I just got these two guns recently the FWT Classic and the S/S Classic. The FWT just spoiled me. It has the Williams extractor, the S/S does not. The FWT has the one piece bottom metal, the S/S does not. The FWT has the Decelerator recoil pad, the S/S does not. The trigger on the FWT was outstanding after a quick turn of some wrenches. Still playing with the S/S. One other point, the FWT has a metal magazine follower, the S/S is plastic.

Problem here is I got the S/S Classic first and did not know what goodies the FWT had. I will shoot the S/S first to see how she does and then start replacing parts.

The plastic follower irks me. Where can I find a metal one. I will order a Williams extractor the next time I shop at Midway.

Has anyone put a Sims or Decelerator on their Classic S/S? I like both and want one that fits like factory.

Thanks!

Rl,
Congrats on two very fine rifles! Without getting into a lot of detail, I think you will find that there can be a lot of "mix and match" of "goodies" when these rifles were assembled, particularly in the last year or two. So your two examples are not necessarily indicative of the configuration of every other example in that model series. Many of the goodies on your FWT are seen only on those rifles made recently.

For instance, the vast majority of Classic SS's have metal followers. I have noticed that examples apparently made in 2005, have a plastic follower. I have a .243 Win, made in the late 90's, I think, which has a plastic follower, but all the other Classic SS's I own have metal followers. I have never seen a Classic SS with one-piece bottom metal, but have seen them with about all the other updates USRA came up with lately. I am somewhat ambivalent about the one-piece bottom metal anyway, as I have seen a lot of them where the floorplate didn't fit tightly when closed. A Classic SS .270 Win I recently purchased has the Williams extractor, the newer countersunk type crown, all the updates to the action, except still has two-piece bottom metal, and yes, it has the dreaded plastic follower.

A Classic Camo Ultimate Shadow I recently obtained, has all the latest updates to the action, including one-piece bottom, a metal follower, and a cushy pad, but did NOT have a Williams extractor or the newer countersunk crown, which kinda irked me!

I have installed a LimbSaver (Sims) on one of my Classic SS's, a 7mmWSM. It is a prefit model, and of course, it doesn't fit perfectly, but not bad, so I'll probably leave it be. It works well though. The LimbSaver pad is also a tad thicker than the factory brick. If memory serves me right, the part number is 10111, or something like that. I don't care for those ridges or ribs or whatever you call them, on the LimbSavers, they just look like dirt collectors to me. but they are a good pad.

Enough blathering on my part! Enjoy your new rifles!

Thanks mudstud, I can't wait to get to the range. If they shoot good, I will only change out the extractor.

Not sure if the plastic follower is a negative. The bolt does not slide smoothly over the plastic unlike the metal of the FWT.

The stock recoil pad (joke) is going soon.