Winchester Model 70 Featherweight

18 August 2019, 04:54

Palladin8

Gents i'm looking at a new rifle. More specifically the Featherweight Model 70. I would be using this rifle for Western Deer/Antelope hunting.

The two calibers are what i'm having a hard time trying to decide upon. Either the 270 Win or the 25-06 Rem.

I am leaning heavily towards the 25-06 Rem as I have one already in a first generation Remington Sendero. It's a heavy rifle and I just don't enjoy carrying it when deer hunting. It has taken Mule Deer, Black Tail, one Elk and an Antelope. For the Elk and Black Tail I used Remington Extended Range 122gr factory loaded ammo. Not sure if they still load it. Was back in the mid 90s when I bought several boxes. Worked well on both of them. The Antelope was a Barnes 100gr XLC and the mulies were with Sierra 100gr Game Kings.

My experience with the 25-06 has been positive and it's why I look to keep the caliber just in a lighter weight rifle. The downside is(not huge) lack of factory ammo offerings. That is where the 270 Win comes in. There are all kinds of factory loadings and I just find myself having a hard time being able to sit down and reload. Between work and family my free time is far less than it used to be.

I have a 7mm Rem Mag that I use for Elk as my light rifle so I know it will do anything the 270 will do. It's just not what I want to use on Deer or Antelope again. I also have a 280AI but again it's more of a target rifle and not a lightweight hunting rifle.

What are your thoughts on these two calibers?

18 August 2019, 06:20

Sagebrush Burns

You will not go wrong with a Win M-70 fwt in 270. They are consistently good shooters. Also, the 270 is a much better choice in a 22" bbl than a 25-06 which needs a longer tube for best efficiency.

18 August 2019, 07:25

crshelton

well, ya can't have mine!

Besides it is old, made before 1964 and has been used a lot. Also a .308 which is only good out about 400 yards.

Seriously, a .223 is all that is needed for pronghorn and you can get lots of light weight choices in that caliber.
Or if you insist in really whacking one, a .243 will do fine.
Actually, I have taken several, some of them with big bore levers from 15 yards out to 110 yards and .264 Win Mag (overkill) and never had to take a shot over 150 yards.

Good luck and if you do find what you want in a Featherweight, just float the barrel, hone the trigger, install Magnaport (stop muzzle jump) and you will love it!

18 August 2019, 10:27

Lamar

if it's for antelope 25-06.[and whatever brand of 15$ ammo it shoots best is fine]
if it's for deer 270.
if your gonna chop the barrel down on the 270 just buy a 7X57.

18 August 2019, 11:38

carpetman1

I bought a 30-06 partly because the wide range of bullets. In reality for me that is a moot point. I would find it a nightmare having to re-zero the scope and remember which weight bullet I had it zeroed in for. So in practical use, I settle on one bullet weight. I don't know of anything a 25-06 will do that a .270 wont do better.

18 August 2019, 18:01

Blacktailer

You can't go wrong either way. I have a BACO 270 and it has become my go to rifle even over a couple of custom rigs.

18 August 2019, 22:04

Use Enough Gun

Winchester Featherweight 270 all the way.

18 August 2019, 22:54

Atkinson

The bottom line is the 270 is the better of the two for "power" end of story...The 25-06 is a good caliber for sure, but its not a .270 by any means. The 25/06 is an excellent Mule deer and antelope caliber, vary border line on elk whereas the 270 is an excellent elk cartridge but you have a 7 mag for elk. so either way you go will be satisfactory I suggest....

19 August 2019, 06:55

Palladin8

Thanks for all the insight and responses. I like many have all kinds of different calibers from 204 Ruger Up to the 375 Ruger. several of the rifles I have just don't get the blood flowing like some others do. Most of them are the plastic stocked variety. The ones I seem to shoot the most are the wood stocked guns like my CZs and Rugers. This is why I was thinking I needed to ad the Winchester to the collection.
Still waffling back and forth but I today I dropped by Bass Pro Shops and looked at the ammo isle and found about a dozen or more offerings in the 270 while only seeing about 4 or 5 offerings of the 25-06. This might push me closer to choosing the 270WCF.

19 August 2019, 17:20

zeeriverrat1

I think it would be hard to go wrong with that 270... I picked up a used M70 fwt in 7x57 a few years back and it has become one of my favorite rifles! It’s a joy to carry and shoot!

Z

19 August 2019, 17:54

cgbach

I have both. My Ruger #1B .25-06 has killed more of our big deer and antelope than all the rest of my rifles combined. It is not super accurate but with the right bullet ( Hornady 120 gr hp. >3000 fps) it is like a death ray. The .270 F.W. came later and has only been used to kill 1 deer and it also works. If I were going to use the rifle to go after bigger animals I would probably take the .270. And as I get older I find the Ruger to be awfully heavy.
C.G.B.

19 August 2019, 20:17

phurley5

If I were you I would look at the .270 WSM. I shoot four along with my grandsons. It is capable of throwing a 160 grain Nosler Partition at 2950 fps making your Deer rifle into an Elk rifle. I can also load a 130 grain Northfork to 3450 fps making it a bean field rifle as good as they get. It might pay to give the WSM a look. Good Shooting.

19 August 2019, 22:08

Seamaster

The 25=06 is ideal for deer and pronghorns. You said that you do not need an elk rifle so that should point to the 25 caliber as a reasonable choice.

My normal bullet for my 270 rifles is a 130 grain pill, while my 25-06 rifles shoot 100 and 110 grain bullets. The 25-06 is a bit faster and has a bit less recoil.

The good old 270 is a fine all-around cartridge, but for deer, pronghorns, etc. I believe the 25-06 is better.

21 August 2019, 14:58

vapodog

why not split the difference and get a .264 Win Mag.....

22 August 2019, 21:10

Lamar

or my next rifle the 6.5-06.
I'm having a hard time rushing into that one though since I'm still slowly working out the kinks in the 6.5X57.

23 August 2019, 00:40

BuffHunter63

The heavier 270 bullets might give you an advantage for antelope when the wind is blowing (very common on the plains).

I just bought a Win M70 Sporter in 270 and I love it.

Low recoil, MOA accuracy, great trigger, a ton of factory loads to choose from.

What is not to like?

BH63

23 August 2019, 21:59

Mike McGuire

270.

In my opinion any advantage the 6mm/06 and 25/06 have over a 270 it needs to be a very very accurate rifle on the heavier side.

25 August 2019, 22:50

Palladin8

I'm still undecided on which way to go.

Looking at the ammo on the shelves would make the strongest case for 270Win. For me though having 100s of pieces of brass for the 25-06 the bullets and the dies.
I know I can't go wrong with either one.

26 August 2019, 00:39

Mike McGuire

quote:
Originally posted by Palladin8:
I'm still undecided on which way to go.

Looking at the ammo on the shelves would make the strongest case for 270Win. For me though having 100s of pieces of brass for the 25-06 the bullets and the dies.
I know I can't go wrong with either one.

Since you already have a 25/06 in the Remington I think all those dies/bullets/brass would/might/posssibly/not sure

tip me in favour of getting a 25/06. However, I have some bias here in the sense I have always liked multiple rifles in the same calibre and one reason being a bullet or powder you buy, odds are high it will shoot one of then.

Though as a stand alone rifle my choice in the M70 Featherweight has always been and always would be the 270. Years ago I had a custom one done with metal work and fancy wood stock that was made as a copy of the Featherweight stock.

A set of dies, 100 cases and some bullets won't add much to the cost. I am sure most of us here have at one time or another bought a calibre on the basis of having dies etc. in stock and lived to regret it. Done it plenty of times.

26 August 2019, 01:51

eezridr

Dies are $35.00. 100 cases of 270 (win brass) is about $50.000.

26 August 2019, 02:11

Palladin8

quote:
Originally posted by eezridr:
Dies are $35.00. 100 cases of 270 (win brass) is about $50.000.

I prefer the Redding 3 Die Deluxe set so I won't be getting them for $35.00. The brass is cheap enough though.

26 August 2019, 02:54

Mike McGuire

Don't know if this helps or not.

I am 71 and been reloading since I was a 15. A gun nut.

in general, the calibres/rifles I have had where there has not been great happiness, have been calibres/rifles I have bought on some logical basis rather than just liking/wanting the calibre/rifle.

If a 25/06 is what you like and what you want then that is the one to get.

26 August 2019, 06:32

carpetman1

You have Cz's and the backwards safety. Why not get a .270 in CZ? Maybe switch to 100% backwards.

26 August 2019, 07:43

Palladin8

quote:
Originally posted by carpetman1:
You have Cz's and the backwards safety. Why not get a .270 in CZ? Maybe switch to 100% backwards.

I have always loved the looks and feel of the Winchester Featherweights. Never got around to buying one. The CZs are great guns and I love them but I have my sights on the Win 70.

26 August 2019, 15:32

Mike McGuire

quote:
Originally posted by Palladin8:
I have always loved the looks and feel of the Winchester Featherweights. Never got around to buying one. The CZs are great guns and I love them but I have my sights on the Win 70.

I have always had good accuracy from Featherweights, usually bedded and floated from front of action and both Pre 64s and Post 63s.

My guess is they have the barrel contour just right. Do you know every one of them I have either owned or been directly involved with has been a 270. In fat I have not even fired a Featherweight that was not a 270.

27 August 2019, 23:37

Atkinson

Bottom line is a 270 or 30-06 will handle anything in the US and they both have killed many grizzlys and even some brown bears, all that's required is a properly placed bullet..in your case sounds like the 270 or 25-06 would work out just fine.

28 August 2019, 07:52

Palladin8

Man to make matters worse my wife's friend brought over 7 boxes of 30-06 and asked if I wanted it. She offered it up free but I gave her $50.00 for them because I know she could use the cash.

So maybe a featherweight in 06? lol

01 September 2019, 00:48

Use Enough Gun

Damn, just buy one of each and get it over with!

01 September 2019, 05:04

Palladin8

Yeah I think if I buy one and enjoy it I may end up with more than one.

04 September 2019, 06:43

Atkinson

Will if push came to shove and you got all that o6 ammo, Id opt for the 30-06, its the most versatile caliber in the world, and will do anything the .270 or 25-06 will do and a lot more as a matter of fact..

I can't imagine a true hunter not owning at least one 30-06, its just un American..

05 September 2019, 21:47

carpetman1

quote:
Will if push came to shove and you got all that o6 ammo, Id opt for the 30-06, its the most versatile caliber in the world, and will do anything the .270 or 25-06 will do and a lot more as a matter of fact..

I suspect if Jack O'Connor's real thoughts on the matter were known, he'd agree with Ray on that. He touted and wrote about the .270 because nobody else was at the time. Having said that, of course he had to describe it as accurate, flat shooting, and deadly. Did I mention flat shooting? Well it does shoot flatter than a 30-06 past 500 yards, the 30-06 owns the first 500 though. (which is more important in a hunting situation?)

07 September 2019, 22:45

dogcat

I shoot a model 70 featherweight in .280 rem. I love it. Accurate and more accurate....

19 October 2019, 06:48

Atkinson

A lot with me would be the rifle itself, how it shot, condiditon and most of all is it a pre 64 mod. 70 or a post 64 in which case Id have to take the pre 64 in the .270 as its not available in 25-06.. I like both but the pre 64 would always be my choice, over caliber.

01 November 2019, 08:03

Palladin8

Well I actually flipped a coin and the 270Win won the toss. It's a sweet shooting rifle. Don't know why i've taken so long on buying a Model 70.

01 November 2019, 12:00

Sevastopol

quote:
Originally posted by Palladin8:
Gents i'm looking at a new rifle. More specifically the Featherweight Model 70. I would be using this rifle for Western Deer/Antelope hunting.

The two calibers are what i'm having a hard time trying to decide upon. Either the 270 Win or the 25-06 Rem.

I am leaning heavily towards the 25-06 Rem as I have one already in a first generation Remington Sendero. It's a heavy rifle and I just don't enjoy carrying it when deer hunting. It has taken Mule Deer, Black Tail, one Elk and an Antelope. For the Elk and Black Tail I used Remington Extended Range 122gr factory loaded ammo. Not sure if they still load it. Was back in the mid 90s when I bought several boxes. Worked well on both of them. The Antelope was a Barnes 100gr XLC and the mulies were with Sierra 100gr Game Kings.

My experience with the 25-06 has been positive and it's why I look to keep the caliber just in a lighter weight rifle. The downside is(not huge) lack of factory ammo offerings. That is where the 270 Win comes in. There are all kinds of factory loadings and I just find myself having a hard time being able to sit down and reload. Between work and family my free time is far less than it used to be.

I have a 7mm Rem Mag that I use for Elk as my light rifle so I know it will do anything the 270 will do. It's just not what I want to use on Deer or Antelope again. I also have a 280AI but again it's more of a target rifle and not a lightweight hunting rifle.

What are your thoughts on these two calibers?

Of those two options in a Featherweight with a 22" barrel, I'd go with a .30-06 or a .243. The 7 Mag and AI cover any advantages the .30-06 over the .243 when weight is not considered, so .243 it is.

01 November 2019, 21:39

Palladin8

quote:
Originally posted by Sevastopol:
quote:
Originally posted by Palladin8:
Gents i'm looking at a new rifle. More specifically the Featherweight Model 70. I would be using this rifle for Western Deer/Antelope hunting.

The two calibers are what i'm having a hard time trying to decide upon. Either the 270 Win or the 25-06 Rem.

I am leaning heavily towards the 25-06 Rem as I have one already in a first generation Remington Sendero. It's a heavy rifle and I just don't enjoy carrying it when deer hunting. It has taken Mule Deer, Black Tail, one Elk and an Antelope. For the Elk and Black Tail I used Remington Extended Range 122gr factory loaded ammo. Not sure if they still load it. Was back in the mid 90s when I bought several boxes. Worked well on both of them. The Antelope was a Barnes 100gr XLC and the mulies were with Sierra 100gr Game Kings.

My experience with the 25-06 has been positive and it's why I look to keep the caliber just in a lighter weight rifle. The downside is(not huge) lack of factory ammo offerings. That is where the 270 Win comes in. There are all kinds of factory loadings and I just find myself having a hard time being able to sit down and reload. Between work and family my free time is far less than it used to be.

I have a 7mm Rem Mag that I use for Elk as my light rifle so I know it will do anything the 270 will do. It's just not what I want to use on Deer or Antelope again. I also have a 280AI but again it's more of a target rifle and not a lightweight hunting rifle.

What are your thoughts on these two calibers?

Of those two options in a Featherweight with a 22" barrel, I'd go with a .30-06 or a .243. The 7 Mag and AI cover any advantages the .30-06 over the .243 when weight is not considered, so .243 it is.

I have two rifles chambered in .243. One a Remington 700 ADL with 24" barrel and the other a Ruger Hawkeye with a 22" barrel. Unfortunately the Ruger, which is mine doesn't care for heavier bullets. I won't shoot deer with the lighter weight bullets. At least not large Western Mule Deer.

02 November 2019, 12:31

Sevastopol

quote:
Originally posted by Palladin8:
quote:
Originally posted by Sevastopol:
quote:
Originally posted by Palladin8:
Gents i'm looking at a new rifle. More specifically the Featherweight Model 70. I would be using this rifle for Western Deer/Antelope hunting.

The two calibers are what i'm having a hard time trying to decide upon. Either the 270 Win or the 25-06 Rem.

I am leaning heavily towards the 25-06 Rem as I have one already in a first generation Remington Sendero. It's a heavy rifle and I just don't enjoy carrying it when deer hunting. It has taken Mule Deer, Black Tail, one Elk and an Antelope. For the Elk and Black Tail I used Remington Extended Range 122gr factory loaded ammo. Not sure if they still load it. Was back in the mid 90s when I bought several boxes. Worked well on both of them. The Antelope was a Barnes 100gr XLC and the mulies were with Sierra 100gr Game Kings.

My experience with the 25-06 has been positive and it's why I look to keep the caliber just in a lighter weight rifle. The downside is(not huge) lack of factory ammo offerings. That is where the 270 Win comes in. There are all kinds of factory loadings and I just find myself having a hard time being able to sit down and reload. Between work and family my free time is far less than it used to be.

I have a 7mm Rem Mag that I use for Elk as my light rifle so I know it will do anything the 270 will do. It's just not what I want to use on Deer or Antelope again. I also have a 280AI but again it's more of a target rifle and not a lightweight hunting rifle.

What are your thoughts on these two calibers?

Of those two options in a Featherweight with a 22" barrel, I'd go with a .30-06 or a .243. The 7 Mag and AI cover any advantages the .30-06 over the .243 when weight is not considered, so .243 it is.

I have two rifles chambered in .243. One a Remington 700 ADL with 24" barrel and the other a Ruger Hawkeye with a 22" barrel. Unfortunately the Ruger, which is mine doesn't care for heavier bullets. I won't shoot deer with the lighter weight bullets. At least not large Western Mule Deer.

What about .308W? It won't shoot the heavier bullets like the .30-06, but you shouldn't need them.

03 November 2019, 00:13

Lamar

you can cheat with that 243, and use a monometal in the 80-85gr weight area.

if I wasn't so close to completely burning out the barrel on mine I'd probably explore that option.

03 November 2019, 01:51

Palladin8

quote:
Originally posted by Sevastopol:
quote:
Originally posted by Palladin8:
quote:
Originally posted by Sevastopol:
quote:
Originally posted by Palladin8:
Gents i'm looking at a new rifle. More specifically the Featherweight Model 70. I would be using this rifle for Western Deer/Antelope hunting.

The two calibers are what i'm having a hard time trying to decide upon. Either the 270 Win or the 25-06 Rem.

I am leaning heavily towards the 25-06 Rem as I have one already in a first generation Remington Sendero. It's a heavy rifle and I just don't enjoy carrying it when deer hunting. It has taken Mule Deer, Black Tail, one Elk and an Antelope. For the Elk and Black Tail I used Remington Extended Range 122gr factory loaded ammo. Not sure if they still load it. Was back in the mid 90s when I bought several boxes. Worked well on both of them. The Antelope was a Barnes 100gr XLC and the mulies were with Sierra 100gr Game Kings.

My experience with the 25-06 has been positive and it's why I look to keep the caliber just in a lighter weight rifle. The downside is(not huge) lack of factory ammo offerings. That is where the 270 Win comes in. There are all kinds of factory loadings and I just find myself having a hard time being able to sit down and reload. Between work and family my free time is far less than it used to be.

I have a 7mm Rem Mag that I use for Elk as my light rifle so I know it will do anything the 270 will do. It's just not what I want to use on Deer or Antelope again. I also have a 280AI but again it's more of a target rifle and not a lightweight hunting rifle.

What are your thoughts on these two calibers?

Of those two options in a Featherweight with a 22" barrel, I'd go with a .30-06 or a .243. The 7 Mag and AI cover any advantages the .30-06 over the .243 when weight is not considered, so .243 it is.

I have two rifles chambered in .243. One a Remington 700 ADL with 24" barrel and the other a Ruger Hawkeye with a 22" barrel. Unfortunately the Ruger, which is mine doesn't care for heavier bullets. I won't shoot deer with the lighter weight bullets. At least not large Western Mule Deer.

What about .308W? It won't shoot the heavier bullets like the .30-06, but you shouldn't need them.

I bought the 270Win

03 November 2019, 02:13

Sevastopol

quote:
Originally posted by Palladin8:
quote:
Originally posted by Sevastopol:
quote:
Originally posted by Palladin8:
quote:
Originally posted by Sevastopol:
quote:
Originally posted by Palladin8:
Gents i'm looking at a new rifle. More specifically the Featherweight Model 70. I would be using this rifle for Western Deer/Antelope hunting.

The two calibers are what i'm having a hard time trying to decide upon. Either the 270 Win or the 25-06 Rem.

I am leaning heavily towards the 25-06 Rem as I have one already in a first generation Remington Sendero. It's a heavy rifle and I just don't enjoy carrying it when deer hunting. It has taken Mule Deer, Black Tail, one Elk and an Antelope. For the Elk and Black Tail I used Remington Extended Range 122gr factory loaded ammo. Not sure if they still load it. Was back in the mid 90s when I bought several boxes. Worked well on both of them. The Antelope was a Barnes 100gr XLC and the mulies were with Sierra 100gr Game Kings.

My experience with the 25-06 has been positive and it's why I look to keep the caliber just in a lighter weight rifle. The downside is(not huge) lack of factory ammo offerings. That is where the 270 Win comes in. There are all kinds of factory loadings and I just find myself having a hard time being able to sit down and reload. Between work and family my free time is far less than it used to be.

I have a 7mm Rem Mag that I use for Elk as my light rifle so I know it will do anything the 270 will do. It's just not what I want to use on Deer or Antelope again. I also have a 280AI but again it's more of a target rifle and not a lightweight hunting rifle.

What are your thoughts on these two calibers?

Of those two options in a Featherweight with a 22" barrel, I'd go with a .30-06 or a .243. The 7 Mag and AI cover any advantages the .30-06 over the .243 when weight is not considered, so .243 it is.

I have two rifles chambered in .243. One a Remington 700 ADL with 24" barrel and the other a Ruger Hawkeye with a 22" barrel. Unfortunately the Ruger, which is mine doesn't care for heavier bullets. I won't shoot deer with the lighter weight bullets. At least not large Western Mule Deer.

What about .308W? It won't shoot the heavier bullets like the .30-06, but you shouldn't need them.

I bought the 270Win

Congratulations! My uncle's favorite gun. New gun? Got some pictures?