I found a rifle today called a winchester europe classic in 7mm magnum.Is this a new rifle or old rifle?The fellow at the shop said it was only sold in europe.he didnt know anything else about it.It had a express type rear sight with fibre optic front bead.Nice rifle,he wanted 900.00 for it out the door.Does this price seem right for a classic and not a supergrade rifle?What other calibers are offered by winchester in this style?I didnt get to see where they are made.USA?Japan?The recoil pad was super thin for a magnum rifle.Thanks for any info!

Quite a few of the US (or Japanese) rifles are sold in Europe in configurations, which are probably seldomly seen in the States. One of the more prominent features is often an "express" type rear sight - sort of like a ventilated quarter rib, which acts as rear sight for its entire length. I tried to find a picture on the Web, but thus far without result.

In France (at least) these models are often designated with the French word for "driven hunt": battue. I think I have seen this configuration at least with Rem M700s, Win M70s and Browning A-Bolts.

Sometimes, you also see hogs-back stocks on US and Japanese guns. I guess part of that, is that the more prominent drop of that stock makes it easier to use irons.

Thin recoil pads are common on European guns, it is rare we see a 1" pad over here (except on US guns).

- mike

Ah, here is a picture that illustrates the "battue" style I was talking about in my previous post. It happens to be a CZ, and the pic is a bit small, but hopefully it will give you an idea. In particular the rear sight is typical of this configuration.



- mike

Thanks Mike! I think this is interesting.I wonder who i could buy a europe classic from here in the USA without having to go to europe.A 30-06 would be nice.I wonder are they chambered in metric calibers as well?9.3x74 would be a hoot!If its made in japan i wouldnt bother.....i sure would like to see some other factory rifles that are made in europe,a hogback remington sounds wild.
Anyway you just dont never know what you find in a gunshop on the used rack! Cheers

Thats what it looked like!
I would have to change the front bead on mine though,i just hate plastic and the more traditional gold bead or ivory would suit me just fine.I do have to say the red optic bead really stood out like a neon sign,would really be quick in a dark spot.i just refuse to change on some stuff and hunt pretty hard so i can live without fibre optics........Its a cool rifle,i liked it....Thanks Mike!

No one on AR knows anything about this rifle?Well i be dumfuzzled!! It must be awful scarce in the USA.......I figure some of you hunters would have one or at least seen one somewhere.........

Blackbearhunter, I have little idea where the various manufacturers get their "European" models built. Are they built in the US, or are the barreled actions sent off to some manufacturer in Europe, who then stocks them and puts on the non-US sights?? If it was me, I'd try to contact either Remington or USRAC and try to get the low down.

Calibers: I don't think you'll find a rifle like this chambered in 9.3x74R. Being a rimmed cartridge (thus the R in the caliber designation), the 9.3x74R will be used in break-top guns or (less commonly) in falling block type single shot rifles.

If these rifles are exclusively made for the French market (which I believe they are not, as I occasionally see them offered for sale here in Switzerland), then the .30-06 might be problem. The French gunlaws do not allow military calibers, so the good old '06 is outlawed in France, but the .300 Win Mag is not - go figure...

One of the "best" calibers for a gun intended for driven hunts would be the 9.3x62. I would not be at all surprised, if that was a commonly used chambering in these rifles.

- mike

I recall Sako making short-barreled "Battue" models. You see them for sale occasionally. Remington marketed a 700 BDL "European" several years ago. All it had different was an oil finished stock. I'm sure it was made in the same factory as the regular 700's.

CDNN had those for sale for around $800 last year so $900 is about right for retail. Whether they are worth it depends on if you like it 900 times one dollar. Its up to you. Actual resale or collector's appreciation is a total crap shoot as this style rifle is not well known in the USA. AS for manufacturing, I have no idea but FN uses Mod 70 parts in a lot of their guns so I wouldn't be surprised if the bells and whistles are added in Belgium.

I saw this rifle advertised at CDNN also - in fact they may still have them. IIRC it has a 22" barrel which struck me as an odd configuration for a 7 mag. CDNN buys a lot of slow-movers from Browning/Winchester/FN and I can see why this one would be a slow-mover. A 30-06 or 9.3 in this model would be more interesting to me.