The Rifle Market is Baffling

C

Clevinger

New member
I have been searching high and low for a Winchester Coyote Light in 308. As second choices I would consider CZ 550 Kevlar Varmint in 308 or a Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather in 308 or 30-06.

I can't find any of them. I have talked to multiple sources, and their distributors can't get them despite requests.

Last time I bought a rifle, a Winchester Model 70 Super Grade, it was insanely difficult too.

Traditionally shouldn't companies want to supply the product their customers want? Why does finding models that they list on their website have to be such a pain in the butt?

I can't think of a single other product I would buy that requires a long quest with little hope of success.
 
You can find an FFL to order one for you. An associate of mine ordered a MDL 70 , 300WM, 26", stainless, synthetic. It took over two years for him to receive his rifle, for which he had paid in advance. Best of luck!
 
shouldn't companies want to supply the product their customers want?
Click to expand...
They do, just that most people are not buying the top of the line models, most people buy the budget models and dream about the others. With that in mind, most dealers don't stock the top of the line models because their customers would never pay for them and they want to keep their inventory flowing.
 
Scorch nailed it. You won't have any trouble finding any of the budget guns.
Click to expand...

Isn't that the truth. When in my LGS their racks are lined with the $300-$500 rifles and there are no "nicer" grades anywhere to be found, unless it's on the used gun rack.
 
I'll say amen and join the chorus. At my local gun shop, the low end savages, ruger americans, and even tikkas are plentiful and selling. They have a .30-'06, remington 700 BDL which has sat on the shelf for at least a year that I know of.

"Clevenger" may have some trouble finding a CZ 550. I think that model is being replaced with the 557 for many model chamberings and configurations. To me, it looks like the CZ557 action is modified mauser, mechanically similar to the howa (although nothing wrong with that).
 
Try Kevin's in Tallahassee. They have quite a few high-end customers from the south Georgia/north Florida plantation crowd.
 
It's also, partly, supply and demand. Beginning of last year I bought a rem700, I knew which model I wanted (sps-v, 308). My LGS's all said they couldn't even get one from their distributors (all out). I found one on gunbroker, from a gun store in MS, bought it. When I called Remington to find out when it was made, I learned it had been manufactured and left the factory just 3 weeks before I purchased it! They're sellin' like hot cakes!!
 
Traditionally shouldn't companies want to supply the product their customers want?
Click to expand...

With today's prevalent "zero inventory" business model ..... unless you are willing to wait or pay a premium, or both, you are stuck with what the mass market is buying, and what they are buying is often influenced so much by Marketing hype that you are pretty much are limited by what they are "marketing".

Inventory that is not moving is money that is not "working".

If you want something different than 99% of the other customers, you might expect to have a 1% chance of finding what you want now, at the price and performance advertized ......
 
i may be wrong but in the sc plant fn can not keep up with production and they are going to be moving production to a plant in portugal. thats why when i found two model 70's yesterday a featherweight and the rmef sporter i layed them both away. cause if the model 70 is going to be no longer made in the states after 77 years then i would like to have a few of the last ones made here.

i asked my dealer if they could get me any winchester in .264 win mag and i was nicely told that the two i just took were the last of them until they start to come in from portugal.

three gun shops have told me that so i wonder if there is some truth to that
 
It drives me nuts, honestly. I'm in the market for a couple of Winchester Extreme Weather's and I can't find them anywhere. They're non-existant. Hopefully after the transition to Portugal they'll be available again in the marketplace. Also hopefully the quality will still be up to standard after the swap.
 
It drives me nuts, honestly. I'm in the market for a couple of Winchester Extreme Weather's and I can't find them anywhere. They're non-existant. Hopefully after the transition to Portugal they'll be available again in the marketplace. Also hopefully the quality will still be up to standard after the swap.
Click to expand...

I love Model 70s, and the ones out of South Carolina are high quality. It [torqued] me off that they might move production to Portugal, however.

I'm not strictly a "Buy American" guy. I respect companies like Sako and CZ that are foreign originally. Winchester, however, is kind of American icon...previously at least.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Buy American Whenever You Can

Porto Winchesters? The world must be ending. Their goes their reputation. Another bad decision to maximize profits. Well another rise in value of American made Winchesters. Get them while you can. Why not go back to New Haven, CT? That was a dumb question. Why not Texas? They would likely give some incentives for relocating there. Portugal? One less rifle for me to consider.
 
i don't think its that big of a deal. really for the history yes but we all must embrace change because it will happen regardless.

i would say that i would still buy Winchesters even though they are made elsewhere as long as they can continue with the kind of quality they are currently being made with.

it is a shame though that they are moving.

however i will be buying every american made model 70 i find
 
A 30 second search of gunbroker comes up with a few of the EW rifles in .30-06 and .308. They had a few Coyote's in .308 but they weren't the lights. Gallery of guns has the Coyote light rifle listed.
 
Taylorce1,

I follow the used gun sites like gunbroker but am wary of used rifles. I also find the prices for used guns ridiculous and would rather just buy new.
 
Last edited:
You can buy new rifles on Gunbroker but the 06 I was looking at has ended and wasn't relisted. GB isn't only for used rifles. Davidson's only sells new rifles, Lipsey's also has the EW .30-06 in stock new, Advantage trading post has a .308 EW new. The only one I found that is possibly used was a .308 EW in Post Falls ID at Cabela's and I wouldn't hesitate to get that one if it was the one you wanted.


Better yet buy a .308 Win in a M70 Ultimate Shadow and drop it in a High Tech, McMillan or Manners stock for only $100-200 more than the cost of an EW. You'll have a better handling stock than the clunky B&C stock they put on the EW. Plus you can be shooting your new rifle while waiting for the new stock to come in.
 
Last edited:
Not too long ago I got a FN that is identical to the Coyotee except the FN is pre 64. Paid $435 out the door for it. It was new and it was made in SC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top