Any modern CRF rifle from Winchester,FN, Kimber, or Ruger may safely be single loaded just like a PF rifle. The extractor is designed to snap over the rim without causing any problems. Older pre-64 Winchester's and many older guns could be damaged by doing this, unless the extractor is modified by a gunsmith. Almost all current production guns are designed to snap over the rim.
Winchester brought out CRPF a few years ago when they had some reliability problems with some of their line of Super short magnums. Until now I wasn't even aware they were still making rifles in CRPF since all the WSSM's are no longer in production.
This is just a guess. Two actually. But when FN took over they used a lot of Winchester actions that were already in inventory to produce their FN rifles. My 308 FNPBR is made from old Winchester inventory. This could be an attempt to make use some of the old CRPF actions they already have. Another possibility is that the 223 round will not work in Winchester's CRF action and they must use the CRPF action. I checked Wincheaters website and noted they offer no model 70's in 223. FN uses the standard CRF actions in all calibers except 223. Like I said, just a SWAG.
