Difference between winchester M70 featherweight and standard version

STAGE 2 · February 5, 2012, 11:23 PM

Like the title says what the difference between a featherweight model 70 and a standard model 70, both pre 64? I've seen some articles that give differences in barrels, stocks and aluminum vs steel parts, but haven't seen a definitive list.

Scorch · February 6, 2012, 01:30 AM

Barrel contour, stock configuration and shape, aluminum floorplate instead of steel.

Scharfschuetzer · February 6, 2012, 02:04 AM

Scorch is correct.

22" v. 24" barrel, barrel without the midpoint bulge and stock screw, aluminium floor plate and trigger guard that loose their anodizing quickly out in the field. While I don't think the stock is any lighter, mine has a higher comb more conducive for scope use than my standard M70. I'm not sure what the weight difference is, but it must be a pound or so. There is no difference in the action, magazine or safety.

oneoldsap · February 6, 2012, 11:34 AM

The Featherweight has an aluminum buttplate too !

STAGE 2 · February 6, 2012, 01:37 PM

So the reciever and internals (trigger group, bolt etc) are the same between the two, i.e. if one was to come across a beater featherweight and was interested in a custom build which would result in a new barrel and stock anyways it really wouldn't matter (save the aluminum floorplate).

Scorch · February 6, 2012, 05:26 PM

Quote:

So the reciever and internals (trigger group, bolt etc) are the same between the two

That's right!

Scharfschuetzer · February 6, 2012, 09:50 PM

The only difference that you'll find in the actions is the bolt stop (on the bolt oposite the extractor) and the magazines and followers used for the 243 and the 308 versions v. the 30/06 or 270 of the Featherweights. They are easy to replace though if you want to go from a 30/06 length to a 243 or visa versa.

By stopping the bolt sooner with an extended bolt stop, Winchester had in effect a short action for the 243 and 308 Winchester calibres. Perhaps not as eloquent as the later purposely made short actions, but very usable non the less.

Slamfire · February 6, 2012, 11:29 PM

Featherweight on top, early standard weight bottom.

Standard weight has 24" heavier barrel. In my opinion, holds its zero better as the barrel warms.

Featherweight, 22" lighter barrel.

I don't know if all standard weights had steel trigger guards or not.

treg · February 6, 2012, 11:36 PM

Recoil!

Scharfschuetzer · February 7, 2012, 07:15 PM

Nice Pre-War 70 Slamfire.

Here are my treasures:

1. Featherweight .243 Winchester with Redfield peep sight
2. Post-War 30/06 with Leuopold Pioneer 4X scope and adjustable mount
3. Pre-War .270 Winchester with a 330 Weaver and Korth Mounts

My Featherweight has a plastic or bakelight butplate. It's factory, so I guess we have both aluminium and plastic on the the Featherweights.

I've never seen a standard Pre-64 with an aluminium trigger guard, but now that I've said that, I'll bet someone has.

One and two will shoot MOA while number 3 (Pre-War .270) shoots 1 1/2 MOA for 10 shot groups. I think that is because the Korth mounts have a little play at the objective ring. I'll get 7 or 8 shots under an inch and then 1 or 2 will drop an inch out from the center of the group. That's with Hornady 130 grain interlockt bullets over 4831 powder. I could just shoot the standard 3 shot groups and call it a sub MOA rifle, but larger group size is statistically more accurate.

Funest of the bunch? The .270 with reduced loads.

Most useful? The 30/06 with the 4X scope.

Best for a youth or the wife? The .243. With the peep sight, it is truly a "Featherweight."

gringojosh · February 7, 2012, 10:20 PM

I had a Featherweight and found it hard to control. The recoil wasn't painful, but the rifle was jumpy. Shooting lightweight, powerful rifles takes a different skill set.

Scharfschuetzer · February 8, 2012, 12:14 AM

When my son was younger, we loaded up 70 grain bullets to about 2,000 fps for him to shoot in the 243 Featherweight. That largly negated the recoil factor for him before he was full grown.

While the 243 is a pretty light kicker, you are right in that a light rifle has more felt recoil. Follow through is pretty important with light weight firearms. Just let the rifle recoil as it wants, then worry about a hit or cycling the action.

mes227 · February 8, 2012, 12:18 AM

I love the Model 70s! I have:
circa 1950 in 30-06
mid 1980s sporter in 7mm Rem Mag
new model Super in 250-06

And on the lookout for a pre-64 .257 Roberts and 22.250.

February 5, 2012, 11:23 PM	#1
STAGE 2 Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2002 Posts: 2,676	Difference between winchester M70 featherweight and standard version Like the title says what the difference between a featherweight model 70 and a standard model 70, both pre 64? I've seen some articles that give differences in barrels, stocks and aluminum vs steel parts, but haven't seen a definitive list. __________________ Attorneys use a specific analytical framework beaten into the spot that used to house our common sense...

February 6, 2012, 01:30 AM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 11,033	Barrel contour, stock configuration and shape, aluminum floorplate instead of steel. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Taylor Machine

February 6, 2012, 02:04 AM	#3
Scharfschuetzer Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2012 Location: Puget Sound Posts: 293	Scorch is correct. 22" v. 24" barrel, barrel without the midpoint bulge and stock screw, aluminium floor plate and trigger guard that loose their anodizing quickly out in the field. While I don't think the stock is any lighter, mine has a higher comb more conducive for scope use than my standard M70. I'm not sure what the weight difference is, but it must be a pound or so. There is no difference in the action, magazine or safety. __________________ Scharfschuetzer US Army Distinguished Rifleman Washington State Distinguished Rifleman NRA Police Distinguished Expert

February 6, 2012, 01:37 PM	#5
STAGE 2 Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2002 Posts: 2,676	So the reciever and internals (trigger group, bolt etc) are the same between the two, i.e. if one was to come across a beater featherweight and was interested in a custom build which would result in a new barrel and stock anyways it really wouldn't matter (save the aluminum floorplate). __________________ Attorneys use a specific analytical framework beaten into the spot that used to house our common sense...

February 6, 2012, 09:50 PM	#7
Scharfschuetzer Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2012 Location: Puget Sound Posts: 293	The only difference that you'll find in the actions is the bolt stop (on the bolt oposite the extractor) and the magazines and followers used for the 243 and the 308 versions v. the 30/06 or 270 of the Featherweights. They are easy to replace though if you want to go from a 30/06 length to a 243 or visa versa. By stopping the bolt sooner with an extended bolt stop, Winchester had in effect a short action for the 243 and 308 Winchester calibres. Perhaps not as eloquent as the later purposely made short actions, but very usable non the less. __________________ Scharfschuetzer US Army Distinguished Rifleman Washington State Distinguished Rifleman NRA Police Distinguished Expert Last edited by Scharfschuetzer; February 6, 2012 at 09:58 PM.

February 6, 2012, 11:34 AM	#4
oneoldsap Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2009 Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont Posts: 1,509	The Featherweight has an aluminum buttplate too !

February 6, 2012, 11:29 PM	#8
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 3,378	Featherweight on top, early standard weight bottom. Standard weight has 24" heavier barrel. In my opinion, holds its zero better as the barrel warms. Featherweight, 22" lighter barrel. I don't know if all standard weights had steel trigger guards or not. __________________ If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.

February 6, 2012, 11:36 PM	#9
treg Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2006 Posts: 934	Recoil! __________________ "Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." - John Wayne .44 Special: For those who get it, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, no explanation is possible.

February 7, 2012, 07:15 PM	#10
Scharfschuetzer Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2012 Location: Puget Sound Posts: 293	Nice Pre-War 70 Slamfire. Here are my treasures: 1. Featherweight .243 Winchester with Redfield peep sight 2. Post-War 30/06 with Leuopold Pioneer 4X scope and adjustable mount 3. Pre-War .270 Winchester with a 330 Weaver and Korth Mounts My Featherweight has a plastic or bakelight butplate. It's factory, so I guess we have both aluminium and plastic on the the Featherweights. I've never seen a standard Pre-64 with an aluminium trigger guard, but now that I've said that, I'll bet someone has. One and two will shoot MOA while number 3 (Pre-War .270) shoots 1 1/2 MOA for 10 shot groups. I think that is because the Korth mounts have a little play at the objective ring. I'll get 7 or 8 shots under an inch and then 1 or 2 will drop an inch out from the center of the group. That's with Hornady 130 grain interlockt bullets over 4831 powder. I could just shoot the standard 3 shot groups and call it a sub MOA rifle, but larger group size is statistically more accurate. Funest of the bunch? The .270 with reduced loads. Most useful? The 30/06 with the 4X scope. Best for a youth or the wife? The .243. With the peep sight, it is truly a "Featherweight." __________________ Scharfschuetzer US Army Distinguished Rifleman Washington State Distinguished Rifleman NRA Police Distinguished Expert Last edited by Scharfschuetzer; February 7, 2012 at 07:43 PM.

February 7, 2012, 10:20 PM	#11
gringojosh Member Join Date: December 1, 2011 Posts: 42	I had a Featherweight and found it hard to control. The recoil wasn't painful, but the rifle was jumpy. Shooting lightweight, powerful rifles takes a different skill set.

February 8, 2012, 12:14 AM	#12
Scharfschuetzer Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2012 Location: Puget Sound Posts: 293	When my son was younger, we loaded up 70 grain bullets to about 2,000 fps for him to shoot in the 243 Featherweight. That largly negated the recoil factor for him before he was full grown. While the 243 is a pretty light kicker, you are right in that a light rifle has more felt recoil. Follow through is pretty important with light weight firearms. Just let the rifle recoil as it wants, then worry about a hit or cycling the action. __________________ Scharfschuetzer US Army Distinguished Rifleman Washington State Distinguished Rifleman NRA Police Distinguished Expert

February 8, 2012, 12:18 AM	#13
mes227 Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2010 Location: Incline Village, NV Posts: 535	I love the Model 70s! I have: circa 1950 in 30-06 mid 1980s sporter in 7mm Rem Mag new model Super in 250-06 And on the lookout for a pre-64 .257 Roberts and 22.250.