Model 70 Super Grade - Questions / Advice

[south_ridge]

All,

I have been lurking on this forum for years and finally decided to ask a question.

I have a couple of Model 70s produced since the move to South Carolina, and I like both of them (a Featherweight in .257 Roberts and an EW in .338 WM). I have always wanted a Super Grade, and am considering buying one in .270 Winchester. It has been several months since I handled a Super Grade so I need some help.

My questions are:
1) If you have a post-2008 Super Grade, do you like it? If so, why? If not, why not?
2) My understanding is that the bottom metal and pistol grip cap are both steel. Is this correct?
3) I spoke to a customer service rep today at Winchester, and he said that the forend cap was dyed wood. Is this correct?

Thanks,

SR

 

[az_imuth]

I picked up a SG in 30-06 in late 2010, so I'll try to answer your questions since no one else chimed in.

1. I love it. The fit and finish are magnificent, the action is smooth as silk and the wood has some really nice figure in it.

2. Bottom metal is steel, not certain about grip cap.

3. The CS rep at Winchester would probably know better than me. I've heard plastic, ebony, dyed wood, etc. Fact is that it looks great and the transition from the walnut to the cap is totally seamless.

I will also add that the rumor is Winchester is moving M70 production out of the country. If you want a SC, USA SG, then you might want to do it soon.

Best of luck to you!

 

[south_ridge]

That is a nice looking Super Grade. Thanks for the advice. How does yours shoot? Both of my 'FN Model 70s' shoot very well.

Winchester has confirmed that some portions of the assembly work are now being done in Portugal. That's unfortunate. But supposedly the bulk of the work is still done in SC. I believe the guns are stamped 'Made in USA - Assembled in Portugal'. I have no idea what the laws are that determine what you can say about where products are manufactured.

SR

 

[Mystro]

Lets face it....The Model 70 270 Winchester in a featherlight Super Grade is the epitome of the Rifleman's perfect rifle. The M70 made in SC is THE best version of the gun in its history. I came to this conclusion and so did my local gun shop that has been carrying the model 70 from the beginning. I have a Jack O'Connor Custom shop M70 and it is a very special gun but my comments also include the regular Super Grade. I have shot my JOC alot. It is by far THE best rifle I have ever handled. It is considerably nicer than any of my Sako rifles. Fit and finish is outstanding. My JOC is based on a feather weight barrel but the stock modeled after Jack's #2 rifle. I just put 40 rounds through it last night and was easily printing 1" groups at 200 yards and all in a featherweight barrel. Many bullets touching each other. My gun also doesnt seem to be picky with brands of ammo. Some a little better than others but all will shoot groups that will impress you. The best days of the Pre 64's are now. I think in 20 years we will look back on these guns and wonder why we didnt buy more.


Accuracy.......

 

[pilothunter]

MYSTRO, Beautiful rifle you have there. If I didn't already have a Jack O'Connor tribute rifle I created myself out of a '60 Featherweight in .270, I'd definitely look to one like yours. Thanks for the pics!

I am in the process of buying a rifle for a deserving servicemember and a "Wounded Warrior" hunt upcoming this January. I have pretty much decided on a M70 FW in .270 or '06 topped with a Leupold VX2 3-9x40. I like the bases you've chosen for you M70 and was wondering if you could tell me exactly what they are (brand & type). I'm trying to decide if I need two piece regular or the ones they call reversible.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Beretta686]

How's the recoil on those featherweights?

They sure are beautiful, but I can't imagine them being a pleasant gun to shoot more than a few rounds through.

 

[Mystro]

Here is what I did. I started out using a Docter 3-9 scope on my JOC. It gave me enough to slide the scope closer to my eyes. Its a great scope but my other gun needed a scope so it gave me the opportunity to buy new glass for my JOC. After many evaluations, I went with Leupold's new VX-6 3x18 with firedot. The VX6 has really set the bar higher in optics, it is outstanding. The eye relief is ridiculously long with the VX6 but I wanted to move the scope back a touch. The perfect set up in mounts were Leupold's reverse front base in medium height 30mm rings.

 

[Mystro]

Recoil is very low. I shot 40 rounds last night and would have shot more but I ran out of ammo. I was still shooting great groups at the end so I was not fatigued. The M70 comb stock is great at reducing felt recoil. All the M70s are also coming with a great recoil pad from Pachmayr. Long gone are the old hard hockey puck hard rubber pads.


If I didnt have my JOC....I would RUN out and get a SC Model 70 Featherweight Grade III in 270. In a world of plastic stock guns, Winchester has a select grade of premium wood for their better guns that is heads above the rest of the industry. I would call it furniture grade but its alot better than that. Its gonna be the one to own if you can find one. Tell your wife its a sound investment.
http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=001C&mid=535154

How's the recoil on those featherweights?

 

[pilothunter]

MYSTRO, Thanks for the info on the bases & rings. Here's a couple shots of my JOC "tribute", a 1960 Featherweight made in the custom shop and topped with a 4X Burris, since Jack used a straight 4X for most all of his hunting. The rifle is surprisingly accurate, having given me 3 shot groups of well under 1/2" with that 4X scope. Not half bad for a 56 yr old rifle.

Thanks again for the info!

 

[Mystro]

Outstanding....

 

[south_ridge]

I really need somebody to chime in and say that these rifles are a piece of junk. It would save me some money.

But I know better...

SR

 

[Mystro]

Quality is always quality. Pay for it up front or pay later with money and aggravation. You will actually be saving money in the long run.

The $600 man.

Or