Looking at buying a new production Winchester M70 for a classic walnut/blued rifle, use it as is for a few years maybe then rebarrel to 358 win. I know nothing about the M70 overall, and even less on the current production rifles, are these a decent rifle? Thanks!
School me on a new production Winchester M70
- Thread starter Crashman
- Start date
Handle one first. The walnut can be plain. The trigger is ok after it is worked over. The bluing seems brighter to me.
Personally I would try to find a 90’s New Haven red pad supergrade m70 in 30/06 before buying a new one.
Personally I would try to find a 90’s New Haven red pad supergrade m70 in 30/06 before buying a new one.
They really are as good or better than they’ve ever been. Mind you not hand fitted the same way. The Featherweights are what you need and would make a perfect conversion to.358, I have the same dream floating in my head at the moment. The new trigger isn’t as rugged but adjustable and if you replace the spring with a MCarbo it is very nice.
The Outsider
CGN Regular
The few newer featherweights I've had looked great, felt great, but weren't very accurate.
I won't be wasting any more money.
I won't be wasting any more money.
sharp shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Essex county (Ontario)
I’ve had two. Both shot well under an inch with the right hand load or factory load. Both fed really smooth and had great triggers. Both also had great fit and finish. They were 2012 and prior (not that there is anything wrong with new production). I Regret selling both actually but I had to fund rarer guns for the collection and now they have almost doubled in price.
I wish they made a few more cartridges in the supergrade. A 375 H&H and 300 H &H supergrade with iron sights like the Alaskan would be amazing. I would also love to see short action supergrades like 204, 222/223, 22-250 offered. Could you imagine if they would do a different cal every year that they don’t normally do? 7x57 supergrade, etc. The list goes on!!!!
I wish they made a few more cartridges in the supergrade. A 375 H&H and 300 H &H supergrade with iron sights like the Alaskan would be amazing. I would also love to see short action supergrades like 204, 222/223, 22-250 offered. Could you imagine if they would do a different cal every year that they don’t normally do? 7x57 supergrade, etc. The list goes on!!!!
sharp shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Essex county (Ontario)
How many loads did you try? I’ve had a few guns that I thought would never be accurate until I found something it liked. I tried a lot on those guns because in just liked the guns.
I have owned a few 358s over the years, for some stupid reason I sell them after a few years and then instantly regret it. It seems there are no factory options for this one any more so I thought I would build one, will either buy a standard featherweight or a featherweight compact for the eventual build. I have a beautiful Razor 1.5-8x32 looking for a home and I think this would make a great combo.
The Outsider
CGN Regular
After numerous trips to the range with several different loads, eventually I give up.
I never have that issue with my older Remington 700's.
From my experience, if you can't seat the bullet out to the lands, accuracy will usually be an issue, and I have yet to find a Winchester model 70 with a long magazine.
If you have one in 30 cal or 7MM that you can guarantee it's accuracy, I'd be interested in buying it.
sharp shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Essex county (Ontario)
I had a 30-06 that I couldn’t get to shoot bad. In fact, first day at the range it shot a cluster of a group. The other was a 375 H&H. It too shot a cluster of a group. I’m mad I sold either.
I would highly recommend the newer M-70's, probably some of the rifles they have ever turned out. A very well made and finished rifle for the money. I bought my first one in the early 70's, an 30-06 push feed, an accurate, dependable rifle. Sold it after 30 yrs, regretted it. So I bought several of the new ones, 243 featherweight, 30-06 75th anniversary edition, 375 H&H Alaskan, and a pre 64 300 H&H. I have no issue with the trigger system as many do. I have mine set at 3 Ib. clean and crisp. They will all group at 1 1/2" with ordinary ammo. Find the factory ammo or develop a load that the particular rifle likes and if you do your part those groups should shrink to an inch. I did some stock work on the pre 64 300H&H, glass bedded it for one, experimented with a few loads and that particular rifle will do 5 shot 3/4" groups when I am up to it with clean glasses.
For my purposes I really don't need a rifle that drives tacks, buts it is nice to have a few that are fairly accurate. I would not hesitate in buying a new M-70 of your choosing. The older push feeds were also a very good rifle. They were a very dependable and accurate, and can currently be had for reasonable money. If your just going to use the gun to base a 358 Win on then one of the push feeds may serve your purpose just fine. All the hype over control round feed is very subject to opinion, sales marketing and personal choice. I never had an issue with push feed, it was simple had far less parts and it always worked perfectly.
For my purposes I really don't need a rifle that drives tacks, buts it is nice to have a few that are fairly accurate. I would not hesitate in buying a new M-70 of your choosing. The older push feeds were also a very good rifle. They were a very dependable and accurate, and can currently be had for reasonable money. If your just going to use the gun to base a 358 Win on then one of the push feeds may serve your purpose just fine. All the hype over control round feed is very subject to opinion, sales marketing and personal choice. I never had an issue with push feed, it was simple had far less parts and it always worked perfectly.
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I find this uncanny. I’ve never owned a featherweight that didn’t shoot well enough. OP, the current crop of Winchester’s are beautiful rifles. I don’t think you can go wrong!
I have an M70 Featherweight in .30/06 and it's a very nice rifle. The wood is rather plain, but that's a common symptom of all new production rifles. It has a good, clean breaking trigger, and while I've only tried a few loads, I have no complaints about the accuracy. Nicely balanced and handles well too. Very smooth running action.
This is exactly what I plan to do with mine, and run the same bullet weights too. Do you mind to share a few more details? What brand of barrel did you use? What profile and length did you go with? Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback, I currently don't own a big game rifle in walnut/blue configuration so this is a driving force for this rifle, and while I love the look of nice figured walnut it is not the priority for this rifle as I plan to use it as much as I can.
I've got three new production M70, bought last few years, a limited run, 7x57 featherweight, .264 win extreme weather, and a stainless featherweight .308' I like them, I adjust the trigger down to 2.5lbs as soon as I get them, biggest problem is getting the action out of the stock, dam winchester sure beds them tight,
All three I've got have shot well inside 1" for 5 shots and no problems of any sort. Balance on the featherweights is great.
I Would prefer a slightly slimmer, fore stock on the extreme weather. And perhaps a tough off tat the wrist,
In my view, these are as good or better, than any M 70 rifle that winchester ever made, pre 60 be dammed,
Prices have slid up a lot is last 6-7 years.
All three I've got have shot well inside 1" for 5 shots and no problems of any sort. Balance on the featherweights is great.
I Would prefer a slightly slimmer, fore stock on the extreme weather. And perhaps a tough off tat the wrist,
In my view, these are as good or better, than any M 70 rifle that winchester ever made, pre 60 be dammed,
Prices have slid up a lot is last 6-7 years.
I have a new model 70 FWT 270 Win and I wouldn’t trade it for any previous version including a pre-64 which are over rated IMO. All I did to it is changed out the plastic grip cap for a metal one, dropped a William bottom metal into it and a better spring in the trigger. Love the rifle now. Nice classic rifle that shoots.
