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Joined: Dec 2007
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Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 84 |
I am considering one of these two. Has anyone had any experience with the new Featherweight? How is it's accuracy. I will look through the other recent posts on the Ruger. In terms of price it seems to be about even. Thanks
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1 |
Accuracy has been excellent with the new featherweigts.....
Ingwe
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 151
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 151 |
I thought the Hawkeye was cheaper by about 200 than the Featherweight, but I haven't really compared aside from Cabelas.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 11,654
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 11,654 |
Accuracy has been excellent with the new featherweigts.....
Ingwe Yup. Currently have two and am working on a third.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 14,807
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2003
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southwend, I like both the Winchester M70 Featherweight and the Ruger 77's as hunting rifles. The newer ones in particular have features that I want such as crf, good safeties etc. You mentioned price. It matters. Even so at least look at a Kimber 84M. The Kimber action is easier to operate than the new M70's that I have handled. Some new FN M70's had a hard bolt lift when the pin is down. All of them had safeties that were difficult to operate, cut into my thumb and made a click when pushed off. The Kimber safeties are far easier to operate, comfortable and can be quiet. The Ruger is an outstanding value. However its safety does not control the firing pin on half safe when unloading a hot chamber. The M70 and M84M's do. If your considering a composite stock the Kimber has a superb one and that makes it worth more in my view. Handle the rifles and pick what you like. All are excellent rifles. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=158079616
All guns should be locked up when not in use!
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1 |
Andddddddd...
You could play " Kimber Roulette".....
Ingwe
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,226
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,226 |
I just bought my first M70 Fwt this year and love it. I think the Hawkeyes are fine rifles....I just wanted to own a "Rifleman's Rifle."
Murphy was a grunt.
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Joined: Oct 2009
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,742 |
Andddddddd...
You could play " Kimber Roulette".....
Ingwe That would be my choice. And I'd keep playing til I got one I liked.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,599
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,599 |
I am considering one of these two. Has anyone had any experience with the new Featherweight? How is it's accuracy. I will look through the other recent posts on the Ruger. In terms of price it seems to be about even. Thanks i have not handled the new featherweight except in a gunshop... there's been a lot of good reports on both rifles, but you owe yourself a model 70 featherweight...
"Chances Will Be Taken"
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 704
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 704 |
Andddddddd...
You could play " Kimber Roulette".....
Ingwe Just how bad are they? Is it just an odd one or is it a 50/50 deal that a lemon comes your way.
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 12,664
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2003
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I have a M70 classic and a Ruger M 77 MK II. I have handled one Hawkeye and no FN M70's. The M70 will most likely be smoother operating than the Hawkeye. With the M70 you will buy rings and bases and the Hawkeye an aftermarket trigger or get a trigger job. All of that said, going on my experience between the two I'd get the Ruger. YMMV
The Karma bus always has an empty seat when it comes around.- High Brass
There's battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,530
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,530 |
I've got a pair of Hawkeyes and a new Featherweight. Both are great rifles and accuracy is about equal between them. All 3 of mine shoot sub 3/4 moa. I like feel of the Winchester a little better but it will cost more and you have buy rings and bases.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,218
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,218 |
I almost bought a blued/walnut Hawkeye once just because it felt so darned good in my hands. I've not handled a Winchester 70 in any format that felt as good to me. Your experience may be the opposite. My own M77 Mk II is super smooth (got lucky mabye) and while the M70s I've handled are maybe a bit more smooth, it's irrelevant to me in a hunting rifle. I do like the Hawkeye/Mk II safety better than Winchester's and I do like the integral scope ring system. I have nothing against Winchesters but I like Ruger Mk II or Hawkeyes better especially for the money involved.
Last edited by High_Brass; 02/21/10.
Karma and Trouble have busses, and there's always an empty seat.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,943 |
I really like my Featherweight 270 Win. ~7.5 lbs with Leup 2X7, Talley lightweights & wood stock. Shoots consistent 3 shot groups of .75 with 150 Partions and 57g H4831sc at 2800fps. It is extremely smooth; almost too smooth as it would be very easy to close the bolt on an empty chamber and not tell the difference.
The Ruger is a nice gun also. It is a little heavier and the finish is not as nice IMO.
I have been kind of scared of the Kimbers and Barnes bullets due to poor reports here but no personal experience to back it up.
The truth angers those whom it does not convince
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Joined: Mar 2007
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,630 Likes: 2 |
Handled a South Carolina Featherweight at the Sportsmans Warehouse in Columbia, SC last week. It was a 30-06 and very smooth. The trigger was very decent as well. Believe it or not they had a $659 tag on it; same price as their Hawk I's
“When Tyranny becomes Law, Rebellion becomes Duty”
Colossians 3:17 (New King James Version) "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 84
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 84 |
Great info. Kimber Roulette? That sounds like a frustrating game. And I was actually going to consider the Kimber as a high dollar outlyer to consider. I buy these to fit me and hunt with mind you but also to hand down a class hunting rig to each of my four young sons. So far one will get the (.308) BLR, one the Savage 99F, this will be the third in the line up. The 70 featherweight is at the top of a short list just as a class act.
Of course, who gets what tends to change based on who annoys me least any given day, does the most chores, or who Dad just needs to mess with "Ok boys I changed my mind, you get the Savage, you get the Browning and you two gets a sharp sticks and sneakers!"
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1 |
I plugged in the " Kimber Roulette" thing because I have had bad luck with them as a dealer...bear in mind we have many members here that have had good luck with them....so as they say on the net YMMV Hard to find any negative experiences with the new SC Winchester Fwts... Ingwe
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,086
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,086 |
Both are fine rugged rifles for the $$$ IMO. I just sold a HE & have handled enough FN's to know which I prefer. FN for me. PS-You may want to look at the Kimbers also
Taking my rifle for a walk
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2006
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I have seen some of those special edition walnut stocked Hawkeyes in 264 Win. They are really pretty nice guns.
They are very nice and if one was available for me to play with I might of gone that direction instead of the FN Model 70 in 06.
I think that you should kick the tires of what ever gun you look at this means look at the crown, the fit of the metal(with a dollar) and then pull the trigger for creep.
Somebody can adjust the trigger but you have got to believe that if a modern rifle company can produce a gun with everything right then it is that much easier.
Sincerely, Thomas
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