[Steve Smith]

I noticed a while back that Winchester came out with a "new" Pre-64 Model 70. I don't see it listed on their website now, but it looks like everything has controlled feeding. Have they just went away from push feed altogether? What is the recent history on these? Thanks.

[Mulliga]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65848&highlight=model

Basically, Winchester has gone back to CRF, though push-feeding is still there on a few models.

[Steve Smith]

Sorry. I DID use the search feature, but wasn't finding that one. Thanks!

[dakotasin]

the new pre-64's (if that makes sense) are generally called 'classics' (like win m70 classic). i'm not sure about the featherweights. i think they have mostly gone away from a pf, and brought out their crpf models (which is a marketing gimmick... the pf portion of the crpf doesn't work as smooth as a pf, though the crf portion of the crpf works fine).

[JohnDog]

If you get one of their catalogs (fill out a form on their site and they'll mail one to you), each rifle model has a little icon next to it to show if it is CRF or CRPF. Like dakotasin said the Classics (including Featherweight, Super Grade and Safaris, etc.) are all CRF like the pre '64 M70s. The CRPFs are mostly the Super Shadow and Coyote models.

I heard that their push feed models were having trouble feeding the short WSM cartridges. Geometry problems with the little stubby cartridges when they tip up out of the magazine. Their PF bolts had a closed face like the Rem M700, while the new CRPFs have the bottom half of the ring around the cartridge base relieved so the case can slip up the face of the bolt during feeding. Go to Wally World and look at one of the Win package guns and you'll see what I mean. I can't go look (again) because one of the WSM (in .270 or 7mm) may come home with me:p

JohnDog