The new Winchester M70

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Ranger Dave

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Years ago I bought a Winchester M70 Ranger in 30-06. I put 6000 rounds through that barrel before I gave up on her. I bought a new 70 30-06 a few months ago. Its night and day the quality of the rifles.

The new 70 is a nice rifle. I'm shooting Hornady 165 BTSP and getting an honest 1.1" at 100. Thats 5 shots. I seem to do a bit better at 200, grouping right a 2". The Sierra 168's shoot a bit better, 0.7" at 100. Not bad for a bone stock factory rifle just coming up to 100 rounds through the tube. I think it will do better after I pick up a better scope.

I hope this rifle last as long as the old Ranger.

IMG_0458.jpg
 
I had a .30-06 CRF from the late 90's I believe. It was a .85" or so rifle with about 3 handloads and 1.2" with Federal 180 hot-cor factory fodder. (5 shot groups with a lead sled, and burris FF2 3-9 cranked up on 9.
I only sold it, because I had to, and will have a couple more again before all is said and done. Mine was bone stock too.
 
I'm really loving my new stainless featherweight in .270
Fit and finish is amazing for a rifle in this price range...kudos to FN.
I have yet to shoot it as I'm waiting on glass, but it sure gives me a good feeling to fondle it.
 
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Sun_and_Steel_77 said:
I'm really ling my new stainless featherweight in .270
Fit and finish is amazing for a rifle in this price-range...kudos to FN.
I have yet to shoot it as I'm waiting on glass, but it sure gives me a good feeling to fondle it.
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Similar story as me. I have a brand new M70 extreme weather 7mm RM in my safe that I am dying to go shoot, but I need a scope and rings for it still.
 
I'm also impressed with FN's new version of the model 70. I have the Safari Express in .375 H&H and it is a smooth, sweet shooting rifle.
 
I really like those Fn Mod 70,the 3 I got are accurate and well made.They are one of the best production rifle available today imo.
 
Ranger Dave said:
Years ago I bought a Winchester M70 Ranger in 30-06. I put 6000 rounds through that barrel before I gave up on her. I bought a new 70 30-06 a few months ago. Its night and day the quality of the rifles.

The new 70 is a nice rifle. I'm shooting Hornady 165 BTSP and getting an honest 1.1" at 100. Thats 5 shots. I seem to do a bit better at 200, grouping right a 2". The Sierra 168's shoot a bit better, 0.7" at 100. Not bad for a bone stock factory rifle just coming up to 100 rounds through the tube. I think it will do better after I pick up a better scope.

I hope this rifle last as long as the old Ranger.

IMG_0458.jpg
Click to expand...

"........not bad for a Bone stock rifle just coming up to 100 rounds through the tube."

It's a Winchester Model 70!,... the Riflemans Rifle in my youth! I have had a few and can say, bone stock, they were the most accurate consistent Rifles I owned.
Can't say a bad word about them. The new one you have, I have never handled but it looks great in pics.


Hows the controlled feed versus the push feed?


I always considered for non- dangerous Game Rifle, the push feed make the M70 one of the slickest Bolt guns on the market. Theres never been a feed issue that would make me sweat over using one for Large Bear, though some may differ on that opinion.:canadaFlag:
 
My old 1973 push feed M-70 30-06 would put up 1" groups on a consistant basis. Very good dependable rifle.
I bought a new M-70 feather weight in .243 last year with the controlled round feed. A nice rifle, same accuracy as the old one. The only thing I don't like is the control round feed. You can't just slide one round up the tube and close the bolt, that big extractor won't give enough to close up over the case head. You have to bring a round up from the magazine only. The dealer says thats normal and just the way it is.
My Kimber M-84 in 30-06 with the same bolt set up allows you to slide one up the tube and close the bolt with no resistance, very slick.

Other than that the new model 70's seem to be well made and accurate rifles for the money.
 
mrgoat said:
The only thing I don't like is the control round feed. You can't just slide one round up the tube and close the bolt, that big extractor won't give enough to close up over the case head. You have to bring a round up from the magazine only. The dealer says thats normal and just the way it is.
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Considering that WInchester claim you can load directly into the chamber (bypassing the magazine), I would not personally accept a failure to do so as "normal". The Model 70 owners manual does however state that bypassing the magazine will increase the force needed to close the bolt. Personally I don't have any problem single loading my Safari Express model, altough the factory may pay extra attention to this aspect of their safari model rifles. Its too bad that your dealer is not more helpful, but any decent smith should be able to tweak the extractor and make it function flawlessly.
 
Canadaboy

My owners maual recomends you load up from the magazine. My friend has a new featherweight in 30-06 in loads into the tube effortlessly. I can close my bolt up on a chambered round but it takes considerable force.
I closely examined his bolt and mine and I can not see a speck of difference.

My local dealer is Epps here in Ontario, there not exactly new to the game but they just sluff it off as my gun is normal and my buddies is abnormal and have a nice day.
 
I get goosebumps when I think about wood-stocked M70 in 270 win with a fixed 4x or 6x on it, something simple like an FX-II. I can't get the thought of owning one out of my head.

FN appears to have done a nice job on the revival of a classic.
 
The new FN made M-70"s are every bit the equal of any of the variations made over the years. I still prefer the old style trigger to the FN one, not to say that there is anything wrong with the FN one.

I presently have an FN FWT in .308 up for sale and also have a 7-08 stainless/walnut FN FWT that I am using. All of my serious hunting rifles are M-70's (Pre-64 .35 whelen, custom 7x57 push feed, custom crf .300 H+H, .223 fwt push feed).
 
At risk of seeming foolish,can somebody please define "bone stock"? I'm a Model 70 fan from way back but this is a new term to me.
 
garrattrich....here is my M70 SuperGrade in .270win..... handle well and shoots 1.25" all day @200 yards... so far it is exactly as advertised :cheers: sorry for the bad pic!!

M70_1024.jpg
 
I believe the term "bone stock" refers to the rifle itself, not just for winchesters. It means that the rifle is stock just like it come from the factory with no upgrades or modifications. Although I could be wrong.
 
I have 2 FN manufactured model 70's, a 7-08 blued/walnut featherweight, and a .270 win stainless/walnut featherweight. Neither shoot as well as my 270 WSM New Haven Classic featherweight or my pre 64 .270 and 30-06 featherweights. I don't care for the new triggers.
 
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