New haven M70

[62flint]

I am looking at a New haven M70 in 300wm with the BOSS on the barrel.
What is the genral consenus on these rifles, Specifically what is the expected accuracy. Looking to make it a hunting rifle, not planning on modifying it.
I do handload and hope to get it close to moa or better, or am I asking to much?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

If the boss gizmo is ported, it won't be fun to shoot. I found an aftermarket one without ports for my brother's 300 WM Browning BAR after I shot it once at a deer from prone position and the ported blast left me hearing broken glass for days afterwards.

 

[dogcat1]

Cut off the Boss, recrown or thread for an suppressor and shoot it. Mine has been 1-1.5 MOA with Barnes factory ammo.

 

[62flint]

Cut off the Boss, recrown or thread for a suppressor and shoot it. Mine has been 1-1.5 MOA with Barnes factory ammo.

Why cut off the boss ?? Does it not function as advertised?

 

[Flipper Dude]

Why cut off the boss ?? Does it not function as advertised?

It probably functions exactly as advertised. And will kill the hearing of your PH and your trackers, and a game scout if one is around, and anyone else in your hunting group. I suppose they are great for a guy hunting alone with ear protection. I’m assuming it’s a ported system.

 

[dogcat1]

I never like it as it is very loud. The concept of dampening barrel vibration never caught on much less really was proved as an accuracy enhancement.

 

[gbflyer]

You can cut it off, or there is a solid adapter that still allows tuning but eliminates the brake. Didn't catch on? Eric Cortina took the concept and is selling his version like hotcakes. The tuning is effective if you like fussing with such things. For a hunting gun? Meh......

 

[62flint]

What about the rifle overalll yay or nay?

 

[JimmyJack54]

I have a Winchester Classic Stainless BOSS in .270 Win and a Winchester Classic Stainless BOSS in 300 WM. The .270 has been my primary rifle since the mid 1990s. I use it for whitetail deer and it’s been on four African PG safaris. It shoots less than .5 MOA with factory ammo. It’s the most accurate factory rifle I own. I purchased the .300WM, based on my good experience with the .270, when I came across it in a pawn shop around 15 years ago. It’s an accurate rifle as well.

I will also echo the sentiment that the ported muzzle brake (BOSS) is dangerously loud. I’ve converted both BOSS devices to the non-ported BOSS CR. This non-ported attachment, in my experience, is a compromise. I still retain the accuracy with this device, it reduces noise compared to the standard BOSS, but it doesn’t reduce the recoil as much as the standard BOSS (for me that’s not a priority in .270 or .300WM). I believe the BOSS CR is still a bit louder than if you were to cut and crown your barrel. You may find a BOSS CR for $30-35 and you may want to consider it as a first step. See here: https://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/19630

I’ve been reluctant to cut and crown my rifle, especially the .270, because of its accuracy and that it has served me so well for over 30 years. If I ever have to replace the barrel I will do so without the BOSS device.

The same applies to the factory Tupperware stock on my rifle. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

This is my .300WM Winchester Classic Stainless BOSS with the BOSS CR on the left.

 

[MontanaPat]

It is probably a push feed versus a CRF if that matters to you at all. I think most of those New Haven guns that were not in DG calibers are push feed during a certain time frame. I have a New Haven M70 in 7x57 that is push feed. In my opinion PF versus CRF doesn’t really matter in these calibers

 

[gbflyer]

What about the rifle overalll yay or nay?

They are good rifles. They retain the basic, open trigger that the new ones don't have. I have owned 6 of them over the years, the ones I have shot have all exhibited acceptable yet not remarkable hunting accuracy. With any production rifle, there is the occasional one that is lacking I'm sure, generally easily remedied with a new barrel. They do have an interesting bedding system which consists of what looks like hot glue around the recoil lug. Some of them are fine as is, others benefit from a real bedding job.

 

[JimmyJack54]

It is probably a push feed versus a CRF if that matters to you at all. I think most of those New Haven guns that were not in DG calibers are push feed during a certain time frame. I have a New Haven M70 in 7x57 that is push feed. In my opinion PF versus CRF doesn’t really matter in these calibers

I’m only aware of Winchester offering the BOSS on their “Classic” M70 rifles, which are CRF.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I’m only aware of Winchester offering the BOSS on their “Classic” M70 rifles, which are CRF.

Sticking that butt ugly technocrap booger on the end of a "classic" rifle's barrel is the definition of oxymoron.

 

[Hoofnit]

I’ve cut and recrowned a lot of these rifles over the years, accuracy has always been good, also have installed muzzle brakes in place of the boss. These are good actions, markedly better than the current fn versions, the worst thing about the boss seemed to be that they were loud and that they would periodically come loose causing all sorts of problems. If I was using it as a hunting rifle I’d cut the threads off and recrown it and go on about my day. ‍

 

[Hififile324]

I have had bad luck with the boss systems. I had one in .30-06 and one in .338WM. The boss theory was simple, tune your barrel harmonics to obtain the best possible accuracy with any load. I did shoot some good groups. But I went hunting and found that the BOSS lock nut loosened and the BOSS dial rotated off of the sweet spot. Then there is no telling where you were going to hit. I even tried witness marks, Loc-Tite Blue. Nothing helped. I decided it was not worth an expensive hunt to miss a shot with those rifles. My 2 cents.

 

[62flint]

So I am hearing the rifle is good , just cut the boss off,
I wonder what the going rate is to cut and recrown?
Those of you with the m70 in 300wm. How is the recoil? Snappy or tolerable? I have a m70 in 375hh and 308. Both are not painful to shoot. I had a rem700 once in 30-06 that was the most painful rifle I ever owned. Like a karate chop in the shoulder every time the trigger broke

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

In my opinion the New Haven M70 CRF Classic (Boss or no Boss) is the best M70 Winchester ever built.

 

[leslie hetrick]

i have a ss left hand browning a-bolt in .280 that shoots pretty good, that was loud and i called browning and they sent be a non ported replacement for free. i am temped to cut the boss off and recrown the barrel.

 

[JHT]

9/16″×24 RH Fluted Thread Protector [0.625″ OD, 1″ OAL] Browning Boss – SKU#9485 - Hughes Precision LLC

Fluted Thread Protector FACTORY DIRECT TO YOU PRICE 9/16"×24 RH FEMALE Barrel End

hughesprecision.com

9/16″×24 RH STAINLESS Fluted Thread Protector Browning Boss [0.625″ OD, 1″ OAL] – SKU#9486 - Hughes Precision LLC

Fluted Thread Protector FACTORY DIRECT TO YOU PRICE 9/16"×24 RH FEMALE Barrel End

hughesprecision.com

Here’s a pic of my .300 Win. Mag. A-bolt with the BOSS removed and a blued Hughes Precision thread protector installed.

 

[jswitzer]

Great rifles with the best of what Winchester put into a model 70. Good triggers and can be reasonably accurate if the barrel isn't trashed. I've built many and with new barrels they can be easy half moa rifles. Personally shoot a 6.5cm for my comp gun and have a 470 capstick that is the same. Have built 404s, 9.3x62s, 300wm, 458lotts, and a host of other calibers.