so, just because "you" say it ain't so, it aint' so? one thing i learned a long time ago was that i ain't an authority on anything and to think i was would be real ingnernt on my part. but when i do know something to be true, i hold on worse than a snappin' turtle with lockjaw. i refuse to let someone try and make me believe BS. here's a litle tip for ya, mr model 70. the .300 win mag wasn't available in "anything" until the last half of 1963. as in the last year of "pre-64". it was what was called the "later" pre64 version. different than any other pre64. only available in the last part of 1963, too. did ya know that, mr expert? the ones i've seen all had lighter colored stocks than any other pre64's i've seen, and they didn't seem to be as well fit as other pre 64's. the tops of the forepiece were almost flat, not rounded, next to the barrel. just not as well fit it doesn't seem. don't know why, but that's what i've experienced. they may or may have all been that way. they looked to be black walnut, but a lighter color. (black walnut is named for the nut, not the color of the wood, by the way. i lernt that in skool) and the ones i've seen all had serial numbers over 580,xxx. i don't know how many were made in .300, but it wasn't a lot. i have a 1963 shooters bible and it doesn't list not even one model 70 in .300 win mag. because they weren't available when the book was published. but they dang sure had em out before they quit making the pre64. and they were available in the "westerner". and they do list the alaskan in .375 h&h. right there in black and white. of course i'm sure they're wrong. after all it is only the shooters "bible". they list a featherweight, no featherweight westerner. because they never made one. the also don't list a westerner/alaskan, whatever the hell that is. i called my ol' pal last night, who is by the way an authority on model 70's. and he has the guns to look at, not just stuff in a book. i think having a gun is even a little better than a book, myself. i'm sure you don't agree. he laughed at what you said. this guy owns several hundred model 70's right now. it's a religious experience to go into his safe. which is a secured, fireproof, 800 sq ft room in his house. they made so many different pre 64 model 70s that there is no way to know em all. but i sorta think this guy comes as close as anyone. at least he knows more than i do, and i can accept that. but what do i know? not much it sounds like. so i'm a hack. at least i ain't an idiot who thinks he's an authority. you've stated around half a dozen "facts" that are pure and simple BS. believe what ya want. they made the westerner in .300 mag. did you happen to look at the site i sent ya? they did not make a featherweight westerner. this is complete BS and fabrication. they did not make a westerner/alaskan. another attempted smoke screen. they made the alaskan in .375. don't care what rule did or did not include in his stuff. the spatula safety was changed way before you say it was, so you could use a scope easier. and not all of em were changed and bunch of em were retro'd after the fact. and winchester never said you shouldn't drop a round in the barrel. never. oh yeah, you never said they didn't make the alaskan a 25 inch barrel. i just added that as a little info and for some reason you thought i was correcting you. and then you didn't read afterward where i told ya that again. so you weren't wrong there. but for some reason thought i said ya wuz. there is nothing worse than someone who refuses to learn. well, i have work to do. it's apparant you ain't willing to learn, so adios dummy. oh yeah, .270's are the best cartridge ever and 7mm/08's suck. signed, the cereal box readin' hack.