Feeding of WSM in M70

27 November 2003, 11:39

How reliable is the feeding and extraction of the various WSM calibers in the Model 70 Classics?

I'm considering either a WSM or a 30-06 and will choose the 30-06 if it has significantly better reliability.

Thank you for any feedback.

David

27 November 2003, 12:06

wallyw

I've built WSM on both Winchester Shadow CR/PF and Howa actions. No feeding problems.

27 November 2003, 12:07

triggerguard1

quote:
Originally posted by DKim:
How reliable is the feeding and extraction of the various WSM calibers in the Model 70 Classics?

I'm considering either a WSM or a 30-06 and will choose the 30-06 if it has significantly better reliability.

Thank you for any feedback.

David

The 30-06 is by far a better feeder than the WSM cartridges, but that doesn't mean that you can't get the WSM's to feed very well, it just takes a little more work.
Right now it's a crap shoot on factory Winchesters as to whether or not they will feed reliably out of the box. From what I know of the problems that they have, and the materials and components that they are using, I'm surprised that they feed as well as they do.
Their problems include poor follower design, coupled with a week mag spring and bad mag box and feed rail dimensions. Other than that, they're great. [Wink]

If your main concern is reliability and smooth feeding, the 30-06 wins hands down in just about any bolt-action rifle design FWIW.

27 November 2003, 12:50

DeBee

Get the '06. I like the fact I can walk into any 'Mart and slap down a twenty and march out with 40 rounds of factory ammo.

Personally, I am not that excited about the WSMs and I wish Winchester would have focused on improving the quality of the Classics line instead of R&D on unneccessary cartridges.

27 November 2003, 15:26

<Savage 99>

I have have a M 70 Classic in 7mm WSM and it fed perfectly from the first round. It even feeds and entire box full of empty cases just fine!

I also had a Savage 12fvss for a few days in 270 WSM. That fed just fine.

For the record I just fixed a pre 64 M 70 in .300 H&H that would not feed! The front of the lower part of the extractor was too wide and it would push the rim ahead of the extractor. Thus from the right side that 300 H&H was a push feed.