Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather

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Uncle Mike

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Anybody rockin' one for the Winchester Extreme Weather rifles in 325WSM.
How is it for you? How is the accuracy and what factory load does best out of it?
My grandfather just bought me one of these for an early Christmas preasent, I don't know about the 325, I hear it's a real sledgehammer.
Anyway, he said he wanted to get a couple of the last american assembled model 70's since Winchester moved the assembly process of the Model 70, and many other of their firearms to Portagul.

Tell me, how does this work anyway. An "American" company, building one of the most prolific "American" rifles you would think would use American labor, since we need jobs here in America anyways, but instead Winchester has elected to outsource to Portagul. Really!?:barf::(
 
You should probably pick a couple of loads and see what works best.

Wow, I had not heard anything about moving production of the Model 70. Last I knew they were made at the FN facility in South Carolina.

I had a M70 extreme weather stainless in 270 Win. It was really accurate with 130g Winchester Power Point, it also did very well with the Hornady Superformance 140g SST.

I think the 325WSM is pretty powerful and will be good for practically anything in North America.

Do you plan on reloading for it?
 
Yea, I'll get around to reloading for it sometime. Been looking at recipes from other 325 users on the net. Some of those guys are getting some really nice accuracy out of that particular model.

I spoke with Winchester earlier today, their excuse was labor cost. Still it is my opinion, that their decision to have several models assembled in Portagul is a bad one, I mean what kind of message does that send to the shooting public?

The guy said the parts where still going to be made in S,Carolina at the FNH factory, shipped to Portagul, assembled there and then returned to the U.S. for sales.

I'm sorry, but I can't see the benefit there! We need jobs here in the U.S., and the Winchesters are already at a 'premium' price point. Unless ol' Winchester is going to lower the selling price (not) who benefits from this circus. Winchester!:banghead:
 
Whoa whoa, wait a minute, when did this happen or when does this take effect? I plan on buying a new Ultimate Weather next summer in 30-06. I will not buy it if they do this!
 
It has already happened brother, the last of the American assembled Model 70's are vanishing quickly.
The Winchester guy said the Portagul assembled units will be in the country 'after Christmas'.
We have not been able to find ANY Winchester Model 70's in stock at any of the wholesalers, except for a few 'Alaskan' models for sometime now, because of the production switch.

PB...your disappointment is on par with many of our customers. I feel the same way, it is why I bought the grandson and myself a couple of the Extreme Weather units assembled in the S.C factory.
 
NOOOOOO! Disapointment is the nicest word that I can muster! If I could afford it, I'd buy one right this second (a USA made one)! Maybe there will be a few remaining ones left by midsummer..... yeah right! Oh man I'm mad!

Don't tell me I have to buy a Remington or Ruger now..... Savage is Canadian and CZ is out of country, though they do make exceptional rifles.

Man.... way to bring in the Thanskgiving.....
 
Well, keep the faith, the P-Models may shoot well. It just sticks in your craw, is there nothing sacred anymore.
Remington has cleaned up their act, while you still roll the dice in the accuracy department when purchasing one, at least all we have shot at the shop has been consistent.

The Savages are suffering now, and their price keeps inching upward, but they still are a moa production rifle, albeit we see more and more thant are not this way. If you do get one that shoots well, it will really suprise you, scary accurate, and a production rifle to beat.

CZ's have been the same, generally great or better accuracy with factory ammo.
Ruger...what can I say, they seem to be great shooters now, way to go Ruger!
I like the Steyr line, but they are pricey and not any more accurate than a unit costing much less. The Tikka rifles shoot extremely well on the whole, and most can be had for less than $700.
 
I'll look harder at Ruger, and the CZ 550FS is a gorgeous rifle that points very well. Looking at 30-06 only. Crap, maybe a custom 700 is in order.....I do not trust Remington, I'd have to realy look one over.

Sorry to deviate from the OP, this is just a shame though, I love my FNHUSA made Winnie.
 
Winchester has been owned by FN-Herstal for some time. They own Browning too. They make guns all over the world. There hasn't been a real US owned Winchester company since Herstal bought US Repeating Arms in 1989. Herstal closed the New Haven location in 2006 and stopped production of the M70 until 2008? when they started production again in SC.
 
Browning started assembling HiPowers in Portugal decades ago. I had both a full Belgian made and a Portugese assembled one at the same time and there was absolutely no difference in quality. if anything, the Portugese assembled one shot better. This is really much ado about nothing.
 
P.B.Walsh said:
I'll look harder at Ruger, and the CZ 550FS is a gorgeous rifle that points very well. Looking at 30-06 only. Crap, maybe a custom 700 is in order.....I do not trust Remington, I'd have to realy look one over.

Sorry to deviate from the OP, this is just a shame though, I love my FNHUSA made Winnie.
Click to expand...
You really need to look at a Weatherby Vanguard S2 if accuracy is important to you. They come with a sub-MOA guarantee , right out of the box.
 
Winchester/Browning has been manufacturing out of country for a very long time. Heck the second mushroom cloud had not dissipated, and both of these companies were using Miroku to make very nice firearms.

Also the Browning High Power, had the distinction of being carried by both side's in the European theater.
 
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winchester extreme

I have three winchester extremes in 300wsm 3006, and 325wsm they are excellent shooting and handling rifles all are tack drivers . check out the alaskan forums were one member shows all the game he has killed with it and photos to go with it . no regets only positives!
 
I wouldn't worry too much about the rifles being assembled in Portugal. They are still one of the best buys for a quality rifle.

Love the rifle, wouldn't want the 325 WSM. I don't expect it to be around much longer. Good 8mm bullets are hard to find and the 300 WSM shoots much better quality bullets of the same weight at the same speeds as the 325.
 
I spoke with Winchester earlier today, their excuse was labor cost. Still it is my opinion, that their decision to have several models assembled in Portagul is a bad one, I mean what kind of message does that send to the shooting public?
Click to expand...

It says that companies are having a difficult time staying afloat under the regulatory burden, high taxes and mandates required of American businesses. Voting a pro-gun agenda needs to be expanded to include supporting policies that reduce these government imposed burdens that have become prohibitive for an increasing number of manufacturers.
 
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I have a couple of the Extreme Weather models. One chambered in .300 Win Mag and the other in .308 Win. Neither rifle was perfect out of the box but I have no regrets since it didn't take much to get them to where I wanted them. The .308 Win action is incredibly smooth and both rifles shoot well. I would say that the EWs are good rifles. I hope you report back with some results. I have a Montana chambered in .300 WSM and I'm a believer in the short magnums. I would probably consider a Montana in .325 WSM if I didn't have a Talkeetna in .375 H&H.
 
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It says that companies are having a difficult time staying afloat under the regulatory burden, high taxes and mandates required of American businesses. Voting a pro-gun agenda needs to be expanded to include supporting policies that reduce these government imposed burdens that have become prohibitive for an increasing number of manufacturers.
Click to expand...
Exactly! Something needs to be done. Well...making them 'elsewhere' is better than win. stopping production entirely, but it still leaves a sour taste!
 
i have two. one in .308, and another in 30-06. i originally wanted it in '06 and couldn't find one anywhere, so bought the .308, which shoots great. i just found a nib 30-06, and if it shoots as well as the .308, the .308 is going up for sale. i think they are great rifles for a factory offering.
 
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