I cant think of anyone I dislike enough to recommend a Browning bolt action rifle to.

Thanks 7mm-08 I will keep an eye out for that configuration. I do handload so factory ammo isn't an issue. Just want a gun that doesn't need a bunch of tweaking, accurate and will last. Still looking for a custom now also.

Handle the Winchester and the Browning. Decide which one feels / fits you the best. While there seem to be a lot of Browning bashers here, I've owned A-bolts, A-bolt II's and now the X-bolt. Since the introduction of the adjustable trigger on the A-B II - all I've ever done is set the trigger to the lowest weight possible, mounted a scope and went shooting. Have never had any kind of problem with the rifles, always able to get at least 2 or 3 factory loads to deliver MOA at 100 yds. I've bought and sold more rifles than I can remember but will always have a Browning in the safe and use it regularly. The only other rifles I've had that deliver the same out of the box accuracy have been Sako and Tikka.

I've owned several Winchester M70's in the past, with one still left. Great rifles, to be sure.

More recently, I bought a Browning X-Bolt, in .30-06, with the idea of taking it to Africa for medium-small plains game. Put a Leupold 3.5-10 CDS scope on it, with Talley LW mounts. Overall weight all up is 7.5 pounds even. Fit and balance are very good.

The accuracy of this rifle out of the box has just blown me away! Better than any M70 I have ever owned, for sure, except for a custom built on a pre-64 M70 action. I like the short bolt throw, similar to the two Wby MkV's I own.
The trigger is very good, with no creep whatsoever. Browning's trigger is very similar to Winchester's MOA trigger.

I own a number of Browning shotguns, and every one of them is a quality firearm. If buying another rifle, I would probably choose another Browning X-Bolt over a Win 70.

I've owned over a dozen. Accurate as hell and dependable. Better shooters than the newer and older M70's I've owned or shot.

Not knocking the M70, just stating my experience with Browning Bolt rifles for the past 30 years.

Instead of finding out for themselves, many get led around by the nose on these boards - and their opinions are seldom based on any meaningful experience.