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Posted: 8/20/2024 1:17:18 PM EDT
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I'm thinking of getting a new hunting rifle and I've been leaning towards another Model 70 (mine is like 70 years old and I can't suppress it) but they are unobtanium in the ones I'm interested in - mainly the extreme weather version. I'm not looking to modify anything a bunch beyond maybe a better trigger or bedding the action. I can get a Ruger Hawkeye Hunter easily enough and my Ruger American shoots great, but if it needed bedding I'm reading that the small lug and angled forend screw complicates things. Does anyone have experience with this? Any thoughts on the FTW version? Quite a bit more money and not sure what's different beyond the stock. I know the Winchester is probably the nicer gun and maybe they will start shipping again before long, but the shops I went to have zero info. Thanks. |
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The Ruger is far behind the Winchester. I’ve had bedding trouble, there’s no aftermarket, the action is comparatively pot metal, you can’t just put a low profile rail or mount on it, there’s no aftermarket, the triggers when adjusted low can fire when dropped, there’s no aftermarket. Someone gave me a Ruger and I put it in the safe and didn’t tough it again. Sold the other one because it wouldn’t shoot even with a new Douglas barrel. |
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I really want to love Ruger bolt guns. Bill Ruger was a D bag on gun rights, but he truly loved classic lines on bolt guns. The Ruger is just too blocky and the wood lacks character. It is shaped like a dump truck. The recoil lug design is great in theory and stupid in reality. That said...Ruger spent huge money on their barrel making process and arguably makes the best factory tubes on the market. Their casting facility is world class and they cast a lot more than guns. It is called "Pine Tree Castings" and they make everything from Ping golf club heads to aircraft parts. They can cast in exotic metals that very few places in the world can produce. They can also do it in major quality and at high quality. All that said...the Model 70 is like a beautiful curvy woman...it just has all the right lines and is perfect in the hands. The action is forged and it sort of comes bedded. They are generally accurate and reliable. I would go with a Model 70 unless you want a specialty item like the Ruger Safari, Guide Gun, or similar. |
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Two completely different rifles FWIW My stainless pre 64 model 70 30-06 will consistently shoot 5/8-3/4” 5 shot groups at 100 yards if I do my part with handloads ……not bad for an off the shelf sporter weight hunting rifle. 165 grain accubonds over 56.5 grains of H4350 F210 primer Plenty accurate for my hunting needs. The model 70 is a more elegant rifle I’ve heard the Rugers have great factory barrels. Others here will have more experience than myself with new Ruger rifles. |
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Thanks for the feedback. I'm not sure I'd say they are completely different rifles though. They are both Mauser style bolt actions so fairly similar in that regard. Design and quality is more the difference and I guess what I'm basically wondering is how much of a difference given that street prices aren't that far apart but then again no current stock that I can find so when in stock that might change greatly. I'm still more interested in M70. I didn't mention caliber as I didn't want a caliber debate but it will be a 30-06 as I already reload for it and it does everything I need. |
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It’s been a long time since I sold these but in my opinion it came down to a higher level of finish on the Winchester. With no mods the real world performance is close enough that most hunters would never know. I sold piles of Rugers because of the cost and almost never had dissatisfied customers. Either gun will outlast you so the extra bit of money isn’t a huge factor for me. FTW Hunter vs Hunter looks like the HS Stock and Brake. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: It’s been a long time since I sold these but in my opinion it came down to a higher level of finish on the Winchester. With no mods the real world performance is close enough that most hunters would never know. I sold piles of Rugers because of the cost and almost never had dissatisfied customers. That's an interesting comment. So with mods might one expect and what sort of mods? Does one outshine then with said modification? I've seen some M70s in stores and the barrels do seem kinda thin. It's won't be a range gun per se, but I do enough load development and shooting that I want to stay reasonably consistent after heating up a bit. My Ruger American doesn't change much although I do take a short break between groups but it still gets pretty hot. |
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Originally Posted By phdog: That's an interesting comment. So with mods might one expect and what sort of mods? Does one outshine then with said modification? I've seen some M70s in stores and the barrels do seem kinda thin. It's won't be a range gun per se, but I do enough load development and shooting that I want to stay reasonably consistent after heating up a bit. My Ruger American doesn't change much although I do take a short break between groups but it still gets pretty hot. Originally Posted By phdog: Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: It’s been a long time since I sold these but in my opinion it came down to a higher level of finish on the Winchester. With no mods the real world performance is close enough that most hunters would never know. I sold piles of Rugers because of the cost and almost never had dissatisfied customers. That's an interesting comment. So with mods might one expect and what sort of mods? Does one outshine then with said modification? I've seen some M70s in stores and the barrels do seem kinda thin. It's won't be a range gun per se, but I do enough load development and shooting that I want to stay reasonably consistent after heating up a bit. My Ruger American doesn't change much although I do take a short break between groups but it still gets pretty hot. Bed the Ruger…pillar bed them both. |
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I've had multiple of both. Out of the box both guns will work fine like ALASKANFIRE said. The Ruger action is quite a bit rougher cycling than the Winchester, but the M77 action is EXTREMELY stout. The Ruger is very utilitarian in feel and fit/finish. The Model 70 has a really smooth action and just looks more elegant. Either will work well. The Rugers, in my experience, are more accurate than the Winchesters and they have cold hammer forged barrels. I know Winchester switched from CHF to button rifled barrels a couple years before COVID. Although I think the M70 Super Grades still get CHF barrels. I'd be less sad about beating up the Ruger than the Winchester. |
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I was leaning towards the M70 extreme weather version because I thought I'd feel less bad about banging it around it the woods. Not sure I'd ever feel good doing that with a nice super grade and also why I no longer carry my pre-64 even though it's pretty average it's still sort of an antique. It's been mentioned that bedding the Ruger is a bit challenging. How much of an issue is that really? Could a competent gunsmith manage to do a good job or is the design just not conducive to bedding? I might just have to pick up a Ruger since who knows when the M70s will be available. |
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