The Ruger Hawkeye in stainless is another option if you want the Winchester features.
If it must be a 30-06 then it would be between the (FN) M70 and a Ruger Hawkeye. Both have a three position safety that locks the firing pin and control round feed.
Actually, while the Ruger M77MKII safety set-up looks like a model 70 at frist glance, it is not. The Model 70 safety is all within the bolt cocking piece and locks the firing pin in
both safe positions. The Ruger safety is mounted on the receiver and only locks the firing pin in the final bolt lock position. It acts as a trigger safety only in the first position. Plus the Ruger ejector is mounted lower from inside the receiever.
Therefore while cycling loaded rounds to and from the chamber, the model 70s, Kimbers, Dakotas and Montana rifles have a locked firing pin. The Ruger only has a locked trigger mechanisim.
That being said, the Rugers are usually a good bit less expensive. Particularly here in Alaska where the Model 70s have a cult like following.
I owned a couple stainless M70 that were made just before the last time the company went belly-up. They both had accuracy and workmanship issues. the new ones are supposedly better.
I have also had a Kimber Montana It was ok but it too had a couple small hitches that should have been easy to fix had the company been not so hard to deal with. Kimbers initially sold like hot-cakes up here but now they are given away as door prizes due to poor company support and some questionable workmanship on a few rifles.
The Montana's are good rifles.
Rugers are like old pick-ups, everyone in Alaska has at least one.
I have modified a couple commercial Mauser actions with Dakota Model 70 type safeties. Those are kinda neat too.
)to a McLaren F1.......... technology-wise.
