Just wondering, before you decided it was a POS did you shoot it to see how it shot? I don't consider a 4# trigger all that bad but most my trigger's are set at 3#. For me 3# is perfect. I have a mod 70 Featherweight I got new in about 2006. came with a 5# trigger and was no problem at all to shoot. Shoot's right at 1" at 100yds and that is fine with me, hunting rifle! First Winchester I've ever had pretty much a round action fan, I know how to bed them! I have to Mossberg Patriot's I have not bedded. Never seen a rifle bedded as they are before and worry about messing up. But then in one I only shoot cast bullet's and the other, a 243, shoot's right at 1/2" and not one thing done to it. But before I condemned it to POS status I worked up a load and found one I liked. I think every manufacturer has their detractor's and with Winchester I suspect it's those that believe the pre 64 is the greatest there ever was, I doubt that but they were a good rifle. How they got God like status I haven't a clue! I suspect perhaps the OP's discontent might come from the rifle is built different that what he's used to. As for the trigger adjustment's not working, maybe some of the epoxy used seeped down into it. Most trigger's on new rifles I've ever seen have some kind of a glue on the adjustments, keeps them from moving on their own. My 700's it seem's have a small lock nut but seem's even they were locked in with some kind of glue. I can not imagine a company letting out a rifle with a trigger not well locked in, even if adjustable! Imagine if it should fail! It's claimed my Rem 700 trigger's are bad yet I have adjusted every one myself and have never had one fail me. I like my old Rem trigger's. Oh, I also found trying to set them under 3# is a fools mission. Then they are prone to fail! That Mod 70 above is a nice looking rifle and I would certainly have shoot it before fooling with it. Even the trigger I'd have checked with Winchester on before condemning it! 4# trigger would suit me just fine!
I will do the trigger later, for now I will level the scope and hopefully maybe get a chance to get some break-in shots in the next week or two if I can sneak away from another project.
I'm careful with Hodgdon data--my personal opinion is that they wander off into red-line territory very often with their maximum loads so I tend to take them with a grain of salt and stay under them, often I achieve their max velocity under their max charge.
I may have said I didn't like the blobs, rough inside finish and new fangdango modular trigger compared to an old model 70--but I NEVER said it was a POS!!
