New Model 70 safari express disappointing quality?

[Wyatt Smith]

My Portuguese M70 Alaskan .375 ( same action ) was shipped with a weak striker spring. Misfired one in three shots. It took almost a year for Winchester warranty depot to fix it. Never again.

My safari express also had a weak striker spring. It’s a common issue that I have had multiple members PM me about. I recommend all FN M70 owners to purchase a few extra springs.
Or better yet buy a New Haven rifle. The spring is longer and easily replaced with Wolff extra power springs. The bolt shroud threads are also the square type used on Mauser 98s, the FN rifles have fine tapered threads like a bolt (the grade 8 kind, not on a rifle)
I think the New Haven rifles will prove to be more durable.

 

[BFaucett]

Why is it that seemingly so many manufacturing companies never seemed to have learned, or have forgotten, the lessons of W. Edwards Deming?

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W. Edwards Deming

William Edwards Deming (October 14, 1900 – December 20, 1993) was an American business theorist, composer, economist, industrial engineer, management consultant, statistician, and writer. Educated initially as an electrical engineer and later specializing in mathematical physics, he helped develop the sampling techniques still used by the United States Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. He is also known as the father of the quality movement and was hugely influential in post-WWII Japan, credited with revolutionizing Japan's industry and making it one of the most dominant economies in the world. He is best known for his theories of management.

Deming is well known for his work in Japan after WWII, particularly his work with the leaders of Japanese industry. That work began in July and August 1950, in Tokyo and at the Hakone Convention Center, when Deming delivered speeches on what he called "Statistical Product Quality Administration". Many in Japan credit Deming as one of the inspirations for what has become known as the Japanese post-war economic miracle of 1950 to 1960, when Japan rose from the ashes of war on the road to becoming the second-largest economy in the world through processes partially influenced by the ideas Deming taught

Deming made a significant contribution to Japan's reputation for innovative, high-quality products, and for its economic power. He is regarded as having had more impact on Japanese manufacturing and business than any other individual not of Japanese heritage. Despite being honored in Japan in 1951 with the establishment of the Deming Prize, he was only just beginning to win widespread recognition in the United States at the time of his death in 1993. President Ronald Reagan awarded him the National Medal of Technology in 1987. The following year, the National Academy of Sciences gave Deming the Distinguished Career in Science award.

full Wiki article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming

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Just my ramblings and a rant... My apologies for straying off topic. Cheers. Bob F.

 

[Tex .416]

My safari express also had a weak striker spring. It’s a common issue that I have had multiple members PM me about. I recommend all FN M70 owners to purchase a few extra springs.
Or better yet buy a New Haven rifle. The spring is longer and easily replaced with Wolff extra power springs. The bolt shroud threads are also the square type used on Mauser 98s, the FN rifles have fine tapered threads like a bolt (the grade 8 kind, not on a rifle)
I think the New Haven rifles will prove to be more durable.

Wyatt,

when you refer to “striker spring,” are you referring to replacing the firing pin spring? I just picked up a new .308 Super Grade as a gift for a dear friend for his 80th birthday and want it to be in good working order for him. I love Wolff springs in my EDC pistol and mags.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Wyatt,

when you refer to “striker spring,” are you referring to replacing the firing pin spring? I just picked up a new .308 Super Grade as a gift for a dear friend for his 80th birthday and want it to be in good working order for him. I love Wolff springs in my EDC pistol and mags.

Yes. I don’t think Wolff makes one for the FN rifles yet. You must get a Winchester OEM.

 

[Tex .416]

I think the New Haven rifles will prove to be more durable.

The last New Haven rifle I purchased was in 2005 or 6, a M70 Coyote in 7 WSM. The barrel was screwed in so crooked that the bottom face of fired brass came out so badly canted that it could not be reloaded. Standing a fired case on a flat surface, it tilted to the side like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. My experience with the two Portugese M70’s has left me impressed with the fit and finish, which is a big improvement over that last M70 from New Haven. Hope they correct the spring issue, which should be very simple if someone in charge will make the effort to care. Thank you for the heads up on this issue.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

The last New Haven rifle I purchased was in 2005 or 6, a M70 Coyote in 7 WSM. The barrel was screwed in so crooked that the bottom face of fired brass came out so badly canted that it could not be reloaded. Standing a fired case on a flat surface, it tilted to the side like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. My experience with the two Portugese M70’s has left me impressed with the fit and finish, which is a big improvement over that last M70 from New Haven. Hope they correct the spring issue, which should be very simple if someone in charge will make the effort to care. Thank you for the heads up on this issue.

I will agree that a few of the late New Haven rifles seem to have slipped by quality control inspector. I still think it’s the old style trigger and no MIM parts that they will be more durable in the long run.
My Portuguese 375 had a bad spring, a broken safety lever, and the bolt was putting a weird dent in the receiver.(it went back to browning for that one.)
Maybe mine was a lemon, but I find comfort in the words New Haven.

 

[Tman321]

At least as an update for my situation a gunsmith at winchester looked at some pictures I emailed and apparently all he said was it needs to come back to fix it, wouldnt specify what he saw to the customer support person helping me. Was hoping it was just an ejector and they were prepared to email me that for free if that seemed like the problem. I'll guess I'll post again when I get the rifle back

 

[Hunter-Habib]

The Portuguese made Winchester Model 70 rifles are generally well made. But more than a few need to be worked over by a competent gunsmith before taking out into the field. Striker springs and extractor issues are where most of the problems lie.

A trip to McBride’s Gun Works will sort this issue out in no time.

 

[Tman321]

Another interesting update. They did send me an ejector based off my serial number. The face of the ejector they sent looks nothing like the one currently in my rifle with that protrusion on it. So one of them is wrong lol. They sent me part # u35w000011. Been struggling to find an ffl that will help me ship the rifle and no UPS location will take it either. I have it all nicely packed up ready for shipping so wonder if its worth cracking open and putting the ejector they sent in to see what happens. Also can't find info on replacing the ejector. Is it a gunsmith job or fairly straightforward, not much info online for it.

 

[Russ16]

Another interesting update. They did send me an ejector based off my serial number. The face of the ejector they sent looks nothing like the one currently in my rifle with that protrusion on it. So one of them is wrong lol. They sent me part # u35w000011. Been struggling to find an ffl that will help me ship the rifle and no UPS location will take it either. I have it all nicely packed up ready for shipping so wonder if its worth cracking open and putting the ejector they sent in to see what happens. Also can't find info on replacing the ejector. Is it a gunsmith job or fairly straightforward, not much info online for it.

I would just send it back. It’s a brand new rifle let them fix it rather than doing it yourself. But that’s just me.

I’m all for tinkering and doing things myself but not when it’s a brand new product that they should have made right the first time.

FYI UPS will come pick it honor you schedule one.

 

[Joker12]

Another interesting update. They did send me an ejector based off my serial number. The face of the ejector they sent looks nothing like the one currently in my rifle with that protrusion on it. So one of them is wrong lol. They sent me part # u35w000011. Been struggling to find an ffl that will help me ship the rifle and no UPS location will take it either. I have it all nicely packed up ready for shipping so wonder if its worth cracking open and putting the ejector they sent in to see what happens. Also can't find info on replacing the ejector. Is it a gunsmith job or fairly straightforward, not much info online for it.

That ejector that they sent to you looks like the one in my super express. I suspect it is the correct one.