I want to know of others' knowledge/experience with feeding in the Winchester Mod 70 CRF short action. I'm talking about the FN Patrol action that's basically a Winchester Mod 70 with the claw extractor and a 308 bolt face and magazine with a hinged floorplate. Two screw bottom metal.

Feeds good? or not? any glitches?

KB

Only experience I have with this rifle is fellow at local range shoots one as you describe and he likes it. I have shot it and it is pretty much a .75moa gun at ranges from 100-400yds from what I have witnessed, 5 shot groups. Owner is what I would call a casual bench shooter w/ bags and have not seen him shoot it from prone, sitting, etc. or off bench if you will. He has the scope set way back close to his eye and that would hamper any prone shooting.
There may well be some, but believe it is the only factory offering of CRF type action for this type of rifle??(believe CZUSA offers similar rifle with their action, but have neve seen one.) The trigger on the rifle was OK when I shot it, but it is not on the level of a Jewell. Claims it cleans well and has not had any trouble with copper build up. As for feeding from magazine it worked fine, but would say a Patrol Rifle, whatever that is, a detachable magazine would be preferred, but that is just me. Would think with FN having state of the art plant it would be a fine rifle for it's intended purpose.

I have a new Featherweight in 7mm-08. I've only had it a few months but no issues at all. Feeds great, nice fit and finish, great accuracy.

I have a classic action in 243 and it feeds flawlessly.

I've had two of the long actions for over 15 years. Never a problem with either.

My gun smith doesn't like them, because the extractor cut is a pain in the neck if you rebarrel, but that's not something you have to worry about very often.

Yesterday, I bought a NIB action FN patrol short action. I had been wanting one for a long time but had other stuff going on when they were readily available. I thought I would never see one for sale again, so I jumped on it and figured I would sort it out later, and if a mistake then most likely I could get my money back from resale.

Many years ago, I had an early short action Mod 70 with the claw extractor in 308. That darn thing would regularly jam the bullet tip in the extractor cutout. I struggled with it for about two years, and finally just got rid of it.

So, after a while memory fades, and I will try again with a fresh action. Hopefully they improved it.

I like the hinged floorplate and two-screw bottom metal, and over the years have tried to avoid hunting type rifles with DBM.

Now it's a question of what to chamber it in???

KB

quote:

Yesterday, I bought a NIB action FN patrol short action

I wouldn't hesitate to buy one....if the price was right. I'd actually like to have one.

I'm looking forward to giving it a good inspection.

For a long time, off and on, I considered a short action clone of the Rem 700, thinking maybe I could have made a highly accurate hunting rifle with it. I could just never bring myself to the right frame of mind with the 700.

By the time I add all the stuff on it that I consider essential, such as three position safety, and some steel bottom metal such as Williams, and a decent trigger, etc., it's still a 700 clone with the seperate recoil lug, push feed, and I would have a lot of money into it besides.

This action already is set up like I want it, with nothing extra to add except a barrel and stock. I figure the trigger can be adjusted or tuned to suit me. I like the integral recoil lug, and the three position safety. I'm pretty sure it can be made to out-shoot my capabilities.

I don't need no stinkin 700.

I also ordered one of these: http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/...DEL-70-p/999-035.htm

KB

i owned a model 70 (classis s/s) in 300wsm for a couple years. it never failed to cycle ammo, and was accurate enough to take 2 elk and 5-6 deer. i wouldn't hesitate to get a short action crf.

As soon as it comes in, I'll give it a good inspection. I've got a barrel here with the right threads, so I can at least get a pretty good idea if it will feed correctly. I will be really surprised if it doesn't.

That's really the only thing I'm concerned about, and that's only because I've seen one that was a mess. I never did follow up and find out if that bad one was just unusual or if it happened to others.

I have used several of the push feed short actions, and have only good things to say about them. IMO, they are a very enjoyable and useful action.

Right now, I'm thinking of a 260 Rem with a factory feather weight barrel contour. I've always fancied the 260, and this may be the perfect opportunity.

KB

I've got an FN Patrol Bolt Rifle in .308 Win, DBM, it feeds great from either the magazine or single- loading by just setting a round on top of the seated mag and closing bolt. Shot over a thousand rounds, 50-50 both ways, never a problem.

I've got 2 .300 WSM's in M70 classics, and a .270 WSM, .243 SA. All feed great from the magazine (non- detachable) but will not feed single- loaded rounds, won't jump the extractor over the rim (unless you compress the middle of the extractor to bow it at the rim).