Has the Model 70 Winchester Fallen off the map?

My local CT just received one from their main order couple weeks ago: M70 Extreme Weather in .243 Win. with fluted barrel. Retail tag is $1449.00 if I recall right. About 15 more coming.
 
Over the years, I have owned several Winchesters .. both pre-64s and post-64s.
I currently own 2 Winchester Model 70's, both made by FN (Baco) in the USA:
-- a Stainless Deluxe Featherweight, with a highly-figured grade III walnut stock, made in 2008/9 (when FN reintroduced the product line), chambered in .270
-- an Stainless Extreme Weather with a factory composite stock, made in 2011, also chambered in .270
In terms of quality, these two rifles are the finest Winchesters I've ever owned.
I may sell the EW one day, but if so then only because I do not need two rifles in .270

-Dennis
 
Bought one two years ago and couldn't be happier model 70 .308 featherweight deluxe...had to do some looking around finally found one in a small gun shop a couple hundred kms away but he only carried Winchester and browning and didn't keep any rifles in stainless or nylon stalks which I was perfectly fine with
 
I will echo what the others are saying. It doesn't matter if it is a real winchester or not, the truth is that the new production M70 is one of the top production rifles produced today in it's price range; in fact the quality punches higher that it's price tag.
 
The second hand crf crowd is doing just fine with all the stainless ruger mk2's around.
The supergrades are nice but hit and miss with the quality of the wood on them.
Otherwise I couldn't find a reason to want a new m70 these days anyway.
 
Buckmastr said:
The second hand crf crowd is doing just fine with all the stainless ruger mk2's around.
The supergrades are nice but hit and miss with the quality of the wood on them.
Otherwise I couldn't find a reason to want a new m70 these days anyway.
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There has never been a ruger out that will keep up to a quality winchester. Even ruger diehards know this deep down.
 
heronfish said:
There has never been a ruger out that will keep up to a quality winchester. Even ruger diehards know this deep down.
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Ruger has dropped the MK2 in current production do the newer hawkeyes still hold their own? I still assume Winchester has the edge just curious about the Rugers don't tend to see a whole lot of them out there either.
 
The dollar doesnt go as far today as it did 30 years ago and when you can get a rifle that shoots a 1" group at 100 metres for a third of the price the name doesnt sell as many as it used to.

I owned one briefly (from the CT factory just before it closed in 2006) and it wasnt particularly impressive. It was accurate enough for a hunting rifle (averaged 1.5" at 100m) but the finish was lacking, the bolt was rough, and the synthetic stock was very cheap feeling.

If im lucky I will inherit, and cherish my grandfathers Model 70. I will carry it with pride. But I dont see myself buying another one. Im a Ruger 77 guy these days and dont see any reason to go back to purchasing Winchesters.
 
blasted_saber said:
The dollar doesnt go as far today as it did 30 years ago and when you can get a rifle that shoots a 1" group at 100 metres for a third of the price the name doesnt sell as many as it used to.

I owned one briefly (from the CT factory just before it closed in 2006) and it wasnt particularly impressive. It was accurate enough for a hunting rifle (averaged 1.5" at 100m) but the finish was lacking, the bolt was rough, and the synthetic stock was very cheap feeling.

If im lucky I will inherit, and cherish my grandfathers Model 70. I will carry it with pride. But I dont see myself buying another one. Im a Ruger 77 guy these days and dont see any reason to go back to purchasing Winchesters.
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Interesting, I find my M70 10 times smoother them the 77 I just picked up. Could be just bad examples of both I guess. But my M70 has the smoothest action I have ever handled and shoots MOA with every load I have tried with it so far.
 
Rod said:
Olin sold out to the employees around 1981 but retained ownership of the Winchester name and leased the rights to use the Winchester name to U.S. Repeating Arms Company. . The employees were not allowed to use "Winchester Repeating Arms Company" (WRACO). . . U.S. Repeating Arms Co. are the closest there is to the OLIN owned Winchesters. . Winchester firearms flourished under Olin ownership including the Model 70, the M21, M42 and more. . The Olin Family were hunters and had pride in building the best firearms possible. . Pre-64 Winchesters were kept on life support long after it was economically feasible and subsidized by the other aspects of Olin Industries. . You can call these latest rifles Model 70's until the cows come home, no problem there, but they're not real Winchesters.

Connecticut Shotgun purchased the rights, from Olin, to manufacture copies of the Model 21. . These are excellent made Model 21 Shotguns and are sold as Winchester M21 made by Connecticut Shotgun Manuufacturing Co. (CSMC). . but cannot be barrel stamped Winchester Repeating Arms Co. . These are fine shotguns, and held in very high regard, but they are not real Winchesters . . .

If some other outfit started building Model T's today they would be classified as a reproduction of the real deal. In other words a copy but not a real Ford Model T. Even less if it was made in Portugal.
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I have one of those 1981 changeover Winchesters in 257 Roberts. Model 70 XTR feather weight. Made in New Haven Conn and has a recoil pad with Winchester on it, which is why I use the term changeover. Did my research when I got it but she's Far too pretty to hunt with, so has just sat in storage.
 
freddyfour said:
Interesting, I find my M70 10 times smoother them the 77 I just picked up. Could be just bad examples of both I guess. But my M70 has the smoothest action I have ever handled and shoots MOA with every load I have tried with it so far.
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Mine was probably not indicative of a normal M70. Unfortunately the gun I purchased came from what was essentially the "Friday afternoon shift" of the New Haven plant, as they stopped production right at that time. The reputation of guns from that era isnt stellar.
 
Speaking of hard to find winchesters...

This as new, 1986 vintage Winlite in 7 rem mag followed me home from the gun show this weekend. I'll take this any day over an extreme weather.

 
Went and found a local model 70 at Canadian tire today. Its even in 270 which is a caliber I would consider. I was very impressed with the fit and finish and balance and weight. However its a left over Super Shadow Blued and I am not one bit fond of the stock. They wanted $869 which I assumed to be a good price on it but I think id want a wooden stock to make it complete. If I am going to go with a synthetic stock I want a stainless barrel as well. Call me weird but its just how I am. Wood and blued or stainless and synthetic are my preferences. Im going to check a few other shops in the next few months. Heres the link to the super shadow blued on winchesters website. http://www.winchesterguns.com/produ...ast-Products/model-70-super-shadow-blued.html
 
Buckmastr said:
Speaking of hard to find winchesters...

This as new, 1986 vintage Winlite in 7 rem mag followed me home from the gun show this weekend. I'll take this any day over an extreme weather.

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Any particular reason why you would?. Just curious.
 
The extreme weathers have a bell and carlson stock that is super thick, poorly designed with a short grip. The moa trigger is ok, but not as good as the old winchester triggers. The extreme weather I have has a noisy safety. Also it's in 25-06, with a 22" barrel? And the fluting, is that an attempt to make it light?
It's quite accurate however.
The Winlite has a mcmillan stock, old trigger, and old winchester quality. I have two, a featherweight in 270 and this one. The 270 is one of the best shooting guns I own. Awesome and underrated push feeds. I'll take them all day especially at half the price of a unavailable extreme weather.
Im surprised how an expensive, heavy, stainless crf deer gun gets everyone all worked up...:dancingbanana:
 
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