Mausers take more work to make them presentable, but they also have design advantages. They come in different lengths, and they offer better safety in case of a case rupture. Model 70's can give a shooter a face full of hot gas when a case fails. Mauser magazines are also better though expensive, one-piece ones are available for M70s. The Dakota action keeps the best of M70 design and improves the gas-handling problem. To get back to the original topic, part of what makes Winchesters collectible is their wide variety of calibers and shooting applications.

Bill Ferguson