I just bought a M70 Fwt in .270. What makes this a featherweight? Any difference in weight other than the nice stock?

On the newer models, nothing as far as I can tell except the stock is trimmer and has a shorter length of pull.

The barrel also has a different taper and is therefore lighter. Featherwieght barrels are all stamped as such.
Bill

I was looking at the short action featherweights compared to the sporters. The sporter has a longer length of pull. Winchesters web site gives the same weight for either the sporter or featherweight with the same size action. Hope this helps.

It's certainly not how much it weighs. My Featherweight in 7mm WSM outweighs my sporter and weighs the same as my synthetic Classic .375.

The bbl. contour is what makes a FWT., not the stock per say... the WSM's are featherweight in name only as they wear the magnum contour.

there is not so much difference any more but in the case of the pre 64s, there was more difference. For Example the standard pre 64 model 70 used a steel trigger guard and floorplate. When they started producing the Featherweight, I think it was 1953 or 55. They used a mostly aluminum trigger guard and floor plate. Added a trimmer stock and barrel,
And after awhile they even started drilling a small hole in the bolt knob to lighten things up even more. The classic model 70s all have the lighter trigger guard floor plate assembly,
witch makes them a little closer in weight. But the short action featherweights I have handeld,(not the classic compacts) have been real light and I have been tempted to buy a 7mm 08, a couple times. I hope who ever makes them after March will continue to do the featherweight stock as it is now.
Its to much to hope for probably ,but if FN were to build the barreld actions in Belgium, and stock them in the US. It could be the best model 70 ever ! tj3006

In the true featherweight rifles this picture will show the main difference. Notice the quick tapper in the barrel as it leaves the action. Also it's only .550" at the muzzle. This rifle is a 6.5X55 and weighs just a little less than 6 1/2lbs bare. I would bet the .308WIN would the lightest of the bunch and come in at just a little over 6lbs because of the short action and the larger bore of the barrel.

As said earlier, the WSM's aren't really featherweight's. They are just stuffed into FWT stocks.

Also, notice the beautiful inletting on this rifle . Think it had anything to do with why they went out of buisness?

Terry

The pre-64 standard rifle had a medium-weight, 24" barrel with a rear sight boss that was bigger around than the barrel proper, as well as steel bottom metal, buttplate, etc., and the stock was also rather beefy. When they brought out the FTYW, it had a slimmed-down 22" barrel, aluminum bottom metal, and buttplate. The stock was was also trimmer and lighter. The FTW weighed about 1.5 pounds less than the standard M70.

I do not know what the main differences are now, since there is no longer any rifle that really qualifies as a "standard" Model 70 any more.

quote:

The stock was was also trimmer and lighter.

The pre-64 FW stock with the low comb were not any trimmer than the standard stock. The high comb may have been slightly trimmer in the forend, but not from the lug back. Lighter, yes...

Does anyone know if winchester pre-sorted the stock blanks into FW and standards (for pre 64s), or is the only differnece the holes bored into the butt? I've heard the former...

as others have said, the barrel taper is the largest thing...

then it usually has a nicer shaped stock than a model70..

and in the case of the new ones, I rather like it

jeffe

I'll take the Miller designed stock any day over that abortion they put on the featherweights.

As has been stated here already, the only thing that makes those things a featherweight is that barrel contour.

Chuck

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Nelson:
I'll take the Miller designed stock any day over that abortion they put on the featherweights.

As has been stated here already, the only thing that makes those things a featherweight is that barrel contour.

Chuck

I like the Miller stock, but The whole gun (LT sporter) is a little heavy for my tatse.

Terry

Even in the newer rifles like the Sporter III, the barell is 24 inches. The Featherweight is 22 inches. I think (though I could be wrong)the standard Winchester barell has been 24 inches through the years, wear as Remington has been 22 inches (pre CDL) , but the Featherweight hsa been 22. I'l take the 24 inch.