This is a very nice .264 Winchester Magnum "Westerner" rifle, produced in 1960.
When Winchester introduced the .264 Win Mag cartridge in 1960, they named the new rifle the "Westerner". It had a 26" stainless barrel with a new "smoky blue" kind of finish process used to give it color, and was relatively low cost compared to other model 70 magnum rifles. Unfortunately for Winchester, they made the mistake of focusing .264 Win Mag production on the 22" Featherweight version which lacked the great performance of the 26" Westerner, but which Winchester was able to charge slightly more for. The rest is history. The Westerner became a more scarce and collectible rifle, the .264 WM Featherweight became a bit of a joke with compromised muzzle velocities and terrible barrel life, and the Remington 700 chambered in 7mm Magnum became the winner in this segment of the market. Now, 60 years later, the Westerner has become a special collectible with a unique story behind it.
This rifle is lightly used, but in very good to excellent condition. The bore of the 26" barrel is outstanding for a .264 WM , grading 8/10 with strong rifling, no pits, no heat damage and no erosion. This is an unusually nice bore for a .264 WM which will do this flat shooting and accurate chambering justice.
The "smoky blue" on the stainless barrel has begun to freckle which is very common for this type of barrel finish, otherwise the metal finishes are all in very good condition with just some light edge wear. The stock is unmodified and retains its factory buttplate. It has a few very minor handling marks, but no cracks, gouges or other issues. It is not bedded and the barrel channel is original. The rifle has a factory steel shim under the bottom metal.
The rifle is topped with a crystal clear 4-12x44 AO Bushnell Sportview scope in Leupold rings and Redfield SR bases. It's an excellent setup that is ready for the range.
NOTE: This rifle must be shipped to an FFL or C&R holder who can complete the transfer. If needed, we are happy to assist you in locating an FFL holder near you who receive and transfer the rifle to you.
