New Winchester Model 70 Quality?

[CaberTosser]

I'm wondering what owners of recent manufacture Winchester model 70's have been finding in terms of quality, particularly in the accuracy department. I had some Model 70's of late New Haven manufacture before that plant was closed and their accuracy was less impressive than my various Remington's. Can a fellow expect sub-MOA out of a new Winny or is that asking a bit too much? Is a fellow with such goals limited to buying new and then rebarrelling/etc, or have things improved since New Haven like Winchesters ad copy would suggest? ( as though it would suggest anything otherwise)

[M70]

I have both old and new Model 70's and the Extreme Weather version I bought a couple of years ago, has been a good buy. It's a .270 and it is plenty accurate with handloaded Gamekings and TSX's. Pre '64 (or Classic) or pushfeed, they have been great guns for me.

[Pathfinder76]

I've never found any of them to lack in the accuracy department and have never had trouble getting a factory barreled Model 70 of any vintage to shoot sub MOA. The new ones are supposed to be fantastic in this regard.

[DCse7en]

I just bought an Ultimate Shadow in 30-06, and it is great!

[gitrdun]

If I were in the market for a new rifle, I would likely go with a new M70.

[GWN]

I recently bought one of the Stainless Ultimate Shadows in 7 Rem Mag and am very happy with it other than the MOA trigger. Quality is very good to excellent, fit and finish are great. Accurray has been moa to sub-moa from the start and I am still building loads with it that are getting better and better.

I swapped out the MOA trigger with a timney and it is a great package IMO.

I found the MOA trigger to be heavy and it had a big glop of some resin/sealing compound on the adjustment screw that was virtually impossible to remove. On the other hand though heavy it did break crisp.

[harv3589]

I have 2 with a 3rd on the way. On FWT 7-08, Super Grade 30-06 (being rebarrelled to a 25-06 and now a Ultimate Shadow 30-06 coming. The two I have shoot awesome and the finish is top notch IMO. No issues at all with them....even though the pre64 loves whine about the trigger I find it really nice!

[CaberTosser]

It look like FN is still making some model 70's with the original trigger intact, but they don't carry the Winchester name. Reading the description it notes both the original two-lever trigger and 1/2 MOA accuracy :

http://www.fnhusa.com/l/products/rif...eries/spr-a3g/

I'm torn between a SuperGrade or a Stainless Featherweight. Ideally I'd like a hybrid of the two: a stainless barrelled action in a Supergrade stock complete with its cheekpiece, but also sporting a schnabel forend. Call me picky

Or a Sako Bavarian.......

[bcpappy]

I bought an extreme weather in 7RM at the end of last winter, some quick load development in April and then I got a spring black bear with it. It came with a tag that said you can expect MOA or better when used with premium bullets and quality optics. Mine meets that with my handloads and exceeds that with factory loads I have tried. (I just started handloading when I got the gun) Very good fit and finish, the only thing I don't really like is its heavier than I would like it to be. If Kimber made a Montana in 7RM I would have bought that instead. With that said, I liked this M70 so much I ordered the safari express in 375 h&h.

[pchunter]

I have one in 300WSM and it shoot sub-moa but it's very picky on what it likes. Will not shoot well with a lot of factory ammo, doesn't seem to like round that are too hot.

[rugatika]

2008 fwt deluxe in 30/06 (of course), fxiii 6x42 shoots moa federal premium 165gr nosler partitions and fusions. (stopped there)

I also had a fwt classic in 300wsm which also shot moa (180gr fed prem accubonds) but the fit and fnish were nowhere close to the 2008 fn model.

[Thunder/FX]

Probably own more Model 70s than one should admit (in case the Mrs reads this)!
ALL of them fantastic shooters. Have every caliber offered in the "Classic Stainless" line and prefer nothing to them.
Excellent function and the the three position safety just feels right to me.
Accuracy is great for a out of the box rifle.
Thats a couple reasons they are labeled "The Riflemans Rifle"

Not to hijack but looking for another Stainless model 70 long action for a custom build in 338-06

Thunder

[harv3589]

The new to me M70 Ultimate Shadow 30-06 arrived today, steel Talley rings and mounts are on and a FX3 6x42 is sitting on top of it now. Just need to get out and sight it in!

[Rockmcdock]

I love my FN model 70, but even mine and my sons' sloppily finished NH guns shoot very well. One son consistently shoots in an inch at 200 yds, and I have seen it myself, not just his claim. He once put three in an inch at 200, so I sat down and shot the next one, and it was also within that same inch pattern at 200. These were all 7mm wsm, which I find to be the most accurate caliber I have ever shot. By the way - these were all factory loads!!

[Rockmcdock]

I wanted to also mention following my last post that the gun writers love the new FN 70s. They find them accurate, well finished, and with the same amazingly reliable features for which Model 70s originally became famous.

[Pathfinder76]

I have a 7MM WSM NH Model 70 that is ridiculously accurate.

I've also seen that the FN are nicer finished rifles but saw a super grade 30-06 yesterday that was about as poorly finished as any Model 70 I have seen. The polishing job on it was atrocious.

[Bushrat]

I've had 3 FN Model 70's. I didn't find they were any better finished or any more accurate than the New Haven ones I have had. I found the metal polishing and blueing was better on the NH guns. Disappointed in the new triggers, after all the advertising hype the new triggers were a let down to me.

[mtngoat]

Bought the model 70 sporter for my son this summer in 270. With premium hornady ammo in 130 grn we put 3 down the tube for sight in and the next 6 shots sub moa. very pleased with the rifle. Have hand loaded 115 barnes for him right now and his groupings are awsome very pleased with the model 70 rifle.

[Dean2]

I have never owned a model 70 by Winchester and have only shot a few. All the ones I shot were pre 64 models and were a pleasure to shoot. I do however own a few of their other models.

Like all Winchester products, after 64 the quality of the fit an finish is very up and down. They started getting better in the mid 80s, took a dip in the 90s and have come back pretty strong since about 2006. It is interesting to hear that no matter what the fit and finish were like, the guns always remained very accurate. That is quite surprising.

Just as an aside, has Winchester gone back to making left handed guns or is everyone still buying older models in left hand?

[Pathfinder76]

They don't currently make a LH Model 70.