NEW model 70 Winchester Rifles

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I know Winchester was in and out of production for a while, and they are cranking them out once again. I have heard some chatter about varying degrees of quality in some of their runs....

I am in the market for a new deer rifle and I can help but eyeball the model 70. The finest rife I ever owned was a model 70 chambered in 270. Unfortunately it was sold to pay a divorce lawyer.

I love the safety, I love how smooth and quiet they are.

Are the brand new ones a safe bet? They look goooooood, but how do they shoot? I think I am leaning hard toward another 270 or a 30-06.
 
They are actually made by Fabrique National in South Carolina now. Some have said they are possibly the most accurate Model 70s ever produced.
 
I have a friend that purchased a FN Mod 70 in 308 Win. a few months ago.My friend and I took it to the range set up a target at 100 yards.It was loaded with Hornady SST and shot a 1/2" group out of the box.Fit and finish was great a beautiful rifle.
 
recently purchased the fn tsr xp .308 my first bolt gun in this caliber, its an awesome rifle. aluminum bedding block which is actually imbeded in the grippy hogue stock, for free floating the barrel
303.jpg
as for accuracy my best shots using my hand loads 155gr is .500" at 100 yards 4 shot
recently tried lighter bullets, twist rate is 1:12
my best so far
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I have a Winchester Model 70 from 1995 in 338 win mag which is not a tack driver....
 
I also have one of the FN Patrol rifles as well as one of the new Winchester Extreme Weather Rifles. Winchester is building the BEST production rifle you can buy at this time.
 
Back in 1995 US Repeating Arms was making them in New Haven CT, not FN in SC. FN makes bolt actions on the Mauser design, with the claw extractor...that is what the new Winchesters are and FN has made those types of guns for years.
 
FN makes bolt actions on the Mauser design, with the claw extractor...that is what the new Winchesters are and FN has made those types of guns for years.
Click to expand...

Winchesters, as well as many other bolt actions, have always been a Mauser "design". The new Winchesters are Winchesters through and through and no different than the CT produced rifles, just manufactured in SC by FN, which owns the Winchester brand.

Don
 
I sold my Remington 700s to buy two Winchester 70s. I bought the Sporter and the SS Extreme in 30-06.

I am VERY happy I did this. The new rifles are incredible.
 
winchester owner of FN winchesters

I have bought seven new winchester rifles, three winchester extremes 30-06, 300 wsm, 325 wsm, sporter model in 270 wsm and coyote light in stainless fluted barrel in 22-250 and last but not least two supergrade in 270 winchester and one in 300 wsm.I can personally attest to their accuracy, workmanship,and quality.You will not be disappointed,check them out, regards Marc
 
Yessss I like what I am hearing. The ads are puffing up the new trigger design, I thought the old ones were pretty good! Are the new triggers a real improvement or just advertising fluff?
 
I'll admit that I was sort of a snob for awhile when it came to Wincheter 70's. I have 2 of the pre-64 models as well as a couple made in the 70's. I thought for a long time that those pre-64 models were the ultimate. No doubt they are extremely good. But for a long time, I just didn't have any interest at all in buying one made in the 80's, 90,s or even later. But a few years ago I ran across a guy who had a model 70 he bought new in 2005 (I think) chambered in .270 WSM with a really excellent Nikon scope on it. He wanted to get rid of it because he wasn't a reloader and couldn't afford the cost of factory ammo for the WSM cartridge. I was a little intrigued by the cartridge and since I'm a reloader, it was no big deal. But really, I just wanted the scope. I was not impressed by the black synthetic stock at all. I bought the rifle and scope for the price of the scope new.

I have to say I have been amazed by this rifle. It will shoot better than any of my other old Model 70s any day I take it out. The action cycles smoothly and I don't worry about the synthetic stock getting scratched.
 
While both the New Haven and the FN Model 70's are very, very good, there are 2 very important differences. The MOA trigger on the FN is an improvement and the FN guns have free-floated barrels. I have 2 of the New Haven guns. Classic Featherweights in 7MMWSM and 300WSM. Having the actions epoxy bedded to get rid of the HOT GLUE they used at New Haven and to free float the barrels. Wouldn't trade them for any other production gun.
 
I really wasn't expecting these opinions. I thought you guys were gonna tell me to go buy a 700! The truth is that I love the 70 and the idea that my new rife may be BETTER than my old one excites me a bit.

I saw on the Winchester website that they had a dollar bill between the barrel and the stock in a photo. They wouldn't have illustrated this unless they are trying to sell these guns to real shooters. That photo would mean very little to those who are just looking to poke a hole in a deer at 50 yards.

Now I get to wrestle with a question I have debated with myself for many years. .270 or 30-06. There are so many pros with each round and so few cons. It makes it nearly impossible to decide! It seems that I always come to a different conclusion that I am very happy with. Maybe I need one of each. :)
 
I recently purchased a Model 70 in .458 Win Mag. It shoots well, I once got a 3 shot pattern at 100 yards that a quarter would cover. But it isn't always that good. I load my own using 300 - 330 grain bullets. I have loaded 500 gr bullets but the recoil is a bit more than my 73 yr old frame wants to tolerate. I recently took (ie "harvested") an American bison with a repro Sharps 45-70 of the same caliber and bought the Winchester because it is easier to handle and can take any game on the planet.
 
what is the suggested retail....and how much can one be had for.

I like the featherweight? with the wood stock.
Click to expand...

In non magnum chambers, the MSRP is around $900. The blued wood featherweight is the rifle I am actually looking at. The magnums are about $50 more.
 
Good Morning,

I purchased a featherweight in 243 last year. The fit and finish is comparable to my CZ, and the wood is beautiful. She always draws a crowd at the range, and my last 3 shot group at 300 yards was 1 1/2" with hand loads. I think I'll keep her.

Ken
 
I sold my Remington 700 ADL and never looked back when I bought my M70 Sporter and SS Extreme. The two guns are not even in the same league.

The Winchester has a better

1. Stock
2. Safety
3. Magazine
4. Magazine release
5. Trigger guard
6. Finish
7. Fit
8. Ejector
9. Extractor
10. Bolt disassembly
11. Action - CRF

The trigger on the Remington was slightly better.

It was like going from a Chevy to a Lexus.
 
Haven't shot any of the new FN-produced guns but I've handled a few at the store. The fit/finish is definitely a step above the 700.
 
.270 or 30-06?

A shooter after my own heart! Go for it. Get both. You just can't have too many. There is just something about finely made weapons in Blue and beautiful wood.:):):):):)
 
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