Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather

[Kumaabear]

Hey all

Just wondering if anyone has handled any of the new FN built Model 70's

In particular I am looking at a Extreme Weather SS, tho I would love to hear from anyone who has got a look at how the fit and finish is on any of the newer FN built Winchesters.

[Archie]

I have, and I quite liked them. Only handled in shop though, never used one. But overall looked pretty good work to me. This was an extreme weather stainless, I don't know what the wood stocks are like. I would quite happily have bought it if I was in the market for another 270 or bigger centrefire.

[Kumaabear]

If you don't mind me asking, do you remember which shop this was at?

I am struggling to find a place that has one in stock for me to have a look at

[Archie]

If you don't mind me asking, do you remember which shop this was at?

I am struggling to find a place that has one in stock for me to have a look at

Safari.

[JimTom]

Have had a few shots out of one chambered in 300 WinMag.
Nice bit of gear, I loved it.
From memory it was fairly pricey for a Winchester. Circa $2k??

[bigrich]

i have a 2013 FN USA carolina built mod 70, controlled feed . i love it. cant fault it . if your looking at a brand new one, they come with a MOA trigger i beleive , which is designed on a timney by the look of it

[Kumaabear]

They are about 2k from what I have seen, but I guess you do get the stainless fluted barrel / stainless bottom metal which in most brands does seem to add a few hundred $

Also the stock with the aluminum bedding block seems like a good idea, and at least to me looks nicer / more interesting with the spider web pattern than most synthetic stocks ive seen.

[Mitch]

I have one.

Smooth action
Factory stock is a bell and carlson i think

Ordered at brisbane shot expo last august and only got it in i think it was end of may this year.

Was heaps cheaper at the gun show, about 1700 from memory

[Bigjobss]

i have a 2013 FN USA carolina built mod 70, controlled feed . i love it. cant fault it . if your looking at a brand new one, they come with a MOA trigger i beleive , which is designed on a timney by the look of it

Mines the same pre Portugal FN but in a Featherweight configuration.

As well built a firearm as you will find for under $2k and greatly undertated. Ive owned a couple Sauers in the early 2000s and swore off Winchesters as cheap s**t but these current versions are legit.

[bigrich]

i have a 2013 FN USA carolina built mod 70, controlled feed . i love it. cant fault it . if your looking at a brand new one, they come with a MOA trigger i beleive , which is designed on a timney by the look of it

Mines the same pre Portugal FN but in a Featherweight configuration.

As well built a firearm as you will find for under $2k and greatly undertated. Ive owned a couple Sauers in the early 2000s and swore off Winchesters as cheap s**t but these current versions are legit.

mines a bit of a custom i bought second hand. it's a super grade , bedded and floated with a madco barrel in 6.5x55.shoots real small groups. i also bought a 1975 made xtr in 222 recently that's super accurate as well. woulda posted some pics, but the site or my computer wouldn't let me. what caliber is yours in ?

[Bigjobss]

300WM. The first two often touch but the third will fly a little, I blame the thin barrel.

[bigrich]

300WM. The first two often touch but the third will fly a little, I blame the thin barrel.

300 wm, what a beast. I helped a mate sight in one in a Tikka t3 lite. Was fun !

[Bigjobss]

Im good for 10-15 shot off the bench then its home time for my shoulder, it goes from fun to painfull very quickly!
It is a great lightweight stalking rifle with the trigger at nice and crisp at 3.5lbs, apparently they are easy to adjust too. Only negative is that the blueing on the floorplate wears off easily.

[Kumaabear]

Well I am glad to hear that they are nice rifles, I wonder why they don't seem more popular in Aus.

[JimTom]

Mate I think it because they are a little overpriced. Plenty of cheaper alternatives that arguably perform as good or better.
That’s the reason I haven’t got one anyway.

[bigrich]

Mate I think it because they are a little overpriced. Plenty of cheaper alternatives that arguably perform as good or better.
That’s the reason I haven’t got one anyway.

One word, Tikka

[Kumaabear]

I am kind of justifying the price over a Tikka because I know the more traditional action design is more expensive to make. Tikka's seem like awesome rifles tho.

Regardless of if it realistically makes a measurable difference to how it functions, I find the mouser type action to be more interesting

In the same way I find a mechanical watch more interesting than a similar designed quartz watch.

[bigrich]

Imho Tikka are outstanding value for money, but as far as old school goes, I like custom Mausers and older model 70 Winchester’s . Solid reliable rifles with no plastic that would last a lifetime. All depends on what floats ya boat I guess. To a certain degree, ya get what ya pay for

[Bigjobss]

Tikka are the Ikea of firearms, nothing really wrong with them but Ive never shouldered one and wanted to own it, they just feel cheap.

[Stix]

300WM. The first two often touch but the third will fly a little, I blame the thin barrel.

300 wm, what a beast. I helped a mate sight in one in a Tikka t3 lite. Was fun !

Sheesh richo...!!
If thats fun, wot do you do for a hoot...?...drive a nail into your knee & pull it out sideways with a pair of vice grips...?

A dozen compressed loads through my tikka lite 7-08 & ive had enough...! (But im a woos & hate fast recoil )

[JimTom]

300WM is a whole lot of rifle for a Tikka T3 Lite.

[Stix]

Tikka are the Ikea of firearms, nothing really wrong with them but Ive never shouldered one and wanted to own it, they just feel cheap.

Carry a lite around all day & stalk a mob of goats & let loose...!!
Then bowl a few over from 200+yards...


They are light, fast, accurate enough & very fluent when it comes to pointability (depending on the size & weight of the glass atop)...

After knocking over a mob a bleeting hoofed pre roasted legs, you'll want to own one...

I used to think the same as you BJ, but im a convert..!!

[bigrich]

yeh well fellas im 6 foot 4 inches tall and 125 kg , so shootin' big'uns isn't too harsh. but the muzzle blast rebounding at the range can give me a headache. i got mates who have tikkas and they are outstanding value for money. working mans sako. i still love me model 70's but. bin trying to post pics but they wont load. invalid content so the forum says

[bigrich]

300WM is a whole lot of rifle for a Tikka T3 Lite.

ya not kiddin' ! my 45-70 was a pussy to shoot compared to it

[JimTom]

300WM is a whole lot of rifle for a Tikka T3 Lite.

ya not kiddin' ! my 45-70 was a pussy to shoot compared to it

I have a Tikka T3 Lite in .223 which is an absolute gem. Being as light as it is I don’t think I go for one in anything over .243
That’s just me though.

[Kumaabear]

I see Tikka as the brand that mastered making affordable rifles that shoot like expensive rifles. They are affordable, reliable, have models to fit most peoples use and are very accurate.

But they just don't make we want to own one, they are a bit boring imo, and tho they are well engineered wherever it matters for function they do look/feel kinda cheap.

Brilliant rifles and if I was buying a bunch of rifles as a business acquisition Tikka would be at the head of the list, not so much for one of the 3 rifles to live in my safe.

[Bigjobss]

Your probably right Stix if I had a need for one like the goat scenario I might grow to like it, but I wouldnt be proud to own it
Plus as Ive mentioned in the past I am a devotee of the Safari Sling which is awesome for readyness and you barely feel the weight of the rifle, still suprises me they arent more popular.

Ive spoken to two people nos that swore off magnum calibres after buying T3 lites chambered in 300WM.

[Daddybang]

Well I am glad to hear that they are nice rifles, I wonder why they don't seem more popular in Aus.

Back in the eighties Olin produced Winnie's were pieces of sh@t and their reputation has not really recovered but anyone who owns a post Olin Winnie (I've got a USRAC mod 70 from the mid nineties) can tell ya they're good solid rifles

[SCJ429]

I see Tikka as the brand that mastered making affordable rifles that shoot like expensive rifles. They are affordable, reliable, have models to fit most peoples use and are very accurate.

But they just don't make we want to own one, they are a bit boring imo, and tho they are well engineered wherever it matters for function they do look/feel kinda cheap.

Brilliant rifles and if I was buying a bunch of rifles as a business acquisition Tikka would be at the head of the list, not so much for one of the 3 rifles to live in my safe.

I agree that the plastic stocks are not the most attractive thing but what company makes a plastic stock that is more appealing. If a chassis is your thing, Tikka make an acceptable one or you could get an aftermarket mainly laminated, stock.

I will accept boring if it is accurate. Remington, Winchester and Savage all make some boring rifles at the same price point. Unfortunately accuracy can be elusive for these rifles. What rifles did you settle on to fill your safe? I love my Ruger #1s but they have tried my patience to get some accuracy out of them.

[Kumaabear]

I really like the bell and Carlson stock, its a bonus that one comes from the factory on the Winchester.

I have a Lithgow La101 in 22WMR which is great for plinking and rabbits small stuff.

Next rifle I want will be the general use hunting rifle, leaning towards this Winchester at the moment just need to find one in stock to have a look at. Tossing up between 7mm-08 and .308 because I would like to go after deer next time in in Vic high country with the 4x4 camping and not have to worry about their .270 minimum on some deer.

I really want to go with 7mm-08 and get into reloading, it seems like a really nice cartridge. I do see that there is some factory ammo at least that would hold me over until I get into reloading, but I know the logical choice would be .308 for ammo availability and potential resale in future.

I have a nice Trijicon Accupoint 3-9 I got a great deal on to go on top whole setup should come out to ~3.6-3.7 Kg with the scope mounted and a strap.

- I reckon the 3rd slot in the safe will be a shotty but we will see (Yes I should have bought a bigger safe)