Made in Portugal M70

[Oldelkhunter]

I purchased a slightly used M70 a few weeks ago that was made in 2021. The box and winchesters website say it is an Extreme Hunter Strata . The barrel is stamped extreme weather SS. After further clarification with Winchester it seems that the plant stamped the barrel Extreme Weather SS even though the barrel is chrome moly when run for that model initially started.

Has anyone had quality or accuracy issues with their Portuguese made M70's made in this time period? I think mine is very well made but I might have to buy good ammo and try it out .

 

[Steve S.]

Anything during COVID in the manufacturing world was possible - quality took a nosedive - purchasing any product during that period of time had associated risks.
With that said, I purchased several (3, two levers and one M70 SG) Winchester rifles during COVID - all were flawed, all could not be repaired due to a lack of parts and all three rifles were replaced albeit more than a year later. The replacement rifles were all flawless - I have them to this day. I now own seven FN (Portugal) manufactured M70’s - post COVID (1 EW and 6 SG’s) all very well made rifles and all are great shooters. My experience with Winchester during COVID was that they were struggling - not unlike most of the world at that time.

 

[Oldelkhunter]

Anything during COVID in the manufacturing world was possible - quality took a nosedive - purchasing any product during that period of time had associated risks.
With that said, I purchased several (3, two levers and one M70 SG) Winchester rifles during COVID - all were flawed, all could not be repaired due to a lack of parts and all three rifles were replaced albeit more than a year later. The replacement rifles were all flawless - I have them to this day. I now own seven FN (Portugal) manufactured M70’s - post COVID (1 EW and 6 SG’s) all very well made rifles and all are great shooters. My experience with Winchester during COVID was that they were struggling - not unlike most of the world at that time.

Thanks for the reply, I will run a few brands of ammo thru it and if it is really bad shooter I will send it back to Winchester or maybe rebarrel it .

 

[jmr40]

I have no personal experience with the Portugal rifles and can only report what I've read online from others. I do have a 1st year production (2008) Extreme Weather in 308. I've replaced the stock with McMillan. It's a damn fine rifle. Mine was made in South Carolina before they moved production to Portugal.

I'm not sure of when the change happened but for a while the parts were machined in South Carolina and they were sent to Portugal for the stocks and final assembly. The most recent guns are completely manufactured in Portugal. I don't know which you have but suspect it was 100% made in Portugal.

I can't recall reading about any issues with accuracy or reliability with the Portugal guns. The biggest complaint I've read online is that the wood stocks are not as well made or finished. I've seen side-by-side photos of older Featherweight stocks compared to the Portugal stocks. At a distance they look OK, but once up close the shape of the stock is just off a little and the quality of the finish wasn't as good.

I'm assuming yours has the synthetic Bell & Carlson stock like mine came with. Those should be the same regardless. That is a good stock but a little heavier than I wanted and a bit chunky. My McMillan is 1/2 lighter and trimmer in all dimensions. It doesn't shoot any better. But to me it looks and feels a lot better.

 

[Oldelkhunter]

I have no personal experience with the Portugal rifles and can only report what I've read online from others. I do have a 1st year production (2008) Extreme Weather in 308. I've replaced the stock with McMillan. It's a damn fine rifle. Mine was made in South Carolina before they moved production to Portugal.

I'm not sure of when the change happened but for a while the parts were machined in South Carolina and they were sent to Portugal for the stocks and final assembly. The most recent guns are completely manufactured in Portugal. I don't know which you have but suspect it was 100% made in Portugal.

I can't recall reading about any issues with accuracy or reliability with the Portugal guns. The biggest complaint I've read online is that the wood stocks are not as well made or finished. I've seen side-by-side photos of older Featherweight stocks compared to the Portugal stocks. At a distance they look OK, but once up close the shape of the stock is just off a little and the quality of the finish wasn't as good.

I'm assuming yours has the synthetic Bell & Carlson stock like mine came with. Those should be the same regardless. That is a good stock but a little heavier than I wanted and a bit chunky. My McMillan is 1/2 lighter and trimmer in all dimensions. It doesn't shoot any better. But to me it looks and feels a lot better.

View attachment 1263818

Its a 2021 gun confirmed by Winchester... Bore is smooth, muzzle looks great (crown) safety a little stiff but otherwise looks ok. I guess I will just shoot it to confirm if it is decent . Yes it is a B&C stock actually does not feel bad. Much better then the B&C that came on an extreme weather I purchased a long while ago.

 

[dieselchief]

hmm, trying to be objective here. a portugal/south carolina built featherweight in 308 is perfect and accurate. a 2024 maple super grade is something to behold. hard to find fault with any model 70 i have ever had my hands on. jmho

 

[sage5907]

Problems with Model 70 rifles are rare, but I have heard that some of the late model rifles produced by the U.S. Repeating Arms Company had problems with the rails that guide a cartridges into the chamber being cut wrong but they went out of business in 1989. That has nothing to do with rifles assembled in Portugal and if the rifle that you have cycles cartridges in and out of the chamber and shoots a good group you have a winner.