{"id":2285,"date":"2022-06-22T15:56:39","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T15:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/?p=2285&#038;fishpig=1655908059&#038;preview=true"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:36:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:36:54","slug":"the-legend-of-the-winchester-model-70","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-legend-of-the-winchester-model-70\/","title":{"rendered":"The Legend of the Winchester Model 70"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\"><div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-legend-of-the-winchester-model-70\/#The_Legend_of_the_Winchester_Model_70\" >The Legend of the Winchester Model 70<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-legend-of-the-winchester-model-70\/#Origins\" >Origins<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-legend-of-the-winchester-model-70\/#Winchester_Model_70\" >Winchester Model 70<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-legend-of-the-winchester-model-70\/#Changes\" >Changes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-legend-of-the-winchester-model-70\/#Legacy\" >Legacy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><h2 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Legend_of_the_Winchester_Model_70\"><\/span>The Legend of the Winchester Model 70<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Few things in life are truly \u201ciconic.\u201d The most famous <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/rifle-scope-accessories-you-might-consider\/\" title=\"Rifle Scope Accessories You Might Consider\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"852\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle<\/a> from the most famous manufacturer &#8211; the Winchester Model 70 &#8211; sheds all doubt.<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Legend of the Winchester Model 70 The Winchester 1873 is undoubtedly the most famous production <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/5-reasons-why-you-missed-the-shot\/\" title=\"5 Reasons Why You Missed the Shot\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"881\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle<\/a> of all time. As it reached the twilight of its \u201ccareer\u201d in the early 20th century, it was quickly replaced by another <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/why-the-2-5-15x-rifle-scope-is-ideal-for-hunting\/\">rifle<\/a> built with the same quality. The favorite firearm of Carlos Hathcock, the greatest Marine Corps sniper ever, and Jack O\u2019Connor, one of the most famous hunters and outdoor writers in the last 200 years, the Winchester Model 70 lacks in neither gusto nor validation.<\/span><\/p><h2 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Origins\"><\/span><b>Origins<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Like most wars, World War l precipitated innovation in <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/at-home-gun-cleaning-tips\/\">firearms<\/a> technology. For the first time, warring nations carried <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/building-the-ultimate-hunting-rifle\/\">bolt-action rifles<\/a> onto the battlefield. Impressed by their standard-issue Springfields, doughboys returned home intending to ditch their lower velocity lever-action <a title=\"Choosing a Youth Hunting Rifle\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/choosing-a-youth-hunting-rifle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunting rifles<\/a> in favor of bolt-action sporters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><figure id=\"attachment_2291\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2291\" style=\"width: 621px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2291 size-full\" title=\"The Legend of the Winchester Model 70\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/carlos-hathcock-sniper.jpg\" alt=\"The Legend of the Winchester Model 70\" width=\"621\" height=\"414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/06\/carlos-hathcock-sniper.jpg 621w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/06\/carlos-hathcock-sniper-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/06\/carlos-hathcock-sniper-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/06\/carlos-hathcock-sniper-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 621px) 100vw, 621px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2291\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Legend of the Winchester Model 70<\/figcaption><\/figure><h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Winchester_Model_70\"><\/span>Winchester Model 70<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Immediately following the war, no production bolt-action <a title=\"Why the 2.5-15x Rifle Scope is Ideal for Hunting\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/why-the-2-5-15x-rifle-scope-is-ideal-for-hunting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunting rifle<\/a> existed. Surplus Springfield <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/attending-a-long-range-shooting-course\/\">rifles<\/a> were capable of performance. But their clunky stocks and heavy triggers were far from a showpiece or pleasurable to <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/uses-for-a-low-power-variable-optic\/\" title=\"Uses for a Low Power Variable Optic\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"889\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shoot<\/a>. Firearms manufacturers raced to meet the newfound demand. Consequently bolt guns quickly became the hot new <a title=\"18 Turkey Hunting Gear Essentials\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/18-turkey-hunting-gear-essentials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunting gear<\/a> of the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 1920 Savage won the race introducing the Model 1920 Hi-Power. Preferring to take their time creating the best new design instead of the first new design, Winchester declined to join the early race. It instead released the Winchester Model 54 five years later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Model 54 took the market by storm. Hobbyists had anxiously waited for Winchester to release their response to the bolt-action demand. And the sleek new rifle did not disappoint. While the Model 54 was considered a vast success, certain design elements, including a heavy trigger, were improved, and the updated version garnered a new name \u2013 Model 70.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many called the new design perfect. The improved trigger paired with the Model 54\u2019s balance and buttery-smooth action provided <a title=\"30mm vs 1 Inch Rifle Scope\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/30mm-vs-1-inch-rifle-scope\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunters and hobby shooters with an off-the-shelf rifle<\/a> capable of tack-driving accuracy on a lightweight platform in an attractive package. In 1952, Winchester self-proclaimed the Model 70 as \u201cThe Rifleman\u2019s Rifle,\u201d and the name stuck.<\/span><\/p><h2 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Changes\"><\/span><b>Changes<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While order numbers were never a problem, efficient production was. Winchester was a company that had built its reputation on quality and the construction of premium firearms through hand-made processes rather than mass-produced methods. Into the early 1960\u2019s, lower-cost production bolt <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/tag\/actions\/\">actions<\/a> began taking market share. Most notable was the Remington 700. Realizing a need to lower their price point to compete, Winchester made changes to the Model 70\u2019s original design in 1964.<\/span><\/p><figure id=\"attachment_2288\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2288\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2288\" title=\"The Legend of the Winchester Model 70\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Winchester-model-70-v2-1024x213.jpg\" alt=\"The Legend of the Winchester Model 70\" width=\"1024\" height=\"213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/06\/Winchester-model-70-v2-1024x213.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/06\/Winchester-model-70-v2-300x62.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/06\/Winchester-model-70-v2-768x160.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/06\/Winchester-model-70-v2-600x125.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/06\/Winchester-model-70-v2-150x31.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/06\/Winchester-model-70-v2.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2288\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Legend of the Winchester Model 70<\/figcaption><\/figure><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This changed several of the rifle\u2019s components. Metal parts were forged instead of machined by hand. As was barrel rifling, which had been originally hand drilled. The original extractor was replaced. And the controlled feed action was also replaced with a more economical push feed action.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Additionally, the checkering was machine-stamped instead of being cut by the hands of skilled craftsmen. The changes received mixed reviews as purists complained of a reduction in quality. On the other hand, the common man praised finally being able to <a title=\"3 Affordable Modern Sporting Rifles\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/3-affordable-modern-sporting-rifles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">afford a fine rifle<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><h2 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Legacy\"><\/span><b>Legacy<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Over the years, improvements in manufacturing have helped maintain the lower price point. Those same improvements have kept quality intact too.The contemporary versions offer a variety of style and calibers. They give hunters, sport shooters, and law enforcement a litany of choices to find the perfect setup for their intended use.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Very few items have remained virtually unchanged over the last 100 years while maintaining demand in the marketplace. The Model 70 is still regarded as a market leader in production, build quality, sales, and user experience as we inch closer to its centennial anniversary. That&#8217;s with nearly the same design displayed in the pre-World War ll era.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 1999, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/shooting-22lr-rifle-in-a-whole-new-way\/\" title=\"Shooting a 22LR Rifle in a Whole New Way\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"562\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shooting Times<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> named the Winchester Model 70 the \u201cBolt-Action Rifle<\/a> of the Century.\u201d As a top-tier performer in the woods, on the battlefield, and on the streets for law enforcement, the Model 70 is as deserving as ever of the title for both its flexibility and consistency. Years after its initial release, we may have forgotten that the Winchester Model 70\u2019s nickname was a clever marketing campaign. Yet we will always remember \u201cThe Rifleman\u2019s Rifle\u201d as a member in the Pantheon of bolt-actions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><figure id=\"attachment_1344\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1344\" style=\"width: 728px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1344 size-full\" title=\"The Legend of the Winchester Model 70\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/TRACT_BRAND_728X90.jpg\" alt=\"The Legend of the Winchester Model 70\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/TRACT_BRAND_728X90.jpg 728w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/TRACT_BRAND_728X90-300x37.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/TRACT_BRAND_728X90-600x74.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/TRACT_BRAND_728X90-150x19.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1344\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Legend of the Winchester Model 70<\/figcaption><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Legend of the Winchester Model 70 | TRACT design and engineer performance-grade optics without the added retail costs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12121,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2265,2273],"tags":[2662,2797,2899,3032,3163,3164,3165,3166,3167,3169,3186,3189,3190,3191,3192,3202,3203,3211,3343],"class_list":["post-2285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rifle-scope","category-tractoptics","tag-gun-history","tag-hunting","tag-long-range-rifle-scope","tag-rifle-scope","tag-scope-turrets","tag-scope-turrets-explained","tag-scope-windage","tag-scope-windage-adjustment","tag-scope-windage-and-elevation","tag-scope-with-ballistic-calculator","tag-shipping-game-meat","tag-shooting","tag-shooting-a-moving-target","tag-shooting-at-a-moving-target","tag-shooting-at-moving-targets","tag-shooting-moving-target","tag-shooting-moving-targets","tag-side-focus-parallax-adjustment","tag-winchester-model-70"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2285"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11399,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2285\/revisions\/11399"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}