Winchester M70 Sporter

[Bobson]

Anyone have a newer FN-made M70 Sporter? Just wondering what to expect from these. I had an M70 Extreme Weather that I was super pleased with, but had to sell during a tough time. I'm considering picking up a new EW, or possibly the Sporter, in the next month, pending a successful draw for deer. Caliber will be .270 Win either way. Glass will be a Zeiss Conquest. Thoughts on the rifle?

 

[Speedgoat]

I have a Model 70 Alaskan in .300 Win Mag and just picked up a Model 70 Ultimate Shadow in 30-06 that's going to be a tacti-cool (for you critics) build, #7 barrel, McMillan A4 or A5, already have a Nightforce 5.5-22x56 glass on it. As a out of the box rifle to use I like my Alaskan much more, better balanced and a bit heavier. I got the Ultimate Shadow specifically for my tactical build so I didn't really care about the ultra lightweight stock on it now. I can shoot my Alaskan much better it is just weighted much better in stock form, I would imagine this will translate over to your Sporter model with the walnut stock vs the ultimate shadow with its hollowed out cheap plastic furniture. The fittment and workmanship on both rifles is superb. Much better than a 03-ish Model 70 I briefly owned that was one of the 'flukes' out of the final years at the New Haven plant. Don't want to go starting any forum wars over new vs Pre 64, but I'll say they're pretty close! Good luck with your new Winchester I'm sure you'll like it!

 

[MCMXI]

I'm considering picking up a new EW, or possibly the Sporter, in the next month

I bought an EW last year (.300 Win Mag) and am picking up a new EW chambered in .308 Win tonight. I'm hoping that the .308 Win was built with more attention to detail compared to the Win Mag. I spent some time cleaning up the first rifle and now I'm very pleased with it. It shoots well too. I like your choice in optics. I have Zeiss Conquest scopes on three rifles. I have two with the RZ600 reticle and one with the RZ800 reticle but should have chosen another RZ600.

 

[Robert]

I love my Safari Express, not an EW or Sporter I know, but I had to have it bedded before it would shoot worth a nickle. Now it is amazingly accurate.

 

[Geno]

I don't have any Sporter models, but do have two Stealths (.22-250 Rem & .308 Win), two Ultimate Shadows (.243 Win & .308 Win) and a Super Grade (.270 Win). All of them shoot very well even with factory ammo, and when handloaded, are exceptional shooters.

If I were to go with an additional wood stocked M70, it would be an additional Super Grade, or a Featherweight. I do like the Sporter, but prefer the appearance of the other two models. If I were looking to get a take-anywhere M70, I would stick with that Extreme Weather, hands-down, and never look back. You will look far and wide, and spend a lot more money to outdo what that M70 EW rifle offers!

JMHO, as I contemplate my next M70. Edit to add a statement to review my old post here about my first M70 Super Grade .30-06 Sprg. To call it trash would be pleasant. Winchester stood behind it, and got me a replacement. As with any rifle, be sure to look it over before buying.

Geno

 

[Bobson]

Regarding the bedding, what's the typical solution, Robert? Glass, pillar, or something else I don't know of?

Thanks for all the replies, folks.

 

[Abel]

Sometimes, most of the time, the new FN made M70 will shoot just fine with the factory bedded lug and tang. If not, bed it with Accra Glass gel.

 

[MCMXI]

I picked up my second EW tonight and after going over it I'm well pleased. I like stainless and synthetic and the .308 Win with its fluted 22" barrel and B&C stock is a great looking rifle. It looks and feels well balanced. I'm going to like this one.

 

[another pake]

OP, having had a Model 70 EW, you know what they are capable of. Last week I set out to get a new Sporter in .30-06, but got distracted by the laminate stocked, SS Alaskan. A few minutes spent with each gun and I knew which way I had to go. For me the Alaskan felt right. I couldn't be happier.

Happy shopping!

 

[Savage99]

I have been a Winchester M70 aficionado since I bought my first M70 new in 1957 and acquired a complete battery of them. I still have and use that old M70.

I prefer the M70 design however I have never owned one of the new BACO made M70's.

The picture I have found of the pressed in checkering and sloppy metal stamping on it's barrel show me they are not up to the standards I want.

 

[Robert]

To each their own.

Now back to the question at hand, bedding. Mine was bedded with a grey material that was for lack of a better term, shimming up the recoil lugs. The Safari Express has two recoil lugs and this grey stuff was applied to each inlet in the stock. It was rubbish.

I took mine to a highly recommended smith in the area and he bedded the action for me as I had no idea what I was doing. Though that has never stopped me before... He told me that the grey stuff had not really set up properly and was rather soft in some spots. Which was the cause of my shotgun patterns. Quick trip to the doc and she shoots tight groups all day long.

Now once I save up the money I will ditch the wood stock for a McMillan and have a solid mountains to African plains rifle. I love my M70, even with all it's early faults and plan on buying another in the future. Great rifles.

 

[Bobson]

Very good; thank you, sir.

 

[Robert]

Wait, Savage you mean to tell me that you've never owned a new M70 and are basing you disdain for them off a picture? Have you handled one in person? Stop by anytime and I'd be happy to let you handle my Safari Express. Heck, we can go to the range and turn some 375H&H into noise and smiles.

 

[MCMXI]

The stamping on the barrel of the M70 I picked up today looks ok to me. Not great but not terrible either. The text looks sharper in person, probably because it's on the small side. The photo below gives the impression that the text is large and obtrusive ... it's not.

 

[lovethosesooners]

VERY happy with my Sporter in .270....enough so to have followed up with purchase of another Model 70 in .243 Coyote Light.

EXCELLENT

 

[az_imuth]

The picture I have found of the pressed in checkering and sloppy metal stamping on it's barrel show me they are not up to the standards I want.

Savage99---I believe what you found was not sloppy stamping or checkering, but merely a sloppy photo. Here's the metal stamping and laser-cut checkering on my Columbia, SC M70...nothing sloppy about it.

 

[jmr40]

I have the EW and am very pleased. Not an option when I bought mine but if I could do it again I'd save the money and buy theSS Super Shadow. I ended up replacing the stock anyway with a McMillan

 

[Savage99]

Robert,

I handled a new M70 recently in a gunshop. The bolt lift was very heavy with the firing pin down. So heavy as to preclude easy operation from the shoulder.

The finish on the wood and metal was poor.

I have all the M70's I want and as I posted above since 1957.

I did buy a new M70 when the 7mm WSM came out as I just had to have one now!

The rifle was SS/plastic.

It was not accurate and in fact poor.

The major problem with it was that it's chamber was way out of round!

Winchester had over tightened the barrels on some of them.

 

[MCMXI]

I handled a new M70 recently in a gunshop. The bolt lift was very heavy with the firing pin down. So heavy as to preclude easy operation from the shoulder.

Bolt lift on both of my M70 EWs is among the best (easiest) I've ever encountered for rifles in this price range. Bolt lift on my Savage WW is really heavy but that's typical for a Savage.

 

[herkyguy]

I picked up a used M70 Extreme weather SS a few years ago and she now wears a Zeiss Conquest. It's my hunting gun for sure.... as far as accuracy goes, it shoots a deer dead at any distance i'm interested in. my groups are not fantastic, so if it's still not shooting tight groups when i sight it in for this year, i'll take a look at the bedding.

 

[hughie]

We carry them were I work and they are beautiful rifles. when you look at them and handle them, why would you get anything else.