Still some Winchester M70 with wooden stocks out there. The new ones are Rem 700 LTR with Leupold VX-R Patrol 1.25-4x30.
What model is it, or are they put together specifically for RCMP? Does anybody have pictures?
Huge Winchester fan here!!
They are Winchester model 70 bolt actions in 308. Nothing special about them but I will say they are old as dirt and are still accurate.
J
We have tons of M70's with wood stocks in F. The R700 is still a minority here.
J
That being said they have been phases out for the most part. No new people trained on them for a long time, and no updated qualifications for those already trained.
Now that we have rifles, our BFIs have been running qualifications. I allows us to re-qualify and the new guys to have cross-rifles on their sleeve.
700's are replacing the M70's as Winchester went out of business for that short bit while Olin acquired them. After using both, the M70's are such a superior rifle, the hope is to go back to the 70's when it's possible. Controlled feed is just as important on a containment team as it is dealing with angry elephant. As well, I've done the sight in for many of them. The 70's are just as accurate if not more so, even with lighter barrels.
Getting a rifle to group 1" and under at 100yd isn't that hard these days but the WM70 action and rifle does it in such a classic and stout way it's hard to argue against the price. Personally I'm a fan of the Ruger 77 MKII action, just hate that trigger.
Colquhoun: Very interested in your 5R's. Care to share some anicdotes about the rifles? How close would you say they are to the M24 system?
There's a fix for that, google Spec Tech Triggers. Not expensive, well made ,and adjustable. I used one to replace the LC6 on a M77 Hawkeye. The trigger wasn't terrible, just heavier than I wanted. I like the results.