Winchester M70 Featherweight

I should have posted this pic to show how much that trigger set screw was recessed.

So here's that screw with the epoxy still on it and then after I had adjusted it.

But just arbitrary by feel adjustment, won't have a trigger gauge for a couple days yet.

And I got the action back in the stock. Going shootimg tomorrow, same handload that I got initial sight-in done with; 165gr Horn BTSP, 42grs IMR-4064.


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Had another range session today with the .308, this after frigging around with the stock and 'adjusting' the trigger.

So right off the bat I'll say it seems that ###### from Alberta Outdoors was on the nail. Backing out that screw, to supposedly adjust the trigger pull weight, made no difference in how the trigger felt. Zero improvement there, that's a problem.
Funny that the .270Win has the same trigger and I love how it feels and breaks.

Now for free floating and frigging around, all that has done is a significant p.o.i. shift to the left, but the group I shot is virtually identical to my first range session.

For ****s n giggles I took along my M700 Sendero in .270Win and fired a 5-shot group. 4 shots covering each other with a flyer.

I think with the .308 I may resort to shooting 1-shot groups, then I'll say, "Well that's where I wuz aimin'!"

On a positive note, since it's now attempting to find a reload that'll work, CTC in Whitecourt has Varget on sale, so picked up some and the warranty shop is done with the .270Win. Apparently just polished up the firing pin, some roughness sounds like. So I'll get it back this week.

Today's 5-shot group and the 20250311_134551.jpgM700 Sendero .270Win, 5-shot group. 20250311_134556.jpg
 
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Unfortunately the MOA triggers are either decent or heavy. Adjusting the set screw does nothing, even if you completely remove it. Only permanent solution is a MCARBO spring kit which will give you a 2.5 - 4 lb adjustable/smooth trigger. As for accuracy, they don’t like a hard front rest, bull bag works well. I wanted to use 165gr Hornady’s in my 30-06 and it shot like that. Changed to 180s and bingo, 1moa or slightly under. My 270 is a lover of Barnes TTSX.
 
Interesting about the triggers, my 'Classic' had the old school trigger, but it was good when I got it so I never touched it.
 
Peecos said:
Unfortunately the MOA triggers are either decent or heavy. Adjusting the set screw does nothing, even if you completely remove it. Only permanent solution is a MCARBO spring kit which will give you a 2.5 - 4 lb adjustable/smooth trigger. As for accuracy, they don’t like a hard front rest, bull bag works well. I wanted to use 165gr Hornady’s in my 30-06 and it shot like that. Changed to 180s and bingo, 1moa or slightly under. My 270 is a lover of Barnes TTSX.
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I was lucky on mine… trigger is finest kind. I bought an xbolt not long ago, and I was very disappointed with the trigger on that.
 
I got myself a Lyman (manual) trigger gauge.

When I adjusted the trigger on the .308Win, I got lucky, it went down to 3-1/2#'s. The .270Win trigger is stuck at 5-1/2#'s after adjusting it. I'm thinking on installing MCarbo trigger spring kits in both.

Still friggin' around trying to develope hunting loads for these 2 rifles. The biggest issue is the slender barrels, damn things heat up so fast and immediately start to 'move'.

These are the best groups I've managed so far.

.270Win is a Sierra 150gr Gameking BTSP, 55.5grs H4831SC.
.308Win is a Hornady 165gr BTSP, 45.5grs Varget.

To contrast see a 5-shot group fired with my Remington M700 Sendero, in .270Win. 4 shots over-lapping, with the 5th shot an inch above those (shots on the right edge were from my .308 'spraying' bullets.



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For what it's worth, this is how I test lightweight rifles, or any of my hunting rifles to be honest. There's no hunting scenario where the barrel is getting hot, so I think it's realistic.

Get zeroed at whatever distance you want. What I look for is that it will put 3 shots, each from a dead cold barrel (ambient), in the same group with the same ammo on the same day. Then tune the load for group if you want, but with the same testing. Then last I like to see it put 2 back to back shots in a reasonable group, as in a follow up shot. ETA I did notice all my light rifles were more sensitive to your bench technique because the forend is quite flexy.

Nobody goes to the range with only 1 gun right?
 
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