WinchesterOwners.com

...about the new M70's that is.

I've searched high and low on every forum I know and can't find anybody talking about the new ones....lots of "Gxxxxxxx" serial numbers (Connecticut made) mentioned....but no mention of the South Carolina made (35 serial numbers) guns anywhere.

Knowing what I do about gun forums...I consider that a good thing....but I'd at least like to hear about accuracy...geez.

Come on somebody....SPEAK UP!!!!

I have a 2009 model 70 in .270 Winchester with a Nikon Prostaff 3x9 scope that is quite the tack driver.I'm pleased with it, i haven't tweaked it up yet, heres some pictures right out of the box,after mounting a scope and bore sighted. The only 5 rounds fired though it is what you see on paper.I know I could have done better!

Looking good...mine is also a 2009 model (I called yesterday and asked)

Awesome we will do a comparison of serial numbers ill send you a pm

I am think of getting one of these when i get the money, how does it compare to other rifles you have or shot before?

also should i go "new" or "old" ?

I haven't handled many old M70's...very few.

I do have an old one that I never fired much...its a beauty, 458 Win. Mag.

Heck...LOL...I haven't even laid my hands on the new one! I'll be home early Thursday morning though and will get that taken care of in short order.

The Featherweights like Gunner has are just plumb gorgeous IMO, my buddy has one in 270 WSM and thats the rifle that converted me from Remington to Winchester...without even shooting it! I love those stocks, they look great and they feel even better.

That 270 WSM shoots .5 - .75 MOA with Winchester factory ammo (130 Ballistic SilverTips).

I have been hearing and reading that the new (FN made) M70's are the best ones that have ever been built...which makes sense to me because FN never had any intentions of building a "cheap" rifle...they set out to build a QUALITY rifle....from what I have seen so far, they succeeded. They didn't cut any corners...USRA had started using a lot of plastic (bottom metal?), as soon as FN took over the plastic bottoms were GONE.

USRA was trying to compete with Remingtons budget models...FN is not, they're trying to compete with Remingtons top of the line models, and the new M70's are priced accordingly.

You could buy a USRA made M70 Ultimate Shadow for $400 at Walmart...plastic bottoms, dull thin blueing, decent fit and finish.

The FN made M70 Ultimate Shadow is $620 + tax (best price I could find...most were closer to $700)...its metal on the bottom, the best blueing I've seen on any production rifle in a long time, and the fit and finish is superb...my wife says working the bolts on both mine and my sons new M70's is as smooth as silk, no rough feeling whatsoever.

My buddy has a USRA made Ultimate Shadow in 7mm WSM, and it shoots great...but then there is that plastic, cheap blueing and the slightly rough bolt movement.

My brother in law also has a USRA made Ultimate Shadow in 30-06...when my wife mentioned what I paid for mine he thought it was funny (he bought his at Walmart for $390)...but when he saw mine...he wasn't laughing any more.

His also shoots great...1.5 MOA with cheap factory ammo, and is by all accounts a good rifle....it just doesn't have the "finesse" of the new ones.

I'm not a gun snob of any sort...but I am more than willing to pay for QUALITY, as long as its within reason. I like my guns to look good, not to mention cheap blueing can cause heartaches....plastic stocks I can deal with, plastic trigger guards...not so much.

I'm just picky that way I guess...

We all had vote and we want pictures!

I don't have any pics of the 458...I have posted a few of the 30-06, but none of them are very good (cell phone pics)

There will be some more pics of the 30-06 soon because I'll be sighting it in here in a few days (probably Christmas eve)

I hear you cell phones are lousy for pictures at least mine is

Here is one that I haven't posted...both of the 30-06's we recently bought (mine and my sons) Thats mine on the bottom with the CLP running out of it...I told her to oil it a little and I think she overdid it, LOL. Looks like she got the hang of it on his though...

Nice rifles
You know there not going to rust!

GUNNER_D wrote:Nice rifles
You know there not going to rust!

I like the looks of your MUCH better...I (we) bought the Ultimate Shadows because we are planning on changing stocks anyway...didn't see the sense in paying more for the Sporter model.

I'm sure that stock will work but I want one thats bedded better...

Those stocks are good for inclement weather if you plan on hunting with them.I had a turkey gun,and my muzzleloader have the same type of stock.

The plastic stock did good today, but I'm still replacing it...both rifles shot great, .5" to .75" with ammo they like.

We fired 100 rounds between 2 rifles...a friendly father and son shooting match, I lost...but not by much (he is a Marine ya know)

My Model 70 Sporter in .270 Winchester shoots 3 shot 1 inch groups at 200 yards with handloads when I do my part.

This spring I decided to build a new bolt gun. Being impressed with the FNH SPR A5M, I wanted something like that, but to my own specifications.

I found a deal on a NIB Winchester Coyote/Varmint and this became my donor rifle. Nice place to start, in the caliber I wanted, with the same action as the SPR -- The 'new' pre-64 M70.

No fan of the thumbhole stock and not particularly fond of the A5M, I went with an M40A1 NOS McMillan with adjustable comb. For feeding I added an FNH TBM. Action is fully glass bedded, barrel fully free floating.

Accuracy is fine. I remain unimpressed with the M.O.A. trigger system. I'm hunting for a 2 stage option and hope someone starts making one by the time my new Bartlein barrel shows up.

Before:




Presently:




Accuracy:

I love my FN Winchester 70 Featherweight, shoots 1" groups with cheap factory Core-Lokts and shoots under 1/2" with my Speer handloads you simply cannot ask more then that from a Featherweight rifle, only my Tikka T3 will hang with it in that class. I want a sporter to go with it, thinking about a 7mm Rem Mag or 300 WSM.

An updated pic of mine after I got it setup the way I wanted it...