Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,746
- 5,824
Recently came across a couple of good deals on two lightly used Win Model 70 hunting rifles and bought 'em both. I like both rifles, but am starting to wonder if I really "need" them both, selling either one would free up cash for reloading, hunting trips or whatever...
I'm mostly a mule deer hunter, sometimes I go for elk or wander around chasing black bears, pretending that someday I'll shoot one. :grin: Here's what I bought:
First I came across a Model 70 "stainless classic" in 7mm Rem mag, complete with the ugly, but comfortable and durable synthetic stock. This thing has the controlled round feed that I like so much, as well as a slim 26" sporter weight barrel. Nice, no-frills hunting rifle chambered in a cartridge that I like very much, and which has given me great success on deer and elk. Topped it with a nice fixed power 6x (42mm obj) Leupold. I see this one as a true all-weather, hard use, general purpose hunting rifle.
I'd only had that rifle a week or so when a friend decided to sell his Win 70 "coyote" in .300 WSM. This is a rifle I've seen in action out to 600 yards and it is known to be quite accurate. It's more of a long-range rifle, with a push-feed action, a good looking laminated wood stock, and a free-floated, somewhat heavier contour stainless barrel. The rifle had been set up with a very nice Badger +20 MOA scope base and a very crisp Jewell trigger. It came with 300 pieces of Norma brass and match grade loading dies. Am waiting on scope rings for it, but will top it with either a 4.5-14 or even a 6.5-20x Leupold. I see this one as more of a long-range rifle, capable of taking my "wheatfield mulies" out at 600 yards.
My favorite 7mm mag load is a 175 at about 2900 fps.
It looks like this .300 WSM will put a 180 out at about 2950 - 3000 fps.
So, just for fun, your input please! Are they different enough that I can justify keeping them both? Or are they close enough to the same that I really ought to sell one? :grin:
Running out of space in the gun safe! Regards, Guy
I'm mostly a mule deer hunter, sometimes I go for elk or wander around chasing black bears, pretending that someday I'll shoot one. :grin: Here's what I bought:
First I came across a Model 70 "stainless classic" in 7mm Rem mag, complete with the ugly, but comfortable and durable synthetic stock. This thing has the controlled round feed that I like so much, as well as a slim 26" sporter weight barrel. Nice, no-frills hunting rifle chambered in a cartridge that I like very much, and which has given me great success on deer and elk. Topped it with a nice fixed power 6x (42mm obj) Leupold. I see this one as a true all-weather, hard use, general purpose hunting rifle.
I'd only had that rifle a week or so when a friend decided to sell his Win 70 "coyote" in .300 WSM. This is a rifle I've seen in action out to 600 yards and it is known to be quite accurate. It's more of a long-range rifle, with a push-feed action, a good looking laminated wood stock, and a free-floated, somewhat heavier contour stainless barrel. The rifle had been set up with a very nice Badger +20 MOA scope base and a very crisp Jewell trigger. It came with 300 pieces of Norma brass and match grade loading dies. Am waiting on scope rings for it, but will top it with either a 4.5-14 or even a 6.5-20x Leupold. I see this one as more of a long-range rifle, capable of taking my "wheatfield mulies" out at 600 yards.
My favorite 7mm mag load is a 175 at about 2900 fps.
It looks like this .300 WSM will put a 180 out at about 2950 - 3000 fps.
So, just for fun, your input please! Are they different enough that I can justify keeping them both? Or are they close enough to the same that I really ought to sell one? :grin:
Running out of space in the gun safe! Regards, Guy
