Winchester m70 EW vs Remington 700 AWR

Spaenaur

Spaenaur

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I was looking for feedback for these two rifles.
I already have r700 5r milspec gen1. Very accurate rifle!
I never try the m70.

Here what I think the pro and cons.

M70 extreme weather
+lighter
+Nice stock ( in picture)

- 300-400$ more expensive

R700 awr
+5r rifling
+ stainless and cerakote
+nice stock
+ cheaper (1375$)

-no warranty since Remington is no more
-hit and miss QC


Thank you!
 
I have only had one extreme weather, however here is my experience: First piss off was the top barrel flute sat at about 11:45 vs 12:00 where it should have been. Second, it was the least accurate modern rifle I have owned. Third it had almost no primary extraction because of excessive clearance between bolt face and extractor claw.

My brother also had one, and in the first three shots a piece of the cheek piece flew out. While this is a b&c issue, Winchester agreed to replace the stock under warranty except not with same model stock it came with. Instead they would only give him a bulkier all black version. Kind of a piss off when it’s a brand new $1600 rifle.

I wouldn’t buy the Remington without personally looking it over. I read quite a few not so flattering reviews on that stock (crooked barrel channels, and excessive weight) and with so many timing issues on the newer remingtons I would be nervous to go down that road. Unless you are mentally and financially prepared to have the bolt handle moved, and potentially replace or rework the stock.

Just my $0.02
 
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I have owned three model 70 extreme weather rifles. All were the USA made ones. Two were the short action (243 & 7-08), and one was the long action (270).
Here are my observations:
They all functioned perfectly, were very accurate, and well made.
They are NOT light.
The short action ones had smaller stocks, and felt good in my hands,(although I still found them a bit clunky), but the long action stock was very big and thick. It felt like I was carrying a 2x4..... It was the only reason I sold that rifle. Winchester dropped the ball when they put those big, heavy, fat stocks on that rifle. A featherweight profile stock would have been better.
If your style of hunting is hiking for hours, or climbing mountains, I don't recommend them unless you are a big man with huge hands.... If you drive around a lot, or sit and watch, they would be very good for that.

Remington 700, or LEMington, is a whole other thing. An older 700 is an excellent rifle. At one time that is the only rifle I would consider.
After buying two LEMingtons, a lvsf 22-250, and a police model 308, and shooting patterns, not groups, I decided I will never buy another LEMington rifle unless it was manufactured in the early 2000's or older. I've never had an older model 700 that wasn't super accurate.
This was not just my experience, I have a few friends that went through that same thing around the same time. (2008?)
When I went to the gunstore (wholesale sports) to inquire about my rifles, the store told me they had over 60 complaints about LEMingtons.
There is a reason that Remington went out of business.
Good luck in your search.
 
The comb on the Bell and Carlson is where it should be, others should follow. But it’s thick. Both are pretty good rifles.
 
The Graboe stock on the AWR is a tank. Not bad if the rifle is chambered in 300RUM or 338RUM

Hard to beat a Model 70 EW
 
I had a 300 WM EW with the all black stock (previous version) and it had a noticable slimmer stock the the club B&C stock that I bought for my Zastava. Maybe they changed it?


elKrusto said:
I have owned three model 70 extreme weather rifles. All were the USA made ones. Two were the short action (243 & 7-08), and one was the long action (270).
Here are my observations:
They all functioned perfectly, were very accurate, and well made.
They are NOT light.
The short action ones had smaller stocks, and felt good in my hands,(although I still found them a bit clunky), but the long action stock was very big and thick. It felt like I was carrying a 2x4..... It was the only reason I sold that rifle. Winchester dropped the ball when they put those big, heavy, fat stocks on that rifle. A featherweight profile stock would have been better.
If your style of hunting is hiking for hours, or climbing mountains, I don't recommend them unless you are a big man with huge hands.... If you drive around a lot, or sit and watch, they would be very good for that.

Remington 700, or LEMington, is a whole other thing. An older 700 is an excellent rifle. At one time that is the only rifle I would consider.
After buying two LEMingtons, a lvsf 22-250, and a police model 308, and shooting patterns, not groups, I decided I will never buy another LEMington rifle unless it was manufactured in the early 2000's or older. I've never had an older model 700 that wasn't super accurate.
This was not just my experience, I have a few friends that went through that same thing around the same time. (2008?)
When I went to the gunstore (wholesale sports) to inquire about my rifles, the store told me they had over 60 complaints about LEMingtons.
There is a reason that Remington went out of business.
Good luck in your search.
Click to expand...
 
I have experience with one Browning rifle and it’s nice. It’s not what you are looking at but I think it would compare very nice with fit and finish. At least barreled action wise, it would be good.

As for the Remington, I have and have had a few newer ones. I don’t know much of the quality of the old ones but the new ones are just fine. The SPS coating is cheap and you have to oil to keep the surface rust away, but they shoot. Seeing as you are looking at the AWR, that shouldn’t be an issue. The only thing I’d even think about would be the trigger. I have factory triggers in one of mine, and a TriggerTech in the other. They are very different for sure, but the factory trigger is pretty decent for a hunting rifle. I do have the adjustable one, but I didn’t take it right down to the bottom and I do clean it.
 
As Scott said, besides the garbage finish, the last couple new Remington 700s I had bought were at least good shooters. Happy to hear they cerakote these rifles cause even their stainless SPS developed spots after slight exposure. I'd also put TriggerTechs in mine. They'd worked just fine mechanically and were right around MOA on average. Some groups slightly better, some slightly worse.

Of the two Portugal made Win 70s I'd had, I only shot 1. It was about as accurate as that, smooth action, nicely finished. Which you'd really expect for paying $500 more.

Not a fan of the handling of B&C stocks here but for all I know the Greyboe is just as much a 2x4. Aesthetically I like the Remington better in this case.


Long story short: I like both styles of rifle and would not have an issue buying either! My heart is with the pre 64 and New Haven classic 70s though.
 
I bought an AWR. I like it. It weighed 7.25 lbs bare and I put a Leupold VX-3i on it..
The Grayboe stock is good quality, def better than B&C.
I handload for it and it shoots great - 3/4" groups at 100m.
 
Thank you all!
It's a tough decision but I'm leaning towards the winchester.

The best scenario will be to see and inspect both rifles before.
I have hard time to find one locally.
 
I have a browning M70EW. They are nice guns. Mine is a 264 win mag. Smoothest action in a M70 I have ever used. The trigger is actually quite decent. Stock fits me good. Decent weight.

I would buy another one.
 
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