Browning FN Highpower Rifle vs Pre 64 M70....

I'd also like to hear from someone who has handled and fired both. I've only handled an FN, Browning FN, and new production Model 70s. I do have a newer FN model 70 in 270 on the way though.
 
What's the question? It's a wash of personal preference in reality. And you have to clarify which era and model of each rifle you are referring to.

To sumplify as much as possible:

The FN is a commercial Mauser 98 with either a m98 safety, or later a PH style safety (yes PH trigger mech is actually an improved copy of the FN).

M70, do you mean a true "pre" 1964, or one of the post 1990 improved "pre 64" rifles? The M70 trigger mech was a marvel of 1930's trigger design - unchanged until very recently.

A true pre 1964 is a fine rifle, but with the unsupported "cone breech" of the 1903 springfield action.

The post 1990 "pre 64" is mechanically and materially superior in every way except ergonomics to the pre 1964 rifles.

The win m70 safety is mechanically superior as it locks the striker, the FN side safety locks the trigger and sear.
 
it will likely come to preference. The wood on the Browning will be much nicer wood and for most shooters, more ergonomic for scope use. The Brownings have nicer blueing. Some claim that the Winchester is a much smoother action. I have never owned a pre 64 but can tell you that the two post 2008 Winchesters I've had were both smooth as butter loaded (30-06 & 375 H&H). But so are my Browning Safari grade rifles (FN Mauser actions and medium and short Sako actions).

Either route you go, they are still both some of the nicest production rifles ever made.
 
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My FN 98 mauser Safari is in .308 Norma Magnum with a 1-12 twist shoots bullets from 180gr and lighter just fine.Never tried any heavier but deer just disappear after a hit with 150's bang flops.The pre-64 /70 is in a classic .300 H+H and likes 180gr Partitions.
 
In both cases, the vintage of the rifle matters. With two exceptions, every change made to the rifles, with the passage of time, was made to reduce cost and expedite manufacture. The two exceptions? The safety on the Model 70 was changed to clear a low mounted scope and the trigger was changed on the Mauser to provide adjustment capability. The Mauser, in it's original form, had the great advantage of tool-free bolt disassembly. If you broke a firing pin, for instance (though I've never seen it happen on a Mauser) you could change it with no tools. The same was not quite true of the Model 70. The Model 70 Trigger was pretty good. The original, two-stage, Mauser trigger was also good and was bullet-proof.
Both rifles were heavy and most modern hunters would start whining about ten yards from the truck. I like both as produced prior to about 1955. After this, there were to many compromises starting to show up.
 
Thanks all. I own and am moderately knowledgeable on the Pre 64 M70 (as far as the Roger Rule book takes me) and was wondering how they compare mechanically and in quality to the 1959 onward Browning FN Highpower rifles. I am also curious how they compare recently in terms of collectibility value. I’m aware of the vast variance in pre 64 collectibility and also schooled on the salt wood issues with Browning. Thanks again and Merry Christmas to all!

IH
 
I've only had one Browning FN in 338 Win Mag. It was a later model that had the Sako style extractor.
Held onto it for a short time but it wasn't my cup of tea.
It was a good lesson though because up until then I never knew Browning had modified the 98 action to that extent.
Maybe I should have held onto it as it might be an ultra rare variation worth thousands.:sok2
 
Not too long ago, I had an FN Browning Safari 270 in my grubby hands and I thought I'd never felt a smoother mauser action. So of course, I went digging through the old rifle safe, and I pulled out a Brno Zkk 600 in 30-06 and a Parker Hale in 308. The Browning did take the cake for action smoothness, but it was a close second with the Parker Hale. The Brno was in a distant third place. Rough and gritty. With a sample size of one each though its hard to make definitive statements.
 
The Browning Safari had a Model 70 type trigger and a proprietary bolt stop. I've seen several actions with the bolt stop broken, it is quite fragile compared to the original M98. The trigger uses different mounting points than an M98 as well and they have a H-ring rather than the original C-ring collar.

Other than that its the usual M98 vs M70;

Mauser has a better extractor and better gas protection than the Winchester.

The Winchester is more streamlined and has a better trigger for a sporting rifle, as well as faster lock time and is a more rigid action. It is also typically smoother and the bolt runs tighter tolerances, being designed as a sporting rifle and not a infantry rifle.

The ZKK-600 is a hybrid. It is a square bridge pre-64 Model 70 with a M98 extractor and M98 C-ring breech. I have two made in 1967 and they are machined as well as a good model 70, though the newer ones can be pretty rough.
 
Some FN/Browning High Power rifles were built on Sako medium actions. I briefly owned one in .243 and it was a beautiful rifle. Mine was a Medallion grade. It was almost too nice to go hunting with. I only sold it because I did not care about the caliber.

Some of the FN 98 based actions were plagued with salt cured wood stocks for at least one year of production and were prone to corrosion.
 
I have a few of the old Brownings and the workmanship is excellent.
I also have some old Sako 's that are the same.
There was a few years when people couldn't wait to sell them to
purchase the new plastic stock rifles. That is when I started buying
them. Most of them are exc to mint because people looked after them.
If you want a classic rifle get either of the old Brownings or Sako's.
The Winchester's are also right in there.I have a 1968 Heavy Barrel
Target in 308.
 
There are 3 variations of Brownings High power rifles, the Safari, Medallion, and Olympian.
I had a safari up until recently in excellent condition, but the safari grades are really plain looking rifles in my opinion, the only thing going for them is an excellent M98 action.
Now a medallion and Olympian are something else.
No experience with the pre 64 M70, trying to fix that problem.
 
freire said:
There are 3 variations of Brownings High power rifles, the Safari, Medallion, and Olympian.
I had a safari up until recently in excellent condition, but the safari grades are really plain looking rifles in my opinion, the only thing going for them is an excellent M98 action.
Now a medallion and Olympian are something else.
No experience with the pre 64 M70, trying to fix that problem.
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I have a safari grade, with the m98 action. It is one of the nicest walnut stocks I have seen. Far from plain.

My old man had a pre64 m70. For me it’s a toss up between the two. Both excellent rifles.
 
comparing my 1962 model 70 to my FN Browning is like a chevy vs a bmw....both will do the job but the European gun is better built and much more refined and elegant...they just don't have the collector appeal...
 
I prefer the action of the Browning FN models, and the wood is likely much better too. I think the old pre-64 Model 70's although decent rifles are vastly overpriced due to collector interest, not any inherent superiority.
 
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