Hey guys, for a good all around hunting rifle, what is your preference? Why do you like/prefer one over the other? I've had them both and I have my preference. Lets see what the consensus is. I'm not talking supergrades or pre-war models either. Just straight up, built after '52, std vs. fwt.. Go...

Featherweights for 06 and under. Standards for magnums.

I’ll muddy my preference a little more, I wanted a Hunters EDGE or Bridges on the Featherweight and a Legend on the Standards.

Ha ha.. I knew what you were going to say.. Yeah, that did muddy the water a little. I'd muddy it even further and say that I would not change a thing on my 7 pound 338. I'll try a Legend out some day though, but for now that PoundR works very well on that lightweight magnum... I'd also differ from your preference and run a standard fill hunters compact on a featheweight. BTDT and it works very well... I tried an edge, but did not like the resonance I got from it.. But since we are talking straight up original pre 64's, all that need not apply..

Bsahunter1917: I have used them both and in various calibers - I much prefer the mid/late 1950's vintage Standard Weight Rifles.
I have long since "retired" my uncustomized pre-64 Winchester Model 70's from Hunting duties just because I wish to retain their intrinsic values.
I just received notification that I was drawn for a Montana Antelope license and will be using my custom built pre-64 Model 70 actioned Rifle in 240 Weatherby Magnum on this Hunt.
The action was built on July 1, 1954.
It was a good old 30/06 Standard Weight Rifle before full customization.
Long live the Riflemans Rifle.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Nothing wrong with that answer. Good luck on your hunt..

Made in 1953 Featherweight .308 tuned to fit me - hunting rifle, not a collector or for show - been hunted HARD for many years and re-blued and wood refinished. Still a tack driver and game taker.



Shot last fall in Texas Panhandle Rita Blanca Grasslands. Only 230 yards.

I prefer long actions with standard, and short actions with featherweight barrels.

Enjoy shooting them all, but for the hunting I do I much prefer the SA Classic Featherweights.

Fwts in standard cartridges (270 or 30-06) (monte carlo stock) and std rifles for the mags. Preference being the earlier monte carlo stocks with the bigger checkering panels.
For building from scratch I prefer the late 40s/early 50s actions, all else being equal and destined for a quality synthetic. For a true custom I'd prefer a cloverleaf tang action with the later safety, if it is going in a quality wood stock!

Okay, since you’re holding my feet to the fire, same answer for cartridges to Fwt vs Standards, but I’ll take the Monte Carlo on either.

270 Win



338 Win

Beautiful rifles B! You’ve got some good stuff stashed away 👍

I love my standards but I have a little more love for the fwt’s. I usually drop them in a McMillian Hunters Edge. They feel good in the hands and enuff meat in the barrel to make the forward weight right on the money.
Both weight rifles have been easy to load for and top notch accurate.

That’s a danged fact. I’m becoming fairly fond of my 06 set up as you mentioned. Pretty easy shooting gun as well.

For Me standard weight and have no instrest in the Featherweight.

featherweights for sure...my only pre 64 M70 non FWT is a custom 300 H&H/legend.

This standard.270 wants to be a Bench gun. I mounted the scope and got it close at 100. The group on the left was factory Rem 130’s. The other two were hand loads. If I can lay a dime over three bullet holes I’m gonna call it good.

I sold the best 270 fwt I ever saw or held in my hands. Not a 270 guy I guess:



I've also hunted the old 338 in factory form:


For packing all day long, the fwt's have their appeal to me. They can also be quite accurate, as you have seen with your rifles. Cool you got that 30-06 of yours shooting well. My old '56 shoots lights out as well and I keep it in its original stock. Glass bedded of course:



That's one rifle I'll never get rid of...

Very nice shooter there. I love it when they shoot that well.

Standard sporter weight.

I had a pre-64 (1953 mfg) 270 Win sporter. Sold it, as the stock had too much drop at comb.

I now own two BACO-USA sporters ( blued 30-06, and Extreme Weather 30-06). I used to own a BACO-USA 30-06 featherweight. Looked great. Beautiful schnabel ford end, just too light a barrel. I prefer a bit of muzzle hang.

I wish the current BACO sporter model had even a heavier barrel. The current BACO muzzle diameter is something like 0.56- 0.575" . The BACO sporter muzzle diameter is 0.625" . I wish it was about 0.68" .

I have and use them all.... This one is STD .270 with Stainless barrel. I would have a hard time not taking this one along more often than not.

That s beauty Cliff. You have a lot of nice rifles to choose from...

Featherweight 30-06 is fond of venison too

LOL.. now that is funny right there folks.

Great pictures fellas!

Nice rifle gunnut..

My favorite is my std ‘52 30/06. Have a ‘58 306 FWT, but got it well used. Will use it to make a custom. Haven’t had much experience with FWTs in nice shape.

Standard weights are my favorite

Good stuff is good stuff ain’t it!
1959 Featherweight 30-06

Standard .270 WCF

Standard and FWT at the range
Both .270 JOC

I've always had a soft spot for the standard weights but I also own Featherweights. My preference is:

1 - Pre-War M70s.
2 - Post-War M70s.
3 - Pre-64 Featherweights.

I respect everyone's thoughts and opinions though, just stating mine.

standard. but heavier the better for me.

Sweet rifles Gunnut! Those look excellent. Bet they shoot pretty well!

To me, the FWT has never really been a "featherweight" (at least by today's standards). But it is, at least for my tastes, the "rightweight".

Well said ST!

Yessir!

What are the muzzle diameters of the following Winchester model 70 configurations?

Pre-64 sporter
Pre-64 featherweight

USRAC sporter
USRAC featherweight

BACO sporter
BACO featherweight