Left Hand Model 70 vs Left Hand Model 700

[TexasEd]

I'm trying to decide if I should get rid of my Model 70 30-06 LH in exchange for a 270 Remington 700 LH KS Mt. rifle. I have heard that the Remingtons have had problems with the trigger freezing in wet and cold weather. I hunt elk, deer & boar. I only consider the KS because of it's weight savings. I do have a Remington FS in 30-06. Your thoughts would be great. Thanks.
SIDE NOTE: They don't make either any longer!!!

 

[jmr40]

The Remington sounds nice with those features. Hard to say without knowing exactly which Winchester you have.

 

[peyton]

Buy the Remington but keep the model 70. My son is a lefty and he loves his remmy but I love my model 70.

 

[TexasEd]

JMR40 - I have the Model 70 Sporter LT in 30-06. Standard wood stock w/ 24 inch barrel

 

[desidog]

i have a Model 70 LH featherweight in .300 WSM, and it's a great gun. I shot a russian boar with it in january.

I'd keep it, for the time being. You can shoot them both side by side and compare, if you must make a choice...the value won't go down in a year or two's time, and the potential regret just isn't worth it to trade now.

 

[TexasEd]

JMR40 - I have the Left Hand Sporter LT 30-06 Wood stock 24" barrel

 

[TexasEd]

Desidog - I have seen a few of the same you have around. How has the gun performed and scoped and slung how much does it tip the scale?

 

[desidog]

It's an interesting case; have a Leupold 4-14x40 (Duplex) on it, and the trigger is stock, no post-market upgrades. @100yds it is just a hair under 1 MOA, but at 200, it is more like 1.5 - with my other guns i'm more consistent; but i shoot them more with the cost of the .300 WSM ammo.

I have a 6-18x Leupold on my Montana M99 LH in .243, and the crosshairs are much finer (LRDV)...which i think makes the difference. Also, the featherlight aspect contributes to much more felt-recoil on the M70.

Cheers, D

 

[desidog]

oh, forgot about weight: i haven't put it on the scale...which i will do at some point....but it is light - i'd definitely take it hunting over my M1A Loaded!

 

[TexasEd]

Desidog - Why the 300 WSM and not the standard 300 Win mag?

 

[jmr40]

I am a sucker for lightweight rifles so I would probably trade. If the Winchester had been a Featherweight probably not.

I like the Winchester design a little better, even with both being pushfeed's. The Remingtons do have a few more issues with triggers, safety's and bolt handles, but in reality they are so rare that I would not worry about it.

 

[desidog]

It's short action, instead of long- For me, the difference is not having to lift my head up off the stock while reloading, and keeping cheek weld and my eye on the target. It's hard for the eye to re-aquire and re-focus every shot, if your scope is dialed in on magnification...especially for hunting follow-up shots at distance.

Also, the performance specs on the .300 Win Mag and the .300 WSM are very similar, with a half-inch difference in case-length, so the rounds are a bit lighter as well. I got mine as a trek/hunting gun. However, i think that the .300 win mag ammo is easier to come by - which these days is something to think about.

However, that being said, i was hoping Armalite would come out with a left-handed AR-30; like their LH AR-50...i would have gotten one. That didn't happen, though. Then it would have been a toss up between the .300 Win Mag and the .338 Lapua. I think the Lapua is 4 bucks a round minimum, but it can reach so far!