[TSU12]

I have a winchester model 70 .308 featherweight serial no. 27882. i looked it up on winchesters website and it said it was manufactured i n 1947, but i was under the assumption that the .308 didnt come out until 1952. Could someone please enlighten me.

I also have a Browning A5 light 12 serial no. G21264. I would just like a litte info on both guns

 

[kdub]

Something is wrong with your serial no.

According to the top "sticky" above on M70 build dates, this would indicate a 1940's mfg. We both know the .308 was't around then, let alone making Featherweight style rifles. If there is a "G" prefix in front of the s/n, the rifle is a post '64 mfg.

 

[Shawn Crea]

The Mod 70 featherweight came out in 1952, including in 308 Win. Either your SN is incorrect, or, you have a pre-'52 receiver that's been rebarreled to 308 Win, and maybe restocked with a post-52 FWT stock?

What are the indicators on this rifle that it is a FWT? Is there no boss on the barrel at the rear sight? Is the bottom metal (trigger guard, floor plate...and buttplate) aluminum?

Can't help you on the A5.

 

[MontyF]

Yup, Ken and Shawn have it right. First year of the .308 was in '52 along with the identifiers of a featherweight. Featherweights also had 22" barrels.

 

[TSU12]

The Mod 70 featherweight came out in 1952, including in 308 Win. Either your SN is incorrect, or, you have a pre-'52 receiver that's been rebarreled to 308 Win, and maybe restocked with a post-52 FWT stock?

What are the indicators on this rifle that it is a FWT? Is there no boss on the barrel at the rear sight? Is the bottom metal (trigger guard, floor plate...and buttplate) aluminum?

Can't help you on the A5.

the barrel says win. model 70 308 featherweight everything is metal, the barrel is 22'' long. It was my grandfathers gun and i think it may have burned in a fire so that maybe the reason for the mix up(could have been redone) there are more numbers partly hidden by the stock i will have to take it apart sometime to figure it all out

 

[Tnhunter]

I have a winchester model 70 .308 featherweight serial no. 27882. i looked it up on winchesters website and it said it was manufactured i n 1947, but i was under the assumption that the .308 didnt come out until 1952. Could someone please enlighten me.

I also have a Browning A5 light 12 serial no. G21264. I would just like a litte info on both guns

It looks like your A-5 was made in 1956. Can you give us any more info on the M70?

If you could show a few pics of the M70 it might could help. If it was damaged in a fire, perhaps the receiver was rebarreled and a FW barrel in .308 was used. I'm curious about the stock too. Aluminum buttplate?

 

[TSU12]

I have a few but idk how to get them on here. It stays in my parents safe because it hasnt a scratch on it. I love to shoot it, but the cartridges are so high. I will get the pics up asap. the butt plate is like older looking recoil pad i dont know when they came about, but it just says los angeles, california on it. Its like a diamond pattern on both sides

 

[TSU3]

308

I would want to see pics. of the 308 that doesn't sound right to be all mixed up like that nobody that restores guns should mix all the parts up like that. you might wanna take it back and see if he can put the stock parts back on it. If it all matched you would have a High dollar gun it's still worth about 300 the way it is now.. Would you wanna sell?

Texas State

 

[Sinbad12-2007]

Los Angeles, CA on the recoil pad? Sounds like it came from Pachmayer as they were based in L.A. August or Frank Pachmayer, both prominent gunsmiths of the era. If the rifle went thru a fire it's entirely possible that the same men/man that provided the recoil pad also rebarreled it in the .308, using a factory original barrel. Quite a common practice back then.

 

[Shawn Crea]

Los Angeles, CA on the recoil pad? Sounds like it came from Pachmayer as they were based in L.A. August or Frank Pachmayer, both prominent gunsmiths of the era. If the rifle went thru a fire it's entirely possible that the same men/man that provided the recoil pad also rebarreled it in the .308, using a factory original barrel. Quite a common practice back then.

That would be my vote. I have a pre-'64 Win Mod 70 in 270 Win that has a 'pachmayr gun works' brown rubber recoil pad installed on it.

If the gun went through a fire, I'd be concerned that the receiver metal properties may have been altered for the worse. Depends on the fire severity (was the stock completely burned off, or just charred - for example?) You've already shot it, but that doesn't prove its safe. I suggest you take it to a gunsmith and explain the situation and ask if they can evaluate it. It may take a specialized gunsmith with...not sure...hardness testing equipment?