The Winchester Model 70 bolt action rifle is a classic among gun enthusiasts. It was designed as a true hunting rifle, rather than an adaptation of a military or target gun. Winchester introduced the Standard Model 70 in 1936 with either a 24- or 26-inch barrel, weighing about 8 pounds. A short time later, the Featherweight model appeared with a shorter barrel and lighter weight. In 1964, all Model 70s were redesigned to make production of the gun more automated and competitively priced. The Lightweight model was introduced in 1987 as a compromise between the Standard and Featherweight models.
Winchester Model 70 Lightweight
Winchester produced the Lightweight Model 70 between 1987 and 1995. Though out of production, as of 2011, it is still considered a desirable hunting rifle for many sportsmen in the used-gun market. It featured a 22-inch barrel and weighed 6 1/2 pounds. It was produced in six calibers: the 22-250 Remington, the .223 Remington, the .243 Winchester, the .270 Winchester, the .280 Remington, the .30-06 and .308 Winchester. It was a light gun, but it lacked the wide range of calibers available in the Featherweight Model 70 and proved to be less popular than the Featherweight.
Winchester Model 70 Coyote Light
The only Lightweight model Winchester makes is the Coyote Light, as of 2011. The newer Coyote Light is a highly accurate varmint and target gun. This model features a 24-inch barrel and an overall length of 44 inches. Stripped of all unnecessary bulk, it has a carbon fiber-fiberglass composite stock, a fluted, stainless barrel and an aluminum bedding block to hold the barrel. These lightweight components lower the gun's weight to about 7 1/2 pounds. Seven caliber choices range from a 22-250 Remington to a 325 WSM, or short magnum.
Winchester Model 70 Featherweight
The newer Model 70 Featherweight retains the desirable attributes of the original pre-1964 model. It is quick and easy to swing in tight cover. It features a 22- or 24-inch barrel and a weight between 6 3/4 and 7 1/4 pounds, depending on the caliber, and an overall length of 42 1/4 inches. The Grade 1 walnut stock has a satin, or nonglossy, finish and a recoil pad. This model retains the original-style Controlled Round Feeding and a Three-Position Safety: bolt and firing pin unlocked, bolt unlocked and firing pin locked, and bolt and firing pin both locked. With 12 caliber choices, including five short magnum barrels, the Model 70 Featherweight is a versatile hunting rifle with many more choices than the original Model 70 Lightweight or the newer Model 70 Coyote Light.
Wnchester Model 70 Featherweight Compact
The new Model 70 Featherweight Compact is designed especially for smaller-frame shooters, with ladies and youngsters as the primary focus. It has all the same components as the Model 70 Featherweight, except for the shorter 20-inch barrel and an overall length of 39 1/2 inches. It has also become popular with full-size hunters who like the light, compact feel of a "mountain gun." At a weight of 6 1/2 pounds, it is easier to carry up and down steep mountain slopes than a larger, heavier rifle. It comes in four calibers: the 22-250 Remington, the 243 Winchester, the 7 mm-08 Remington and the 308 Winchester.
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