Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Tell me about Featherweight M70s in 7x57

I'm interested in experiences that folks have had with M70 XTR/pushfeed featherweights in 7x57. I may have a chance to look at one locally over the weekend and want to have thought this through before buying yet another mid caliber rifle. This one is from the 80s and is advertised as being in good shape, schnable stock, and with iron sights.

I've read a smattering of references about the PF Winchester 7x57 in the 24 HC archives that have made me wonder about their accuracy a little, also about how well higher weight bullets are stabilized with the rate of twist of the Winchester barrel.

I have no niche to fill as I'm sure that it's no better than the 2 260s, the 7/08, the 30/06s that share room in my safe, but I've been drawn to the caliber for a while and it's being offered for what I believe to be a fair price.

Thanks for your time and thoughts

David

I've owned a couple Winchester/USRA 70 FWTs in 7x57, both with and without open sights. I think that they are nice rifles and the schnabled fore-end on the 70 FWTs is a thing of beauty that just screams to be chambered in 7x57!

Those that I had were throated for the old 175 grain factory loads, so shorter/lighter bullets had quite a bit of freebore jump to the rifling. I find the 154 grain Hornady SpirePoint to be a nice all-around medium game bullet in my bolt action 7x57s. I once had a rebarreled Remington 760 in 7x57 that would shoot "better than it should have" groups with the 154 grain round nose.

The thing is, if you buy this rifle, you'll probably be moved to buy a Tyrolian/Bavarian Jager hat and a hat brush pin to complete the European theme.

Jeff

PS: IIRC, the comb on the 70 FWT stock is not open sight friendly, so the open sights are probably more cosmetic then practical/useful, if that is an important consideration for you.

I had one about twenty years ago. It looked better then it shot. It was ok with factory 140s. Like 260Remguy says it would have probably done better with a heavier bullet. I'd buy another one if the price was reasonable.

That's the Featherweight model.. Excellent...

Define, 'fair price'.. Anything under $700 (if rifle's at 98% condition) is good. $600 for 90-95% would be good..

I've got one for sale in GB at nearly 100% (nothing's perfect) and it's already at $765.. I think it will end up around $825-850.. (and NO, it's not the one I just bought at the Gunstop) I'm keeping that one.. LOL...

I bought one in the mid 1990s and I still have it. That particular 7x57 is my favorite hunting rifle. I use 140 grain Nosler Partitions and it will put 3 into a bit less than 1 inch at 100 yards.I love the lines of the Featherweight.

I have one that Redneck did a bit of work to, bedding, re-cut crown and cleaned up the trigger. I had a heck of a time finding a load that the gun really liked but found that 120 NBT over RL15 makes one ragged hole.

I hope to find a 160 gr load that the gun likes but I have just not have have the time to mess with it.

Mine wears a FX-III 6x42 in Burris signature rings and is a nice, light, accurate rig that pretty much anyone can shoot well due to light recoil.

Get one, you will love it!

I would personally prefer a CRF rifle, so I'm more into the M70 Featherweight Classic in 6.5x55 SE.

Don't really blame you, but the Roberts wasn't available in a CRF rifle..

Those 6.5X55 Classics are bringing MUCHO-BUXOS - even the blue/walnuts in that cartridge are going in the $900+ range.. I've got a NIB Classic SS/Walnut 6.5X55 - I think I'll hang onto it for a few years yet... Those are bringing in excess of ten Franklins, even in this economy...

Better than money in the stock market...

Much better than the stock market!! Plus, M70's make us feel good when we look at them........grin

My M70 FWT classic in 6.5X55 is a keeper!
One of my all time favorite rifles, I put a McMillan FWT stock on mine.
Perfect!!

I had one exactly like you're describing, mine shot quite well with 139 Hornadys and a stiff charge of 760. It liked the 145 Speer boattail, too, with IMR-4350. It seemed that the stiffer the charge, the better it shot. Killed deer and coyotes without heartache or headache, too. Nice rifles, I wish the stocks fit me better than they do, though, I'd still have it.

I have mostly been shooting 140gr Interlocks and Partitions out of mine using RL22-accuracy is quite good but the velocity is just so-so(around 2650.)

I want to try some lighter bullets(120-125) one of these days and see how they do.

Or, just buy a Classic, rebarrel to 7X57 and you have it! That's what I did.

I had one, I bought it in 1980 or so, Once I had it bedded it shot fine, I had a 6 x 42 leupold on it with heavy duplex. 140 gr Nosler Partitions, I would fire a shot, then field dress a White Tail. I collected a lot of game with it. Seems like they are around, for a price.

Ive had a couple of them, and settled on one in 1994, did a couple things to it to dress it up a bit ( at least what I considered dressed up) and it has since been my absolute favorite big game rifle. Shot lotsa push feeds and never had an issue with them. Like some posters, mine doesnt care for light bullets, but LOVES 175s of any kind and Barnes TSXs in a 160 gr. I work with a guy who recently bought one and his does like lighter boolits, Win. 145 factorys to be precse....go figure.
Anyway, it is my favorite. Period. Hope you can say the same one day....
Ingwe

I recently bought a push-feed M70 XTR featherweight in 7x57 in like new condition. It has standard good but not fancy wood. Good fleur-de-lis checkering and a schnable forend .The action has standard Winchester bluing.

What sets it apart is that the barrel has a beautiful bluing job on it. I think it's french grey. I've never seen this bluing this nice on a Winchester before. Also has very nice open sights mounted on it. I don't see where it is marked Custom Shop. But I'm betting it was a special order to Winchester for someone.

Anyone have any guess's?

My best guess is that its a fluke, or somebody messed with it....couldnt be worth more that a couple hundred, tops.
Ill do you a favor and take it off your hands for $175....
Ingwe

I bought 2 6.5 Classic Featherweights in 1997.Hunt with one, the other is in the safe with hangtags on it.Bought my 7x57 new in the mid 80's and it love's 150 Ballistic tips and a hefty charge of IMR 4350

ingwe: Thank's for the offer. I'll get back to you...

Ingwe