Pre 64 M70 vs newest iteration - which would you choose?

[curtism1234]

I wouldn't own a CZ either.

I think there is also the possibility that Model 70 loyalists abandon the brand in favor of the similar 3 winged safety of Ruger. They seem to have their accuracy problems of the past figured out now. I haven't checked in a while, but the Hawkeye and 70 are probably around the same price.

 

[fourfive8]

Agreed. I don't know how much brand loyalty there is- probably a little. But the market is extremely competitive at all the mid to lower price points and the zigs may counter the zags right now with the players trying to wiggle for small fractions of market shares. I think Ruger finally got on the right track when they corrected some very real chamber and barrel problems of some of their bolt guns and abandoned the "looks like a CRF but is really a push feed bolt" design. I bought a new FN Win 70 in 30-06 about 4 years ago. Worked up loads, shot it quite a bit and hunted with it without incident. Actually a pretty good rifle. No issues with the box trigger at about 3.5 lbs and the safety operated smoothly with no issues. Fit and function were fine with no issues. Accuracy was good with worked up loads. But at the time, I had 7 other similar bolt rifles and 3 in 30-06. Never bonded with this one so sold it about a year ago. Haven't lost any sleep over it.

 

[Dwight Beagle]

My CZ 550 American 6.5x55 is my favorite rifle.

 

[Southwind]

I love them all. I have some pre's including two favorites a fwt 270 and a 300 h&h and I have some New Haven's and I have 1 FN. If I was forced to choose it would be hands down my Pre64's. That doesn't in my mind take anything away from the others but there is an intrinsic value to Pre 64's that elevate them for me.

 

[salesman]

IMHO it is hard to beat the Pre-64 Model 70's. I am blessed to own several in different calibers. I own a couple of New Haven made CRF versions...they are ok. I also have several of the newer Model 70's made at FN in Columbia, SC, as of right now I do not own any that were assembled in Portugal...so I cannot speak to their quality.

As far as out of the box accuracy goes I do not know of any factory rifles that are any better than the FN Model 70, and most are not too picky, they will do well within reason with most anything you feed them.

As far as the safety being "gritty" I have two out of I think eleven that were that way. I simply sat and worked the safety mechanism while watching TV in the late evening for two or three days and the problem went away. No, I would prefer not to have had to do that, but they are production rifles and all normally have some type of shortcoming.

As far as comparing the Pre-64 to the FN produced versions I think I like the older models, but I prefer the new Model 70 to any other brand of production rifle that I know of today...but then I REALLY like Model 70's.

Just my 2 cents.