New Model 70 Winchester Safari Grade Review. Anyone have one yet?
Are they any good?
TIA,
Duke

I have a 375 H&H. Mine, and the others I have seen, are great looking rifles, fit and finish are just fine. Very accurate, the new triggers are very good.

Two of the same faults as the old M70 Safaris have carried over to the new ones. The same barrel profile is used for all three calibers.
The 375's are plenty hefty, the 416's are a little lighter, and the 458's (when they get released) will be just right. The front sight is easily replaced with an NEC banded front sight for a better looking and much more durable unit. The factory rear sight works just fine with a new NEC banded front sight.

If the hot glue "bedding" for the recoil lug really bothers someone it is easily re-worked.

Hope this helps

My .375 placed three shots touching at 50 yards with the iron sights. For some reason the stock hit my cheek pretty hard when shooting from the Caldwell Leadsled. Not so bad from the sticks. I bought a Leupold 1.5 to 5 and Warn quick detach rings. I have not been able to find the bases. It requires .330 rear hole spacing and nobody has them.
I'm very pleased with the rifle so far. It looks good and functions smoothly. I'm planning another cape buffalo hunt next year and I believe this new Model 70 will go with me.

I have a .416, still in the box. I got it for an even $1000, if someone here wants it for that, let me know, and I will be happy to pass it on...

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Herald:
I have a .416, still in the box. I got it for an even $1000, if someone here wants it for that, let me know, and I will be happy to pass it on...

PM sent for pics.

I have one in .375 and I've shot a few others. They have all shot very, very well. I spoke to the guys at Hill Country Rifles and they say all the FN-built guns they're getting in shoot great.

I received my new m70 in .375hh in June after ordering right after SHOT show - liked it then and really like it now:

-excellent trigger
-better wood than I expected (but definitely field grade - better than the Shot Show demo)
-shoots 1" @100 yds with factory Federal Premium 300 TBBC's (off sticks, better off BR if I do my part)
- good finish and definitely "stout"

Using Leupold 1.5x5 on top with the leupy qd's -have not shot open sights

So far, really great value for the price which I recall was just under $1k (w/o scope of course).

Good field gun/shooter and at that price not worried about getting dings....... taking to Africa 2011.

Only about 35 rounds shot so far so will update if something changes........

best regards, mark

If they'd only make them in left handed.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
If they'd only make them in left handed.

I'll second that.. I would buy a new one in 416 as fast as I could hand the money over.

BS, isn't it...

I'm ordering a new one in .300 WSM to have customized by LeRoy Barry at Canyon Creek Custom Gunstocks in Darby, Montana. Can't wait!

R G Howard

quote:

For some reason the stock hit my cheek pretty hard when shooting from the Caldwell Leadsled.

How much lead are you using on your sled? I tried one and threw it away. I figure it is way to hard on the gun. If you use too much lead the sled doesn't give and the energy has nowhere to go but up in to your cheek.

LeRoy Barry does awesome work UEG! Thanks to you and Ryan for suggesting that I use LeRoy on my RSM .458 Lott that rifle is supper accurate and beautiful.

Just out of curiousity,if someone has a new or old 458,can you tell me how many lands does the bore have? I checked their sight and didn't see it listed there.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
If they'd only make them in left handed.

I managed to pick up one of the last ones they made in LH.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
Just out of curiousity,if someone has a new or old 458,can you tell me how many lands does the bore have? I checked their sight and didn't see it listed there.

The .458 is now in my hands. Along with the .375 and .416.
I can barely see at all so know idea on the lands and grooves.

quote:

Originally posted by Jorge400:

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
If they'd only make them in left handed.

I managed to pick up one of the last ones they made in LH.

Yeah, me, too. It's been a winner all the way.

Got the .416 and the .300 super grade. Both are outstanding.

quote:

How much lead are you using on your sled? I tried one and threw it away. I figure it is way to hard on the gun.

You'd prefer to expend that energy into your body, detachable retina and all?

I use two 25 lbs bags of shot on my lead sled and it still pushes it a little bit on the concrete bench. I still love the Lead Sled. They really are a great idea and help remove that human variable when working with handloads and high-recoil rifles.

I use 25 lbs with my 500 Jeffery shooting 570g TSX's at 2410 fps. It certainly helps a bunch, but the recoil does knock off my ear protection with each shot lol ... My shooting companions find this hilarioius ...

If any one has one I would like to know if it feeds the Barnes banded solid.On one side I hear that they are nearly impossible to get to feed and on the other I hear that Winchesters feed them without issues.Does Winchester have a secret? Are we being misled? I've brought this up before on AR and no one responded or seemed interested.

quote:

Originally posted by Wismon:

quote:

How much lead are you using on your sled? I tried one and threw it away. I figure it is way to hard on the gun.

You'd prefer to expend that energy into your body, detachable retina and all?

On the big guns, I use 100 lbs. No problems so far.

My Winchester Model 70 .325 WSM feeds Barnes Banded Solids without any problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
My Winchester Model 70 .325 WSM feeds Barnes Banded Solids without any problem.

I didn't know they made the for that caliber.I wonder why you would need them in a 325?

Shootaway,

The Safari Express is only available in .375 H&H, 416 RemMag, & 458 WinMag. Here is a link to the product page for the Safari Express:

Winchester Model 70 Safari Express

However, the Sporter, the Coyote Light, the Ultimate Shadow, the Featherweight, and the Extreme Weather SS are all made in 325 WSM.

Here is a link to the product page for all the various Model 70's:

Winchester Model 70 product page

I love looking at all these different variations of one of my favorite rifles. I'd love to have one of each in different calibers.

Yeah, those are the only ones I really care about too.

Alan,what I meant to say above was that I didn't think they made Barnes banded solids for the 325.I know they make Winchesters for various calibers.

I have Barnes Banded Solids specifically custom loaded by John LaSala for my .325 WSM from Safari Arms, Ltd located in New York, for shooting some of the smaller stuff with solids so as not to blow them to smithereens. Does that answer the question sufficiently?

Sorry, man! I thought you were asking about the Safari Express in 325 WSM.

Now that I have read it more closely, it is obvious what you meant. It is no wonder that long and involved posts are sometimes misunderstood on the Internet.

Hell, I can't even understand a single sentence.

Here's all three starting from the top.
.458 Winchester Magnum Leupold 1.5-5X Lighted Circle Dot 30MM
.416 Remington Magnum Leupold 3X9 European Duplex 30MM
.375 H&H Magnum 3X9 European Duplex 30MM
.270 Winchester 3X9 VariX II Duplex 1 inch

Somewhat off topic, but not really, well kinda...

Some years ago, Winchester made a Safari type 375 H&H and 458 Winmag with a drop box magazine.. For the life of me I cannot recall the model name.. Kinda like to keep an eye out for one.. maybe..

Thanks all..