Grandpa's gun.
 

Got a call from a cousin the other day, he is in possesion of a gun that Dad used to have that previously belonged to his dad. Grampa had gotten tired of chasing deer down after he shot them so he got a BIG gun. Thru the years it was sold to an uncle then to his son's. It is in my possession now and willbe untill I die or pass it on to another family member.

The gun is a Pre 64 Winchester Model 70 made in 1953 chambered for 375 H&H Magnum. A little overkill for deer but as the saying goes, "you can never use too much gun". Over the years when Dad had it I was too chicken to shoot the thing, after seeingit chop down 4" trees with one shot and destroy coffee cans, and the concussion too. But I'm going to go shoot it now and if I ever get a chance to go to Alaska I'm set for Big BEARS.

The condition is not great, not bad but not new by any means. The blueing on the receive is mostly gone and the stock finish is starting to peel, the recoil pad is ill fitting but the barrel still has 80% finish and the bore is perfect. 5 boxes of reloads came with it too, 235 grainers, 270 grainers and 300's too.
]



Dad sold it to his brother 30 years ago for $75 and I just paid 10 times that for it. But I think it is a bargin.

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

Well worth the price!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

You can't put a price on senimental value. Enjoy the rifle!

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

Pap's gun!! Priceless!! Tom.

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

Now send it to Art's in Missouri and have it restored to like it was when you grandfather had it before all the brothers beat it up.

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

All I'd do with that rifle is have a gunsmith fit that butt pad properly. That rifle has a lot of 'character'. Every one of those nicks and dings tells a story.

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

I would leave that cannon just the way it is, the way gramps used it and find a nice place on the wall for it. (then go get yourself a shiny new one!)

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

What a little gem!!!:)

Do with it exactly as you wish. It is a family jewel and you couldn't wreck it unless you have anunscrupulous smith start cutting and chopping. I agree with bronko though ... have that or another pad properly fitted.

If you want to refurbish it then do it right. Find a professional that understands that vintage weapon and treat it with the appropriate touches. I can't imagine that the gun, as is, is going to be worth more than if it is professionally refurbished. Besides, even if it is, that is a concern only if you plan on selling it. I would NEVER sell that gun. You can hunt the entire world with that little number.

Or you could do some investigating and find out about how to primp and preen it's stock and metal a bit. Even if you had a professional re-blue I doubt you'd be "ruining" it, as it is already showing way more than a little wear. Or just a little tender loving care with some stock care products and careful cleaning would be fine also.

You could also leave it completely alone. It won't shoot any better if you refurbish (except for the pad!)

No matter what you do with that rifle I am happy to have viewed it and jealous as all get out! What a find! And owned by your dad and your Gramps to boot. It doesn't get any better that that, IMHO.

Congrats man! I'd pay an awful lot of money for such a gun. I've seen some that were 1949-50 ish (same caliber) in perfect condition command over $4500.00 bucks.

Your's would get $1350.00 easy on the open market today, as is ... IMO ... and probably much more with just a little polish and preening ........ but I'm pretty sure you're not selling ... I wouldn't, EVER.

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

Isn't that recoil pad, that someone along the line had installed, part of that character. Winchester used solid red recoil pads with their logo on them.


You can't. They haven't been made since 1964. ;)


If you guys were able to aquire a 1955 corvette that had been in the family since grand pa purchaed it new.... still drives fine butthe paint was flaking off, tires were worn, windshied cracked,aftermerket grilletc... would you leave all of the "character marks" on it and stick it in the garage (gun on the wall) orrestore it to like new when grand pa bought it in 55'and drive it like grand pa did? Assuming you could afford to do so.


Either way it is one heck of a rifle to have aquired through the family. I am just saying that no matter who may have owned a given peice of property there comes a time when it must be restored, repainted, rebuilt, etc... so that others may enjoy itfor many many years to come.Grand pa's house probably doesn't have the original paint on the walls does it?

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

Have the pad replaced and then go shoot it. That's not a wall hanger. That's a hunting rifle.
And don't ever think of what it's worth. It's priceless. I still have and use my Dad's 300 H@H.

T

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

I'm so happy to have it back:)

Someone said it may not kick as bad as a 338 Win Mag?? The 338 I have isn't too bad, more snaps your neck than kicks sharp, more push than kick. Muzzleloaders and Shotguns can kick harder that that. This thing isn't a light weight. 26" barrel and the tapper isn't like a mountain gun either. My guess is around 9# w/o a scope and rings on it. A new 'premium' recoil pad is a good idea. Dad used to put a slip on pad over the one that's on the gun and then place a small pillow on his shoulder when shooting it. Us kids were scared to death of that thing, I never did shot it.

Uncle and his family hunted with it, don't know the talley for it but it has been on many elk and deer hunts as well as many trips to the range. The rear sight is a two piece folding leaf. The leaves don't like to stay up, there kind of loose. Think I'll wait to shoot it untill I have a scope on it. Got 5 boxes of reloads with the gun, and found out a buddy has a set of dies that he will never use, I know because he's a bit recoil shy and ain't now way he's ever going to own a big gun like this.:)

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

Herr Bruder Gamswilde, I don't believe you would hurt that rifle's value much if you were to refinish it-at least the stock, using a good hand-rubbed oil finish! I don't think that recoil pad is an original, but from time to time I have seen somepre-64 M70 pads for sale in unused condition. Your metal finish doesn't look too bad.

The .375 is an excellent round, and don't let anyone tell you it is too powerful for deer and other "small game". In mine I use a cast bullet load consisting of a Lyman 375449 cascheck bullet driven by 60 grains of H4831, which gives a MV of 1850 FPS and is quite accurate in the two .375's I've shot it in - a 1949 M70 Super Grade, and a Ruger No. 1H. This load is about like the HV load of the old .38/55, and kills deer very handily out to 150 yards or so. In addition, some of the .375 300-grain factory bullets are very tough, and will kill deer without destroying a lot of meat (not as bad as a .270 Win., for example)!

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

I would restore it. I think this is the right thing to do whether you hunt with it or not. I don't think you would hurt it by hunting with it, and from one perspective you continue to bring honor to the rifle and yourgrandfather by using it to hunt. I have a sporterized .30-06 that my father made from a springfield .30-06 military rifle. I would very much like to take a bull elk with this rifle, and my thought is to use the rifle in a way my father never had the opportunity but would approve heartily. In my thought this would bring honor to the rifle and honor my father's memory.

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

He would easily double or triple the rifles value if it were properly and professionally restored to original condition. Original pad, original finish, replace the hood on the front sight, fix or replace the rear sight, etc...

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

pretty sweet setup.

use those 235s and 270s for deer, who cares. That kick won't be too bad, wouldn't say any worse than a 300 win mag etc....

RE: Grandpa's gun.
 

Recoil is determined by several factors: The weight of the gun; the weight of the bullet; and the weight of the powder charge. The .375 H&H Magnum with 300-grain bullets and a powder charge of 68 grains will produce nearly 1/3 more total foot-pounds of recoil than a .300 Win. Mag. of the same weight firing 180-grain bullets....... here I am speaking of free recoil. However, there may be considerable difference in felt recoil. The stock shapes may be different, and when firing a 180-grain bullet at + 3000 FPS, vs a .375 with a 300-grain bullet at a MV of only 2500, the .300's recoil is applied over a shorterperiod of time. It therefore may FEEL as bad as the .375 to some people. I never thought so, but some might....

What I DO know, is that neither is as bad as my .416 Rigby......... Actually, Ii ENJOY shooting the .375 H&H. It is a pretty nice cartridge!