What's With The New Portuguese Made Winchester Model 70s These Days ?

I just completed a very successful safari and will be back home on Tuesday. But I saw something very disconcerting this time.

My white hunter's dangerous game backup rifle is a Portuguese Winchester Model 70 Safari Express chambered in .458 Winchester Magnum. He bought it brand new in 2024 and it looks extremely well cared for.

But here's the thing. He needs to lower the rifle down to his hip in order to cycle the bolt. When he raises the rifle to his shoulder and tries to cycle the bolt from there, it literally FREEZES.

I tried the rifle myself and experienced the same problem. In all my years of hunting big game (54 and counting), I've never experienced this problem with any of the pre '64 New Haven made Winchester Model 70s. Ever.

This is actually a very serious issue, especially when the rifle is intended to be used against dangerous game (especially in the hands of a white hunter whose profession mandates that he follow up angry dangerous game wounded by his clients or stop them from charging).

I actually made a video of the phenomenon and would really appreciate it if somebody taught me how I can upload the video on these forums for all to see.

Has anybody else experienced any problems with the currently made Portuguese Winchester Model 70s lately ?

To be fair, his plains game rifle is another Portuguese Winchester Model 70 Super Grade chambered in .264 Winchester Magnum (which he also bought in 2024). That one cycles absolutely perfectly.

Habib..this should not be happening but it may happen when new mass produced rifles are not properly checked by gunsmiths before leaving the factory..

Should be corrected by a good gunsmith.

I have little experience with the mod. 70..but always liked the .375/.458 with controlled claw actions..

There is a rumour that the Mauser type extractor has broken on some recently made mod. 70 rifles, due to bad hardening procedure...but still just a rumour here..

Hunter-Habib said:

and would really appreciate it if somebody taught me how I can upload the video on these forums for all to see.

Click to expand...

You need to upload the video to Youtube, then you add the link to the Youtube video into your post.

Is it possible the bolt handle is not moving into its full upright position when operated from the shoulder? But when operated from the hip it is coming to the full upright position. Perhaps the angle of pressure from each position is slightly different causing the bolt handle to catch on the raceway?

The good thing is, he can still use it for a crutch, if he rolls an ankle!

This is very important information for people in the market for a new big bore Winchester

DM sent on posting a video. It could be a great help in finding the problem.

I would say that he has an issue with his particular rifle. Every once in a while new rifles have problems too. Winchester is great about repairing rifles with issues at no cost to the consumer.

I had an issue with a brand well-respected brand of double rifle that was much pricier than a model 70. I wouldn’t put everybody on high alarm about it, but any responsible DG hunter should know their rifle is functioning well before going hunting.

Well at least it fired, sometimes my wife M-70 doesn't fire.

Just an experianced guess...
It could be a small area inside of action that was not properly machined.
Assumining the rifle is in part of world where it could not be returned to the manufacturer for service,

I would work the bolt hard at extreme angles for a couple thousand times.
Start slow but at same angle of hand/arm position to bolt handle.
Increase speed until binding starts.
Put a glove on hand, turn on TV of video and work the bolt at problem angle time and time again.

A black marker could cover the friction surface of bolt to reveal where the bolt is binding.
Lapping compound could be added to speed up the bolt working action smooth process.

I follow the above process to make my Mauser action rifles, and Model 70's as or nearly as smooth as my Heym Martini Express. Given enough bolt strokes, the high areas will eventually be worn down.

Your milage may vary...

My god.
CZ 550 phased out, Ruger stops production of iconic models including no 1, sako stops production of rifles in 40 plus caliber, and now new Winchester m70 in 458 has these symptoms?

What this world came to?

mark-hunter said:

My god.
CZ 550 phased out, Ruger stops production of iconic models including no 1, sako stops production of rifles in 40 plus caliber, and now new Winchester m70 in 458 has these symptoms?

What this world came to?

Click to expand...

Although made with better steel and technically a safer action, this is an example of why many prefer the pre-64 Model 70 rifles. Of the new CRF M70's, the rifles made in New Haven command higher prices for good reason.

The above stated, given the choices of new .375 to .458 rifles available today at reasonable prices, I'll choose the Winchester M70 any day. If available, the new Mempis Michigan made Montana Rifle Company rifles at about 60% more cost than the Winchesters are far and above worth every penny!!! Their Tsavo in .375 H&H are available now with .458 Lott to follow in a year or so. After those, a .416 Rem is planned for. Some things are worth waiting for

I agree that a DG rifle that cycles that roughly is a danger to the user! It should be immediately addressed by a competent gun smith. However, to suggest that this one gun is indicative of all, or even most, Portuguese-made Winchesters is wrong. I’ve owned several, shot even more, and I’m confident that this is a rare thing. It should definitely not have left the factory cycling like this, but factory made guns from all manufacturers include a few lemons.

Was he shooting factory ammo or reloads?

I am a Winchester fan, so I am biased.

You don’t say that it came out of the box this way, only that it has the problem now after two years of use. If it did come out of the box this way, why the hell has he been guiding DG hunters for two years with it? Plenty of time to have it rectified.

Just demonstrates that no matter the automation, CNC machinery involved or AI, making a reliable, quality product still requires skilled people to operate, monitor, override and correct if necessary, the machine. I’m afraid a false sense of security tends to creep into these systems as tech takes over from human involvement. A type of dumbing down. Theoretically, the jobs in final inspection should be the most boring of the entire process.

As to the rifle in question?? I have owned and shot and worked on A LOT of Win 70s over the years, from the earliest models through one example of the most current. None predating the 2006 FN purchase and none have ever demonstrated anything even similar to what was described by @Hunter-Habib. Some have been more accurate than others, some smoother than others but none with the fatal failure symptoms of operation jam as described. That rifle needs to go directly to a competent gunsmith who understands the details of the mechanics of the Win 70. Battery timing between the striker and safety system is critical in the M70 design and many gunsmiths are not familiar with it.

I have owned exactly one post 2006/New Haven Win 70. It was a plain jane 30-06 purchased new in 2012. Not exceptionally accurate but within the range of other M7Os. No jams. The new, post 2006 “lawyer” trigger design is a downgrade from the original, IMO. Fair fit and finish. But the metal to metal fit, even though a result of the new, much acclaimed “superior” CNC machine process with brand new machines in a new factory, did have a couple of obvious flaws. The most glaring was a hiccup that could be felt when cycling the bolt. Apparently there was a “dip” in the receiver’s lug raceway at the full battery position of bolt travel. That dip could be felt as both bolt lugs would drop into a shallow depression. My guess is the machine tool/mill that cut that raceway had a “yaya” in the process of cutting the raceway. It never jammed during bolt cycling but it could definitely be felt. The only times I’ve ever felt that or similar was in a few older bolt rifles that had been shot with extreme over pressure loads where the bolt lugs had been set back into the raceway creating a shallow “divot” or depression.

Time will tell about the fate of the Win M70. ??

Does the rifle cycle for black hunters?

Why in the world would a person take a rifle on a dangerous game hunt that would only work in a certain position. How could a person ever walk out the door of a gunshop with a new gun and not check the rifle for proper function.

MS 9x56 said:

Is it possible the bolt handle is not moving into its full upright position when operated from the shoulder? But when operated from the hip it is coming to the full upright position. Perhaps the angle of pressure from each position is slightly different causing the bolt handle to catch on the raceway?

Click to expand...

I think this is probably the most logical explanation. My pre-64 Model 70 had some sticking issues, and the action felt a little rough when I first got it. I disassembled the whole thing, including the bolt assembly, cleaned everything, lubricated the moving parts, and put it all back together. It helped, but the action still wasn’t as smooth as I wanted.

I then very carefully polished a few areas on the bolt and follower, starting with 5,000-grit sandpaper and finishing with 7,000 grit. I took my time, cleaning things up and checking the results as I went.

Voilà! The action now cycles beautifully for a rifle that’s more than 75 years old.

Hi, everybody. Thank you so much for all your comments.
@PerH is working to have the two videos uploaded here where my white hunter is showing the problem. One video is 16 seconds. The other is 20 seconds. Hopefully, we can all get to the bottom of this mystery together.

Now, to answer some queries.

@Ontario Hunter he was using factory ammunition. Federal Premium 500Gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claws during my hippopotamus hunt and my friend’s Cape buffalo hunt.

@Doug3006 you are 100% right. We cannot blame the Portuguese Winchester Model 70s on principle. As mentioned previously, his plains game rifle is also a Portuguese Winchester Model 70 chambered in .264 Winchester Magnum. And that one cycles as smooth as silk.

@LimbNoMo and @coyote wacker he has had this problem since he bought the rifle. And yes, he’s been backing up dangerous game hunts with this defective weapon for the last two years. I was as appalled as you both are. But I am never condescending towards my outfitters regardless of their poor judgment. Good quality rifles are not very easy to come by in Africa, especially amongst the younger white hunters who can’t usually afford bespoke firearms. Nevertheless, he’s very lucky that in the last two years, nobody in his hunting party (be it himself, his trackers or his clients) got hurt. I gave him a very constructive scolding on this subject.

@USMA84DAB you must excuse my language. “White Hunter” is what people of our generation (and hailing from former British colonies) call what people of your generation call a “PH” or “Professional Hunter”. It’s a force of habit that I still often use the old dialect, I’m afraid.