Winchester (FN) Model 70 Sporter

 

Winchester Model 70 Sporter .30-06

Well, I finally bought myself a bolt-action, centerfire rifle. I’ve been drooling over pictures of Model 70′s and Remington Model 700′s since my pre-teen years! I finally pulled the trigger (so to speak) on a brand new Model 70 Sporter in .30-06 a couple of weeks ago.  I had looked at the local gun shops about a year ago, and couldn’t find anything with a nice wood stock.  I was told that most people around here want an accurate rifle for as little cash as possible, usually in the under $600 range.  Oh well, I guess I’m old school, but I like a nice, warm walnut stock.  Sure, if I could afford a safe full of guns, I could think of a couple of all-weather versions with a good synthetic stock, and maybe a stainless, fluted barrel that I would love to own.  But, realistically, this would probably be my only centerfire, bolt-action rifle at least until my daughter has graduated from college.  (She’s one now.)

I resumed my search a couple of months ago (after being inspired by The Wild Within TV show and the book The Scavenger’s Guide to Haute Cuisine by Steven Rinella) and was able to hold in my hands a Model 70 Featherweight at Bass Pro Shops in Manteca, CA.  (Only about 1 1/2 hours away)  I was pretty much set on a new Model 70 after reading all the reviews on it.  Seems the production on Model 70′s resumed at the FN plant in South Carolina in 2008 and the consensus is that FN builds a decent gun.  Sure, the diehards hate the new adjustable M.O.A trigger assembly, preferring the simplicity and reliability of the old triggers.  And yes, some of the rifle’s components are subcontracted out (like the stocks), but overall the fit and finish seem to be much improved over the units coming out of New Haven during the last years of production there.

Anyway, back to my search.  I was originally looking for a .270 Winchester in a medium weight rifle.  I didn’t want some 5 1/2 lb. mountain rifle that would leave my shoulder black and blue after shooting a box of shells at the range.  I finally found a new Sporter at the Gun Exchange in San Jose.  I was looking at a Featherweight and talking with the guys there, when the owner says, “We got a brand new Sporter in the back”.  He wasn’t kidding.  The box was still taped shut.  “You’re the first one to touch that gun,” he told me.  It was a .30-06, but it felt good and after thinking on it for a few days, I decided to buy it.  The idea of ordering one in .270 and not being able to examine it first didn’t sit well with me.  I figured the .30-06 may not be quite as flat-shooting, but it was more versatile.  Heck, I think it’s killed every kind of animal that walks this earth!  No, I wouldn’t feel too comfortable heading into the brush after a Cape Buffalo or Alaskan brown bear with one, but if lost in the bush and starving, I would be very confident in its ability to make a clean kill on anything, given a standing, broadside shot from about 100 yards away.  (Close enough for good energy and accuracy, but far enough not to maul me before I could get another shot away!)

So, I went back to The Gun Exchange, looked at it one more time, ran a dollar bill under the length of the barrel to make sure it was properly free-floating, and paid the man.  Then I had to wait 10 days for the Feds to make sure I was eligible to own said rifle.  During this time, I ordered a Burris Fullfield II 3×9 40mm scope with Ballistic-plex reticle, some Talley Lightweight one-piece ring/mounts and other assorted stuff I would need to own and use my new rifle. 

When the ten days were up, I went and picked up my new toy.  I cleaned it and admired it for a couple of days, mounted the scope and the next weekend I took it to the range.  This was the first time I’ve been to a public rifle range and although I managed to bring appropriate hearing and eye protection, I didn’t bring a sandbag (or a bag of kitty-litter, which is my plan for next time).  I started out at 50 yards and the first three shots produced a group of just about an inch.  So, at 50 yards that would be 2 MOA, but I was shooting off my nylon lunch pack and a folded up beach towel with a brand new rifle.  I was pretty happy with that.  I had three brands of ammo, all 150 grains that I tried while adjusting the zero on the scope.  Soon, I moved to the 100 yard range and my best group there was about 1 1/4 inches.  Seemed like this gun liked the Winchester Power-Points the best, but more research is needed with a better rest.

When I got home and began cleaning the gun, I soon noticed that my scope had slid forward in the rings.  It had gone from all the way back to all the way forward under the recoil of 21 rounds.  I’m wondering exactly how much this effected my point of impact.  Oh well, I cranked the screws down as hard as I dared and we will see the next time I get to the range.

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