I've been eyeballing a Winchester Featherweight for years. I finally decided to take the plunge and buy one in a caliber I've been eyeballing for years, the 7mm-08.

I'm very impressed with the rifle. I was really shocked at the quality of wood on a $750 rifle. The action is extremely smooth. The fit and finish is very nice. The trigger has zero creep but is a little heavy. It feels like 5 lbs to me even though they say it's 3.5 from the factory. I plan on lightening it a little.

The only negative I've seen so far is the safety is a little loud. I don't think I've ever had a rifle that made so much noise when disengaging the safety.

She did weigh a little more than advertised but I see that in every rifle I buy. She weighed in just a hair under 7lbs vs the 6lbs 12 oz that is advertised. Adding some Talley mounts recommended by Vapo and mounting a VXII 2x7, her final weight was 7lbs 12 oz. Not too bad.

Anyway, here are some pics. If anyone has some good advice on 7mm loads or bullets, please share. I just hope she shoots as good as she looks.

ENJOY! roger

Darn nice rifle.....darn nice chambering.....darn nice scope.....

quote:

If anyone has some good advice on 7mm loads or bullets,

I really like H-414 in the sub-.308 caliber cases and the 7-08 is no exception....

Add to it a 120 TTSX and go deer hunting....

I've never owned a 7-08 but this recipe works quite well in my 7X57 and the difference is near zero!

Another good thing.....now you have a constructive use for those .338 Federal cases.....just neck them down for your new rifle!

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Originally posted by vapodog:

Another good thing.....now you have a constructive use for those .338 Federal cases.....just neck them down for your new rifle!

Actually, for what and where I'll be hunting, my Swede and now 7mm-08 are pretty much ideal.

I've bought some 139 Interlocks, 150 Ballistic Tips and 160 Deepcurls to play with.

It will be fun to use the 338 Fed on a big hog. I'm betting a 200 Hot Cor will work just fine.

Hey Bwana, It will weigh less after you knock all the Rust off and the Termites get through with it.
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Nah man, that is indeed a fine looken rifle. Tried my best to buy one in 308Win when they were still made in YANKEE Land, but I never could find one that pleased me.

That 139gr Hornady is a good one, so is the Speer 130gr BTSP and 130gr Hot-Cor. Only thing that concerns some folks is how much of the Bullet Base is still in the Case, but you should be fine with the 139gr Hornady.

I agree with Vapo on the H414, it is one of the best Powders in my 7mm-08, but it likes just about anything.

It is one of the best Deer Cartridges ever made, with a good Bullet.

Good Hunting and clean 1-shot Kills.

Rl 15 and Varget work very well with 140gr bullets in the 7-08. Work up, but I found the sweet spot around 42 grains of Varget.

Very nice!

owned one for 20 shots. Took the barrel off and sold it to Sea Fire.
The first shots ---139 gr. psp. DP 85 ( similar to the 4350s) was great. roger

A friend of mine, bought several of those to sell in his gun shop, and the wood was nice on every one of them, that I looked at. Have fun with it.

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
Hey Bwana, It will weigh less after you knock all the Rust off and the Termites get through with it.

I never knew you were a stainless/synthetic man.

You might consider putting a little dab of RTV silicone on your bolt shroud or on the front side of your safety flag and that will dampen the click when you disengage your safety. Worked for me. Make sure all oils are off the metal when you apply the RTV (Just a little!)

I bought one in a Stainless/wood. It shots .6 groups with 140 grain accubonds behind 45 grains of IMR-4350 and a CCI LR primer. It shoots sweet and is a blast to shoot.

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
I never knew you were a stainless/synthetic man.

They really can't be beat for Hunting in the Swamps nor during, or right after, Rain. Hunted with the constantly Rusting Blue and Termite Food for a whole lot of years because that was all that was available.

Got the very first S&S 7mmRemMag I spotted in Charlotte and still have it. It has quite a reputation for things Dieing when it goes on a Hunt. I now have a good number of S&S rifles, revolvers and pistols. They are such a pleasure to take afield(for me) that it is difficult to relate to anyone who has not Hunted in the same conditions.

That said , the last few rifles I've brought home have been constantly Rusting Blue and Termite Food.

I feel sure you will really like the new M70 Winchester. The much higher Manufacturing and Assembly Quality is easily noticable if you ever had, handled or shot one of the rag P-64s, or anything inbetween. They are now everything they should have always been.

Congratulations on a lovely rifle in a great caliber. Mine is a Kimber Montana.

PM me with your email id & I can send you all my loads on a spreadsheet

Varget AR 2208) & H4350 (AR 2209) are the best powders for 140 to 160 gr bullets, along with VV N160 & N560 for heavier bullets. My rifle shoots Rem PSPCL 140 & 150 grs bullets as well as Barnes TSX 140 & 150s and Accubond 140 & 160s. I have been very impressed with accuracy and impact on game. have fun.

Mine loves Reloader 15 and 140 Nosler Accbonds. Really works on whitetails. Have fun!

You will love the 7-08

Mine likes Varget topped of with 140 grn Sierra GK's or Nosler Accubonds as of late.

Fantastic choice.. Love the 7-08!

I used to use plain old 145 gn Speers on Mulies and they always dropped on the spot. Virtualy any like sized slug you can get to shoot will do the job and with a 7-08, getting decent accuracy shouldnt be difficult.

Nice popper..

quote:

Originally posted by Wstrnhuntr:
Fantastic choice.. Love the 7-08!

I used to use plain old 145 gn Speers on Mulies and they always dropped on the spot. Virtualy any like sized slug you can get to shoot will do the job and with a 7-08, getting decent accuracy shouldnt be difficult.

Nice popper..

I like that, I just ordered some 145 Hot Cors. I'm starting to get infatuated with Hot Cors just when they are being phased out.

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:

The only negative I've seen so far is the safety is a little loud. I don't think I've ever had a rifle that made so much noise when disengaging the safety.

Congratulations on your new toy! I always had a weak spot for the M70 Featherweights.

About the safety, I have always found it was necessary to ease the M70 safeties forward with a two finger hold, if you wanted to release them quietly. I certainly never had one where I could just push it forward and expect the release to be without sound. YMMV...

- mike

Found some nice loads.

120 NBT, 46 gr R15, 3010 fps



160 Deepcurl, 44 gr MR2000, 2615 fps



Still playing around with 139 Interlock BT and the 145 Hot Cor for my mid weight bullet.

Also monkeyed with my Ruger 338 Federal.

200 Hot Cor, 53 MR2000, 2600 FPS



I also loaded the 200NBTs with 52 MR200 @ 2600 fps. I was surprised that they shot to the exact POI as the Hot Cors. Not sure which bullet is better. John Barsness swears the 200 NBT gives the same performance as the 210 NP. I'v also heard very good things about the hot cor.