Feeding performance of short action Winchester CRF Model 70

[Inthealders]

I am looking to buy a post 1992 Model 70 and from my experiences with pre-64’s I can only claim knowledge of long action feeding behavior. No complaints of course. But now, because I am looking to buy a short action CRF, I am looking to hear input from owners within this community about feeding out of the box with the newer short actin models. I am considering the 243 so specific input from those folks who have a CRF model 70 in 243 (or I suppose 6.5 Cr) would be great. I will have a couple follow up questions so I really need to find guys who actually own one.

How do the rounds feed out of the box- smoothly or erratic and clumsy…?

Specifically, how do rounds feed from the more problematic left side of the magazine?

Has the tip of the bullet entered the chamber before the rim pops out of the magazine?

Previously owned (and sold) push feeds were smooth as silk and from my High Power days I can recall plenty of shooters in addition to myself who used PF Model 70’s in 243 (including million-time HP champion Carl Bernosky) and there was no faster or smoother action so if there’s any clumsiness to the result of Winchester trying to extend the CRF design to short actions, I am fine just picking up my old friend the 243 PF model 70.

Thanks everyone,

Ed

 

[Armorer 101]

In 92 the Winchester company should have had decent quality control and any model 70 put out the door should feed the factory 243 cartridge flawlessly. But to say for sure, about any given rifle, that rifle would need to be examined and function tested with dummy ammunition.