Winchester Model 70

History

In 1925, the famous Winchester Repeating Arms Company presented their Model 54 bolt-action rifle to the civilian sports market. The type became the company's first successful civilian market venture with a bolt-action medium-fire rifle system (based on the outstanding German Mauser method), with 50,145 produced by 1930.

Beginning in 1936, the Type 70 was released, continuing the history of the Type 54 with some changes. Production of this rifle continued until 1963, then resumed production from 1964 to 2006, producing a "post-1963" barrel, a streamlined model in an attempt to keep production costs down.

This move is only to increase the value of pre-1964 rifles. In 2008, the rifle entered mass production again, with Belgian concern FN Herstal seeing additional production.

The Model 70 quickly became a popular sporting rifle system. Its stock, fore stock and shoulder stock consist of a wooden stock, giving it the appearance of a traditional rifle. The pistol grip is an integral part of this stock, flexing gracefully to fit the profile of the primary shooter.

The trigger mechanism is lowered as usual, and the important metal parts are inlaid in the wooden body as usual. This includes the folding, push button, bolt-on grips and bolts, ejection ports, all necessary moving parts and barrels. Telescopic sights can be mounted above the receiver for long-range precision fire, although iron sights are retained as a spare (adjustable rear).

Barrel lengths of 22, 24 and 26 inches are available, so rifle weights vary from 6 to 8 pounds. The feed system has a baseplate internal spring magazine that typically holds five ready-to-fire rounds (depending on the rounds in the game).

Eventually, a variety of rifling and cartridge types were seen in the Type 70 series.

The Type 70 served outside the civilian market as it was used in sniper roles by law enforcement groups and the military. During World War II in 1942, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) took over an inventory of approximately 373 rifles (0.30-06 chamber) and used them in the Pacific theater against Japan. Others were used to train characters to lead to the use of the M1903 Springfield sniper rifle and the improved M1 Garand sniper form.

Some provided additional service during the Korean War (1950-1953). In 1954, the U.S. Army began to procure a special heavy Type 70. During the upcoming Vietnam War (1955-1975), the Model 70 was used by members of both the Army and the U.S.

Marine Corps, but these weapons never became the official standardized sniper platform.

Law enforcement groups also purchased Model 70s in bulk. Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and the Philippines have used the rifle outside the United States. The SWAT version is produced by FN Herstal.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes