There is an unused 2014 CRF 243 FWT that I have a chance of picking up at a decent price. I've only seen pics of the gun. However I've been given a list of manufacturing dates to avoid, with 2011 to the present being on the avoid list. So what up with that? What's the word on these models?

go ahead and buy it... then you will know for sure that all the previous advice about shying away from the manufacture dates was, in fact, correct.

With all respect, I have a Supergrade featherweight in 7x57 that was built around 2014 and it is a thing of beauty and a real shooter.

I’d avoid the ‘92 to ‘99 classics as well. And let me know when you find them, so I can also avoid them.
Who gave you this “list”? Plenty of people very happy with current production m70s; some don’t care for where they are assembled but the ones I’ve handled have all been well put together.

Coach,I'd avoid the people that spew that kind of BS!

I avoid them all after 2002, but that's just me. Or is it?

I had a 2013 model 70 FWT in 243 and would agree with your buddy, they can be sketchy. I never could get that rifle to shoot well and ended up selling it. I'm not saying all those rifles are not shooters, I'm just saying in my experience with that one rifle in the same caliber...it was a dud. I tend to shy away from BACO Winchesters now.

Still got a ton of reloading stuff for that 243...I just need to find a new haven classic to use it on, or finally pony up the cash for a pre-64.

Good luck with the buy, I hope it's a shooter.

Blah blah blah... I had a new haven classic that shot like [bleep] fouled bad... The barrel was made by a disgruntled employee.. anyhow jes rebored it to 338 wsm no more accuracy issues..

count me as one who has had good success with BACOs

This one wasn't a classic though John, it was a BACO, not a 7 digit NH closing the plant Winchester, there shouldn't have been any disgruntled employee or anything with that rifle. I'm pretty sure you even shot it and couldn't get it to shoot.

Anyway it's long gone now. I will admit I'm highly interested in the model 70 extreme weather rifles though.

Same here. I have 2 SG 7x57s and a 7-08 that are beautiful rifles and shoot far better than I can!

Same here...I count them as being as good as any Model 70 ever made....


I don't know what the big deal is with New Haven Guns. I was in the gun biz the time and we had more QC issues and problems with them that any other era of manufacture..

I hate Winchester anything but the chances of this being a bad gun are about ZERO.

No you were singing the praises of new haven classics when in fact they produced plenty of duds. Case in point I have 5 digit classic in a 7-08 that will not shoot 140-150 anything but stuff 160 plus bullets in it and it's a shooter. But who is lobbing 160's out of a 7-08.. I take that back it will shoot 150 ballistic tips.

You damn commie!

Nah, I'm with you on that. Well, except for maybe a straggler 7mm08 that I have. It's a 7 digit, but it's one of the sweetest model 70's I have..

Coach, buy it if it's a great deal. Not a whole lot wrong with them, except they are made in Portugal, have a box trigger and are more Browning than winchester. Some have been finicky, but probably the majority are just fine. Buy it, shoot it and hopefully shoot itty bitty groups with it. That's my best advice.