charlie brown

I have a Sears model 53 that my grandpa bought maybe 38 or so years ago (when my dad was about 7 years old). I have determined that it is a Winchester model 70 with the Sears name on it. Are there ways to tell if it is a Pre-64? If so, what are the differences, and why are so many references made to this peticular year? What changes were made in 1964? Just curious, it comes up a lot and I would like to know the difference. Either way I will NEVER get rid of this gun, just want to know. Thanks guys.

keylargo

If I'm not mistaken,and I might be,the post 64 rifles used a push extractor like remingtons instread of the claw extractor they had usedpreviously. There are many people who like the claw extractor better and if my life were on the line I guess I'd choose it also,but for practicle use I don't think it really matters.

Mikeforelk

Correct, I beleive the claw extractor was one of the characteristics visible on a pre 64. The gun was also machined and assembled differenmtly and had alot of hand work done on it that added to the price, hence Winchester made the change in 64.

bigbulls

The pre-64 (M70's manufactured before 1964) was a controled round feed bolt action. Meaning that as the bolt was pushed forward it connected with a round in the magaine and began pushing the round foreward. As the round left the magazine the rim of the cartridge slid under the full length claw extractor thus prohibiting the round from accidentally falling out of the gun during the excitement of a hunt. The drawback to this design is that a round can not be put into the chamber by itself and then the bolt closed behind it. The round must be fed from the magazine so thet the rim will slide under the extractor because there is no povot point for the extractor to move around the rim of the case and engage the case.

There is also no ejection plunger to pusg against the head of the case making the case sit "crooked" in the chamber. Many people prefer this aspect of the design because it allows the case to sit flat against the bolt fase and therefore straight in the chamber and should lead to better accuracy because the bullet is starting out straight in the chamber.

The chamber also has a coned breech instead of the more common flat breech or recessed breech. In other words if you were to remove the barrel and stand it up on its muzzle the breech would look like a cone. This was to aid in smoother and more reliable feeding and provided a stronger design.


The easiest way to tell if you have a pre 64 is if there is a long claw extractor along the side of the bolt and if the recoil lugs have an angle in the front side of them. If these are not present then yours is post 64.

Winchester has since gone bock to usieing the pre 64 design on many of their M70's. They call it the classic. They also hace a controled round push feed that incorperates design elements from both of the controled round and push feed designs which IMO is superior to either of the other two designs.

charlie brown

Thanks guys

Bigbulls, by using your description, I determined that it is a Post 64. The bolt face looks much like my Savage 110, not like my Mauser, which has the claw extractor. Also, I can put a round in the chamber and close the bolt, something that I can't do with the Mauser either but can do with the Savage. Thanks guys, just wanted to put another wrinkle in my brain