Ridgerunner665
Member
My take on CRF vs. push feed...I came to this opinion from years of M700 (and a few model 7's) actions chambered in 308 (read, short actions)
I don't care about chambering rounds while hanging upside down any more than the next guy...but its the clunky, often sticky feeding of the model 7's and 700's that I don't like. I've had 2 model 7's that would occasionally bind up completely while feeding 308's...and neither was a "budget model"...one was a stainless synthetic (nearly $800)...the 700's, most recently was the SPS Tactical (I sold that rifle on here)...it never locked plumb up like the model 7's, but I just didn't like how it fed...it felt cheap! Long action 700's...I've never had one fail to feed but more than one has failed to eject. Even that nice ADL (270 Win) that I recently bought for my wife...the plunger stuck while I was working up loads for it, and for no apparent reason (it was clean). I removed the bolt, tapped the plunger with a screwdriver and it popped right out and was good to go....easy fix, but who wants to deal with it while hunting?
The CRF actions just don't do that...they feed, fire, extract, and eject as slick as snot on a doorknob...to deny that is to deny a fact of life.
As far as the case head being shrouded...well, it is on the 700 and it ain't on the 70...is the 700 stronger in that respect...yes...but thats not saying the 70 is weak either, the model 70 is a VERY strong action...and the gas dispersal system on the new production model 70's has been improved (directing it down).
At any rate...its all in what satisfies YOU...smooth, reliable feeding, extracting, and ejecting are what satisfies ME.
I don't care about chambering rounds while hanging upside down any more than the next guy...but its the clunky, often sticky feeding of the model 7's and 700's that I don't like. I've had 2 model 7's that would occasionally bind up completely while feeding 308's...and neither was a "budget model"...one was a stainless synthetic (nearly $800)...the 700's, most recently was the SPS Tactical (I sold that rifle on here)...it never locked plumb up like the model 7's, but I just didn't like how it fed...it felt cheap! Long action 700's...I've never had one fail to feed but more than one has failed to eject. Even that nice ADL (270 Win) that I recently bought for my wife...the plunger stuck while I was working up loads for it, and for no apparent reason (it was clean). I removed the bolt, tapped the plunger with a screwdriver and it popped right out and was good to go....easy fix, but who wants to deal with it while hunting?
The CRF actions just don't do that...they feed, fire, extract, and eject as slick as snot on a doorknob...to deny that is to deny a fact of life.
As far as the case head being shrouded...well, it is on the 700 and it ain't on the 70...is the 700 stronger in that respect...yes...but thats not saying the 70 is weak either, the model 70 is a VERY strong action...and the gas dispersal system on the new production model 70's has been improved (directing it down).
At any rate...its all in what satisfies YOU...smooth, reliable feeding, extracting, and ejecting are what satisfies ME.