thoughts on the 308 wichester model 70?
- Thread starter The Rookie
- Start date
You had to add that "I shot mine as a little hundred pound boy" After seeing my post eh?Just kidding man,
I was a 130 pounds and six feet when I became old enough to vote
WHen I was 13 or 14 when I got the gun, my Father hand loaded light rounds at 125 or 130 grains which I nailed my first few deer. Having that said, I can also make some supremo hand loads that will leave a black and green bruise on a big man with that rifle. But Hey, 150 grain 30.06 hunting loads are a snooze to shoot, and still have lots of power for a smaller person to drop a deer.
Realistically, hunting loads of 165 or 180 are not noticeably worse to shoot than any other hunting load of 165- 180 grain.
Hunting Rifle for Life? Mod70 featherweight has been for me.
BCshooterFMJ
Regular
- Location
- British Columbia
I was a 130 pounds and six feet when I became old enough to vote
WHen I was 13 or 14 when I got the gun, my Father hand loaded light rounds at 125 or 130 grains which I nailed my first few deer. Having that said, I can also make some supremo hand loads that will leave a black and green bruise on a big man with that rifle. But Hey, 150 grain 30.06 hunting loads are a snooze to shoot, and still have lots of power for a smaller person to drop a deer.
Realistically, hunting loads of 165 or 180 are not noticeably worse to shoot than any other hunting load of 165- 180 grain.
Hunting Rifle for Life? Mod70 featherweight has been for me.
Amen! Mine bagged a lot of game before it game into my possession, and will get a lot more before I pass it on.
Hard to go too wrong with a .308 Win, in a Model 70, IMO.
Not the fastest, slowest, anything-ist round out there, just a good solid performer and capable of being used for pretty much anything in North America. Pretty flexible for a handloader, and a guy could do a lot worse as an 'only' centerfire hunting rifle.
The "Featherweight" monicker got put on it back in the day, and while it ain't a lightweight from the perspective of a goat hunter that packs his kit in and out of the boonies, it was lighter by a bit, than the standard model. Whatever. If you were concerned about the weight, you'd not have considered the rifle. Weight is a good thing, when it comes to making for a civilized feeling gun to shoot, too.
If it matters, the differences between the Std. and Featherweight were the use of Aluminum for the bottom metal, a slightly skinnier barrel, and a hole in the bolt knob.
Not much.
Oh well, fewer cookies, more walking, you won't notice the weight.
I like the one I have. I'm biased though, as it came to me from my father, who bought it new in 1954 or 1955.
Most of the 'CRF is best" is a crock of hooey to stir up discussion in the gun rags, which, if not being stated by folks that were simply being willfully obstinate, was pretty much all about trying to cause the readership to come back next month to see what who said about whatever got put up the month before...
If you ever find yourself hanging by your heels in a tree, trying to quietly and slowly close the bolt on a round, please, do tell us, but pretty much all the supposed advantages don't amount to a bit of practical difference.
Cheers
Trev
Not the fastest, slowest, anything-ist round out there, just a good solid performer and capable of being used for pretty much anything in North America. Pretty flexible for a handloader, and a guy could do a lot worse as an 'only' centerfire hunting rifle.
The "Featherweight" monicker got put on it back in the day, and while it ain't a lightweight from the perspective of a goat hunter that packs his kit in and out of the boonies, it was lighter by a bit, than the standard model. Whatever. If you were concerned about the weight, you'd not have considered the rifle. Weight is a good thing, when it comes to making for a civilized feeling gun to shoot, too.
If it matters, the differences between the Std. and Featherweight were the use of Aluminum for the bottom metal, a slightly skinnier barrel, and a hole in the bolt knob.
Not much.
Oh well, fewer cookies, more walking, you won't notice the weight.
I like the one I have. I'm biased though, as it came to me from my father, who bought it new in 1954 or 1955.
Most of the 'CRF is best" is a crock of hooey to stir up discussion in the gun rags, which, if not being stated by folks that were simply being willfully obstinate, was pretty much all about trying to cause the readership to come back next month to see what who said about whatever got put up the month before...
If you ever find yourself hanging by your heels in a tree, trying to quietly and slowly close the bolt on a round, please, do tell us, but pretty much all the supposed advantages don't amount to a bit of practical difference.
Cheers
Trev
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
I picked up a new featherweight 30-06 last christmas. Very nice rifle and cheap too. Very accurate, Feels really good in the hands, top notch workmanship, and hardly any recoil. Perfect rifle in my opinion.
Has nothing to do with hanging from a tree. A cry will always eject a round. Every push feed Ive had or shot would at least sometime drop the empty back in the way of loading a new round. My 2 savages do this all the time. A buddies remington same thing. Never had a round no eject with my m70 crf. No I do not hang from trees I just like them to work as they should every time all the time.
Has nothing to do with hanging from a tree. A cry will always eject a round. Every push feed Ive had or shot would at least sometime drop the empty back in the way of loading a new round. My 2 savages do this all the time. A buddies remington same thing. Never had a round no eject with my m70 crf. No I do not hang from trees I just like them to work as they should every time all the time.
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Finger Toes
Regular
- Location
- Yellowhead County
Its a historical proprietary name from back in the day. Reminds me of an IEL pioneer chainsaw called the "light 46" because it only weighed 46 pounds.
I have one in 243, was a great youth rifle for me and have lent it out to many kids learning to hunt/shoot for the first time since I am much older now. I grew out of it and wanted something better rather quickly, 308 is my primary caliber when hunting unless long range, I have since gone to lighter with detatch mag and smoother action rifles like steyr, sauer or even the odd semi auto.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
At one time the M-70 was the rifle to which all others were compared, and the .30/06 was the cartridge to which all others were compared. A M-70 in .30/06 was pretty much at the top of the heap whether you were shooting for score at Camp Perry, or hunting Grizzlies in the Yukon. Times have changed, but the M-70 remains a fine rifle, and most folks consider the .308 just an abbreviated .30/06. I would be inclined towards the .30/06 myself, as there is no downside and yet there is a perceptible, if small, increase in performance over the .308. But for those who believe that there is some magic in the .308's short length, it will probably do 98% of what the '06 will do.
As an aside, you might consider a rifle from the Montana Rifle Company. This is a design that remains true to the older M-70s, and retains the original M-70 trigger rather than the "boxed" style of trigger found on the new FN built M-70s. My .458 has the new style of trigger, which I consider just a less convenient way of accomplishing the same thing, rather than an improvement.
As an aside, you might consider a rifle from the Montana Rifle Company. This is a design that remains true to the older M-70s, and retains the original M-70 trigger rather than the "boxed" style of trigger found on the new FN built M-70s. My .458 has the new style of trigger, which I consider just a less convenient way of accomplishing the same thing, rather than an improvement.
Just received my Ultimate Shadow SS in .308 from I-Run-Guns with the intention of turning it into a scout rifle of sorts. Looking at the new models the Featherweight seems to be that in name only as the barrel looks to be the same contour of the regular models. All in all it's a very well put together rifle, definitely a notch about the Ruger all weather I have. Feature for feature I'd rate it better than Ruger, Savage (really no contest here ), Tikka, even Sako imho. As Boomer said though the older trigger was far more simple, but it's not like the new one is bad either. The perfect rifle and the action is slick as snot. On a side note I'd snatch one up if you find what you want on the shelf as Winchester (FN) is now going to be assembling them in Portugal (as many FN products are) so I expect some delivery delays as they make the transition, I know to get the Ultimate Shadow SS I was told latter half of 2014 until I saw the I-Run-Guns had some in stock.
), Tikka, even Sako imho. As Boomer said though the older trigger was far more simple, but it's not like the new one is bad either. The perfect rifle and the action is slick as snot. On a side note I'd snatch one up if you find what you want on the shelf as Winchester (FN) is now going to be assembling them in Portugal (as many FN products are) so I expect some delivery delays as they make the transition, I know to get the Ultimate Shadow SS I was told latter half of 2014 until I saw the I-Run-Guns had some in stock.Had a 1973 push feed for years with no issues. Decided I wanted something different and bought a Kimber 8400. Now I not only have the Kimber but 3 new Winchester M70's in .243, 30-06, and .375. I prefer the M-70's, old preferences and habits die hard.
You will never regret getting the M-70, and the .308 chambering will serve you well. After a while if you want a different calibre it is quite simple, just buy more M-70's.
You will never regret getting the M-70, and the .308 chambering will serve you well. After a while if you want a different calibre it is quite simple, just buy more M-70's.
RememberTheSomme
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Sumtin giddy bout a man don't like a Model70.
Great choice, you hit the nail squarely on the head with your very first swing. Enjoy your M70 X .308 winning combo.
Great choice, you hit the nail squarely on the head with your very first swing. Enjoy your M70 X .308 winning combo.
