winchester model 70 30-06

louder_pull · Rookie Member Joined: Jun 01, 2007 Posts: 1

I have the above mentioned rifle in very good condition. It was manufactured in 1942. My question: It's the only one I have found that has ".30GOV'T'06" Serial is 42xxx. Can anyone tell me the exact meaning of the gov't' and if this stamp changes the value at all?

Joe Boleo · Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:59 am Post subject: Winchester model 70 .30-06

Welcome to the forum. You have a very desirable rifle and the .30-06 was the standard military rifle cartridge at the time your rifle was made. Some rifles and gun catalogs listed the 30GOV'T'06 as the caliber. It is probably not a good idea to post valid serial numbers of firearms, but rather list something like 42XXX. Take care...
Joe

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5947

Louder_Pull,

Welcome to the forums Howdy

30Gov't06 is a way to call the 30-06 with the older method of calling the cartridge. Sort of like the 45-70 is generally named "45-70 Gov't". They called the 30-06 the same round except that not sure exactly when but the name 30-06Springfield (named as such by the armoury that developed the round I believe) took hold and stuck. I believe the name 30-06 Springfield stuck sometime in the 50's not too sure though. Smile

Old Winchester MATCH ammo box labelled "30Govt06"

Old Winchester Hunting Ammo box labelled "30 Government 06"

Old Remington Hunting Ammo Box labelled "30 Springfield Model 1906"

Dimitri

Bushmaster · Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:49 am Post subject: Re: winchester model 70 30-06

DO NOT...EVER...List the complete serial number on the internet or any other place except those documents where you have no choice...

That said...Welcome to the site Louder_pull...Sit a spell, grab a beer and let's talk...

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 5:40 pm Post subject: Re: winchester model 70 30-06

louder_pull

You may want to edit your question to remove at least a portion of the SN.

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: winchester model 70 30-06

louder_pull

You may want to edit your question to remove at least a portion of the SN.

Handloader · Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:59 pm Post subject: Re: winchester model 70 30-06

Bushmaster wrote:

DO NOT...EVER...List the complete serial number on the internet or any other place except those documents where you have no choice...
.

Bushmaster: many agree with your recommendation. But, please elaborate on why you recommend not listing the entire serial number.

I can think of no reason to omit the entire number, although, it is a common practice in much advertsing on the net and other sites.

Joe Boleo · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:21 am Post subject: Re: Winchester Model 70 .30-06

Serial numbers of firearms are like your Social Security Number and if it falls into the wrong hands may not be a good thing. What I said was to alter a serial number by adding a few "Xs", not eliminate the whole number. Take care...
Joe

Bushmaster · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:57 am Post subject: Re: winchester model 70 30-06

Thanks Joe...Ya beat me to it. Besides the reason that Joe said, I really don't want anyone to lay claim to my guns for any reason like; "it was used in a crime 20 years ago" or yesterday or; "it was stolen from me 10 years ago" or what ever. Mainly...It's none of your business exactly what gun I have...The first 2 or 3 numbers give you the year/model and that's all you need to know.

None of my firearms have been stolen or used in a crime, but I can see someone making that claim to, at the least, create hate and discontent...

Handloader...What would you figure?

vint2 · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 4:39 pm Post subject: Re: winchester model 70 30-06

Speaking of serial numbers, this might be a good time and place to advise that we should all have our serial numbers, pictures, and legal descriptions of all weapons in a very secure place in case of loss. We have been robbed and were glad to have done this, expecially when my NRA insurance replaced stolen weapons.

Vince · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: winchester model 70 30-06

Joe, Bushy and Vint2......I agree wholeheartedly. Property and Identity theft is so common these days it is frightening, and anything "they" can use to "their" benefit should be secured so they cannot make use of it.

So as to not drift off topic, 30-06...great calibre. First time I have ever seen it shown as 30GOV'T06 though, but as Dimitri said; the 45-70 GOVT has retained "GOVT", just in a different spot.

Cheers, Vince

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5947

Vince,

The different spot my theory anyways is caused by how the rounds were named.

The 45-70 was named with conventional at the time naming, where you listed the caliber "45" then the black powder load "70" (grains). So logically they'd put the "GOVT" at the end.

The 30-06 on the other hand was named based on caliber and date of issue. So it was the "30" caliber "GOVT" round, since by this time smokeless was used and naming a round after the powder weight wasn't done anymore, then the date of issue "06" for 1906.

Dimitri

madmike · Rookie Member Joined: Dec 14, 2007 Posts: 2

I bought a winchester .06gov't' Model 70 with seral 27xxx. Does the 27 suggest made in 1927? or what yeasr do you think it was produced and what would it be worth?

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5947

Welcome to the forums Mike Howdy

All rifles from 27000 to 27999 were made in 1940.

Dimitri

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 9:01 pm Post subject: Re: winchester model 70 30-06

Yeah MadMike...Welcome to the site...(I just knew Big D would have the answer for that)