Winchester Rifles

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TheBear

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Hi guys
Winchester doesnt seem to be big in the rifle business anymore, the last time i saw one at the range was years ago.
I always wanted to have a winchester just because the brand is legend..
So whats up with modern winchester rifles? Are they good?
Do they produce any weapons that are used by the military today? Maybe sniper rifles?
 
They were out of production from 2006-2008. FN bought the company several years back and could not get the quality they wanted from the 140 year old New Haven factroy and union employees. They shut the factory down and moved production to their modern factory in South Carolina.

They started production again in 2008, but have been a little slow getting rifles actually on shelves, and lots of the chamberings they show on their website are almost impossible to get.

I own one of the new FN produced Extreme Weather rifles in 308 and it is the best rifle I've ever owned. The new Winchesters are the best production rifle out there right now in my opinion.

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/category.asp?family=001C
 
Winchester is now owned by FN which makes the Win 70 out of SC, although, I think their line of Win 94's are made by Miroku. Word is that they're a high quality firearm.
 
I'm a huge Model 70 fan, I have several, post and pre '64s.

When the new FN Model 70 came out I had to take a look. Found one of the first that showed up in this area, a Featherweight Limited Edition in 270 Win. After fondling it in the store I had to have it.

Took it home and shot the crap out of it. I was highly impressed. I think the FN Model 70s are the best of the litter.

Mine is blued and in a wooden stock which is what Model 70s should be.

As a side note. The wood on the Featherweight I got is almost identical to the wood of my mid 90s Model 70 Featherweight in 257 Roberts.

When I look at a new Model 70 (or any factory rifle) I open the bolt, tilt it up and down and see how smoothly the bolt slides back and forth under it's own weight, with out binding. I also look at the metal to wood fit.

Also the trigger. The trigger on the FN Model 70 is a piece to behold, silky smooth and easily to adjust.

Can't tell you about the "extreme weather" versions, not something I want in a Model 70 but the Featherweight................its a true work of art.
 
My new Model 70 Sporter in .270 is my F-A-V-O-R-I-T-E rifle!

Beautiful wood, black/blued barrel with great finish, deep checkering, shoots AWESOME-like to pull it out of the safe just to "fondle it" lol

Love that gun
 
I have not owned any of the FN made model 70's....I have owned several of the New Haven made model 70's with controled feed actions....I still own two 300 mags..one a standard classic stainless..the other a classic featherweight stainless with boss.....They are quality rifles.....The FN guns give the appearance of less quality..but I suspect shoot just as good.....I think that they do make a sniper type rifle.....
 
the model 70's with the winchester name on them are good rifles from what I hear. They only use the Winchester name under license though. Also this is true of many things in America any more not just guns. For example your favorite foods and condiments are likely made by a company you have never even heard of.
 
I own one of the new FN produced Extreme Weather rifles in 308 and it is the best rifle I've ever owned. The new Winchesters are the best production rifle out there right now in my opinion.
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Really? I am assuming you are forgetting about Cooper, and Blaser?
 
triggers

Hey Kraigwy and other FN-70 owners.

When I read about Win 70's, there is always some mention of the trigger, its durabilty and simplicity, how easy to clean and inspect, etc.

The new FN trigger is a departure and similar to many modern designs, ...enclosed, complex, small parts etc. I have no doubt it gives good pulls, but doesn't the "new trigger" kind of rip the heart from the classic design?

I see the FN unit as complex and fragile....at least in comparison, am I wrong?
 
You guys sure stated a mouth full here., i do not know of anything still built entirely in the US anymore. somewhere deep,deep down in there will be an imported part or owned buy a foreign company somewhere. Thank you NAFTA and Bill Clinton for signing the bill into law.PUKE!!!
 
Really? I am assuming you are forgetting about Cooper, and Blaser?
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Nope, didn't forget them at all, would rather have the Winchester. When Cooper and Blaser offer CRF they will become a consideration
 
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When I read about Win 70's, there is always some mention of the trigger, its durabilty and simplicity, how easy to clean and inspect, etc.
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To be honest, I'd have preferred they kept the old style trigger. It was rugged, foolproof and simple. I don't really know why they changed, but suspect it is essier to get an acceptable trigger pull with the new style. I have a couple of the Classics, as well as a couple of the older poushfeeds. The triggers on those can be adjusted by a skilled person to be great, but were often unacceptable from the factory.

There is a lot of concern over enclosed triggers with the Remington trigger isssues. Most all other guns except Ruger also use enclosed triggers and only Remington has had any issues with this. The problem is not that the trigger is enclosed, but because of other design features. Until the Winchester triggers start causing problems I'm happy enough.

The new FN trigger is simply the best from the factory I've tried in years and can be user adjusted somewhat if the owner desires. While I like the old style trigger better, the overall quality and accuracy of the new guns is so much better than the older guns that it is more than an even tradeoff.
 
I hate that the New Haven Factory Closed, but am Glad that these Rifles are made in USA again.
They are Great Rifles, and I recomend them.:)
 
You guys sure stated a mouth full here., i do not know of anything still built entirely in the US anymore. somewhere deep,deep down in there will be an imported part or owned buy a foreign company somewhere. Thank you NAFTA and Bill Clinton for signing the bill into law.PUKE!!!
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well, we do live in a global society these days and unless you disavow the idea of free market enterprises then you might as well crawl under a rock. do you shop at Wal Mart? Target? I'd say the vast majority of retailers sell something that's made overseas. The reality is that product made in the USA is expensive, and from what I can tell consumers expect premium product at bargain prices. Ain't gonna happen.
 
Winchester quite making rifles years ago. Winchester is just a name that has been bought by global conglomerate. There will never be another rifle made in New Haven CT that era is long gone. The new rifles while being made in Japan and the USA with the Winchester logo on them are fine rifles, but they are not real Winchesters.
 
I could be wrong, but I believe FN's purchase contract required FN to wait at least one year before using the Winchester name on rifles built in FN's new plant in the US. (I vaguely recall reading that on TFL, but haven't searched it.)
 
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