Winchester M70 Safari Express

CTDolan

AH elite
Joined
Mar 16, 2015
Messages
1,482
Reaction score
1,644
Location
Minnesota
Media
18
Articles
1
I'm considering buying a Winchester M70 in .375 H&H, new make (unless a desirable used one is available when ready...haven't got the funds just yet but am hoping to be in a position to purchase in a month or so). Who among you has such a rifle, be it in .375, .416 or .458? Any regrets? Any issues? Positives? Trigger?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
 
Have several Safari Express models in 375, 416 and 458 WM/Lott but all New Haven manufactured. Love them, don't have any experience in the Portugal models.
 
I have a 1992 model in .375 HH which is a push feed with a 1x5 Weaver on it. I have owned it for six years. My son lightened up the trigger for me after buying it. It shoots better than I can shoot so the accuracy is a non issue. It was my African rifle on my first trip over. It came with a Bausch and Lomb scope on it. The previous owner had taken it to Africa twice. I have had no issues with the rifle.
 
I have two of the newer CRF models. One was converted to a 404 Jeffery and the other is a 375 H&H. No trouble with either.
 
I'm considering buying a Winchester M70 in .375 H&H, new make (unless a desirable used one is available when ready...haven't got the funds just yet but am hoping to be in a position to purchase in a month or so). Who among you has such a rifle, be it in .375, .416 or .458? Any regrets? Any issues? Positives? Trigger?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I have a .375 made after FN took over Winchester. It is a little front heavy, but that's good for keeping muzzle down during firing. And it feels a little fat in my hands, but then my hands aren't the biggest either.

Beyond that, I have no criticisms. The rifle has never seen a gunsmith, I've done nothing to it myself. It is very accurate too. Looking forward to using it on my next hunt in a few weeks.
 
Thanks guys. The rifles seem to have a good reputation and I like some of the features. I do wish it was a bit lighter and a bit more slim (just my preference). For the money, though, I cannot imagine doing better.
 
I just bought a .416 Remington M70 that was made in Portugal. It is very well built and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Portuguese Winchesters.

Mine weighs 9 pounds without scope or mounts and I wouldn't want it any lighter. It's comfortable to shoot off the bench.
 
Last month I bought one made in Portugal as well, also in 416. Haven’t weighted it but to me it is a bit light. Also, I hate the recoil pad on it, it’s too soft and I’ll be changing it. The action is reasonably smooth though it is not Sauer smooth. Overall a decent and reasonably priced rifle and I love the jewelled bolt. On my rifle it actually says made in USA assembled in Portugal by Browning.

Image1557349403.261414.jpg
 
I own a 300WM Super Grade and a Safari Grade 375HH both Portuguese and like them both the. They are well built and have very smooth actions.
 
I have one in both 375 H&H and 416 Remington, both are fine rifles. Wood is very nice on the 375 H&H and outstanding on the 416. Both triggers are under 3lbs.
 
I'm considering buying a Winchester M70 in .375 H&H, new make (unless a desirable used one is available when ready...haven't got the funds just yet but am hoping to be in a position to purchase in a month or so). Who among you has such a rifle, be it in .375, .416 or .458? Any regrets? Any issues? Positives? Trigger?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

CTDolan, I have a 375HH and love it. It's been to Africa twice and has accounted for many species from springbok to buf. Mine likes Barnes 235g TSX for pg and Barnes 350g TSX for dg. I have had not one hiccup with anything I put in it and it is dead on out to 300 yards with a 200 yard zero. I have shot steel out to 750 at FTW Ranch just for exercise but it's not recommended for hunting.
It is my favorite caliber and rifle for anything that walks the planet. A good way to tell if you have a good one is to pull the bolt back, tip the muzzle down some and the bolt will slide home. Action is silk smooth, I set my trigger to about 2 1/2 to 3 lbs, no slack, no take up. It breaks like a glass rod.
I like the M70 so well, I bought a 7RM and it works just the same.
You can't go wrong with an M70.
 
Have several M70s, I love them. The 416 Rem was my first M70 as well as my first taste of larger calibers.
 
My only rifle is a Winchester Model 70 in .375 Holland and Holland Magnum. It's a pre war model with a Damned thick 24 inch Barrel . The rifle was originally bought by my great grand dad in '38 or '39. He passed it on to my Grand dad . In '68 , my Grand dad took it to Kenya on a Safari and took a Bull Elephant using it and a shoulder shot. He was using 300 grain round nosed solids from ICI Kynoch ( you really didn't have much choices in ammunition back in those days ) . Kynoch stopped making centre fire ammo roughly around that time . Granddad gifted me the gun to me a few years back. And l have used it to take EVERY four LEGGED critter here in the states , from small deer to a couple of really big brown bears. Think of .375 H&H as the " Swiss Army knife " of rifle calibers. Next year , l do plan to take it to my first African Safari and take an ele or buff with it and some plains game. But l do have a couple of things to say. You read on the internet about how the pre-64 model 70 rifles are the " Holy Grail " of rifles. Don't get me wrong . I LOVE my rifle but it is definitely not without imperfections. The stock of my Rifle split back when my granddad was using it . He put it together again using ( what l believe to be ) car door bolts and some kind of strong adhesive. My grand dad also told me that he had to have the feed ramp of the rifle smoothened so that it would properly chamber certain kinds of ammo. I use iron sights on my rifle . And l really am happy with it.
 
I have a .375 made after FN took over Winchester. It is a little front heavy, but that's good for keeping muzzle down during firing. And it feels a little fat in my hands, but then my hands aren't the biggest either.

Beyond that, I have no criticisms. The rifle has never seen a gunsmith, I've done nothing to it myself. It is very accurate too. Looking forward to using it on my next hunt in a few weeks.

a little story re "fat in my hands" to quote phil.
some yours ago I wanted a 30/06 and a 375 in matching rifles.
I tried many in the shop, and settled on sako due to thinness in the hand.
well that turned out to be a mistake.
it was discovered that the Winchester "thickness" gave more control over the rifle.
and the sako forend on the 375 tore out of my hand in recoil as well.
the Winchester stock design is a good one in the real world.
the slightly muzzle heavy win 375 h&h offers good follow through as well.
bruce.
 
I have one of the new CRF model 70’s in 416 rem mag. Just purchased about a month ago. Only complaint was accuracy. Finally had to redo all the factory bedding and now it shoots under 1/2 inch groios
 
I have one in 3006 and 375H&H they are awesome rifles, wouldn't hesitate to own more.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
53,613
Messages
1,131,126
Members
92,666
Latest member
ModestaHac
 

 

 

Latest profile posts

Impact shots from the last hunt

Early morning Impala hunt, previous link was wrong video

Headshot on jackal this morning

Mature Eland Bull taken in Tanzania, at 100 yards, with 375 H&H, 300gr, Federal Premium Expanding bullet.

20231012_145809~2.jpg
 
Top