Model 70 Supergrade

[kolar55]

I've been looking at a Model 70 Super grade in 7-08. It is a brand new gun made in South Carolina. Workmanship looks pretty good. Does anyone have any experience with these new Winchesters? How well do they shoot? Past experiences with the post '64 model 70's has been mixed-some good and most not so good. Thanks Lonnie

 

[SmokinJoe]

Would recommend that you borescope it, preferably before buying. Have seen chambers on a couple SS models that had problems and a CM model that had light pitting, but it shot great & doesn't foul (go figure, huh?). For the most part FNH is doing a great job on these, and of course they stand behind them if there is a problem (through Browning). The 2 hunting rifles I have settled on are a SPR with a new Bartlein 5R SS med palma barrel & a PBR w/20" barrel, both with DBM.

 

[CatShooter]

I've been looking at a Model 70 Super grade in 7-08. It is a brand new gun made in South Carolina. Workmanship looks pretty good. Does anyone have any experience with these new Winchesters? How well do they shoot? Past experiences with the post '64 model 70's has been mixed-some good and most not so good. Thanks Lonnie

I have one from South Carolina... a M-70 Featherweight in 30-06.

Yummy piece of wood, it is well fitted, shoots very well, and is a class act all around.

Nice change in the South Carolina M-70s is that the claw extractor has been changed so it will jump over the case rim, meaning that you can just drop a round in the receiver and close the bolt, just like a push feed - it will feed empty cases too.

Winchester guarantees less than 1", three shot groups with quality ammunition. Mine does that with 5 shot groups.

I would not part with it for any of the earlier versions.

 

[kolar55]

Wow Catshooter' is that a factory stock? The wood on the super grade isn't even that fancy. I do like the slightly heavier barrel on the Supergrade.

 

[CatShooter]

Wow Catshooter' is that a factory stock? The wood on the super grade isn't even that fancy. I do like the slightly heavier barrel on the Supergrade.

Yup... factory stock. I didn't want a feather weight '06, but I am a pushover for beautiful wood. I shoot 125gr bullets in it, so it doesn't beat the crap out of me.

If you get that Super Grade, you will be a happy puppy...

 

[jonbearman]

Catshooter can you post a pic or two of the rest of the rifle?

 

[CatShooter]

Catshooter can you post a pic or two of the rest of the rifle?

The scope is a Gen 1 Springfield 4.5x14 (built by Hakko) with a built in bubble level and FFP rangefinder... I see it, it is ranged, and it is over in less time than it took to type this. It is literally, point and shoot!

The rangefinder matches a .300 BC bullet at 3,000 fps.

So I load Nosler 125 BT's at 2840, and Speer 125 TNTs at 2,900,, and they track dead on to 700 yards.

It is my coyote rifle.

 

[kolar55]

That is one beautiful rifle. I've always like the lines of the Featherweight stock but they are a bit light for my liking. By the way I went and bought the Super grade. Packer/Lion game is interfering with scope mounting. It will wear a Leupold 4.5-14x40 AO.

 

[CatShooter]

That is one beautiful rifle. I've always like the lines of the Featherweight stock but they are a bit light for my liking. By the way I went and bought the Super grade. Packer/Lion game is interfering with scope mounting. It will wear a Leupold 4.5-14x40 AO.

It isn't really yours until you post pictures!!

 

[kolar55]

I'll see what I can do.

 

[dryhumor]

I recently picked up a 7mm08 Ultimate Shadow made in Portugal. Fit and finish on the metalwork is very nice. The MOA trigger is surprising nice, steady pull then breaks like glass. I haven't measured it, but it seems around 3-3.5 lbs.

The only issue I had was that there was no release agent on the bedding glue they used. Not to worry, it broke before anything else did, and I got it out of the stock. I had a 2005 wood FW stock on hand; it is in it now, I still need to bed and even the barrel channel on it.

All I've done, is some barrel break in. It fouls still, and has about 60 rounds through it. I'll run another 40 or 50 through it and probably call it good for a factory barrel. Not what I would call a real accuracy load, but 46gr of RE19, and 139gr Hornady SSTs were giving me OK groups. Seemed to shoot loose for 4-6 rounds (clean), then tighten for 8-10, then loosen up again. Hence me willing to shoot it in some more.

It seems to be a keeper though...

 

[jonbearman]

Catshooter that is really beautiful wood. I am drooling all over the place.

 

[kolar55]

Well here are a few pics of my BRAND NEW IN THE BOX model 70 SUPER GRADE!!!!!!! Nice. Really nice! No wonder it's been 25 tears since I owned a Winchester. Those blotches are all over the bore for the full length. I WILL be on the horn tomorrow morning with them.

 

[CatShooter]

Have you cleaned it first??

What scope is that??

 

[Syncrowave]

Beautiful piece of wood, or what there is of it.

It infuriates me to no end that these gun makers insist upon saving $5 on wood on a $1000+ rifle by putting those infernal, shirt-catching, shot-spoiling, deer-missing, dry-rot-prone, FUGLY recoil pads on their butts ... it's a deal-breaker for me.

 

[CatShooter]

Beautiful piece of wood, or what there is of it.

Huh?? "..or what there is of it"?? What does that mean?

It infuriates me to no end that these gun makers insist upon saving $5 on wood on a $1000+ rifle by putting those infernal, shirt-catching, shot-spoiling, deer-missing, dry-rot-prone, FUGLY recoil pads on their butts ... it's a deal-breaker for me.

There are a lot of folks (and I am one of them) who are not thrilled by the recoil of a 180 grain load from a 30-06, in a 6+ pound rifle.

I have recoil pads that are 35+ years old, and they are fine - just take care of them - or replace them with something you like.

Or you could only buy $1,000 rifles with fitted steel Neidner butt plates, but then they would be $1,400 rifles

 

[kolar55]

Yea Cat, I cleaned it-that's how I noticed the blotches. It didn't feel real smooth even after a bit of J-B. So then I scoped it and saw this. I haven't even fired it. I just got off the phone with Winchester and a pre paid shipping label should be in the inbox now.

 

[CatShooter]

Yea Cat, I cleaned it-that's how I noticed the blotches. It didn't feel real smooth even after a bit of J-B. So then I scoped it and saw this. I haven't even fired it. I just got off the phone with Winchester and a pre paid shipping label should be in the inbox now.

That is not typical... for any manufacturer.

What company is the bore scope from - I need another one
(Rule #27, never lend your bore scope to someone who is in a bad marriage... they will take it when they get kicked out and move across the country! )

 

[FryeGuy]

I hope you have good luck with it. I have had mixed experiences with new Winchesters. I had a sporter version in a .264win mag. it shot okay 1" or so 3 shots, but the speeds were not there. It was only shooting 200fps or so faster than my 6.5creed, but it took WAY more powder. and it recoiled a bunch. So I traded it in on a 7x57 in the featherweight that they made last year or year before. I gave up on it pretty quickly. it fouled like crazy, didn't shoot worth a crap. I was having a great day if I got a 1 1/2" group with it. I tried everything with it. I didn't see the point in keeping it around. it's gone. my father in law bought a featherweight in the .257 Roberts they put out 3 years ago, and it shot everything I tried in it under an inch easy, and didn't copper foul at all. so he bought another featherweight in a .264 win mag (it's his favorite caliber), and it shoots well too. So he has great luck with Winchesters, and I have bad luck. I told him I was no longer going to find loads for his guns.

 

[Syncrowave]

Beautiful piece of wood, or what there is of it.

Huh?? "..or what there is of it"?? What does that mean?

Looks like they shortchanged you about an inch or so of walnut. My Model 70A from the '70s came with the full alottment, even though it was their "cheaper" model...

There are a lot of folks (and I am one of them) who are not thrilled by the recoil of a 180 grain load from a 30-06, in a 6+ pound rifle.

I shoot my deer rifle only once or twice a season, whether it needs it or not, and I can live with it, I guess.