Winchester Model 70 in 220 Swift

February 04, 2021, 03:50 PM

What a beautiful rifle and scope combo - to die for!!

I have a 1952 build-year x18 Unertl 2" Varmint with the calibrated head on one of my BSA Martini International MkIIs. I got the date from Dewayne Greiner - THE man about Unertl scopes. Depending on condition, it could be worth between 800 and 1000 dollars. Yours has the later, more desireable alloy POSA-style mounts - could up the value by a couple of hundred dollars - I have both styles on my rifle, but chose to use the original style. You can see it here on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6h5iEwyThk

February 05, 2021, 12:20 PM

djpaintles

Some of the Pre-64 M-70's had Stainless barrels. Should have a "japanned" black finish and marked stainless. This thread might be of interested to you:

https://winchestercollector.or...nless-steel-barrels/

Super Cool, Classic Rifle! I hope you keep it in the family and enjoy shooting it. :-)

February 05, 2021, 06:14 PM

rburg

I'm jealous. I've got a 2nd month gun (#202), but it doesn't have a scope. My 2nd year gun has a scope but its the "BalVar 8". Kind of a classic in itself.

Even old, clear scopes seem to work well. We need a thread on old scopes sometime. This one is close. It seems to me that the sealed scopes, the ones with external adjustments might live longer than the ones with internal ones. I await the shooting report.

February 05, 2021, 06:49 PM

chbibc

Thanks all for the feedback and information. One of the many reasons I love this place is the wealth of knowledge and experience of its members, and their willingness to share it all. I dropped the rifle off at my gunsmith's earlier this week. He is going to provide an appraisal for me as well as an inspection to see if there are any problems (throat erosion, chamber and barrel condition, etc.). I also need to get some .220 Swift ammo, that is a daunting task!

February 05, 2021, 08:40 PM

jaybirdaccountant

quote:
Originally posted by chbibc:
quote:
Originally posted by sourdough44:
Very nice rifle. Depending on where the FIL shot, can help with any round count estimates. If back East, likely paper & possibly groundhogs. If he ventured west, high count prairie dogging may of been the rage.

All shooting in the east, woodchucks and targets. From talking with my father inlaw I am estimating 2000-2500 rounds through it in 50 years. It hasn't been shot in the last 20. Taking it to my gunsmith tomorrow after work.

With that many rounds, a Swift is well past it's prime accuracy days, but still should have plenty of accuracy for varmint hunting. When accuracy nuts talk "shot out", then can mean the loss of 1/4" to 1/2" off your total group size at 100 yards, so it doesn't make the rifle junk

February 06, 2021, 12:05 PM

chbibc

I just brought the rifle home from the gunsmith. I should not be estimating rounds through a rifle! He estimated around 500 rounds through it. He said the rifle is in excellent condition with no throat erosion observed, barrel is in good shape and bluing is in good condition. Checkering is sharp, minor patina on metal surfaces with no scratches or dents visible. Some minor nicks and scratches on stock and minor finish wear at left face of stock and toe of stock. Overall the rifle has been well maintained. This is great news!
Now, I have to find some 220 swift ammo to shoot.

February 06, 2021, 02:58 PM

ArtieS

Wow, congratulations. That's GREAT news!

"I vowed to myself to fight against evil more completely and more wholeheartedly than I ever did before. . . . That’s the only way to pay back part of that vast debt, to live up to and try to fulfill that tremendous obligation."

Alfred Hornik, Sunday, December 2, 1945 to his family, on his continuing duty to others for surviving WW II.

February 06, 2021, 05:39 PM

barryinpa

my uncle started me on the path to being a gun nut with a rifle identical to that, except a 243. we shot a lot of stuff with it, wish I could have gotten it when he passed, but I do have my Rem 700 heavy barrel in 6mm, helps relive those days from the late 50's thru early 60's.
Barry

February 06, 2021, 06:34 PM

arfmel

I would mention that you might not want to store it in that foam lined case. I’ve seen several guns badly rusted from being stored in those.

February 07, 2021, 12:34 PM

IndianaBoy

quote:
Originally posted by kaschi:
Correct me if I'm wrong but the 220 Swift uses a semi-rimmed case, doesn't it? If true, how well does the 220 round cycle in a bolt rifle using the standard box staggered magazine as found in Winchester M70, Remington 700 or Ruger M77? All the cartridges I've ever used in those bolt rifles were rimless (223, 22-250, 30-06, etc) or belted magnum (300 Win Mag, 375H&H, etc).

My Ruger fed perfectly every time.

I only sold it because it never came out of the safe anymore.

It was like the hammer of Thor on coyotes though. Dropped them dead.

February 07, 2021, 12:35 PM

IndianaBoy

quote:
Originally posted by chbibc:
I just brought the rifle home from the gunsmith. I should not be estimating rounds through a rifle! He estimated around 500 rounds through it. He said the rifle is in excellent condition with no throat erosion observed, barrel is in good shape and bluing is in good condition. Checkering is sharp, minor patina on metal surfaces with no scratches or dents visible. Some minor nicks and scratches on stock and minor finish wear at left face of stock and toe of stock. Overall the rifle has been well maintained. This is great news!
Now, I have to find some 220 swift ammo to shoot.

220 Swift is a cartridge where you can save significant $ with a single stage press.

February 07, 2021, 12:42 PM

mike28w

Reloading is a friend of the 220swift. Saves $$$. And if avoid the ultra-high pressure loads ( just avoid the max pressure loads) , that barrel will last much longer.

220 Swift kills .....swiftly ! ;- ))

February 07, 2021, 05:44 PM

chessiedog1

This was one of just a few guns my Father dreamed of having, but never did.

Beautiful rifle and scope.

February 07, 2021, 09:03 PM

357fuzz

Beautiful rifle and scope set up. Total American classic!!!! Congrats!

February 07, 2021, 09:37 PM

fritz

quote:
Originally posted by chbibc:
Now, I have to find some 220 swift ammo to shoot.

Which may turn into a real challenge. I review ammo availability daily via ammoseek.com. I've looked for 220 Swift just for grins -- all week I've seen only 2 options for Remington 55 grain PSP. At $2.50 and $2.75 per round, these are fairly expensive options.

Handloading might be an option -- if you can find components.

February 08, 2021, 12:13 AM

Hamden106

quote:
Originally posted by rburg:
I'm jealous. I've got a 2nd month gun (#202), but it doesn't have a scope. My 2nd year gun has a scope but its the "BalVar 8". Kind of a classic in itself.

Even old, clear scopes seem to work well. We need a thread on old scopes sometime. This one is close. It seems to me that the sealed scopes, the ones with external adjustments might live longer than the ones with internal ones. I await the shooting report.

I have 2 old Alaskan scopes and an old Weaver KV. One of the Alaskan is a fixed scope. If the scope thread goes, I will picture these with their old mounts.