Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Boring FN Model 70

Its good news to read that the M70's have returned and that yours shoots so well. All along I have had a battery of pre 64 M70's to draw from. However I have tried a few Classics and still use one in 7mm WSM.

The SC made M70 Featherweight that I examined has that forend that has too much 'style' for me with its curved checkering pattern. I prefer something more traditional.



The safety on that new M70 was not easy to articulate and clicked too much on let off. It was good to see that the famous and to me, excellent, 'Featherweight' barrel design is back. Ruger should look at that.

Savage: Yes the safeties are "stiff" but with little play, or slop;nice and tight! I like them because I can SEE the firing pin cammed back,not always true on the Classics...any way I figure they will work in veddy nicely.

When thrown "off" in a hurry, they really "snap"...I like that

I am not a real schnabel fan myself; I wish Lenard Brownell were still around for the stock......but the FW is not a bad looking rifle;it handles and balances well.

Bob,

I like to be able to control the safety on and off with my thumb and I mean just working it back and forth as I want to with no noise.

I tried one of my old 70's. Its a sn 39x,xxx I bought new in 1957 and the safety works quiet however it digs into the thumb after a while. Its a good one. The other old 70 that I just tried is a FW 308 that I have hunted a good bit in the woods up north sn 26x,xxx. I was disapointed to find that safety a bit noisey but not too bad.

A couple of Kimbers were tried now also and they are easier than the 70's to work and are quiet. The only R77 that I have is an 'Express' safe queen. While that safety is quiet its not easy for me to start it off with a single motion of my thumb. I was disapointed to find this on that Ruger.

Has anyone seen the 338's yet?

Havent seen any .338's yet, but here is a pic of a 270 Fwt for those who havent seen them yet.

Very nice!

How come the cross-bolt isn't visible in the last pic?

Thanks. Not sure why there isnt any black goup on the left side. If I recall my NH fwt was the same, but I could be mistaken.

Tom: Nice,huh?

I like mine.Wood is not as nice as yours;mine is kinda plane

It will look better once it's mudded and blooded

I hear ya Bob, cant wait till the Bears come out. Have some 150 partitions loaded up that need testing

Yes you're right. I just checked out some pic's of my old NH M70, same deal.

I hope the 338WM comes standard with two cross-bolts. Looking forward to owning one :P

The Winchester website ain't showing any of their rifles being chambered for the 338 win. mag.

bearstalker: I have the 09 catalog;the Extreme Weather,the FW(!)and the Sporter all show as being chambered for the 338.

I have 2 pre-64 stnd grade 270's, 2 NH Classic ftwts (280,308), and 1 NH Classic sporter (270). All of them shoot very well. The Classics are not pre-64's, but they are heavy compared to the featherweights, and the featherweights are not real "lightweights". I have not fired the FN, but I have handled one, and it was a very nice rifle..The wood was better than any of my rifles for sure. It just might be the best M70 post 64..Thanks,Bob, for planting the seeds for a new FN!..like I really need one..

Thumper:Well,notwithstanding the trigger issue...it may very well be as nicely made as anything since 1964......as to planting the seed......well, all I did was say how well mine shot....BTW I shot it again at 300 yards this afternoon....

Think I'm gonna order a FW 7Rem Mag tomorrow morning.

That's it it's in the 09 catalog.
338WM in EW or FW should be neat. I prefer the 24" tube myself, don't see the need for 26" but I've never had a 26" 338. Am I missing something?

Nope;24"works fine in 338.

Sounds really great! Do they make it in any good calibers?

if the EW came in 7mm-08, my tax money is going to be put in good use!

Pat: Nope...not yet