sleepyone
Member
I am looking at buying a Model 70 Featherweight in .30-06. I already own two FN Featherweight Model 70s in .243 and .270. The .30-06 will be for out of state elk or moose hunts I'm hoping to start making in a couple of years. I'm leaning towards a 24" barrel because I have read the extra two inches gives you maximum performance out of the .30-06 caliber.
I really don't have an interest in going to any magnum calibers, so please don't go that route. I don't have the income to go on any dangerous game hunts, Grizzly hunts, or other game that would justify a 300 Win Mag or larger. My interests would be elk or moose, and the .30-06 is good for those. I know .270 works for elk, but I want to have the extra distance, energy and bullet selection that .30-06 offers.
I really do like the looks and performance of the Featherweight, but the .30-06 only comes in a 22" barrel. So I'm looking at either the M70 Sporter or the M70 Ultimate Shadow because they both offer 24" barrels. The Ultimate Shadow really caught my eye because it is all stainless, and the stock is a really nice composite with rubberized, oval-dot gripping surfaces on the pistol grip and fore-end. While all my other rifles have wood stocks, this rifle would only be used on hunts where an all-weather rifle would be ideal.
Three questions:
Does a 24" barrel in .30-06 make that big of a difference?
If it does, does anyone have any experience with the Ultimate Shadow?
Does it make a big difference to have a stainless barrel and composite stock when you are hunting in extreme cold and snow, or is that overblown?
I really don't have an interest in going to any magnum calibers, so please don't go that route. I don't have the income to go on any dangerous game hunts, Grizzly hunts, or other game that would justify a 300 Win Mag or larger. My interests would be elk or moose, and the .30-06 is good for those. I know .270 works for elk, but I want to have the extra distance, energy and bullet selection that .30-06 offers.
I really do like the looks and performance of the Featherweight, but the .30-06 only comes in a 22" barrel. So I'm looking at either the M70 Sporter or the M70 Ultimate Shadow because they both offer 24" barrels. The Ultimate Shadow really caught my eye because it is all stainless, and the stock is a really nice composite with rubberized, oval-dot gripping surfaces on the pistol grip and fore-end. While all my other rifles have wood stocks, this rifle would only be used on hunts where an all-weather rifle would be ideal.
Three questions:
Does a 24" barrel in .30-06 make that big of a difference?
If it does, does anyone have any experience with the Ultimate Shadow?
Does it make a big difference to have a stainless barrel and composite stock when you are hunting in extreme cold and snow, or is that overblown?
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