Pre64Win.com Rifle Review

Wandering a local gun store’s used gun rack, I noticed the distinct floor plate of a Model 70 Winchester sitting in the rack. I picked up the rifle to see it had been vandalized by it’s owner, carving his initials into the stock and engraving a series of numbers that appeared to be a Social Security number. What an abomination. I asked the salesman what the deal was with the rifle and why they even took it in, considering its condition. He replied, “I have no idea, but ill take a loss on it today if you want it.” Say no more – the rifle went home with me and straight to the work bench.

With a little work I was able to file and sand out the engraving on the receiver without changing the natural lines of the receiver (no before photos as I didn’t plan to make something from the rifle initially). After a thorough cleaning, I reassembled the rifle and went to the range to see how it would shoot. After several brands of factory 30-06 ammo, it was clear the rifle wasn’t going to shoot well and went back into the safe for a couple years until I decided what to do with it.

I am not above chopping a Pre-64 Winchester to pieces to build a custom rifle on the receiver when the rifle is no longer of any value in its original state, and this rifle was in that state. I have always been fan of the Winchester Model 70 Pre-64s and have had been following Pre64Win.com on social media. I decided to reach out and see their interest in a vision I had for a Model 70 build with a wood stock and carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel to create a modern marvel. Justin Hale, the owner of Pre64Win.com, was more than eager to assist in the project, and after a few phone calls, the rifle would begin its transformation.

The Build

I chose a 22” PROOF Sendero Lite carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel in an 8 twist for the project, as I planned to shoot mono metal bullets. The slimmer profile would be about as big a barrel as you could fit in a traditional Winchester wood stock with minor work and without comprising the integrity of the stock. These barrel would be threaded to the receiver and chambered in 280 Ackley Improved, as the Pre-64 was a standard long action. The 280 AI is an amazingly efficient cartridge and is my all time favorite long action, standard bolt face cartridge for hunting.

Pre64Win.com did a terrific job uniting the weathered receiver built in 1959 with the modern PROOF barrel wrapped in 2023. Today, many think its wrong or taboo to customize old collectible rifles, but I think if the men running the old machines knew they were making an iconic receiver that 60 years later would be refit with the most technologically advanced barrels in history, they would approve. The finished product was fit and bedded to a take-off Pre-64 stock from a different rifle to replace the destroyed original stock. The combination of oil-rubbed wood stock and wrapped carbon fiber just looks amazing on this rifle, which was treated with a Timney Winchester trigger tuned to 2.5 lb. I finished the rifle with Talley Signature Steel rings and bases, topped with a Swarovski Z6 3-18 optic.

The rifle turned out exceptional and really doesn’t need a full write up to talk about components and build specs. At the range, the rifle shot as expected with factory and hand loads stacking groups in the sub-1/2” range at 100 yards. I settled on a hand load of 145-grain Hammer Tipped Hunters with Petersen brass, Federal 210M primers, and a full case of IMR 4350. This load shot very well and would be the ideal hunting round for the rifle’s application.

Heirloom Quality

The craftsmanship and component combination made for one of the most beautiful and unique rifles in my safe, and it was a joy to carry in the field this past fall for whitetail deer. I was able to take a nice whitetail doe with the rifle after a single off-hand shot with my youngest daughter along for her first hunt at age three – the first of many hunts this heirloom rifle will see for my children and me.

If you’re a Winchester Model 70 fan like me, be sure to check out the complete Pre-64 collection at Pre64Win.com. Justin and his team have spent years collecting Pre-64 Winchester Model 70s for collectors around the globe and have some extremely rare rifles in their shop. They also keep Pre-64 receivers, barrels, stocks and small parts available for repairs or custom builds with reasonable prices considering the high demand for these collectible rifles and parts. I recently picked up another Pre-64 Winchester receiver for 300 Win Mag build I am currently working on for a future story!

As always, help keep the gun conversation alive by following me on Instagram @papwinkle to see my online posts and reviews on all things precision rifle to help make you a better rifleman.

And remember, “Only accurate rifles are interesting.” - Townsend Whelen