Remington 700 action vs Winchester Model 70

[mk]

I am researching upgrading my hunting rifle (Winchester Model 670A in 30 06). This old 670 shoots very straight but I am going after bigger game now so I will be getting a 300 win mag or 338win mag.

My research tells me the Remington 700 action or a Model 70 would both be good. I have heard that the new model 70's have controled feed for the loading cycle, how desirable is this option?

I have shot the same rifle for 25 years so I am kind of out of it on how the new rifles stack up.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Winchester is not making the Model 70 anymore -- but perhaps you can find one in stock somewhere.

The great advantage of the Model 70, in my opinion is the 3-position safety. The Model 70 safety locks the striker, not the trigger (which in theory, at least, is safet than the trigger locking safety of the Model 700.) In the first position, the Model 70 locks the bolt handle down, so it can't be lifted inadvertantly. (Imagine seeing the buck of a lifetime in your sights and hearing a click! because the bolt handle was slightly raised!!)

In the second position, the safety still locks the striker -- so you can load and unload with the safety on.

The third position is fire, of course.

The Model 700 has only two positions -- and the safe position no longer locks the bolt down -- because of so many lawsuits due to accidental shootings. A bad answer to the problem, in my opinion. Remington should have gone to a three-position safety.

 

[dakotasin]

get whatever makes ya feel good - if you can find a 70 for a decent price (good luck w/ that). either will do fine. i prefer the 700 action and am grateful that remington didn't go to the 3-position safety. shoulder a few samples and see what fits you.

alternative to the 70 action is the ruger 77, and alternative to the 700 is the savage 110 (and variants), among many other choices.

 

[Art Eatman]

Unless you're going after dangerous game at close distances and there is the possibility of falling down while reloading, or some other sort of fire-drill thrash, I see no advantage of controlled feed over push-feed. My Weatherby is push-feed, and I've had no problems since 1971.

I'd not worry about "upgrading" from the '06 cartridge unless I was headed off to Alaska for Big Bad Bear. I've had field-position one-shot kills on whitetails at 350 and at 450 yards, so I figure I know the trajectory fairly well. The flatter shooting magnums aren't really all that much of an advantage out at 400 or so, if you use a range finder to determine the distance.

As far as Win70 vs Rem700, I'd say it was more about how each one fits your body, and your own sense of aesthetics. Both probably shoot close enough to one MOA, NIB, for any hunting...

Art

 

[30-06 lover]

Both are reliable, accurate, and well made. I prefer the 700, my dad the 70. Handle both and see which fits and feels better for you. Either way you cannot go wrong.
-Mike

 

[redneck2]

We worry way too much about platforms and not enough about skill

I've got Remmie 700's, a Ruger M77 .300WM, and Win 70's. Doesn't make a lick of difference. The deer you shot with a 30-06 won't be able to tell what brand of rifle he was shot with.

 

[mk]

Thanks for the feedback and different views. Sounds like I'll shoulder a few different models and see what feels best.

As well, no one seems to think the controlled feed cycle is important. My current Winchester does not have it and I have never miss fed it either.

I was not aware that Winchester no longer made the Model 70. I was under the impression from looking at the Winchester website that the Model 70's were still in production.

As far as caliber it's not deer, moose and elk that have me wanting to upgrade. I have never used more than one shot with my 30 06 for deer or moose. I have recently moved (I now live in northern British Columbia) and there is a healthy population of Grizzly bears and Black bears. While hunting this fall I have come upon bears with and without cubs at less than 50 feet both on foot and in a vehicle - this is why I am upgrading the caliber.

Thank you everyone for your input and I would like to hear more about whether Winchester is making the Model 70.