New Model 70 vs prior one

[elktrout]

Now that the new Model 70, made by FN in So. Carolina, has been around for a while, how does it compare to the ones made in New Haven in the early and mid 1990s, when Winchester brought back the CRF action?

How do the two triggers compare?

Your thoughts and experiences?

 

[Robert]

From everything I can gather in having handled them and talked to serious hunters and rifle guys they are maybe some of the best rifles Winchester has produced. Light, crisp triggers. Smooth actions. Good fit and finish. All around a great rifle and very hard to beat at the price. Maybe even better than a pre 64. <Ducks for cover.>

 

[R H Clark]

+1 on the new FN Winchesters but most everyone wishes they had the old style trigger.The new one is not bad especially if 3+ lbs works for you.The old style is just simpler and can be worked over for a very nice light trigger.

Personally I would rather buy one of the new FN Winchesters than an older CRF model.I think you would have a better chance of getting a shooter with a new one.

 

[dubya450]

My grandpa has an old m70 from the 50's (1958 I think) in 270 and I have 3 new FN made m70's and hands down I prefer my new m70's over his from the 50's. I haven't shot his for a long time but the new one's are so nice I have a 4th on layaway right now!

 

[jmr40]

The Winchester classics from the 90's were probably the best model 70's Winchester ever built. The quality is there. I own 2 from that era and would not trade them for a pre-64, they are much better built rifles.

The problem with the Classics is that sometime after about 2000 quality became very spotty and the closer you got to 2006 production rifles the worse they got. Winchester finally closed in 2006. When buying one of those rifles it is possible to get a lemon, so you are taking a bit of a chance. Like I said I currently own 2 from that era that are great. I've owned 2 others, 1 was great and is one I wish I hadn't sold. The other turned out to be pretty bad, so I'm 3 out of 4 on those rifles.

I also own 1 of the FN rifles. Overall the quality is much more consistent with the new guns. Accuracy is above average and the triggers are coming from the factory at about 3-3.5 lbs and are very crisp. The older Winchester trigger was the most rugged, bulletproof design ever put on a rifle. I actually like the older style better because of it's reliability and open design which can be inspected and cleaned. But it was often quite heavy from the factory and almost always required a gunsmth who knows his stuff to get a good trigger pull. The new guns have great triggers out of the box, but are using a different, enclosed design. While I trust the old trigger more, until a problem arises with this one I'm happy.

If someone were asking my advice on which new rifle to buy the new Winchester is on the top of my list. The new ones are the best USA made rifles at the current time in my opinion.

 

[joed]

I own a Stealth that I purchased when it was announced the factory was closing. I figured what was out in the market was good. Never been more right in my life. This rifle is extremely accurate. It also does something I've never had another rifle do, and that is put the first shot in the same place the rest will go.

It's 7 years old now with a whopping round count of 80 but it's staying in the safe, I won't part with it.

One other neat thing. I got tired of reading about the new CRF rifles and how they are so fantastic that anything else will probably get you killed by dangerous game. I held this model 70 upside down and attempted to chamber the next round. It may not be a CRF but the next round did indeed feed without problem.