Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Winchester 70 Push Feed or Controlled Round Feed

Is there really any difference? I have a chance at a 338 Win Mag, but it has a push feed action. I love the CRF actions though. I've heard the pros/ cons of each. Can you guys give me your input?

Thanks, Joel

I have had both CRF and PF rifles over the years. To be frank I don't know what the fuss is over as I have never seen one as significantly more reliable when feeding than the other. Never had a problem with either. Actually I have only seen one rifle that was put out of commission while hunting and that was from extraction issues and it was a mauser 98 that jumped the rim on a friends rifle. I finally got the case out for the guy but it was a headache. Another thing I have found that a CRF complicates is when you are trying to adjust your dies to barely bump back the case just enough that it chambers easily. Some CRF don't cycle cases very well, so running the resized case into the chamber to see how it fits is a pain. All in all I guess I have a slight preference for a push feed. I guess I'll just take my chances when I finally draw a charge from a wounded deer or angry groundhog.

I've had push feed 70s in .338, .264 and .300 Win Mag, and still have one in 7x57. Never had any problems with feeding or chambering in any of 'em (at any angle, to include completely upside down). I've had and now have several CRF rifles; Ruger, Kimber, MRC and a pre-64 70 in several different chamberings. I have had some feeding problems with some of them, but it was due to magazine feed lips, not the extractor. I'm with bangeye...don't know what the fuss is all about.

Thanks guys, I kinda figured it was a personal preference thing.

Yup just my preference but I would not pay the premium you do for a model 70 if it wasn't CRF. For a push feed I'll take a weatherby or savage.

I have both, no issues with either. The pre 64 in 300H&H does however feed like no other rifle I have owned.

Can some one brush the high points of both. I'm not following. Is it just the ejector?

The biggest difference is the ejector and extractor.

In my observations over the years, FWIW, selling prices on GB favor the CRF actions over the PF.

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'Most likely it feeds so smoothly because of the .300 H&H Magnum's TAPERED cartridge case which aids considerably in giving it that smooth feed.

Jus' my 2�...

Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

Yep, there is a reason it was designed that way, Others ae not bad, but the 300 H&H has a noticeably difference from other cartrigdes.

rbodenburg:In a properly tuned CRF, the rim of the cartridge snaps up under the extractor immediately as the cartridge pops up from the rails of the magazine.At this point, the cartridge is "controlled",because the extractor has grabbed it before the case enters the chamber.

In contrast,with a PF, the case is still "loose" until the cartridge has been pushed far enough into the chamber so that the extractor can snap over the rim of the case to "grab" it.

Ejection in a PF is controlled by the extractor,and usually a plunger ejector in the face of the bolt that is actuated by a tiny spring.The plunger exerts sideward pressure on the case, so that the case is kicked out of the loading port when the bolt is withdrawn far enough.

In a CRF, the extractor holds the case, until the rearward movement of the bolt causes a standing blade ejector to move into a recess or slot in the bolt,and hits the cartridge,kicking it out the loading port.Force of ejection in the CRF is controlled by how hard the shooter operates the bolt, whereas in a PF you get one degree of speed or force of ejection.

In theory anyway,and with a properly tuned CRF (not all are created equal,like anything),double feeding is prevented with the CRF because by the time the bolt has moved far enough to the rear to pick up the next cartridge,the ejector has already done its' job,and the empty case should already have been kicked out of the loading port(ejected).

There are other nuances but in general all parts of a properly tuned CRF must work in synch,and be properly "timed",and the magazine box or rails should be cartridge specific,the extractor of proper dimension and exerting correct tension to hold the case during these functions,yet be capable of letting go of the case as it is ejected.

Which you choose and like is a personal thing, but they operate very much differently. It is easier, and cheaper, to build a PF system than a "good" CRF.

Nicely said.

I've got push feed rifles and CRF rifles. Both work well. Truly have no preference.

I have M70's in CRF, PF and the oddball CRPF. I've shot a number of deer with push feeds, one with CRPF.

For a few years, Winchester made what they called "controlled round push feed". It has an extractor like a push feed, and an ejector like a controlled-round feed. I don't think it works as well as the other two.

Note that early Savage 110's were that way.

Yes, I can.

I have an absolutely MINT .308 m70 sporter and a near mint .243 win m70 fwt. Both push feeds. There isn't a damn thing wrong with either of them. I'm becoming very attatched to the .243. It's a great carrying rifle. Both function flawlessly. The .243 shoots Federal Barns 85gr TSX into 7/8" groups at 100.

You can get them for a fair bit cheaper than the "classic" or Pre-64's and still not have to worry about function. If you're going to be collecting them, I'd then go with the controled round extractor, they do seem to hold value better.

Nothing wrong with the PF actions.. In fact, they usually feed slightly better overall AND, as a bonus, they're usually cheaper to buy..

Gopherit..

I've got both also. A .270 Classic Fwt and an early 80's .25-06 XTR Sporter. Neither are going anywhere. Except for the diff designs of feeding and extraction both are excellent firearms. In fact the XTR is most accurate out of the box firearm (mine or anyone elses)that I've shot to date.

Thanks bob. Great detailed explanation.

"For a few years, Winchester made what they called "controlled round push feed". It has an extractor like a push feed, and an ejector like a controlled-round feed. I don't think it works as well as the other two."

I've got one of those, a Win 70 "Coyote" and dang, that thing feeds .300 WSM's slick.

Yep, Guy, your rifle pushed me over the edge into buying my 7WSM Coyote. Should have a Vortex Viper PST for it when I come home for Christmas. Need to order some 30mm rings for it.