I have added another Winchester Model 70 to the stable, a Classic Safari Express in 416 Rem. Mag., walnut and blue.

This one has the negative drop stock and the new magazine follower and rail configuration that the New Haven, Connecticut folks have decided upon.

I think it works great right out of the box. Mine wasn't made on Monday morning or Friday afternoon, apparently. Lucky me.

I used six rounds of Federal factory loads to zero in my iron sights on the snowy range in Cordova Alaska. The TBBC 400 grainers are supposed to be going 2400 fps.

This stock allows me to use the iron sights just fine, and it really makes the rifle seem gentle. I guess my face is not so fat after all, and I will be able to shoot this pussycat even into my most feeble and decrepit twilight years.

The sight base holes are spot on. The windage was perfect out to 200 yards with the mid position setting on the rear sight. The big white bead allows me to shoot a 1.5" three shot group at 100 yards when I take a fine bead with the iron sights. One elevation adjustment was all it took to get it shooting where I wanted it to.

The stock wood is nothing to write home about, but this is a fine and functional rifle. I will pillar bed it and adjust the trigger and 8X40 the scope base holes. Then it will hold it's own against any nostalgia piece.

If there is a truly "Classy" factory rifle, this is it, and a real bargain to boot. That's the 416 Rem. Mag. Winner M-70 Classic Safari Express of current production.

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RAB

Good for you. It's always nice to hear that someone added a new tool to the collection.

DaveC,
Thank you for the excuse to say it again, the Winchester M70 416 Rem. Mag. Classic Safari Express is a "Modern Classic," to borrow a phrase from ALF. It is a nice tool for sure.

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RAB

There must be a fever, I just bought one too. I have yet to shoot it, just now gathering up the components. If anyone out there has a favorite .416 Rem load, I would give it a try. Good shooting.

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DaggaRon;

How much does it weigh? The actual weight, to the nearest ounce, if known.

phurley:

DonG is the 416 Rem wizard. I'd bug him for loads.

Yup, those are great rifles. I have beaten the crap out of mine from Zimbabwe to the Yukon!

Regards,

JohnTheGreek

Phurley,

The most forgiving bullet I tried was the GS Custom 380 grain FN. I got great results with it at all velocities, including repeatable sub .5 MOA groups at 2450 fps. I used WLR primers, Rem cases and some Surplus "IMR4895".

The 400 gr Hornady RNSP shot just about as well. The PHs I've talked to think the Hornady is a decent soft point bullet if kept below 2500 fps (no worries there in a Rem.)

Although it is not one of my favorite powders, D'Arcy Echols says Varget is the powder that works best in more rifles than any other, and he's tried a bunch of 'em.

The other favorites that I have not tried are RL-15 powder and Woodleigh bullets.

The caliber just does not seem too picky about the loads.

Don

I couldn't agree with you more. Mine did have a rear sight problem but I wanted a ghost ring so I just removed it (actually had to mill the screw out). It just perturbed me for a few days. I also mounted a 1.5-5 Leupold LPS in talley mounts and she shoots great. No problems with the feeding but I'll test that out a little better this summer. All I generally use are my M70s. Most of the others are farmed out to the boys or taking up room in the safe.

Congrats!

Don G and Will -- Thanks for your help, I will need it. I am starting to get that warm glow in my stomach that always preceeds a new reloading project for a new rifle. It always helps to hear the experience of others who have been there and done that. Good shooting.

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Will,
On a certified commercial scale in Cordova, Alaska, it weighs 9.07 pounds, or 9 lbs. 1 ounce, out of the box.

Alf,
Maybe I can quit now. You said it all. What other rifle could a fellow need?

And to all others similarly afflicted as me:
Good Choice!

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RAB

DaggaRon,

Just wondering, from down here in the "banana belt", is the road open out to the Million Dollar Bridge?

Your mentioning of Cordova, has inspired me to post another question about that area.

Thanks...

oh yeah, nice rifle

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Brian

Brian,
About a month ago I made it out to 27 mile on 4-wheelers with Butch Gortsema (22 years USCG), you may know him.

Last week, one of Butch's friends made it out to 38 or 39 mile before bogging down and turning back. Snow is deep and drifted by the howling winds out there, another world.

It could be done with a snow machine now I reckon, but I still haven't made it out to Child's Glacier. One of these days ...

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RAB

Brian,
I forgot to add that Butch also took me out in his boat, from Cordova to Simpson Bay then around Hawkins Island to Hinchinbrook Island where the airman shot the big bear last fall, the "internet bear."

That 19 foot jet boat (350 cubic inches of inboard) is a real honey for getting around Prince William Sound and the rivers. I am hoping for a real white knuckle river ride some day. I will be in Kentucky for two weeks, then back to Cordova for a little while longer.

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RAB

Don't know Butch. But I think we both know Mike Hicks. He's got a place on the Eyak river.

Spent many a flight hour slinging stuff (via helo) down to the lighthouse on the end of Hitchinbrook Island.

For anyone else reading this, who may care, Hitchinbrook light is probably the first navigation aid, which oil tankers heading into Valdez use, as they enter Prince William Sound.

Big deal, I know...

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Brian

Ron,

Drop me a line when you're heading through, I might actually be in town. The downside is, I sent my 35 whelen ackley to John Ricks to be re-chambered as a 350 Rigby, and he's still working on the 500 Jeffrey, so I don't really have anything interesting to shoot.

I did finall slap an old weaver steel tube K6 w/ post reticle on the 96 swede which I'm anxious to shoot, and I also have a variety of loads for the 480 pistola.

Brian,
Copy that. Butch is on the nautical side of the USCG and you are on the aeronautical side, eh? You have some scenic duty flying out of Sitka.

Paul,
I will beat it over to the Outdoors Show in Anchorage this Sunday during my layover in town. Hope they are still open for a few hours when I get there. I will use your email address in the above post.

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RAB