and is zeroed for 300 yards. Took three deer with it this last season - center the crosshairs on the chest, pull the trigger, meat in the freezer.

It is a wonderful hunting rifle, and has sidelined my Tikka T3 Lite. Push feed? Not a problem IMO, and those that turn their noses up at that feature allow the rest of use to buy a very nice rifle for a good price.

[ar15barrels]

I am looking at a used Winchester M70 XTR Featherweight, two questions if anyone knows.
1) What is the XTR designation on an M70?
2) Does this model a have factory bedded action? Thanks

I had an 1990's model 70 featherweight classic but it was not an XTR.
It had what looked and felt like some hot glue squirted into the stock behind the recoil lug to act as bedding.

[1recluse]

I had an 1990's model 70 featherweight classic but it was not an XTR.
It had what looked and felt like some hot glue squirted into the stock behind the recoil lug to act as bedding.

That appears to be normal Winchester bedding, a little squirt at the tang too.

[ACfixer]

It matters to me, too. But....... My Winchester XTR was bought to hunt with, and it was too pretty and I am too rough on equipment to take in the field as-is. So - I fished a factory Winchester synthetic stock off of eBay for $50, pillar bedded the action to it, and did a DIY camo paint job on it. The pretty stock is stashed away safely, and the synthetic one gets the abuse. The gun shoots into just over .5 MOA and is zeroed for 300 yards. Took three deer with it this last season - center the crosshairs on the chest, pull the trigger, meat in the freezer.

It is a wonderful hunting rifle, and has sidelined my Tikka T3 Lite. Push feed? Not a problem IMO, and those that turn their noses up at that feature allow the rest of use to buy a very nice rifle for a good price.

Every one of my 7 Remington 700's is push-feed, they all work. Just a different way of doing things. The XTR's are super pretty, I totally get it! One of my 700's is a .308 with a synth stock, it gets almost all of the field duty. But I just got a cool soft sleeve carrier for my side x side that might permit me to sake some walnut into the bush this year.

[pennstater]

Had me '91 Mod 70 XTR in 7mmRM. Wonderful shooter! Very nice wood, good bluing and that glue glob that Randall mentioned. It was one of the last rifles I sold when I stopped hunting. Damn good rifle.

MLC