I have 5 Model 70’s, 4 of which are based on Pre-64 actions. Nowadays, they’re the only rifles I hunt with. Even though I love beautiful rifles with great wood and metal work, mine are only utilitarian tools that get used as such.
Featherweight in 30-06, all original and topped with a 2.5-8x Leupold. It’s very accurate and a wonderful rifle but I seldom hunt with it. It’s the only all original Model 70 I own.
.264 Win Mag, pillar bedded in a Brown Precision stock, 26” Krieger stainless barrel, Timney trigger set ant 2 3/4 lbs. and topped with a Leupold VX5 in 3-15x, with CDS Firedot reticle. 9.25 lbs. It’s my go-to light rifle, shoots 0.355” groups with 127 grain LRX’s at 3,200 fps. Cerakoted flat black.
.416 Hoffman, Brown Precision stock, 22” Hart stainless barrel bead blasted natural, original trigger set at 3 lbs., topped with a Leupold VX5 in 1-5x with CDS Firedot reticle. 9.3 Lbs I shoot a variety of 400 grain bullets through it -Bearclaws, TSX’s, Cutting Edge solids and groups well with all, under 1”.
.375 H&H, Hi-Tech stock (basically same as a Brown), 24” Shilen stainless barrel bead blasted natural, Timney trigger set at 2 3/4 lbs, topped with a Leupold VX5 in 2-10x with CDS Firedot reticle. 8.9 lbs. I shoot 300 grain bullets in this, the same bullets as in the .416. Shoots 0.75” groups with TSX’s. This rifle is new to me, only built it a year ago, might be my favorite rifle of all.
And the Bastard Child…
.338 Win Mag that is a post-64, Brown Precision stock, 24” Lilja Stainless fluted barrel that’s bead blasted natural, Timney trigger set at 2 3/4 lbs., topped with a Leupold VX5 in 2-10x with CDS Firedot reticle. 8.75lbs. I shoot 225 grain bullets here, mostly TTSX’s and Bearclaws. I’ve been hunting with this rifle since 1985 and it’s my “go-to” rifle that I hunt with more than anything, even though it’s a lowly post-64.
.375 H&H