I was gifted an older (pre 64) Winchester Model 70 in 30.06. I'd like to have some customization work done on it (whatever can be done to enhance the rifle while still maintaining it's integrity). I understand these rifle's are pretty dang accurate out of the box but this gun has likely not been shot in over 50 years and I would like to put some $ into it to pass down to my son someday. Any recommendations where to take this thing to have it looked at? I am in the Woodlands north of Houston. Any recommendations what you would do to it? FWIW it has a wood stock with some noticeable scratches/dents.

It's probably got an old Weaver scope on it? My dad has one of these set ups. Man, I wouldn't touch the stock or action. Scope tech has come a long way though. Maybe update the rings and glass? Clean and oil it, bore sight and go shoot it.

I guess it depends on what you want to do with it. For an heirloom rifle like that I wouldn't do a bunch of custom work unless the rifle has reliability issues, but that's just my opinion! Post photos if you can.

i have a pre 64 also. i wouldn't touch it all. Just clean it and put a scope on it like has been said.

depending on the range you wanna shoot it, you won't need to do anything to it.

Good optics, maybe do a bedding job on the stock.

I would say if it has been previously modified you are probably ok to do what you want with it because most of the collector value is already gone.

Does it have a recoil pad or a metal butt plate? If it has a recoil pad it is most likely been modified if you still have metal butt plate that could take you from being worth $750 to $1000 or more.

If you are dead set on changing it I would advise buy completely different stock etc so you can put the original back on to keep your collector value intact.

I don't think a 30-06 would be terribly rare or unusual but if you had a 300 win mag that jumps to thousands of dollars so I would be very careful and make sure you know exactly what you have before doing anything to it.

IMHO heirloom Pre-64 Winchesters should be preserved. If anything, put some new glass, adjust the trigger, and clean it well. Should be a shooter.

Noted gents, thank you!

Not a more classic rifle out there. Wouldn't touch it if it hasn't been modified already!

I recently received my great-uncle's Mod 70, labeled 30 GOV'T 06. Made in 1939 (Mod 70 came out in 1936).
Not a speck of bluing remains, but stock is intact/original.

I have not checked the bore, hope it's good. I recall seeing that rifle many times, muzzle down against the truck floorboard....he considered it another "ranch tool".

chocolatelabs said:

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i have a pre 64 also. i wouldn't touch it all. Just clean it and put a scope on it like has been said.

depending on the range you wanna shoot it, you won't need to do anything to it.

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Yea dont touch it.

Most older Winchesters I have been around do very well with contemporary scopes. But most have never had anything else. So I would just give the bore some oil, put whatever scope on it with some good rings, and go shoot something with it. Great deer rifle.

And it's a 30-06. Probably the best match ever.

Jesus man...dont touch it.. normal maintenance and cleaning is all you need. If you want to put a nice scope on it feel free but dont jack with the rest of it. They just dont make stuff like that anymore out of the box.

Was blessed to acquire one earlier this year. It's the standard version and it weighs north of ten pounds. Ain't no mountain rifle. I had a Weaver K-4 which I put on it. I thought that Jack O'Conner would have been pleased. It had a set of Conetrol bases and rings. Had to have some help with mounting the scope and bore sighting.
The SN says it was given birth in 1953. The only thing I changed was to replace the original sling with a newer one. Don't plan on doing anything further to it. I have to confess that I'm sort of like a child with a new train. I can't believe it's mine. Then the Lord reminds me that I can't take it with me.
Hope you enjoy it and cherish it.

I have the same dilemma. I have a a 1956 Mod 70 featherweight in .243 Win. All original except the addition of a Pachmayr buttpad. My dad got it from a friend of his. He shot his first game animal, a doe pronghorn, with it in the mid 1960's. I shot my first deer with it as well as my biggest. My brother in law shot his first deer with it while sitting on my lap. My son shot his first deer with it on one of his first deer hunts. Outwardly the gun looks great but it does not have the accuracy it once had, the bore is trashed. I recently bought a bore scope. There are pits that I assume are from the original owner who hunted blacktails in the rainy PNW. There is pretty severe throat erosion and heat crazing. Torn between rebarreling or letting it ride in the safe.

Consensus is clear. As long as everything is in working order I will just add a nicer scope and keep it clean. I'll take some of the $ I was going to use on the gun and put it toward a nice safe to keep it comfortable - haha! Still sitting in the same gun case it was put in when purchased I am sure. My father in law wasn't much of a hunter.

Thought I would throw one in of my son's first hunt a couple weeks ago. Just joined again to post the pics and I always enjoy the family hunting and fishing pics I see on here.