Win Model 70 as a range gun/do all

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looking to pick one of these up soon and wondering what yall think. I'm looking to start hunting soonish and figured id pick up a decent scoped rifle. I shoot my guns so itll see more range time than hunting time for sure. Getting the featherweight cause its darn pretty, light to carry, but not too pretty that ill regret taking it out (laminates look better beat up IMO gives em character)


Im comparing this to the weatherby vanguard s2 which has an accuracy gaurantee and Im wondering what yall think. Will I have fun at the range with this model 70, I know it can shoot good enough to hunt with but will the S2 be more accurate?

I reload and its 30-06
 
i have a model 70 with CRF and it is a well made quality piece. a true treasure....
 
While I doubt the Model 70 will be more accurate then the Wby out of the box I would say that the Model 70 is more then accurate enough for any real world hunting and owners of the Winchester appear to be as happy with their purchase as any I have ever seen with any brand, had someone had a M70 Sporter in stock I would have purchased it instead of my Savage 30-06 and I think we all know how much I like my Savages.
 
I bought A M70 Featherweight in .308 Winchester a few days ago and it is a gorgeous rifle. I always wanted to and scored a deal that required me to buy. The gun screams quality for the price point.

I plan to buy some German glass for it soon and some match ammunition.

-Jake
 
If I were in the market for a bolt action rifle my first choice would be a Winchester. I've owned a few from the 70's, 80's and early 2000's. I wouldn't turn down any of them. As good as they've been I'm told the latest is the best. Hard to believe they could be any better then what I've owned.

Good choice.
 
You want a light weight rifle so remember that it will get hot fast when shooting and that is somethinh you want to control. Can really kill groups size and your rifle. If you can not hold your hand or the barrel and count to 3 its hot.

Now you like pretty, lite and accurate .Tika T3.
 
I had a CRF Classic model in 300 Win Mag that was a real tackdriver. Now I have an XTR Sporter in 7mm mag that I can easily get sub-moa groups. I've heard the new ones are some of the best, So I wouldn't hesitate buying one.
 
Now you like pretty, lite and accurate .Tika T3.
+1.....no make that +30! Love me some Tikka that is the tightest shooting rifle I have owned in years, 1/12th MOA out of a bone stock 6lbs $400 rifle that is slick as Teflon coted black ice...oh hellz yeah :)
 
Will I have fun at the range with this model 70, I know it can shoot good enough to hunt with but will the S2 be more accurate?


It is impossible to say whether one rifle will shoot better than another, based solely on brand, and without shooting them both. Every rifle is different. Both of the ones you listed are good rifles. I have a Vanguard in .30-06 that I love but the Winchester M70 is a dandy rifle that has been going strong for many years. I don't think you could go wrong with either.
 
I sold my 700s to finance two Model 70s. One is the standard sporter. The other is the SS Extreme. One of the best decisions I have made.

The Winchester rifles are awesome.
 
I know that I want a new model 70, but I have what I want to get, If I did not already have a 30-06 and 270 it would be so much easier. I have given some thought to a Sporter 300 win mag/7mm Rem Mag or a featherweight in 7mm-08 or the 257 Roberts they have coming out.
 
I had an ultimate shadow .270 from the 90s and it shot sub MOA. I think the Weatherby sub MOA guarantee is mostly marketing and expect both guns to shoot about the same. I played around with an S2 and owned a S1 Vanguard. I wasnt impressed with my S1 and sold it. The S2 is slightly better but the trigger is funky, they call it a two stage but I think it is a crude way to clean up trigger creep. The S2 trigger works and works well for bench shooting and would be fine for hunting. For the money I would say the S2 is a better value but they have a cheap matte finish.
 
You want a light weight rifle so remember that it will get hot fast when shooting and that is somethinh you want to control. Can really kill groups size and your rifle. If you can not hold your hand or the barrel and count to 3 its hot.

Now you like pretty, lite and accurate .Tika T3.

Id prolly go for a sako A7 before a tikka, though theyre super similiar I like the sako stock so much more to validate the extra $$$$. maybe one day- when I need a real rugged mountain rifle.

thanks all good opinions- really liking the M70 featherweight just right at 7lbs walkable yet shootable. I think its a laminate stock though, they all are right arent they? I just wonder how the wood compares to a 1960s model 70
 
Right now Winchester and Kimber are building the best USA production rifles. A Winchester would be my 1st choice as an all around gun. If you want a true lightweigt I'd go with a Kimber. You could make an argument that Sako is a better rifle. I've owned Tikka's in the past. Good guns that are accurate, but for something you'd be proud to pass down to your grandkids the Winchester is the better choice.

The Featherweight is a good classic choice, but it is a featherweight in name only by todays standards. They are middle of the road in weight compared to everything else out there. A Kimber, Tikka, many Savage and Remington models, the Ruger American, TC Venture, and Marlin XL-7 are all lighter than the Featherweight.

The Vanguard by comparison is the heaviest of all production rifles and is the last rifle in my safe I'd want to carry around in the mountains. They are a decent gun for the money, but not in the same league as the Winchester. If money is tight and you don't mind carrying a heavy rifle around you could do a lot worse.

My next choice would actually be the Ruger Hawkeye. It'll save you about $150-$200 over a Winchester since they come with rings. They weigh slighty more than a Featheweight, but a lot less than a Winchester Sporter. They are not as smooth, but get better with some break in and newer versions made since 2006 are as accurate as anything else beign made. They are as tough as woodpecker lips. You can't break one and if you ever have a problem Ruger CS is the best.

I've 6 Winchesters, 7 if you include the FN Patrol Rifle, and 2 Vanguards. There is no comparison. My 2 oldest are 1980's PF versions of the Featherweight, I have 3 of the stainless CRF Classics and 1 new production Extreme Weather version. The new rifles are the best Wincesters ever made, including the pre 64 models. I'd buy with confidence.

FWIW, my personal chioce is the EW. You get a thicker, stiffer, stainless barrel, but because of the fluting they weigh exacty the same as the Featherweight with it's thinner barrel profile.
 
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