Remington 700 vs Winchester M70
- Thread starter Rob101
- Start date
Well after some hunting and penny pinching on top of off loading lots of usless stuff I ended up grabbing 2 Win model 70s one in 30-06 and the other in .223, for what I got them for together is what the higher end winchester was at crappy tire about $1500. Really appreciated all the feed back, I had almost got a rem700 but to find one in a fudd stock which is what I like was a bit more of a pain and I wasn't big on the feel of it.
Thanks again gunnies.
Thanks again gunnies.
The Outsider
CGN Regular
I like the feel and look of both, but from my experience I find Remington 700's to be more accurate and easier to load for.
The last few modern Winchesters I had wouldn't shoot worth a damn.
The last few modern Winchesters I had wouldn't shoot worth a damn.
Last edited:
rocklobster
CGN Regular
- Location
- FREEDOM CONVOY
And nawt'ah mention of the phlame kamo..............................
Keeps yer hands warm too! $399 new, $550 on the EE
Your English is very good, tremendously better than my French. No need to apologize. Post away in confidence.
I too have owned Rem 700's and Win 70's. Both worked well and shot fine. In fact the smallest group I have ever shot was out of a push feed M70 in 270 Wby with a friends handload.
I also have Rugers with their crf.
Today, all of my Rem 700's are lh custom rifles, and my two Rugers are also lh customs. I do not own a M70 at this time. Also have 3 lh Sako's, one factory 85, one custom AV, and another factory 85 on its way. The newest rifles are the Sako 85's. The Remingtons and Rugers are all pre-2000, except for a customized Rem 700 lh CDL and lh XCR.
The Rugers were used due to the fact that they were the only donor lh rifles that I could locate at the time for each of those particular builds. One is a 376 Steyrand the other is a 416 Taylor. Both turned out great and work/shoot very well, so I have no regrets with either. Would I have used a Win70 or a Rem 700 for either build if I could have found them; sure.
For me, it originally came down to balance and feel of the rifles that are available in left hand configurations, and their ability to be customized easily (more options available). And for me, I prefer the two position safety of the Rem 700/Sako to the 3 position safety of the Win 70 and Ruger, but that is just me. It is what I learned on first, and am more comfortable using. I understand the preference of others for the 3 position safety, and if that is what you like, great!
I have not changed out any triggers, only had them set to 3 lbs.
All of these rifles will shoot MOA or better with factory and/or handloaded ammunition.
In many conversations with gunsmiths over the years, most issues of feeding issues or jammed actions is caused by operator error (i.e. from hot rodding handloads to beyond handloading manual recommendations, improper maintenance of the firearm, and/or improper adjusting the triggers themselves, to short stroking the action when cycling the spent cartridge for another round, etc.), or from errors made in gunsmithing, whether by a paid gunsmith or a home hobbyist (i.e. over polishing/filing of the sear on triggers to an unsafe condition, setting triggers so light as to render the firearm unsafe in the event of a bump to the stock when a live round is in the chamber, not making proper adjustments to feed rails when chambering rifle to a new cartridge/caliber, not ensuring that the new cartridge feedsreliably when customizing a rifle, not ensuring proper headspace for a new cartridge when rechambering/rebarrelling a rifle, not replacing worn extractors when building custom rifles on older donors, etc.). It all happens. Even the paid gunsmith can or will go beyond what he thinks best, because of pressure from the client, which can be a contributing factor.
Yes, shorter, fatter cartridges can have a tendency to experience feeding issues as compared to longer, thinner cartridges, but for the most part, most of these issues have been addressed.
I have never had an extraction or feeding issue with either the Win 70 700 or Rem in 35 years of shooting and hunting with them in all seasons and terrain/environment types of western Canada.
Even Craig Boddington, who has more field experience hunting around the world than almost any hunter/writer of today, with extensive experience with both push feed and crf rifles in tropical climates for dangerous game, states that in all practicality, that there is no issue with pushfeed actions and their reliability in those climates and circumstances. He has never experienced an issue.
My mentor and hunnting partner over the past 20 years is a big Win 70 fan, and prefers the Featherweights. He has a slew of them, and they all shoot and work great for him. I find his newer ones made by FN in the US, to be the nicest rifles, with better fit and finish and nicer wood, than his others.
But we have as much fun teasing each other about our Rem and Win "jack handles" as any other friends do in their choice of pick ups or other items!
But since we both own Remingtons and Winchesters in other configurations, and not just 700's or 70's, neither can claim to being a completely dedicated fan of just one maker, and must admit that both manufacturers have made great products.
At the end of the day, it is which rifle you feel the most comfortable with, confident in, and provides you with the most features/benefits that you desire, that will be your best choice.
Hope you enjoy your new rifles!
I also have Rugers with their crf.
Today, all of my Rem 700's are lh custom rifles, and my two Rugers are also lh customs. I do not own a M70 at this time. Also have 3 lh Sako's, one factory 85, one custom AV, and another factory 85 on its way. The newest rifles are the Sako 85's. The Remingtons and Rugers are all pre-2000, except for a customized Rem 700 lh CDL and lh XCR.
The Rugers were used due to the fact that they were the only donor lh rifles that I could locate at the time for each of those particular builds. One is a 376 Steyrand the other is a 416 Taylor. Both turned out great and work/shoot very well, so I have no regrets with either. Would I have used a Win70 or a Rem 700 for either build if I could have found them; sure.
For me, it originally came down to balance and feel of the rifles that are available in left hand configurations, and their ability to be customized easily (more options available). And for me, I prefer the two position safety of the Rem 700/Sako to the 3 position safety of the Win 70 and Ruger, but that is just me. It is what I learned on first, and am more comfortable using. I understand the preference of others for the 3 position safety, and if that is what you like, great!
I have not changed out any triggers, only had them set to 3 lbs.
All of these rifles will shoot MOA or better with factory and/or handloaded ammunition.
In many conversations with gunsmiths over the years, most issues of feeding issues or jammed actions is caused by operator error (i.e. from hot rodding handloads to beyond handloading manual recommendations, improper maintenance of the firearm, and/or improper adjusting the triggers themselves, to short stroking the action when cycling the spent cartridge for another round, etc.), or from errors made in gunsmithing, whether by a paid gunsmith or a home hobbyist (i.e. over polishing/filing of the sear on triggers to an unsafe condition, setting triggers so light as to render the firearm unsafe in the event of a bump to the stock when a live round is in the chamber, not making proper adjustments to feed rails when chambering rifle to a new cartridge/caliber, not ensuring that the new cartridge feedsreliably when customizing a rifle, not ensuring proper headspace for a new cartridge when rechambering/rebarrelling a rifle, not replacing worn extractors when building custom rifles on older donors, etc.). It all happens. Even the paid gunsmith can or will go beyond what he thinks best, because of pressure from the client, which can be a contributing factor.
Yes, shorter, fatter cartridges can have a tendency to experience feeding issues as compared to longer, thinner cartridges, but for the most part, most of these issues have been addressed.
I have never had an extraction or feeding issue with either the Win 70 700 or Rem in 35 years of shooting and hunting with them in all seasons and terrain/environment types of western Canada.
Even Craig Boddington, who has more field experience hunting around the world than almost any hunter/writer of today, with extensive experience with both push feed and crf rifles in tropical climates for dangerous game, states that in all practicality, that there is no issue with pushfeed actions and their reliability in those climates and circumstances. He has never experienced an issue.
My mentor and hunnting partner over the past 20 years is a big Win 70 fan, and prefers the Featherweights. He has a slew of them, and they all shoot and work great for him. I find his newer ones made by FN in the US, to be the nicest rifles, with better fit and finish and nicer wood, than his others.
But we have as much fun teasing each other about our Rem and Win "jack handles" as any other friends do in their choice of pick ups or other items!
But since we both own Remingtons and Winchesters in other configurations, and not just 700's or 70's, neither can claim to being a completely dedicated fan of just one maker, and must admit that both manufacturers have made great products.
At the end of the day, it is which rifle you feel the most comfortable with, confident in, and provides you with the most features/benefits that you desire, that will be your best choice.
Hope you enjoy your new rifles!
You, sir, are not alone in that! Especially the late model FN M70 FWT Special Edition in Grade V fancy walnut and stainless:
The 'Rifleman's Rifle' and of course it is in .270 ...
-Dennis
International Harvester
CGN Regular
- Location
- Republic of Saskatchewan
M70 sporter. Search them on the ee. You’ll save the tax and then some.
Remington's are a bit lighter, and I prefer the location of the safety better. Accuracy is likley better on a factory Remington too.
Model 70's are tough hunting rifles in my view analogous to a Ruger MK2.
The factory synthetic stocks they come with are all garbage. Sometimes getting a deal on a good stock dictates what action I look for.
Model 70's are tough hunting rifles in my view analogous to a Ruger MK2.
The factory synthetic stocks they come with are all garbage. Sometimes getting a deal on a good stock dictates what action I look for.
RangerPark
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Near Edmonton, AB
You, sir, are not alone in that! Especially the late model FN M70 FWT Special Edition in Grade V fancy walnut and stainless:
The 'Rifleman's Rifle' and of course it is in .270 ...
-Dennis
Gorgeous rifle.
RadioDread
Member
- Location
- Nova Scotia
I think it really comes down to which you prefer once you get them in your hands. The small details like safety location and stock shape will likely have a bigger effect then which is more accurate from opinions on the internet. I have been thinking about the same choice myself for a new deer hunting rifle and while I would lean towards a new M70 featherweight if I was to buy new (mainly because I'm a sucker for Mauser style actions and "older" looks) I will likely be going with a R700 as friend might give me his for free lol.
There is a good reason why both have been around for a long time and are not likely to go away any time soon... they both work fine. Go out to a store or two and get your hands on both.
There is a good reason why both have been around for a long time and are not likely to go away any time soon... they both work fine. Go out to a store or two and get your hands on both.
