Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors What's the aversion to BACO M70 Winchesters?

Winchester 70/ wrote:

"...Fact: The New Haven USA Model 70 trigger is the finest hunting trigger ever made. Other than that, nobody has said anything about Portugal guns being lower quality. I will personally never know as long as they have their current trigger.".

The BACO is a fine trigger. Never had an issue with the multiple rifles I own/use.

Just what is the fault of the new trigger people write about? Design issue? What issue? Quality issue? What flaw?

The only thing I have read, which objective, is that some would like a lighter trigger pull, and the BACO trigger "only" goes down to 3.5#. There is a simple, low-cost solution, by getting a spring set from Earnie the gunsmith.

So, what is the flaw of the BACO trigger, besides, " I just don't like it.". Facts , and actual reports of issues only please.

“Model 70: The Rifleman’s Rifle” (From where they still know how to make them right.)
As the Fed Ex plane lifts off and “Oh beautiful for spacious skies” plays softly in the background.

Winchester sees this, and I’m thinking my phone is going to get even more annoying.I should have went into marketing instead.

It may snow....

Any reports of the BACO trigger failing from use in snow? Have you experienced it? Has anyone?

Someone must have sometime, someplace and somewhere. Or 'It could happen", and if it does you can't fix it with your trusty toothpick. Perhaps a bic, but they come out of China. Very unpatriotic...

(Looking around I see ads popping up for Meopta, Zeiss, Athelon, etc. How this place stays open is a miracle.)

Opps, there is one for toenail fungus....WTH

So, the truthful answer is, "No. No reports of failure with the BACO trigger."

Patience....

In the beginning a couple did go bang when they weren’t supposed to. Perhaps another example of the Carolina boys not being up to speed on assembly.

The Model 70 after all always was a Yankee original.

Nothing more than the old Ford/Toyota thing.

When BACO moved M70 production to SC and introduced the MOA trigger I threw up a little in my mouth. I understood the move to SC from an economic POV, but the MOA trigger was purely a lawyer's move. Regardless, I eventually owned two different SC made BACO M70's with MOA trigger's. The trigger is a crappy design for an enclosed trigger (it's made to be lawyer proof), being nothing on par with the excellent Kimber trigger. Regardless, with an Ernie's Spring Kit I got both triggers to the 2.75 lb range. I'd call them "ok." However, when an American Icon moves production offshore I'm out. I'll never, and I do mean never, own a Portuguese Assembled M70. I can't fathom having "Assembled In Portugal" stamped on an M70 barrel on an elk mountain in the Rocky Mountain West.

The final straw was snapped, and I have a line which BACO crossed.

And BTW, I have nothing against Portugal. I've been there, a lovely country with fine people (and Porto!). Portugal is the South Carolina or Alabama of Europe given a quality workforce and lower wages. Leica makes their rangefinders there, and I've had a couple marked as such. But Leica is a European Co, Winchester is not!

No it's not.

I've had pre-64s, South Carolina Model 70s, and Portuguese assembled Model 70s. None have given me any trouble beyond accuracy issues due to my own handloading snafus.

The new trigger is fine when the return spring is replaced, and I've had NO issue whatsoever with any of them. They may be more susceptible to failure in tougher conditions, but I would not know because I have not had the opportunity to hunt in places and at times that would really test it.

The objections to the guns not made in New Haven is 100% based on emotion. I understand it, and I would love to see production moved back to the States...but I personally don't care who made the rifles as long as they're done right. And they are, IMO.

That's right... as are many important things in life!

Why is it that if a Winchester has a trigger people don't like the gun is junk, but the first thing people have been doing for decades with a Remington is replace the trigger?

Just depends on how you see things. Different strokes and all that. I'm happy to make my own choices and let others make theirs.

Whether you like them or not ( I do, but understand the position of those who do not), it appears to me that their time has passed. The large gun shops that I walk through may have 1 or two FWTs, compared to many rows of synthetic stocked rifles, black rifles and budget rifles.

I have no idea how they shoot, but I would have no problem considering Classic Hunter .30-06 with ERA-Recknagel running game sights.

If I believed I'd live another 25 years, I'd make a bet with you. The M70 still be made--at least some iteration will be. It's not going anywhere

I hope you’re right. But I ain’t gonna last long enough to find out. 😊

Its not that the MOA is a bad trigger. It was something that didnt need to be messed with. Browning took it upon themselves to fu ck with a time proven design. By time proven, i dont mean antiquated either. The original design is very robust and easily adjusted and field proven. The moa just wasnt needed. Whats really laughable are the guys reading these posts and deciding they need to change out a MOA for a $120.00 timney, as that is a complete lateral movement. Not an upgrade at all, but a waste of money. All the MOA trigger needs is a simple spring upgrade, sold by erniethegunsmith.

I have done it both ways. The replacement Timeny and the MOA trigger with the spring replaced in it came out about the same. Both are light
and crisp. The spring cost was very noticeable less than the Timney.