farscott
Member
I have been looking for a lightweight (relatively speaking) bolt-action rifle with iron sights chambered in a decent cartridge (one that has lots of reloading data as well as lots of factory loads in lots of places) that I can actually use without dumping even more money into it for a decent set of iron sights, swivel studs, and stock mods to be able to use the iron sights. My preference is for nice walnut and blued steel for this rifle; I have other rifles for foul weather and really hard use.
This rifle is for short-range (always less than 150 yards and maybe as short as 40 yards) walkaround hunting in dense brush and may also see time as a truck gun. While I have a Marlin 1894 in .44 Magnum that sees some use in this role, I want a bolt action for the mechanical advantage in feeding provided by the rotary bolt and the ability to chamber a more powerful cartridge. Caliber is not a real issue; anything from 7X57 to .270 Winchester to .308 Winchester to .30-06 to .280 Remington is acceptable. I do want to stay away from any of the new short-action magnums due to the relative lack of reloading data and difficulty in finding factory ammo. I also do not want to get into .300 Winchester Magnum or higher recoil territory.
In the CDNN catalog on their website, they show a Model 70 chamberered in 7mm Remington Magnum with a twenty-two inch barrel, a Monte Carlo stock, Schnabel forend, quarter rib with rear sight, front sight with fiber optic insert, and swivel studs. The ad mentions something about Belgian proofs and being imported. It looks to be a beautiful rifle and looks to be something that would fit my wants. My dealer has quoted me a price of $829 (yes, I know that CDNN has it listed for $700, but I want my local dealer to make a profit), and that price is doable. So here are my questions:
1) My only experience with a rear sight rib is on a Ruger 77. Any comments on Winchester's implementation of the rib? The picture in the ad does not really show any detail.
2) It appears this rifle was built for the European market. Was this rifle built in Belgium? If so, by whom? FN? What is the reference to "Custom"? Which custom shop did the work?
3) If I remember correctly, European rifles tend to be set-up for relatively short shots at running game in low light? Is this correct? If so, would the sights on this Model 70 be set for speed rather than precision and long-range accuracy?
4) It appears the 7mm Remington Magnum might be at the upper end of my cartridge range and is a belted magnum; however, it seems to be quite popular. I have never reloaded a belted magnum, so I am a bit concerned there. Any comments about the round and reloading for it?
Thanks for any advice and help.
This rifle is for short-range (always less than 150 yards and maybe as short as 40 yards) walkaround hunting in dense brush and may also see time as a truck gun. While I have a Marlin 1894 in .44 Magnum that sees some use in this role, I want a bolt action for the mechanical advantage in feeding provided by the rotary bolt and the ability to chamber a more powerful cartridge. Caliber is not a real issue; anything from 7X57 to .270 Winchester to .308 Winchester to .30-06 to .280 Remington is acceptable. I do want to stay away from any of the new short-action magnums due to the relative lack of reloading data and difficulty in finding factory ammo. I also do not want to get into .300 Winchester Magnum or higher recoil territory.
In the CDNN catalog on their website, they show a Model 70 chamberered in 7mm Remington Magnum with a twenty-two inch barrel, a Monte Carlo stock, Schnabel forend, quarter rib with rear sight, front sight with fiber optic insert, and swivel studs. The ad mentions something about Belgian proofs and being imported. It looks to be a beautiful rifle and looks to be something that would fit my wants. My dealer has quoted me a price of $829 (yes, I know that CDNN has it listed for $700, but I want my local dealer to make a profit), and that price is doable. So here are my questions:
1) My only experience with a rear sight rib is on a Ruger 77. Any comments on Winchester's implementation of the rib? The picture in the ad does not really show any detail.
2) It appears this rifle was built for the European market. Was this rifle built in Belgium? If so, by whom? FN? What is the reference to "Custom"? Which custom shop did the work?
3) If I remember correctly, European rifles tend to be set-up for relatively short shots at running game in low light? Is this correct? If so, would the sights on this Model 70 be set for speed rather than precision and long-range accuracy?
4) It appears the 7mm Remington Magnum might be at the upper end of my cartridge range and is a belted magnum; however, it seems to be quite popular. I have never reloaded a belted magnum, so I am a bit concerned there. Any comments about the round and reloading for it?
Thanks for any advice and help.
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