NRA Gun of the Week: Winchester Model 70 Super Grade Maple Rifle

American Rifleman Staff

posted on July 6, 2019

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It was in 1935 when Winchester Repeating Arms advanced its Model 54 bolt-action rifle to meet the demands of an emerging market. That new rifle, the Model 70, took a few years before it saw its spot in the marketplace, but remains in production today, despite a few changes in manufacturing practices. The Model 70, also known as the “Rifleman’s Rifle,” is considered to be a classic American firearm. Maintaining engineering principles of its predecessor, the Model 70 features the Springfield-type coned breech and dual locking lugs which utilizes a Mauser-style claw extractor and bolt face that provides controlled delivery of cartridges to the barrel's chamber. While Winchester’s legacy continues today, variations of its Model 70 have seen use on the battlefield to the high mountain deserts of the American west. The example shown in the video here is a modern example with classic styling and accoutrements providing its status as a “Super Grade” Winchester. This rifle features a AAA-grade maple stock, engraved floorplate, knurled bolt handle along with jeweling on the bolt’s body and engraved cross bolt to secure the receiver within the figured maple stock. To learn more about the Winchester Model 70 Super Grade Maple, watch this NRA Gun of the Week video hosted by American Rifleman’s Brian Sheetz.

Specifications:
Model: Model 70 Super Grade Maple
Manufacturer: Winchester Repeating Arms
Action Type: bolt-action center-fire rifle
Chambering: .308 Win.
Receiver: steel
Barrel: 22”, steel
Finish: high gloss blue
Stock: AAA-grade maple; ebony fore-end cap; gloss finish
Magazine: five-round internal box, hinged floorplate
Sights: none
Trigger: 4-lb. pull
Weight: 7 lbs., 12 ozs.
MSRP: $1,670

Additional Reading:
The Model 70 Story: The Early Years
The Model 70 Story: Improving the Model 54
A Look Back at the Winchester Model 52 Rifle
Pre-'64 Winchester Model 70 - I Have This Old Gun
The .270 Winchester Cartridge
Long-Range Warriors: The USMC M40 Rifles

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