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WINCHESTER RIFLES

chuckchuck Member Posts: 4,911
edited May 2002 in Ask the Experts
I have been Lusting over a new winchester feather weight in 7mm-08 The problem is that the last 3 winchesters I had did not shoot true,so got rid of them, and swore I would never own another one, But it sure is a fine looking rifle, I have had real good luck with remington, brownings and sako's Has any body bought one of these new feather weight rifles and HOW DID IT SHOOT??????????? Thank you kindlee fer any info.

Comments

  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    As I understand it browning bought Winchester but did not buy the rights to the name. This was read out of a questions forums from a popular sporting magaazine. It dont sound to smart to me to buy a company the size of winchester and not buy the name. If this is so how can the market ammo under the winchester name. I have heard that winchester was concentrating on better quality control.I have a feather weight that my wife got as a gift for me it is to the good old 7mm-08. So far I really like it, but did notice on the warranty and all paper work was it was to olin corporation. Maybe you should give them one more chance and see how it goes.
    Good Luck

    Rugster
  • chuckchuck Member Posts: 4,911
    edited November -1
    Thanks Rugster, I'm still thinking thats a lot of money to spend on a gun that has a reputation of NOT SHOOTING TRUE. It's been on the rack at my local gun store fer about 6 mo. and the owner said that he would give me a break on it, every body here in Eastern Oregon is burned out on them.
  • 25-0625-06 Member Posts: 382 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    What do you mean by "Not Shooting True"? Do you mean it does not shoot where you are aiming,or it does not shoot good groups? I have sold a lot of Winchesters and shot a lot of them over the last 15-20 years. To me, they are just like any other brand, you are not going to know how it shoots until you try it. I have had no problem getting the Winchesters to shoot well. You may have to handload and spend a little time to find the right load, but most of the time they can be made to shoot as well as the others. I have a Stainless 7mm STW that will shoot 3 shots touching each other at 100 yds. with Winchester Supreme 140 gr. Ballistic Silvertips, you can not get much better than that. It has had nothing done to it except adjust the trigger to 2 lbs. I sold a fellow a M70 Coyote in .223 about six months ago. He came back upset that it would not shoot good groups. He said he had tried two loads with 40 grain bullets and the best it would do was around 1 and 1/2" for 5 shots. He wanted to trade it for a Remington, I did, and later took the Coyote with some factory PMC 55 grain soft points and shot a 5 shot group just slightly over 3/4" at 100 yards. I am sure with some handloads it would do better than that. The point is, it may take more than trying a couple of loads to find the right one for the rifle you have, no matter what brand. I have had no experience with the 7-08, but it was a popular silhouette cartridge, so the accuaracy potential is there. Good Luck if you decide to purchase the gun.
  • chuckchuck Member Posts: 4,911
    edited November -1
    Hey 25-06 I am 65 years old and have hunted and shot guns for 52 years and have reloaded everything I shoot except 22s. Now that I am retired I have a lot of time to play, and have a 300 yard range 8 miles from home, my hobbie is buying new and used rifles and trying to get them to shoot TRUE, means 3 shots all touching at 100 yards, in the last 6 mo's I had 3 winchesters and none of them would shoot TRUE, 2 of them were 338s and one in 300 mag, traded them in on Remingtons and a Sako, one in 300 win mag and the other in 270 cal. I guess I am not as SMART as you are, so may be you can give me some advice on getting Winchesters to shoot TRUE.
  • 25-0625-06 Member Posts: 382 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Chuck, I did not mean to insult you, or question your shooting ability. I think if you would reread your first post, a person could get the idea that it was someone new to shooting. That was my mistake. There is no need to get pissed about the matter, I was offering some ideas, but you obviously are smarter than me.
  • bullelkbullelk Member Posts: 679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Chuck,
    They claim that the Remington is the best, most accurate out of the box gun you can buy for the money. I have two 700's that I constantly use, a mountain rifle and an older 20" carbine, both in 30-06 and find them extremely accurate. And that's using factory and military surplus ammo.
    Gino

    "If All Else Fails, Read The Directions"
  • chuckchuck Member Posts: 4,911
    edited November -1
    Hey Bullelk, You are right about the Remingtons I have several that shoot true, but I had to glass bed them before they really shot true, the only reason I asked about the Winchester is because it is so dam good looking, you would think after 65 years old I would know better, Well any way I think I'll stay away from the Winchester. and another good reason is because some french co. bought out browning and winchester thanks to all but 25=06 fer the in put.
  • sjc1sjc1 Member Posts: 130
    edited November -1
    Rugster, Olin Corporation owned (up until around 1989?) Winchester. They then sold the firearms division to a group of investors and it became U.S. Repeating Arms as Olin retained rights to the Winchester name under which they sell ammunition. At the time of the sale Winchester was bleeding money and Olin entertained the idea of folding it completely and writing off the loss. U.S. Repeating Arms is now owned by the company that owns Browning; it is a company based in Europe.
  • BoltactionManBoltactionMan Member Posts: 2,048 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Chuck,

    I have a Model 70 Featherweight Classic in 7mm-08. It will easily put 3 shots into 1.5 inches at 100 yards. I shot a small buck in 2000 with it at 300+ yards, one shot with 130 Speer boattail. Mine works just fine.

    KC
  • bullelkbullelk Member Posts: 679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Chuck,
    Best way to go is get a Remington and restock it the way you like. I sure like my Rems.
    By the way, I spent a couple of days in Idaho not too far from
    Halfway-Pine Creek, Oregon. Met a guy out there that owns Hells Canyon Service, his name is Scotty. Had to show him how to fix a rifle while I was there. Hell of a guy.
    Gino

    "If All Else Fails, Read The Directions"
  • cowdoccowdoc Member Posts: 5,847 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    guess i have been lucky i have two winchester mod 70 post 64 that i would put up against any several thousand $$ rifles one is a mod 70 westerner 270 win and a mod 70 in .243 with a heavy barrel.
    the .270 was in a bigsky roof mount gun rack along with a marlin 336 30-30 when it was hit broad side by another pickup at 50 mph both gun flew out of the rack,broke the stock of my 336...i figure it screwed up my .270 also, so i looked over good then shot it and it still would shoot a 3 shot group at 100 yds that the head of the shell would just cover...not to bad i would think. the 243 will do as good also.
    I also have a 300 mag but really have seen what it can do yet but its not to bad of a shooter from what little i have shot it
    but i kinda have a liking of winchesters rifles
    I do have a smith& wesson mod 1500 (aka howa) that shoots like crap though.

    I dont give my guns without somebody getting hurt!
  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you get a winy that you really like the feel, fit, and finish, but it doesn't shoot worth a darn, then it sounds like the perfect opportunity to put a premium quality barrel on it, like a shilen or a hart.

    I just wish I had a dollar for every gun I wanted, then I'd be a rich man.
  • sealyonsealyon Member Posts: 313 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm going nuts trying to make my brothers Win 70, 7MM Mag shoot. First shot out of a cold barrel is right on but a 5 shot group will measure 6+ inchs at 100 yards. It gets progressively worse. I've done everything BUT rebarreling it. Thats next!! There may be some good shooting newer manufactured Wins. out there but I have'nt found one yet.
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