FN Winchesters?

Supposedly these are supposed to be the best winchesters built since the pre 64 era. Does anyone have any experience with the new FWT? I fondled one today and really liked it, the checkering was iffy and the stock colour was very red but other then that beautiful gun. Can anyone speak for accuracy of these new ones? I know they are considered the "riflemans rifle" and will only be used for hunting but I like an accurate rifle.

Sorry for asking so many questions, but I wanna get some good info before I drop $1200 (scope included) on a rifle.
My Fwt compact in .308 I got last year is as accurate as my Sako and Tikka's. Great rifle, I keep mine as the all around camp gun.
 
My brother has one of the newer M70 Featherweights in 30-06. I like that the trigger is fully adjustable and his breaks cleanly with zero take-up or creep. The bolt is very smooth and I like the three position safety. I have shot beautiful touching groups with that rifle and its just very nice to carry. The finish on his is also a bit red. I think that for $1200 including glass and taxes, you would be getting a good deal.
 
Sail has a good price as well for them. $764 and $799(for the magnums)....though I realize that doesn't help the OP as he wants to lay eyes on the gun first.
 
A lot of guys do...myself included. I like to feel them and give them the once over to make sure that there are no issues with what I am purchasing.
 
My featherweight is in 243, it is accurate in my opinion, 1" can be had with my reloads. I don't notice mine to be reddish in colour, wood being a natural product can have different colour variations. My checkering is good, lazer cut like they all are. If you want hand cut checkering by a specialized stock maker you'll pay the cost of the featherweight for that alone, especially with the swirl designs of a featherweight. Mine looks like post #13. I would highly recommend the new FN M-70's, probably some of the best that were made in there 75 yr. history. I can't blame you for wanting to personally to pick out your rifle, but at times it is just possible or practical.
 
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I like the design of the checkering but like I said it just didnt se like the quality that Brownings was. I would have bought the browning right there had the price been $100 less. WSS has them for $869 so a full $100 less so next time I'm in the city ill be going there instead of Cabelas
 
Ive had 3 of the new fn built Winchesters, a model 70 Alaskan, extreme all weather and a feather weight. accuracy from all has been excellent. I sold 2 of them but kept the feather weight. I think the the quality of the new rifle is the best its been in a long time. the only issue I have encountered with the new fn version is the need to shim the rear scope base when using leupold bases. It seems fn has made the rear of the receiver slightly lower then on older models. A new feather weight should be around $800. I think they are a great rifle for the money
 
I've had a couple. One was a 30-06 Super Grade and the other a .458 Express. The 30-06 was a bit plain for a Super Grade, but I liked everything about it except that it wouldn't shoot. It was one of the very few center-fire rifles I've had to take back for accuracy. Oddly, the other one was a Sako and it was the very next rifle I bought. Oh well, they are the one's that put an accuracy warranty on it.

The .458 on the other hand is one of my very favorite rifles regardless of price. For a DGR it has to be the biggest bargain around. If the '06 shot like it, it would still be around. Figures that the rifle that doesn't need to shoot does.
 
Here's a pic of mine, with a 5 shot group < MOA with factory ammo. My reloads are much better. I have since then swapped that 2.5-8x scope to a 3-9x and switched the bases and rings. This is a 30-06 and it loves 180gr accubonds and RL22.
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Here is mine
Will shoot moa with federal vital shock 165gr sierra's and with honorary superformance 165gr sst. Shot 4-6" groups with federal vital shock loaded with nosler 180gr accubond. Haven't really tried any other ammo. Shoots very good with reloads as well.

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Me its not even a question. The winchester 11 times out of 10. The other 2 feel like they are made out of recycled pop cans to me. The m70 feels like its made form actual metal. Ive had a lot of problems with push feed as well not ejecting spent brass. Just drop em back into the chamber 60% of the time. CRF only for this guy.
 
I love the Sako & Tikka and the older Remington, but today IMO the best bang for your buck is these new Winchester. There was a time where I wouldn't buy a rifle if it didn't have a detachable magazine so I never bothered with the Winchester. I have enough guns in the safe with det. mag now if that's what I want to hunt with. These new Winchester are well built, accurate, comes with a good recoil pad and the new MOA trigger are really good.
 
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