New Winchester Model 70 impressions

[Kachok]

Does anyone here have any experence with the new FN made model 70? I have always wanted a contoled round feed rifle, and the new 70 is such a good looking rifle, and it is still made in the USA (Thank you FN) I have a chance to get one at a real reasonable price. Sadly it is a mail order and I have never even held the M 70 sporter, nor does anyone within a hundred miles of here have one in stock. Chuck Hawks seems to think it is the cream of the crop, but even he will admit he is a little bias to the 70. If anyone has any experence with this rifle I would love to hear about it. The points that I am most intrested in are: accuracy, smoothness of opperation, recoil pad, and the new MOA trigger. How does it compare to its X-bolt cousin?

 

[Uncle Mike]

How does it compare to its X-bolt cousin?

About the same....except it is a U.S. produced rifle.

Accuracy... the Model 70 was never a tack driver, there have been the exception every now and again, but for the most part, the Model 70 is a 2"@100y, sometimes a bit less, rifle. Compares with the X-Bolt.

Smoothness of operation... compared to what exactly, the Model 70 is smooth enough, certainly it is not a custom polished, squared receiver, PVD coated bolt ways, rifle in reference to 'smoothness', but it is certainly smooth enough! The FN Model 70 is the best engineered Model 70 we have seen since the 60's, manufacturing costs taken into consideration!

Recoil pad... there are 'better' and more effective ones out there, even on some of the other brand rifles, but it is what it is on the Model 70, and it is a pretty good pad.

The MOA trigger, well, I personally would give you a bucket of cold spit for all of the MOA triggers made, but comparative to say to Remington's latest abortion, it is not bad! I think, unless you have had the opportunity to have used and or have manufactured some of the 'better' triggers of late, you'll not know what you have missed in the past, and you'll probably not criticize the MOA much...honestly, for a safe, production trigger, it'll do! At least it doesn't feel like a bunch of cheap erector set parts held together with wood screws.... take note, never mind-


The Model 70 is a pretty good and well built rifle, it will preform solidly, and with exception to the flimsy, easily damaged safety lever, the rifle will give you years of excellent service.

 

[Big_E]

I absolutely love my new Win. 70 .308. I was able to get Sub-MOA groups with Hornady Match 168gr. However, last time I was not able to replicate it.

All I can say is that it was a huge step up from my previous 700 SPS. The bolt is pretty smooth for being brand new but I have seen slicker actions. I have a Nikon 3-9x Team Primos on it, and while it's a good scope, I think I will get something smaller/lighter.

I went with the wood stocked version because it looks so nice for a run-of-the-mill factory rifle. The trigger is really good for a factory one as well, about on par with the accu-trigger but not as light.

In conclusion, they are excellent rifles at a pretty good price.

**I can't wait to get my residency period through so I can get hunting tags cheaper. Then I will be able to have this rifle take its first buck.

 

[ArmedBear]

My .30-06 Model 70 was shooting under 1 MOA the first day out. Took about 25 shots to break in the barrel. The trigger on mine felt great from the first shot, too.

The old Model 70 was stocked in a way that limited accuracy. That's not true about the new ones.

 

[jmr40]

The OLDER Winchesters never had a reputation for great accuracy but FN has solved that problem. Mine puts 3 shots well under 1" @ 100 yards with boring consistency. I've not read or heard of anyone not getting exceptional accuracy from the new ones.

I would have preferred for Winchester to have kept the older trigger design. But until a problem arises with the newer trigger I will give them the benefit of doubt.

 

[fireside44]

I'd rather a Savage. They are made in USA and generally cheaper than the FN stuff.

And they are known for extreme accuracy out of the box.

 

[Geno]

My first FN-made Super Grade .30-06 Sprg was a complete failure. Every major component was defective. I returned it as defective, and it was replaced with a new one. The replacement is a gem in every sense.

Being a more refined version of M70, the Super Grade, has a very slick bolt. It is every bit as-slick-as my Weatherby Mark V's jeweled bolt, or my Sig-Sauer 202 Safari. The rifle feeds smoothly, and wow, does it eject the spent brass with authority! Think along the lines of a Ruger Mini 14. Seriously.

The trigger is as advertised...no creep or over-travel. It is not, however, close to feel and crispness of my Timney 4 ounce tactical trigger, nor my Timney 1.5 pound target triggers. It is, however, better than my Weatherby Mark trigger.

For the money, the current M70 is worth every cent and then some. As for accuracy, if you can't group 1 MOA off the bench, it likely ain't the rifle's short-coming.

I have a picture posted around here of my new FN-made M70 Stealth's groups at 300 yards. It is grouping in the 3/4" range at 300 yards with handloads. That too is the stock trigger. Guess that explains why I don't complain too much about the trigger.

Link: 4 Varmint Rifles’ Accuracy at 300 Yards - THR
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=537502&highlight=Comparison

Geno

 

[BiggerStick47]

I've never fired one of the new M70s, but based on my experience with my 2 FN SPRs and 1 FN PBR XP I expect them to be fantastic for their intended purpose. I spoke with a Winchester rep. recently who stated the 70 is built by FN in the FN plant alongside the SPR. Supposedly they use the same receiver, and the barrels are cold hammer forged like the SPRs.

All 3 FN guns I have owned were all sub-moa out of the box. Pretty impressive for a chrome lined barrel (except PBR).

 

[Rudy2281]

I've been curious about the new M 70's. I have a 5 year old Mod 70 Stealth .308 that I take out with a Savage 12 bvss .308 and they basically shoot the same loads like twins. The Stealth easily shoots 5 rd grps below .5 " at 100 yds, without fail, with the following loads, with no scope adjustment.
Sierra 175mk VV N550 43.4 COL 2.820
Sierra 175mk VV N540 39.5 COL 2.820
Sierra 168mk VV N550 43.6 COL 2.850
Hornady 155-A Varget 42.6 COL 2.841
Lapua 167 Sc VV N550 44.5 COL 2.800

At 300 yds, it shoots 1.3-1.4" 5 rd grps with the Sierra 175mk N550 load.

 

[sleepyone]

I'll have to agree with the others who can get sub-MOA groups with their new FN M70s. Uncle Mike, have you shot any of them or have you just read that they can't get much better than 2" @ 100 yards? Just curious.

I have three of them. Each one can do < 1" groups @ 100 yards in the right conditions. And I have only shot factory loads; Federal, Winchester, Remington.

 

[Kachok]

Wow that sounds like a real winner. To those of you that keep recomending savages. I know they are real shooters too, I have had them before, but they simply do not have the sex apeal of a traditional full weight 24" barrel sporter. The savage 114 is close but still not as good looking as the 70, plus I have never owned a controled round feed, and always wanted one, just in case I ever get the chance to do any dangerous game hunting. I like the style of a M77 Hawkeye too, but they just don't have the reputation that the Model 70 does. Super modern refinment in a traditional rifle is what I am looking for.

 

[skoro]

I've had a new M70 Featherweight in .243 for over a year now. There isn't a thing I dislike and lots of things I do like. Smooth, positive action. Accurate. Looks good and handles very well. I put a Weaver Classic V scope and a leather sling on it and it's perfect.

 

[Kachok]

I am spoiled on slick actions and triggers. My T3 has a bolt so smooth that I have to look to see if it is chambering a round. The trigger has ZERO creep, min over travel, and light pull. Beats the X Mark Pro, Pro-fire, and accutrigger, on my other rifles. That said the Tikka has two flaws. It is too light, barly over 6 lbs. Although that would be great for a mountain rifle, there is no need for that hunting out of a tree stand or ground blind, I would not want to shoot anything as large as a 30-06 in a rifle that light. It's second flaw componds it's 1st. The stock recoil pad is far too stiff, I like the savage and remington pads much better. I was kind of hoping that the M70 would be that rifle that put it all together, and it seems to be. I think I am going to go ahead and order it. A 270 WSM Sporter for under $620 that is hard to beat. Any thoughts on a high quality scope. I have been using Bushnell Banners and more recently a Nikon Prostaff. I like the DOA and BDC style retical.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Uncle Mike, have you shot any of them or have you just read that they can't get much better than 2" @ 100 yards? Just curious.

It may have been better for me to say, the last 8 or so we have shot in for the customers have been in the 2" range...BUT, let's be fair here and take a look at the circumstances.

Last month one of the guys here shot in a featherweight that shot into .655"@100y all day long with two different brands of factory loaded ammo! Federal Gold Medal Match and, if I'm not mistaken, he used Black Hills match stuff also.(308/168gr)

As the customer wants, we will use the ammo they specify, and most folks wont pay for the two boxes of ammo and the labor we charge for a sight in and barrel break in, most just want the optics mounted and the rifle shot in with, usually, the cheapest ammo they can get, and that might get 10 or so rounds through your new barrel, hence the 1.5" to 2" range I mention. I have noticed that the Model 70's don't seem to need a lengthy Barrel break in, or maybe the barrels have just settled down at the 40 round count and are continuing to improve slowly, they don't stick around here long enough for us to see the rest of the story. I have not shot any of my Model 70's (FNH) enough to make a accurate comment on their accuracy over the long run.

The new Model 70 is not by any standard a 2" rifle across the board! More like a 1" rifle with the 'better' factory ammo or handloads.

 

[Coal Dragger]

A friend of mine has one in .300 Winchester Magnum, nothing fancy just your standard walnut stocked rifle with a sporter weight barrel. It shoots 180gr bullets fairly well over IMR 4350, right around or slightly over 1" at 100 yds. For whatever reason it despises Reloader 22 though.

 

[Delaware Ken]

Love my new Model 70 Featherweight 243. After doing some load development, my last three shot group at 300 yards was 1 1/2", right in the X ring.
She's also a head turner at the range (old guys love wooden stocks). The wood in the stock is beautiful, and the checkering is outstanding. The trigger is crisp, and fit and finish is comparable to my CZ.
The only negative that I see is that the safety is a little stiff. Hopefully it will loosen up with use. She is also light enough to be a good field gun.

Ken