Winchester Model 70 International Army Match .308 Win. Bolt Rifle, 1971 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1825
LSB#: 220112WG011
Make: Winchester’s Custom Shop
Model: 70 International Army Match
Serial Number: G1028207
Year of Manufacture: 1971
Caliber: .308 Winchester
Action Type: Bolt Action Rifle with Internal Blind Magazine
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “-WINCHESTER MODEL 70 – 308 WIN.- / MADE IN NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL”. The top-rear of the barrel is marked with an ovalled “WP” and there is an ovalled “WP” on the top-left of the chamber ring. The left side of the receiver is marked “WINCHESTER / -TRADE MARK-”. The right side of the receiver’s chamber ring is marked “G1028207”, the bolt is hand-scribed “G1028207” on the bottom.
Barrel Length: 24″, Heavy Profile with Counter-Bored Muzzle (approximately 1.14″ at the front edge of the receiver tapering to 0.83″ at the muzzle).
Sights / Optics: There are no sights installed or included. There is a pair of drilled and tapped holes at the muzzle-end for mounting a front sight. There are pairs of drilled, tapped and filled holes in the rear of the barrel, the chamber ring and the bridge for sight/optic mounts. There is a pair of drilled, tapped and filled holes at the left-rear of the receiver for a receiver sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a distinctive International Army Match style. The stock is one-piece smooth walnut with a deep, but fairly narrow forend, contoured pistol grip, monte-carlo comb with cheekpiece, serrated black rubber Winchester buttpad, a sling swivel in the belly and a 10″ accessory rail inlet to the bottom of the forend which has a sling swivel assembly installed. The receiver and chamber section of the barrel are glass-bedded with the barrel free-floating forward of the chamber. The stock has some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is one more notable scrape on the right of the buttstock toward the rear. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 12 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttpad. The pad shows light wear, mostly at the heel. Overall, the stock is in Very Good-Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Matte Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is infrequent faint erosion in the bore. Our gauge shows an ME of about 0.9.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its metal finish. There are a few scattered minor marks with one light nicks on the left of the barrel just above the stock line about 4″ from the receiver. There is minor wear and stubborn residue at the filled holes at the muzzle, on the chamber ring and on the bridge, likely from previously installed sight/optic bases. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong sockets. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Fine-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There are two holes in the top-rear of the receiver for the externally adjustable trigger. There is a safety mounted on the rear of the bolt. Pushed to the front, the safety is OFF. Rotated back all the way, it locks both the bolt and the trigger. If pulled back half-way, it blocks only the trigger. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The International Army Match is the rarest of the post-1963 Winchester Model 70 cataloged configurations. Available only on special order basis and constructed by Winchester’s Custom Shop, there were only 179 of these rifles made in the 10 years they were offered (1970-1979). Designed specifically to conform to the International Shooting Union’s Big Bore Standard Rifle specifications, the International Army Match has a couple of rare features found only on a few other Model 70 configurations and a very unique stock.
Like the Palma Trophy Match and the Ultra Match rifles, the action and the rear of the barrel were bedded with the remainder of the barrel floated and the International Army Match had an externally adjustable trigger. Its 24″ heavy barrel has a deep counter-bore to protect the crown. Given its blind magazine, somewhat necessary due to the depth of the forend, it is nice that the receiver has a clip-guide allowing feeding via stripper clips. The only chambering offered in the Winchester catalog for the decade this model was produced, though there have been at least four examples are known to be chambered for .30-06, each built on a pre-68 receiver with the “G” prefix added when the rifles were assembled.
This example is chambered for .308 Winchester and is in Fine-plus condition. There is some light wear which is consistent with the rifle’s intended use, but it retains a strong bore and mechanics. The rifle has all of the correct features and markings of the International Army Match rifles and will make an exceptional addition to a Winchester collection or a collection of long range competition rifles. With such a limited number of these rifles made, an opportunity such as this doesn’t come by every day. Please see our photos and good luck!