Need help quick.

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Dan Tanna

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I'm looking for everyone's opinions while I run a search on previous posts. I'm going to buy a new rifle tomorrow, either a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight or a Ruger M77 MkII. Both of the rifles are .30-06, wood/blued, and $500. I am aware of the dreaded Ruger trigger and I know of a fine gunsmith who can lighten it to around 3 lbs. That will run about the same price as the rings and bases for the Winchester. Both rifles felt good and fit me well. Which one would you go with, and why?
Thanks-Dan
 
I've got a Ruger M77 .300 WM for elk. To me, the Ruger is an American made Mauser (claw extractor, 3 position safety). You just look at the Ruger action and it looks heavy duty.

I used to go to a website (Exploding Groundhogs). This guy was a super hard core varmint hunter and thought Ruger was the most under-rated rifle. YMMV
 
Well,they're not making model 70's anymore, so I think I'd go that route.

If you decide to go Ruger, personally I'd slow down and wait until their version with a better trigger comes out (check their website for some details). Although I keep hearing about Ruger products with good triggers, it just hasn't happened to me in over 35 years and several of their products!
 
I think I'd be more comfortable with the Ruger, as the comapny is still around and has excellent customer service in the unlikely chance that something goes wrong. Good luck , good hunting...
 
I'd go with the Winchester. I love the looks of the Featherweight stock and the feel of the gun -- balance, stock dimensions, bolt function, trigger. It's a pretty elegant intrument. The Rugers are okay once you fix the trigger, but to me they feel kind of clunky. Even though there's probably no real difference in accuracy potential between the two guns, I've always been able to hit better and quicker with the Winchester.
 
I'd go with the Ruger, I'm incredibly happy with anything I've ever seen that had their name on it...If I hadn't inherited a Remington 700, I'd be saving for a Ruger right now.

Greg
 
QC on late-production Winchester rifles has been really spotty; some seemed well fitted and others, well, frankly they wouldn't make it out the store. If you're interested in the Winny, at least make sure that it's OK from a fit-n-finish perspective.

The Winny has a user-adjustable trigger that costs nothing to tune; the Ruger does not. The Winny is no longer made and I do not know what the factory support structure looks like; the Ruger will still have factory support. The Ruger has a 22" barrel; the Winny may have a 24" (and I prefer more tube rather than less). If the Winny is a late model production, it should be a CRF just like the Ruger; if it's older, it may be a push feed (and I prefer CRF if I can get it).
 
Yes, it is the CRF version. I laid them both down on the counter for a comparison, and they were both 22" barrels. I was kind of surprised the Winchester had such a slender barrel, but it is a Featherweight.
 
I had another look at these two rifles. After hearing some people talk about the poor QC at Winchester, I was a little curious. If this particular Model 70 is any indication, I can see where they would get their concerns. There was a little slop in the bolt (about the same as the Ruger's), the trigger guard metal was seriously pitted under the bluing, and the bolt was a little gritty in motion. The magazine floorplate, while easy to open, had to be closed 2 or 3 times and then slammed shut before it would close. I could see that the floorplate catch button was trying to rotate around. I liked the knurled handle, though. About the only thing I could find wrong with the Ruger (besides the trigger that I'd replace) is the magazine floorplate button is difficult to push in. Bolt movement on the Ruger was smoother, but the rifle was a tad heavier.
Thanks for the input.
Dan
 
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