Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Model 70 advice

Looking for input from you Winchester guys.

Am looking to buy a new rifle this yearin either 270 or 708. Have been looking at the Model 70. Rifle will be used for whitetail hunting, but pretty gently.

I really like the wood on the Supergrades, and like the shadowline cheekpiece. Also like the Featherweights. The price of the Supergrades is about to the limit of what I want to spend.

Advice sought is what is the best buy, nicest wood in a contolled feed Model 70 currently?

Also, where are the current model 70s made and the opinion of their quality? Fit and finish?

Have also been trolling classifieds but not seeing many used ones in these catagories.

Personally I wouldn't waste my time with the Portuguese rifles. Or any FN Browning Arms Co. rifle. Look for an older classic (preferably stainless) or pre 64 and rock on. Hit TDN up here and see if he has a rifle that may suit your needs...

However, if you are dead set on getting an FN BACO rifle, look at the 2008 limited edition fwt's. They had some of the nicest stocks around and they actually wanted to put out a good product in their first year of manufacture:

A lot of the wood on these rifles looked and fit quite nicely:




I actually just sold this rifle last month...

Am not fully understanding, are new Model 70s made in Portugal?

Yep..

The latest Model 70's are assembled in Portugal. From 2011-2012 back to 2008 (first year for FN), they were all made in the USA.

For what it's worth I also have a beautiful first year 2008 Limited Edition Featherweight in .270 that has wood equal to the one pictured above that I have been toying with the idea of selling. (prettier in hand)

Only reason I'm considering letting it go is that I also have two Model 70 JOC's I bought in .270 and I really have no need for a third in that caliber.

http://s98.photobucket.com/user/SS30ANV/media/2008LtdEditionModel70FeatherweightDeluxe005_zps6cd7ee7a.jpg.html]

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Those cabelas specials seem to have pretty nice wood. They go on sale quite often as well. I think a recall a 270 as well.

Those O'Connor special editions look good as well, but I don't know how they compare on price to a super grade.

The Cabelas Limited Editions are getting harder to find. The .270 edition dried up a year or so ago. The JOC's are getting pretty hard to find as well. The cheaper version usally goes for around $1700 plus or minus, the more expensive model...$2300 plus.

I just snapped up the last Cabelas Model 70 African .458 Cabelas had in stock (pictures below), not because I needed it, but it had beautiful wood, much nicer than the ones I saw when they were abundant and I'm a sucker for nice wood.

Like any run on the above editions, most are nice looking, with a smaller percentage above and below the norm. Below...plain jane....above outstanding wood. The few remaining Cabelas that are still out there in .257 Roberts or 7x57 are on the plain side from what I've seen recently.

Don't ask me how I know...............lol

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I looked over made in USA Browningchester Supergrade .300 Magnum. The only external flaws I have seen was poor inletting of sling swivels. The price was $1100. For that kind of cash you can get better rifle. Here is just one sample lovingly hand finished and put together.....

factory made Zbrojovka Brno VZ-24 Mauser

There are two weaknesses no sporter magazine plate release and original military wing safety making low scope mounting impossible. All that gun needs is Winchester style safety and low mounts (alloy tubed scope would be nicer too). Despite being steel tubed Meopta Artemis is excellent scope.

Superior weapon to Winchester that sadly went away when Czechs run out of VZ -24 Mauser actions. It's superior to my old Winchester but too light for large hoofed animals and wild boar. If that was .30-06, 8x57JS or 9.3x62 is would be with me now.

Mr Slavek, If every CZ, Zbrojovka, and any other of the 100's of Mausers are so much better than model 70 Winchesters both pre and post 64 guns, why do you not visit the Mauser sites vs running Winchester 70's down on the Winchester collector forum? very best WinPoor

Haven't been to NitroExpress or Accurate reloading in long long time. Model 70 is very nice rifle. I just thought he may want something modern with hand fitting, polishing and assembly for what amounts to be very little money. Don't feel bad that ZB is a lot nicer than CZ rifles.

For the prices quoted here ranging from $1100-2300 I would find a nice pre 64 M70. Made in the USA and will be sure to appreciate in value. Look on Guns International, Guns America etc

So are the 2008-2011/12 FN Model 70's. Good luck finding a pre 64 with awesome wood and like new condition for that price, especially in desirable calibers like .257 Roberts.

Here's a good example to compare to. A pre 64 Model 70 African Super Grade in .458 Win Mag vs. a new FN Model 70 African Super Grade .458 Win Mag.

Pre 64............................$6500...with light handling marks

New Cabelas FN....retail list for $2199...were on sale for less...NIB

From an article...."For example the original.458 had a fore-end screw that went through the stock into the barrel. Obviously, this made free-floating impossible and accuracy often suffered. Cabela's has fully free-floated the barrel, and while not 100 percent historically correct, it's something users will appreciate. "Barrels, metal quality and bluing are all also better than the original," Robbins says."

As mentioned above the pre 64 Africans apparently were not noted for exceptional accuracy because of that fore-end screw. As far as the new M.O.A. trigger, for every sportswriter who thinks it a step backward, I can quote two that say it's an improvement and easier to adjust to desired ft. lbs.

Might ad the Cabelas is a duplicate of the 1961 version.

In my opinion (again my opinion) the newer FN version I picked up is a better value and would argue a better rifle. Definitely nicer looking wood wise. Ironically I grew up with pre 64's and preferred the looks of pre Garcia Sakos and Browning Safari rifles. Today however with the looks of the nicer new Winchesters, I've purchased several.

The other new Cabelas FN Ltd. Model 70 Super Grade LW's in .257 Roberts and 7x57 are equally as nice in comparison. The .270 JOC's speak for themselves.

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LGS had .257 Deluxe with Leupold scope with lovely polish and wood. Much nicer than pre-64 rifles I have seen. I do not like Roberts chambering nor did I like Cabelas monogram in gold on the floor plate. I do not like Cabela's.

I just bought an FN American-made Supergrade M70. It was a Cabelas closeout. Beautiful wood and a great price. Do some homework on the Cabelas site and haunt all the gun libraries. Should be a couple of rifles around that you like. The American-made FN isn't a bad rifle.
Bob

I wouldn't buy a Portuguese Winchester. Not when you can buy the real thing (a pre-'64 FWT) for $700.

Cabela's has a way of cheapening things up with all the gaudy crap they put on them... Pal, I do like your fwt. Give me one of those over the new FN's any day of the week and twice on Sunday...

My problem is that I like (and want) both...

The floorplate thing is an easy fix...order a new floorplate from Win, pop out a pin and replace. Keep the original for posterity. Too easy.
Bob

Thanks BSA.

And I agree on the over-decoration cheapening the multitude of special edition this and that.

My thoughts exactly. There are 14 .270 Win and 32 30-06 pre-64 M70's listed on Gunbroker at the moment.

Eric