Model 70 in .270 Sporter or Super Grade?

[ErieLurker]

Hello All,

Been lurking here, TFL, and a few other places for many months now, and am still not clear on the practical difference between the Sporter and Super Grade versions of the Winchester Model 70 in .270 Winchester, other than the Super Grade is a pound heavier and looks very, very nice! (Have also been eyeing the new Alaskan in .30-06 as well).

Does the Super Grade just have a beefier stock, or is there also a difference in the barrel thickness/weight? Been out of shooting for a long time, and am planning to get back into it and into hunting in the near future. The rifle would be used for northern Ontario moose (not those Yukon/Alaska monsters) and (if I'm really, really lucky), eastern/central Ontario elk.

Would prefer a rifle that is a little steadier when aiming, and soaks up a little more recoil. My cousin uses a BLR in .308 for moose. Any advice from other moose and elk hunters would be most appreciated!

Edited to Add:

Shots would be no more than 300 yards, max, and much more likely 200 or less.

 

[jmr40]

They are basically the same rifle, with the Supergrade having better quality, better finished wood. The stock design is different which could account for some of the weight difference. I'm not sure about which models, but some Winchesters use an aluminum triggerguard, the Supergrade my well be steel which would add some more weight.

Also, listed weights are often just an educated guess. It is not unusual for the actual weight to be much different once you put one on some postal scales. I wouldn't put much stock in listed weights until I spoke with someone who had put the same rifle on some scales.

All are good guns, but my personal choices are the stainless Featherweight or Extreme Weather. I have one of each in lightweight McMillan stocks. Both shoot dime size groups and are under 7.5 lbs after adding scopes and mounts. By todays standards the Featherweight is not really that light. I have no interest in carrying a rifle that weighs 9-10 lbs ready to hunt up and down mountains when a 6-7 lb rifle will shoot just as well.

If I were interested in a classic Winchester in either chambering in wood I'd actually prefer the Featherweight. That is what Jack O'Connor used in a custom stock. Winchester is offering a limited edition JOC tribute this year that is in a reproduction of the custom stock he used.

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=001C&mid=535145

If I could afford a Supergrade I could come up with a little more for this one.

 

[mshootnit]

when I look at that website the fakeness really gets to me. Sure those are model 70 rifles, very close to the originals, but they are not made by Winchester. The website says Winchester. The rifle says Winchester. What do the paychecks say? They haven't been Winchesters since 1980. Would you buy it if it said FN Herstal mod. 70? I probly would too but I like to call a spade a spade.
Sorry but I needed to vent.

 

[NickEllis]

Would you have preferred the lesser quality 1980's version of the m70, or the excellent quality m70 that's coming out now under the direction of FNHerstal? This is still Winchester, under different ownership. To say it's "fake" is just silly.

 

[Robert]

I don't care who made it or who owns whom, my M70 is one awesome rifle.

If you can afford it get the Super Grade. But I'd only do that if I could hand select the one I wanted so I made sure I got some nice wood. I got lucky when I ordered my Safari Express.

 

[Bullet Bob]

"when I look at that website the fakeness really gets to me. Sure those are model 70 rifles, very close to the originals, but they are not made by Winchester. The website says Winchester. The rifle says Winchester. What do the paychecks say? They haven't been Winchesters since 1980. Would you buy it if it said FN Herstal mod. 70? I probly would too but I like to call a spade a spade."

So you wouldn't own any Winchester's made before 1931 when the original company was sold to the Western Cartridge Company?

 

[Abel]

I can't believe that everyone doesn't want just the Featherweight or the Extreme Weather. Those other models don't seem particularly useful to me.

 

[jmr40]

I can't believe that everyone doesn't want just the Featherweight or the Extreme Weather. Those other models don't seem particularly useful to me.

That was actually my vote in post #2. But I understand some want a nice looking gun rather than being the most practical.

They haven't been Winchesters since 1980.

Most understand this. You have Pre-WW-2 Winchesters, Pre-64's, USRAC versions from 1981-2006 and the FN produced Winchesters made 2008-present. The best made ever are the current production guns.

This isn't unique to Winchester. Ruger is the only major gun company under original ownership. S&W has changed ownership several times.

Not just in the gun industry, but lots of companies sell the rights for other companies to make their products and use the original name. Chevrolet, Dodge, and Jeep just to name a few. Schwinn bicycles went out of business years ago, but you can still buy a bicycle with Schwinn decals on it. At least FN did it right and made a better quality gun using Winchesters name than the original.

 

[Fremmer]

That sounds like some hard hunting you're planning on. Only get the really nice wood if you can stand looking at it after you scratch it.

 

[snakeman]

personally, I like the sporter

 

[ErieLurker]

Reconsidering the Super Grade (and even the Sporter) after reading jmr40's posts. Made marksman in my infantry days, but a 5.56mm service rifle kicks a very great deal less than big-game calibres like the .270 and .30-06.

That's why I was a little leary of the Featherweight and leaned more towards the Super Grade or Sporter - a little more weight to soak up recoil. Thinking some more, it would seem the Featherweight is the most practical, and the difference in recoil wouldn't be enough to matter in making shots out to 200-300 yards.

Thank-you for the advice, it helped set me straight!

 

[joed]

I would probably be happy with almost any model 70 from current production. Been a big fan of the model 70's ever since my first bolt rifle which was a Remington. The only model 70 I have never owned is the Featherweight. I have owned model 70's from the 80's, 90's and 2000+, I like them all.

 

[tc54]

i bought a fn m70 super grade (270 win) in early 2011. the gun shop had 3 and i selected the one i wanted. imo, the significant differences between the sporter and the sg are: 1. sg has better wood. 2. sg has steel floorplate where sporter is aluminum. 3. sg has a higher (more shine) finish on the metal than the sporter. the sg is probably heavier, but that doesn't bother me. i used mine to kill several deer and an elk in fall 2011, and will use it again this year unless my son wants it. all folks are a bit different, and use their guns in different ways. i hunt mine, and if they get wet or get a dent/scratch, well, that's just life. i try to be somewhat carefull with the sg, but i don't baby the thing. i've had and hunted with s/s, but prefer wood so sold all my s/s rifles. the win ew is also an exellent rifle and would serve you well should you want a s/s rifle. get the rifle you want. good luck on your selection.

 

[brnmuenchow]

I have the M70 "Super Grade" (.270 Win.) it feels like a beefier rifle and is much nicer than the sporter. I do not consider the "Super Grade" a safe queen, but their is a trade off IMO. Great looking, great functioning rifle gets dropped in a stream vs. a less expensive decent looking but also great functioning "Sporter" or "Synth. Stock" M70 gets a little dinged up... it's a personal judgement call. Personally, my suggestion would be the "Super Grade" it would be selfish not to suggest it but just be aware of the possibilities that it could get a little dinged up.

 

[MynameisNobody]

Maybe you would suggest an alternative, maybe guns made by an Obama supporter (Cooper). Or maybe guns made by the russians (Sako). Bottom line is, Winchester is made in America. One option i would look at is the sporter Cabelas anniversary model 70. Seems to be a hybrid of the sporter, safari, and supergrade. Just a thought.

 

[Abel]

Not only are they made in the USA, but they are made very well!

 

[Kachok]

when I look at that website the fakeness really gets to me. Sure those are model 70 rifles, very close to the originals, but they are not made by Winchester. The website says Winchester. The rifle says Winchester. What do the paychecks say? They haven't been Winchesters since 1980. Would you buy it if it said FN Herstal mod. 70? I probly would too but I like to call a spade a spade.
Sorry but I needed to vent.

I could care less who owns the company, they are made in the USA and are a fantastic rifle for a reasonable price. The QC on my FN Model 70 is much higher then my older ones, I applaud their commintment to keeping an American icon not just alive, but at the top of it's game.

 

[joed]

I couldn't care less which era model 70 I owned. I've owned them from the 70's, 80's, 90's, 2005 and now a stainless featherweight from 2011.

The only thing I'll give the newer guns is they come free floated from the factory. All the older guns I owned needed bedding work to shoot. But believe me they shot.

And I have heard some say the plant that closed in 2006 didn't make decent rifles. Not so in my book. I have a Stealth in .308 that shoots like you wouldn't believe. If there is a flaw in that gun I can't see it.

 

[umc180gr]

I'd like to take this opportunity to post a picture of my model 70 sporter purchased this fall despite the fact I couldn't find a deer to shoot with it. Never less, as said these rifles are high quality and the fit and finish is excellent.