Which to choose? The Winchester 70 FW (new out of SC) or the Ruger Hawkeye?

.30-06

For those that have experience with both, which one is the better gun?

Both are good guns, but I prefer the M70, it just has the right overall feel and look to me. The Ruger action is just big, and oversized. Personally I'd buy the one that fits my budget the best.

i have both (mk2s and supergrade), and like both, but if forced to select just one, i'd go with the ruger. as mentioned, handle both and get the one that fits you. either will give you a lifetime of service.

No "better" rifle here, handle both and get the one you like best..Going by My experience with these two the Ruger is built like a tank as rugged as they come and another plus is factory rings are furnished with Ruger rifle's (a big savings) and it will be cheaper to buy than the Model 70 but the Winchester will almost certainly be more accurate out of the box and overall fit and finish will be a little better with the Winchester...Both are fine rifle's in their own right no bad choice here...........Good luck...........Hb

I like both a bunch but prefer the M70. That being said I would make my decision based on budget for the rifle and optics. I'd rather have the Hawkeye with a VX-3 or Conquest on top then a new M70 FW with a sub $200 scope.

IMO you can't go wrong with either one.

Awesome. Thanks guys.

Really leaning hard on the Hawkeye. It just fits my eye. I love the look and feel of the them and I can find one 150 less than the 70...I've got a 1.75-6x32 VX III that will be a perfect fit.

I've owned and shot both and like certain things about each rifle. I like the Ruger for ruggedness and the trigger. Yes the trigger! They usually suck out of the box, but with about 30 minutes work you can have a very good dependable trigger that is of open design and won't give you fits in harsh conditions. Ruger needs a stock re-design; the comb is still where it was when the rifles had open sights. IMO, they need to be a bit higher for scope use.

I like the slightly lighter weight of the M70, especially the EW. The safety is a little easier to operate and fit and finish is slightly better.

As far as accuracy goes, I've had good and bad luck with both. I'd say get what suits your fancy.

LMAO at your sig line, Petro! What are you now, a phuggin' park ranger?

Featherweights are skookum.

Definitely love my Hawkeye 30-06. I bought a Wby Mark V Deluxe 30-06 to replace it, but I just can't bring myself to get rid of it. It just plain works and is more accurate than I am.

quote:and is more accurate than I am.

Boy, that's where the rubber meets the road.

I have no experience with Model 70's but have two Ruger's. The stocks don'f fit me well so I have two McM Ruger Hunter's (speckle tone and a McWoody) on the way. I am one of those guys JB says has necks as long as a kudu.

I don't like the weight but they are rugged.

I absolutely love the rings and integral bases. I was hunting in MT a month a go and did a flat lander slide in the snow and shale down the side of a small MT hill. Plugged up the bore on the fall but was able to unplug it with the cleaning rod in my pack. The next day, I was lined up on a nice elk in timber at 75 yrds or so and shot about a foot to the right behind it. Went back to camp and wasn't even hitting back board. I always take two identical scopes in rings and tools. I had the back up swapped out in 10 minutes and sighted in under 5 shots. Nailed a nice pronghorn the next morning and got revenge on an elk the day after that. It would have been more difficult to get back in the game with some of the other rings and mounts out there.

Scott

I'd suggest that you put tape over the bore before you hunt. Either electrician's tape or blue tape.
While the Ruger ring/mount setup is very rugged, I have had the front ring come loose when the rifle hit the ground, scope first, during a fall.
I've had no problems with shifting zero from falls when using the Leupold 4X and 6X fixed magnification scopes.
To the question asked of the post, I'd take an M70 Pre-64 or the even better M70 Classic with the old style trigger over the current Rugers. But not by much. My only complaint about the Rugers are the harder to get at safeties. If I had one, I'd have the safety smoothed up, or replaced with an M70 style safety. I don't know what I could do about getting an old style trigger for the current M70's.
The other factor would be the fit and balance of the rifle. In fact, that is alot more important than safeties and triggers assuming I could get a 3 lb. or less "glass rod break" with either. E

Bruin, epic movie.

Thanks all. Really struggling here. Everyone needs a 70 right...?

electrician's tape and condoms are similar, in that they don't work if you don't use them. I had a nice supply of tape around the barrel but hadn't taped the muzzle yet. We were "scouting" the day before the hunt actually began but ended up trying to catch up to a small group we spotted. The scope was a Leupold 2.5x8 that had been knocked around a few times and had never had problems holding zero. I was also suprised it didn't hold up this time. All in all, this wasn't my best effort at falling.

Sorry, hijack over.

Jones

Ruger. Both are nice though.

See Ruger SS everywhere up here as skiff guns and they hold up very well around the salt.

I like the Ruger a lot but would probably buy the M70.If forced to hunt the Ruger Hawkeye, my feelings would not be hurt....good rifles.

Fixed...

Absolutely no real comparison..............get the M-70.

MM

I haven't owned a Hawkeye yet, but have had a tang safety 77 .270 Win and a Mk2 sporter .308 Win. I also currently have a 70 FW stainless in .270wsm.

Accuracy: as always, always possible to get a dog out of the factory. Both rugers were MOA, the 70FW is sub, but I use a limbsaver barrel deresonator on the FW. Guessing it's probably a wash overall.

Action: 70FW action is a bit smoother than either Ruger.

Safety: Comparing the Mk2 3-position safety, I actually liked the Ruger safety a little bit better - easier to sneak off quietly when a big buck is close by and able to keep my hand in a better position on the rifle doing so.

As others have said, try both and see which one fits you better. I wouldn't feel bad about using either - in fact, looking to get a Ruger 77 to keep the FW company. If you just can't decide, flip a coin and no matter which way it comes up, you'll be ok.

Had both. Both fed well but the Ruger took a trip due to weight and it was a duplicate chambering when I got it. Either one will do you very well. Those new FN Winchesters are nothing to sneeze at (once you get one that isn't a lemon like I did)

Welcome to the Campfire, Tvknight4150.

don't waste your time
L67
AV
M75IV
85M
choose your weapon

I handled a duplicate of that rifle and it was one of the few laminated stocks I could warm up. Had a very good feel and wasn't too heavy.

Here's the route I took... I bought a very nice SC model 70 fwt and bought a stainless ruger hawkeye allweather chambered for the same cartridge. I tested both and decided to keep the Ruger hawkeye over the fwt. I ran across a killer deal on a pre 64 fwt in the same chambering and then decided to get rid of the Hawkeye...Absolutely no regrets, but that's how I roll...

Ha. Reinventing the reinvention...

I have 2 Ruger MK II sporters, a Swift and a .257, and both will put 5 shots in .6 inch after I free-floated the barrels. My .257 sits in a Hawkeye walnut stock, and both are fine-looking rifles. Plus, their included rings are fine.

I also have an SC M70 Safari .375. It will put 3 shots in 1 inch and possibly better, or 10 shots in 2 inches, but I believe the generous recoil keeps me from realizing all the accuracy it is capable of. It is the finest fitted and finished factory rifle I've seen in recent years. Honestly, it is a higher quality rifle than my 1952 M70 .30-06 standard, although that one's a gem, too.

Either way, you won't be sorry.

Once hunting season slows down, I need to buy you lunch or something so I can put my hands on those McMillan! Especially if you have that 35 Rem bolt gun working!! Any pics of the Rugers?

What a dog fight! Ruger vs. Winchester is a real toss up for me. The new Featherweights are fantastic. You really need one of each. Why don't you get one in wood/blue, and the other in stainless/synthetic. Then you have your fair weather gun, and you foul weather gun. If it were me I would get a Winchester Featherweight in blue/wood, and the Ruger is stainless/synthetic. I guess if I had to choose just one it would be the M70.

Pointer:

The Rugers are still factory, I just placed the order for the McM's.

The cartridge is 35 Indiana and I've been hunting with it. I'm getting around 2300 fps with 200 gr Accubonds. I haven't shot a deer with it yet. I've been passing up dinks and does. But I most sincerely need to bloody the thing soon.

I'll ping ya after the season when the McM's come in.

Scott

I have both. Both shoot well after a reasonable amount of working with them. The Hawkeye action felt like it was rubbing on sandpaper when new. A little bore paste and an evenings work smoothed it out. If I am packing the rifle for a day in the hills I prefer the M70.

If I'm not careful, this rifle will soon become a 338-375 Ruger.

9.3x62mm would be bad azz too... Just sayin...

I wouldn't consider the new Winchester trigger even in the running. It ain't nothing but a Remmy now....

Get a Ruger or a New Haven.

Good advice buddy. I like the hell out of my New Havens. They are some of the most accurate rifles in the stable...I still like the pre 64's better, but when I want to hand my buddies azz to him, I take the New Havens.....I feel bad though because he was using his new extreme weather short mag and fancy new $900.00 scope.... ...Oh well, chit happens...

Either will work.

However if I had to pick only one it would be a SC M70 Fwt. I've had five or so and all have shot great. Currently own an EW in 30-06 and it'll be perhaps the second to the last to go. It is that good.

All that being said I love my MKII's and Hawkeyes...6.5x55, 7x64, 9.3x62, .223, 7mm-08.....

Please do! That 35 sounds pretty sweet.

Consider all the great advice you have received and then reach into your pocket and flip a coin. If its heads buy a Tikka, if its tails buy a Tikka. Assuming you want an accurate rifle. I like and own the ones you are considering, but none come close to Tikka accuracy.

Tikka's have slick azzed actions too. I was handling one the other day and she was smoooooooooth....

I'd get the Model 70 EW

Hit any scope hard enough in the right spot and it will shift zero. Some scopes are much better at holding zero under such conditions. The fixed magnification Leupolds appear to do this best. But their small variables are pretty close from the test results I'm aware of. E

I have two, and yes they are accurate, but not any more so that my two Browning A-Bolts or my Remington 700s. I love my Tikkas, but they don't have that warmth or "soul". There will be more, but they will be tools, I'm looking for something a little different.

Best? As in no other fixed power scope on the planet is tougher or more resistant to changing zero due to impact?