because of debts caused by bringing out the WSSM's and WSM's. Lack of demand for them?

So there are to be no more new Model 94's or Model 70's. Thats what it says in the editorial of of Australian Shooter, March ed.

Must be much more to it than reported in the magazine. Wonder what the future holds for these Models?

Hope its not the end of the Model 70 being made anywhere.

The New Haven Winchester plant has been running at a loss for a while , and as its owned by Fabrique Nationale in Belgium the time has come to close an unprofitable branch of their business . No different to the stopping of motor vehicle makes or a national chainstore closing because of debt .

I would suggest that before long new Winchester rifles will be made somewhere in the world to suitable standards . China is the first place I would look , firearms made under licence.

The only things that last forever , aside from politicians , are death and taxes....

The quality of model 70's had dropped quite considerably over the last few years, and considering they put almost all there eggs in one basket (the WSSM's & WSM's) i am not at all surprised.
Winchester importers here in Australia would not import standard .223's and .243's because they wanted to push there WSSM's calibres, so shooters turned to other brands in droves. if this was replicated world wide, then the writing was definatly on the wall.

I think that the short magnums were a desparate attempt to stimulate sales in an attempt to save Winchester from what has happened. But they failed to realise that many shooters were not going to be drawn into the short magnum craze.

It will now be interesting to see if the short magnums survive or fade, as many other gun fads have in the past.

Whilst the WSSM's have been a sales failure everywhere the same can't be said of the WSM's .
Olin , Federal and other large corporates still manufacture WSM ammunition and several manufacturers are chambering rifles . I think there is little likelihood that they will fade into oblivion . This must be a disappointment to the traditionalists that can't bear the thought of hunting with any cartridge designed post WW11 but I think they'll have to whinge and criticise a bit longer .
I don't agree that the quality of model 70's has fallen in recent times . They are still comparable in build quality with other U.S. mass produced arms and are no worse than they have been since '64 (at least).
The current CRF action is an excellent basis for a high quality custom rifle , combining the best Mauser features with a good safety , trigger and modern metallurgy . Hands up anyone who wouldn't like Santa to bring them a custom rifle in .300 WSM by David Miller . Now , hands down those who aren't dickheads . No change .
Before you start flaming , that was an attempt at humour .

The New Haven plants closing is the cause of bad management that allowed a bad union to fester. They went bankrupt three times and are in chapter 11 bankruptcy now.

The USARC part owned by whoever owes the city of New Haven, CT 17 million in back taxes and keep in mind that the State of CT built them a new plant not long ago.

The WSMs sold over seven times the forecast.

If they had been selling standard cartridge guns they would have shipped them. It's just incompetant magagement.

They could not even produce a .22 any longer nor an autoloading shotgun.

Marlin is in the same city and is profitable.