"We're A Winchester Family": Gillette Couple's Huge Stash Of Pre-64 Winchester Rifles

Cowboy State Daily ^ | Mark Heinz

[Spacetrucker]

Patience and Jarod Blocker are rare for their age. The Gillette couple has a passion for classic pre-64 Winchester Model 70 rifles. Planning for next year's Winchester Arms Collectors Association show in Cody, Patience says, "It's going to be bad-ass."

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History; Hobbies; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: banglist; campbellcounty; collector; firearms; gillette; guns; history; wyoming

[Spacetrucker]

While not much of an arms collector myself, my father-in-law was an FFL holder for many years, and prided himself on his small collection. Specifically, his pre-64 .270 Winchesters (he had two, to my recollection) among many others. I had the chance to shoot his pre-64 270 on several occasions, and it was indeed a pleasure. He also had a pre-64 30-06 that he rarely used, as he was a fan of the .270 and it's versatility - he always said that it was too much of a gun for white-tail deer. Reading thia article, I was truly impressed with the collection this man has amassed.

[Lurker]

The finest rifle in my safe is a Winchester Model 70 Super Grade in .300 Winchester Magnum.

It’s a wonderful gun.

L

[Spacetrucker]

Indeed. I’ve had the occasional opportunity to shoot a .300, but it was a Winchester Magnum. VERY MUCH way more gun than you need for white-tail.

[SkyDancer]

I have a pristine new one. Never fired it.

[Disambiguator]

Is it new-new or old but never used?

Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore likes the new Model 70s. I think they’re made in Portugal.

[real saxophonist]

YOU COULD SHOOT DOWN A PLANE WITH THAT THERE SNIPER RIFLE!!!

/s

[1FreeAmerican]

I had one in ‘71 or ‘72.

I thought it was no big deal then and I sold it for something like $25.

OOPS!

[SkyDancer]

It’s new - keep it oiled and polished.

[BAN-ONE]

I love ‘em.
Beautiful yet rugged enough for extreme use.
Three position safety.
Controlled round feed. (effortlessly feeds and ejects every round perfectly)

[BipolarBob]

The Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody Wy. has the largest Winchester collection in the world. I loved it.

[Mariner]

I had a 1961 Model 70 Featherweight in 3006.

I always thought it was nice.

Then in 2002 I bought a Model 70 Featherweight in 3006.

The new one was a far superior rifle. I sold the 1961 for more than I would have paid for it.

[Disambiguator]

Now you need to take up handloading. There’s nothing like shooting ammo that you made yourself.

😁

[Chainmail]

We Marines had snipers armed with Winchester Model 70s in .30-06 and mounted with Unertl 8X scope in 1967. I spent part of my tour escorting our sniper to his hide position very early in the morning and I covered him with my M-14 while he waited for the enemy to show.
That guy never missed.

[SkyDancer]

I have too many 30-30 rounds. LOL