Ruger M77 Stainless vs Mod 70 Extreme Weather which?

dvdcrr

New member
Which one would you choose and why:
Ruger Hawkeye 25-06 stainless matte 24" barrel @ $675
OR
Winchester model 70 extreme weather 25-06 fluted stainless 22" barrel @ $1095. Factory bell and carlson stock.
Which do you think would be a better hunting buddy. Winchester is marked made in USA, and noticeably lighter. But also much more expensive. I wonder if there would be a noticeable difference in accuracy.
 
I'm a winchester kind of guy but whichever feels better to you. I love the xtreme in 264. Next best feeling hunting rifle in my hands next to the featherweight classic.
 
NORMALLY, I'd say that I have a slight preference for Winchester with Ruger being a close #2. When you factor in the price difference I might normally advise the Ruger, especially in another caliber. I've had several of those rifles in the past in various calibers and all were solid guns. I currently have mostly Winchesters. My only Rugers are the new Americans.

But for some reason Ruger chooses to use a longer, much thicker barrel on their 25-06 than most other rifles. Even their 7 mags use a thinner barrel contour. the 25-06 uses the same barrel contour they use on 300 Mag and larger rifles. This just makes a rifle heavier and more cumbersome than it needs to be. Especially in 25-06.

For me, it'd be worth the cost to get the Winchester. But for someone wanting a heavy barreled rifle with a little more length the Ruger is a very nice rifle.

I still think the Winchester is likely to be a tad more accurate even with the thinner barrel contour. I have one of the EW's in 308 set in a McMillan Edge stock that has become my go-to rifle.
 
I like my EW but only after I changed out the stock, the original B&C stock just felt like a club in my hands. I don't own a Ruger only because I've never liked the weight of Rugers and how most balance but I've not handled a .25-06, they seem to be heavier toward the butt stock and I like a neutral or muzzle heavy feel. I've not seen where any new production Ruger or Winchesters are more accurate than the other.
 
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