Model 70 life question

[Big country]

I have a rifle that is listed as a "Sears and Roebuck Ted Williams Model 53" it is a .30-.06 sprg and was manufactured by Winchester for Sears and Roebuck back when Sears sold guns. As far as I can tell the serial number goes back to a model 70 and the scope mounts I got for it were made for a model 70 and they fit fine. My question is if I were to buy an after market drop in stock for this for a model 70 long action with a hinged floor plate is it possible that the stock won't fit because it is not a "true Winchester model 70"? The next question is how do I tell if my hinged floor plate is a 1 or 2 piece? And how do I tell if a barrel is shot out? I have noticed my groups getting wider and nothing has changed. I think maybe a stock with a good solid bedding might fix the issues but I don't know. I need to find out if the barrel is dieing or if the rifle can be saved. And finally what kind of accuracy can I realistically expect out of this gun? There might not be any problem it may just be old and acceptable for it's time of production. I'm looking at Bell and Carlson for the stock.

Thanks,
Cody

 

[Texas1911]

Ted Williams as in the Red Sox baseball player? If so I wouldn't touch that thing dude.

 

[Big country]

Yeah he was apparently an avid hunter/outdoors man.

 

[Bullseye Shooter]

It's doubtful that the barrel is shot out. Most barrels can handle in excess of 5,000 rounds before accuracy suffers. It's not really the barrel that gets shot out, but the errosion at the throat that causes problems with accuracy. More than likely (as you guessed) it's the stock and the bedding. I would check with Bell and Carlson, but I'm guessing a Model 70 stock will work. I'm having a senior moment on what the floor plates look like on a Model 70 but again, B&C should be able to help with that.

 

[Big country]

So a new stock with a bedding system other than just plain ole wood would likely make the rifle shoot better? I figured but as I said in another thread. I started to read more of the rifles forum and I realized how much I don't know. LOL Anything else that I should check before investing in a new stock?

 

[Okierifleman]

Yes, the gun was made bearing that Ted Williams name. When you are checking B&C for the stock, make sure you are looking for a Pre-64 Model 70 stock, I am sure it will work on a model 53(although I would invest in a phone call to B&C). Like bullseye said, it is very doubtful that your gun is shot out, the 30-06 has never been known to be hard on barrels and very few people shoot enough to truly ruin one. I would have a gunsmith look at the throat for erosion, and while he is at it, look at the crown(just as important as the throat)If both look good, then you can go to the next step, which is a properly bedded stock.

 

[Big country]

So if the throat is eroded what can be done to fix that? And okierifleman you have brought me to my next likely culprit, the crown. I was going to take my rifle up to Hill country rifles down in New Braunfels to get a new crown cut but never got around to it. I'm almost positive that my numbers bring the rifles date to post 64. Other than the numbers what should I look for to tell if it's a pre or post 64? If it works here is a crappy pic of the Action.

 

[Big country]

One more thing would something like this help an old model 70 or is this a waste of money? [url]http://www.hillcountryrifles.com/accurizeit.aspx[/URL]

 

[Bullseye Shooter]

If it's throat errosion all you can do is put a new barrel on it or have a gunsmith try and recut the throat area to give you more leade. I did that on my .280 Model 700. The throat wasn't bad but it needed more length (leade) so I could seat the bullets out a tad more. The crown can be recut if that's the problem, but I doubt that it has a problem. Most guys clean their bolt actions from the rear so messing up the crown should not happen. And it it was cleaned from the muzzle end, most cleaning rods are a lot softer than the steel in the barrel, so it's pretty hard to mess up the crown.

I would go the new stock route first before sending it in to have it glass bedded, etc. My son-in-law bought one of those package Savage rifles a few years back. Out of the box, it shot just at one minute at 100 yards. He had some work done on it similar to your website and after it got back it still shot just at one minute.

You know, we never asked; have you checked to make sure the stock screws are tight and that your scope is secure? Sometimes it's just that something got loose that causes the accuracy to deteriorate.

 

[Big country]

Yes I have checked both. I wonder tho. If the stock screws are tighter than they were from the factory would that cause the harmonics to be off due to pressure on the barrel or something?
I just Googlefooed. As far as I can tell the rifle is a post 64 do to a push feed system rather than the pre 64 controlled feed system.

 

[Bullseye Shooter]

It's easy enough to tell the difference between the pre-64 and post-64 model 70. The pre-64 has a big claw extractor the same as the '03 Springfield and '98 Mausers. The post-64 has an extractor like the Model 700 Remington and Savage 110s.

Most of the post-64s had a free-floating barrel, so the tension on the stock screws should not make a difference.

Most of the .30 calibers that I have shot prefer 150 grain bullets rather than those lighter or heavier. What load and bullet have you been shooting?

 

[Big country]

150 gr win power points. Maybe it just decided it doesn't like those anymore? I'm looking at a B&C premier thumb hole in one of the camo patterns. What kind of bedding am I looking at giving me the best results?

 

[Bullseye Shooter]

Every rifle is different. You might check with B&C and get their input. They may tell you to try the stock without any special bedding to begin with.

 

[Big country]

I'm not to worried about getting one that is bedded, just one that is more rigid than the wood it is in right now. I think I need a new crown on top of a new stock. The crown is showing signs of wear. I would like to know also if there is anywhere to get a crown cut in the Austin area. So if anyone has any info on that it would be very helpful. Thanks for all the info so far and for helping me with something I've never tried before.

 

[Okierifleman]

Hill Country does great work over there. If you are going to keep the rifle, I would definately suggest sending it to them. They will true your action, recrown, and bed it into a new stock. It should give you a dramatic difference.

 

[Big country]

I'm also toying with the idea of buying a Marlin XS7 in .308 or 7mm-08 instead of buying that 22 or restocking this rifle. I want to try and be as money effective as I can.

 

[Okierifleman]

That would work too. I do not know anything about the Marlin rifles, but I bet they will do the job.

 

[Big country]

I still can't shake the feel of that rifle in my hands. It felt better to shoulder than the remmy's and the Mossberg ATR's. I still don't know about all this tho they offer that Marlin in 7mm-08, 308 and something else that I can't remember right now. I doubt very seriously I'll ever shoot at 600 yds but I want something that can do 600 if the situation calls for it. You know like a long range zombie stopper, hey quit laughing you never know when the zombies will attack! LOL Any way the range close to my house has a 300 yd rifle range so I would like to put some time on that and be able to hit the 10 ring at least.

 

[junkyguns]

big country, bell and carson is a good choice , but consider the hogue over molded stock it has the best feel of any aftermarket stock I have tried, I bought a new model 70 coyote barrel action and ordered a hogue overmolded stock from midway usa with no regrets . my rifle is in 300wsm and the stock gives the extra wieght that i needed for it without being overly heavy they come with sling studs preinstalled and you can get one for $104.99 with the pillar bedding or $199.99 with full length bedding the later is the best choice. and it was a true drop in fit.
good luck with which ever you decide.

 

[Big country]

I thought about that I might even do it. Thanks.