Winchester model 70 safari express problem

[Wademcarthur]

I very recently purchased a Winchester mod 70 safari express in .416 rem mag.

Was shooting last weekend and noticed cracks in the wrist just behind the action. This was after about 25 rounds through the rifle.

I emailed Winchester and their reply just said the rifle had been made by browning. Didn’t seem like I’d get far so I dropped it off at my gunsmith. Turns out part of the bedding was also broken out of it as well.

Here’s the reply:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding your Winchester Firearm. Winchester licenses the Winchester name to Browning for the manufacture and distribution of Winchester brand rifles and shotguns. For more information on Winchester Guns call (800) 333-3288 or (801) 876-2711 or go to

Thank you for being a Winchester Ammunition and Browning customer!

Picture attached as well. Pretty disappointed.

 

[deewayne2003]

I feel your pain, I had a Beretta Silver Pigeon 687 do the same thing; after taking the stock off, it was apparent that the inletting was poor and 10% of the metal was making contact at the tang.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

The stock was not rebated at the tang. Thumper guns with heavy recoil should have a slight gap between end of tang and stock. Or they are likely to crack at the top of the wrist like yours did. Damn shame. If your gunsmith opens the end of the tang trough and glass beds the action fully with JB Weld the crack likely will not get any worse. My opinion, for what it's worth, is this is a screw up from the factory at a basic level. Really dumb! They should fix it.

Also, I strongly suspect the action screws were not torqued properly if glass bedding inside the action was shattered. Let me guess ... it wouldn't group worth shit, right?

 

[Flbt]

I very recently purchased a Winchester mod 70 safari express in .416 rem mag.

Was shooting last weekend and noticed cracks in the wrist just behind the action. This was after about 25 rounds through the rifle.

I emailed Winchester and their reply just said the rifle had been made by browning. Didn’t seem like I’d get far so I dropped it off at my gunsmith. Turns out part of the bedding was also broken out of it as well.

Here’s the reply:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding your Winchester Firearm. Winchester licenses the Winchester name to Browning for the manufacture and distribution of Winchester brand rifles and shotguns. For more information on Winchester Guns call (800) 333-3288 or (801) 876-2711 or go to

Thank you for being a Winchester Ammunition and Browning customer!

Picture attached as well. Pretty disappointed.

Well at least you got a response.
I was talking to one of the guys that had the wrong bullets loaded in 5 boxes of 350L ammo. He still has gotten no response from Winchester about the ammo.
I personally know one other that has the same problem with the Winchester 350L it’s the one that is supposed to have the bt type bullets in them but they have jsp bullets.
I would think the wrong ammo in the box would be important to the company.

He said he has a good friend that reloads he is thinking of having him pull the ammo apart for components or just throwing it away.

 

[Doug3006]

So I believe what happened is that you emailed Winchester about your rifle. They are an ammo company that hasn’t made a gun in decades. They license their name to Browning (actually Browning is owned by Fabrique Nationale in Belgium.). Anyway, warranty work will be done by Browning Arms Company authorized repair shops. Call Browning at 800-333-3288. I’m sure they will correct your stock or replace it.

 

[Wademcarthur]

The stock was not rebated at the tang. Thumper guns with heavy recoil should have a slight gap between end of tang and stock. Or they are likely to crack at the top of the wrist like yours did. Damn shame. If your gunsmith opens the end of the tang trough and glass beds the action fully with JB Weld the crack likely will not get any worse. My opinion, for what it's worth, is this is a screw up from the factory at a basic level. Really dumb! They should fix it.

Also, I strongly suspect the action screws were not torqued properly if glass bedding inside the action was shattered. Let me guess ... it wouldn't group worth shit, right?

I don’t know about torqued “properly” but they were tight. Over torque could have been an issue. The broken piece of bedding was towards the front of the action. I also can’t comment on grouping. It had been fired with iron sights only but not for groups. I had just got the scope mounted and started shooting that day when I noticed the crack and quit. Inletting of the stock was also what my gunsmith said.

 

[Wademcarthur]

So I believe what happened is that you emailed Winchester about your rifle. They are an ammo company that hasn’t made a gun in decades. They license their name to Browning (actually Browning is owned by Fabrique Nationale in Belgium.). Anyway, warranty work will be done by Browning Arms Company authorized repair shops. Call Browning at 800-333-3288. I’m sure they will correct your stock or replace it.

Doug3006,
That is good information that I strangely didn’t know or had forgotten. Yes, I did email Winchester customer service. I emailed Browning just now. I’ll also call on Tuesday. Thanks again.

 

[Wademcarthur]

Update: I called Browning this morning. They said to take it back to the FFL that transferred it to me originally and send it to them, they'll take a look, and take care of it.

 

[C.W. Richter]

I very recently purchased a Winchester mod 70 safari express in .416 rem mag.

Was shooting last weekend and noticed cracks in the wrist just behind the action. This was after about 25 rounds through the rifle.

I emailed Winchester and their reply just said the rifle had been made by browning. Didn’t seem like I’d get far so I dropped it off at my gunsmith. Turns out part of the bedding was also broken out of it as well.

Here’s the reply:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding your Winchester Firearm. Winchester licenses the Winchester name to Browning for the manufacture and distribution of Winchester brand rifles and shotguns. For more information on Winchester Guns call (800) 333-3288 or (801) 876-2711 or go to

Thank you for being a Winchester Ammunition and Browning customer!

Picture attached as well. Pretty disappointed.

Greetings: 'Had that happen on a much more stout Steyer-Mannlicher 375 S/T (but managed to repair it, refinish the stock and put it back into action again.) That said, I also have a NIB Win Safari Express Custom Shop in 470 Capstick. I do intend to use it in Africa on at least 1 trip, but from experience 'know that THAT round in THAT typ American-dimension stock is questionable to say the least!) For hunting, I probably should've gotten the A-Square rifle. So, I might just get an HS Precision stock (MUCH more stout/durable/accurate and heavier w/ Hg recoil reducers) for field use, and re-sell as a package oneday. Perhaps you should consider same , albeit post-facto now? (With your particular application, there may have been a "disturbance in the force," by use of a Rem (H&H blown out) round in a Win rifle!) It may have been more forgiving using a 416 Taylor (458 WM necked down to 416-with the same ballistics as all other 416s! 2,450 fps/400 gr.) Q: Are you the 1st owner of the gun, or? (PH speculated that someone may have previously dropped mine-as I was the 2nd owner!)

 

[Wademcarthur]

Greetings: 'Had that happen on a much more stout Steyer-Mannlicher 375 S/T (but managed to repair it, refinish the stock and put it back into action again.) That said, I also have a NIB Win Safari Express Custom Shop in 470 Capstick. I do intend to use it in Africa on at least 1 trip, but from experience 'know that THAT round in THAT typ American-dimension stock is questionable to say the least!) For hunting, I probably should've gotten the A-Square rifle. So, I might just get an HS Precision stock (MUCH more stout/durable/accurate and heavier w/ Hg recoil reducers) for field use, and re-sell as a package oneday. Perhaps you should consider same , albeit post-facto now? (With your particular application, there may have been a "disturbance in the force," by use of a Rem (H&H blown out) round in a Win rifle!) It may have been more forgiving using a 416 Taylor (458 WM necked down to 416-with the same ballistics as all other 416s! 2,450 fps/400 gr.) Q: Are you the 1st owner of the gun, or? (PH speculated that someone may have previously dropped mine-as I was the 2nd owner!)

I am the first owner, purchased new about a month ago.

 

[Wademcarthur]

Browning sent me a return label. I’ll get it sent tomorrow. I asked about turn around time via email and was told 3-4 months. Hopefully it’s can be a little better but that’s not shocking.

 

[Wademcarthur]

Greetings: 'Had that happen on a much more stout Steyer-Mannlicher 375 S/T (but managed to repair it, refinish the stock and put it back into action again.) That said, I also have a NIB Win Safari Express Custom Shop in 470 Capstick. I do intend to use it in Africa on at least 1 trip, but from experience 'know that THAT round in THAT typ American-dimension stock is questionable to say the least!) For hunting, I probably should've gotten the A-Square rifle. So, I might just get an HS Precision stock (MUCH more stout/durable/accurate and heavier w/ Hg recoil reducers) for field use, and re-sell as a package oneday. Perhaps you should consider same , albeit post-facto now? (With your particular application, there may have been a "disturbance in the force," by use of a Rem (H&H blown out) round in a Win rifle!) It may have been more forgiving using a 416 Taylor (458 WM necked down to 416-with the same ballistics as all other 416s! 2,450 fps/400 gr.) Q: Are you the 1st owner of the gun, or? (PH speculated that someone may have previously dropped mine-as I was the 2nd owner!)

Which HS precision stock are you considering? PSS-021 Winchester Long Action? It says it’s for a sporter weight barrel. I wonder how much additional inletting it would require?

 

[cajunchefray]

Browning sent me a return label. I’ll get it sent tomorrow. I asked about turn around time via email and was told 3-4 months. Hopefully it’s can be a little better but that’s not shocking.

I would consider having your gunsmith pillar bed the action once you get it back from Browning.

I had 3 Safari Express rifles I’ve owned glass and pillar bedded.

 

[Wademcarthur]

I would consider having your gunsmith pillar bed the action once you get it back from Browning.

I had 3 Safari Express rifles I’ve owned glass and pillar bedded.

Yes. It will go directly to the gunsmith once I receive it back. I'll forever have trust issues with it otherwise.

 

[Wademcarthur]

Which HS precision stock are you considering? PSS-021 Winchester Long Action? It says it’s for a sporter weight barrel. I wonder how much additional inletting it would require?

Greetings: 'Had that happen on a much more stout Steyer-Mannlicher 375 S/T (but managed to repair it, refinish the stock and put it back into action again.) That said, I also have a NIB Win Safari Express Custom Shop in 470 Capstick. I do intend to use it in Africa on at least 1 trip, but from experience 'know that THAT round in THAT typ American-dimension stock is questionable to say the least!) For hunting, I probably should've gotten the A-Square rifle. So, I might just get an HS Precision stock (MUCH more stout/durable/accurate and heavier w/ Hg recoil reducers) for field use, and re-sell as a package oneday. Perhaps you should consider same , albeit post-facto now? (With your particular application, there may have been a "disturbance in the force," by use of a Rem (H&H blown out) round in a Win rifle!) It may have been more forgiving using a 416 Taylor (458 WM necked down to 416-with the same ballistics as all other 416s! 2,450 fps/400 gr.) Q: Are you the 1st owner of the gun, or? (PH speculated that someone may have previously dropped mine-as I was the 2nd owner!)

CW, I emailed HS Precision this morning. I received a reply from Josh Cluff. He said their stock will only work with the model 70's that have the two piece magazine floorplates. I think I remember that my safari express is a one piece. Those stocks look sharp. Maybe I can find something else close.

 

[C.W. Richter]

CW, I emailed HS Precision this morning. I received a reply from Josh Cluff. He said their stock will only work with the model 70's that have the two piece magazine floorplates. I think I remember that my safari express is a one piece. Those stocks look sharp. Maybe I can find something else close.

I have several, but 2 are for custom Rem 7 and 700, another is for a decades-old SS M70 LA (a 458 Win Alaskan re-barreled for 416 Taylor). As it too has a heavier contour bbl (i can check the paperwork-4?) some inletting was required-but not awfully difficult as described below. The stocks are fantastic and improve groups!!! *On the 7, a fair amount of inletting was required, as it featured a larger diam. bbl for my son's 7 RSAUM. (Just keep the tool/sandpaper away from the fine stock exterior finish-masking tape! It takes a little time, but actually easy using a round rasp and same wrapped with sandpaper. I probably put the bbl back in 1/2 doz times just to get it right and not remove too much material!) Also a snap for a qualified gunsmith. Hmmm...all I recall at the moment w/ the M70 is that it has 3 action screws in the floorplate, which I really like on a 416! You can probably get an aftermarket mag/floorplate setup (I'd ask HS and/or someone like Wyatt that makes custom ones for all sorts of stocks, add'l. round capacity, etc.) *Don't let a mag hold you up!!! (A lot of custom makers simply have an ADL-style "blind magazine," so it'll NEVER open and dump rounds at the moment of truth. I have 1 like that, but the 416 def uses a SS mag well/spring and floorplate w/ frame. GL!

 

[C.W. Richter]

*i have pics of everything, but the cord to my ext hard drive recently broke and i'll have to get that replaced (why some things should all be standardized!!) the stocks/mag styles/inletting process. oddly the M70 is in the ele pic to the L

 

[C.W. Richter]

CW, I emailed HS Precision this morning. I received a reply from Josh Cluff. He said their stock will only work with the model 70's that have the two piece magazine floorplates. I think I remember that my safari express is a one piece. Those stocks look sharp. Maybe I can find something else close.

yes-the HS is both pillar bedded and has a horizontal member between the two pillars inletted into the stock. 'Also forgot to mention that Mark Bansner makes his own HS-esque custom stocks (and he can do M70s no problemo.) As the trend has become lighter, lighter carbon wrapped foam, etc. you would definitely want the heavy safari model (and he knows that) w/ 1-2 Hg reducers added in (they come in 2 diff lengths, 4 diff weights-can add up to 2 lb.) Sounds like you're getting a factory correction and then going to hot-rod it? I'd have requested the STRONGEST stock from the best wood available to minimize the chance of history repeating itself (you have 3 mos-do that!) Euro Walnut. I recall some of the Wins being mfd in Portugal, but have since lost track.