Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Winchester 70 compact rifles

Asked about these rifles on another forum but looking for more information.

Wife only has one rifle and been thinking of picking her up a "spare" for close range whitetail hunting. These compact rifles have the perfect length of pull for her and combined with the 20 inch barrel would be easy to get in and out of the tree stand.
Any first hand experience with these rifles would be appreciated. She already has a Sako 260 and isn't a fan of recoil so I am thinking about a .243. A long shot on our property would be 75 yards with 25-40 being most likely.

Not looking for information on other rifles or calibers.

I handled one at Cabelas yesterday in 243 was a nice feeling rifle wood wasn't great but bolt was super smooth this was a featherweight

I bought a used one several years ago in 7-08 and put a 257R barrel on it. Sweet little rifle. I can't imagine your wife not loving one in 243.

The compacts are in some real demand..and they're pretty sweet rifles..

I bought one a few months ago. I haven't shot it but I just put the Leupold VX3 2.5-8 on it and it still feels sweet. Mine is a .308

We had a couple of the older ones in pushfeed. They were wonderful little rifles.

The one in 243 killed deer just fine with 100 grain Grand Slams.

I've owned two of them in 7-08's, and they were both excellent, accurate little rifles. Wish I had kept one of them.

Asked the wife if she wanted a spare rifle that kicked a little less or one that (on average) would do a better job killing deer. She said she wanted the better killer so we ordered the rifle in 7mm/08 from Buds.
I reload and already have a nice supply of various 7mm bullets so will be able to come up with a nice load that fits her and the rifle.
Appreciate the feedback. She wrestled with the caliber choice for almost 2 days before deciding.

Last December I picked up a used Classic Compact in 7/08. The first group was sub 1/2 inch using a load I cooked up for the son in law's Browning Micro. The thing just plain shoots whatever I feed it unless I push it too fast then it's only "minute of deer". Now I want one in 243 and in 308!

I have one, pulled the factory barrel and installed a Shilen chambered to 250 Savage. My son's used the rifle when they were young and shot roughly 10 deer with it, all one shot kills. A great little rifle for a small framed shooter or for compact stalking rifle.

Picked up the rifle today, very impressed! Ultra smooth bolt, crisp trigger, maybe 3.5 - 4 pounds. Fit and finish is excellent. Fits the wife perfectly. Most likely will not mount a scope and test fire until September but its a keeper.