Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles So how are the FN mod 70s doing so far?

This may be old news but I've been away from the forum lately. How are the new Model 70s turning out? Accuracy? Fit/finish? How is customer service from the "new" Winchester? May consider a Featherweight sometime soon. Any input appreciated.
Jed

My 30-06 shoots everything well but really likes 200 grain Accubonds. I bought the limited edition model but from what I've seen fit and finish are very good.

Mine is the limited edition 270 Featherweight. Very accurate, fit and finish are very good. The best part is no surprises, no fliers or bad things to report at all.

Well, the .375 seems to get LOTS of attention. Especially around here.......

I've now run about 300 rounds through my 270 FW with Sierra 130's.It groups very well,and has not changed POI in the slightest.Even wrapped in a tight sling POI to 300 yards is the same as from the bags or other unsupported positions.Function has been good with no baubles at all.

I shot 130 Nosler Partitions from mine for the first time last week; it puts them to the same POI to 300 yards as the Sierra's.It has gotten to the point that it's boringly consistent,which is exactly what I want.

I have a 270 in all weather rifle shoots great.

is a 375 H&H out there?

I have a 243 FW and I'm impressed with the fit and finish. The action was bedded and barrel floated from the factory. No, it isn't a great bed job, but is far superior to the glue gun bedding I've seen on older 70's.

I'm not sold on the new trigger yet, but thought I'd give it a try. Hope to get it to the range soon to see how it shoots.

Featherweight 30-06 here. Best loads so far shooting .75"@ 100 yards. Using 150 grain Hornady BTSP with Ramshot Big Game or IMR 4895. Rifle may could do better but I am happy so I stopped there. Bolt lift was a little tight but a trip to my gunsmith for some polishing fixed that. Smoothest action I have now. This was my first M70 and I am hooked. There will be others soon I hope.

I HATE my wife's FW 7mm-08, it shoots better than most of my guns! It shoots 1/2" @ 100 consistently with a load I worked out for it and holds 3/4"-1" @ 100 with factory fodder. I want to steal it away from her! The fit and finish is good and I'm starting to like the trigger. The bolt is butter smooth and feeding is superb. My only complaint is the stiff safety.

I looked at a new FN M70 standard weight 30-06 in a shop today. This one had good/easy bolt lift with the pin down.

However the safety had very sharp edges and was almost impossible to operate. It was very noisy going off. The skin on my old thumb and fingers is about as thick and hard as most men who work with their hands and this safety hurt my thumb.

There was a Kimber 84M there near it on the rack. The Kimbers safety was easy to operate and quite acceptable.

The checkering on the forend of the M70 was a of a pleasant pattern and better in terms of art than the other new 70's I have seen which were Featherweights.

So far, this is good to hear. Anyone know what their Featherweights weigh with a scope mounted? I'd like one if I can keep the whole rig under 8 lbs with sling and scope. Any input?
Thanks,
Jed

Jed,

My 270wsm F/Wt weighs 8.3lbs with a 3.5-10x42 VX 111 in Talley Ultralite mounts.

I just fired my 30-06 Super Grade for the 1st time yesterday. Going by my results I would say the FN M70 is the best by far. I fired 4 x 3 shot groups (at different charge weights) at 100m and none exceeded 3/4" with shots 2 & 3 usually touching.

I may take it out of the stock just to get the trigger pull a bit lighter. I too was disappointed when they dumped the M70 trigger but you just cannot complain about the feel of the new trigger. A bit heavy as set for me but no creep or overtravel - and so crisp! It's just like a Timney for - FREE.

They have done a superb job and I'm glad I got one ofthese FN - M70's cause I reckon its a bit of a bargain in the market place.

regards
JohnT

I'm only lukewarm on my FN SPR............

Being a 7mm loony, I got a new FN Model 70 Featherweight in 7-08.
That rifle set a house record for load development time; one range session. And I now have two loads that shoot 3 shots into 1/2" groups at 100 yards.