Do you own a Win M70 made in 2006?

[Major Dave (retired)]

Rumor has it that just before Winchester stopped production in 2006, they were having quality control issues, particularly with Model 70's.

Well, I bought one, anyway, thinking that a "not so good M70 is better than no Model 70 at all".

The real point of this post is the question - "What problems, if any, does/did your 2006 (2005, 2004, etc.) Model 70 have?"

Mine is a left handed Featherweight Classic in 270 WSM chambering.

The only immediately obvious problem it had was that the stock was not inletted correctly around the bolt release lever. The gunsmith at the store where I bought it fixed that at no charge to me.

I had an aftermarket trigger installed in it for no particular reason except that I just wanted to be sure it was adjusted to 2 1/2 pounds ( to match my other centerfire rifles), and to ensure a good, crisp trigger break.

Other than that, my "late run" Model 70 seems to be fine. After 7 years of shooting it, I have no complaints.

If you own one from that era, I am curious as to your experience with "quality control issues".

Also, there may be some Forum readers who are currently thinking about buying a used M70 from the "late run era", who would like to know if they should avoid or embrace such a purchase.

What say you, as a word of advice? Buy it , or avoid it?

 

[Brotherbadger]

I guess it depends on what you plan to use it for. I have a later run M70(i'm not exact on the year, but i'd say 2000-2002 or so. I picked it up around 2006) and i love it. I don't shoot farther than 250 yards with it, but it puts the bullet exactly where i wanted every time. I don't care if it has tight groupings out to 500 yards(i hunt in WI/GA, my farthest possible shot is about 300), so it fits my purpose just fine.

Only issue i can find with it, is that the stock is kind of junky(i have the cheap black plastic stock). I plan on replacing that soon with a nice stock(if anybody has any suggestions, let me know).

I'd say if you find a good deal, pick it up.

 

[jmr40]

There is no clear line where it is easy to say that quality started to decline. Winchester brought out the "Classics" in 1992. Quality through the 90's and into the early 2000's is generally considered to be about as good as it gets. At some point after 2000 folks started noticing some minor imperfections, but generally nothing major. It seems that some of the last rifles made in 2006, shortly before closing, were let out the door without being properly inspected.

Even at that most of the rifles are just fine. It is just that the closer you get to the last rifle made, the greater the odds of finding one with problems. The best way to identify potential problems with the Classic rifles is with the SN. Generally if it is a 6 digit number it is old enough to probably be just fine. Later guns had a 7 digit number and should get a closer inspection. Once again most are fine, but that is the easiest way to tell a late production gun from the older ones.

I've read a handful of horror stories about some oval chambers and partially rifled barrels, but in my experience the issues are minor and easily corrected. They are small things that a proper inspection would have caught and they should have been corrected at the factory before being sold.

I think the issues with my 2006 made rifle are typical. For the most part it is just fine, but it has one minor issue that could be corrected. I just haven't gotten around to having it fixed. Modern CRF rifles are supposed to feed directly into the chamber without having the round come out of the magazine. Mine doesn't always do that. It is a 300 WSM and I'd prefer to be able to top off the magazine so it is 3+1. In order to get one more round into the chamber with a fully loaded mag I've learned that the round has to be setting on the bolt face just right in order for the bolt to close. I don't even think about it anymore and it takes about 1 second longer to load the rifle. But it should work right. It would be an easy fix for a gunsmith, I just haven't gotten it fixed. Those are the types of issues most run across with even the 2006 rifles.

 

[Unlicensed Dremel]

Well, good to hear that even at the "lowest point" (tail end of USRAC days), the quality didn't reach the dismal level - glad yours works great.