Post 2006 Win mod 70 question for the experts

[Kevin Wagner]

I am a fan of the post 64-win mod 70 CRF models made in New Haven (the 1992-2006 guns), with the “G series” serial numbers. My understanding is post 2006 the manufacturing went overseas but I’m seeing some post 2006 guns that are being advertised as “Made in USA” specifically on the left side of the barrel it is saying “made in USA. BACO. Inc. MORGAN UTAH” while other are stamped “Imported by BACO, Inc., Morgan, Utah – Made in Portugal by Browning Viana”. My understanding was post 2006 all win mod 70’s were being manufactured in Portugal, is this just an advertising trick ie. Manufactured in Portugal and just enough final assembly in the US to be considered a USA made firearm or am I missing something?

 

[Doug3006]

Starting in 2007 through 2008, Model 70s were made in South Carolina at the Fabrique Nationale plant (FN owns Browning and Winchester….and FN is owned by the regional government of Wallonia…a Belgian state.) In 2008, manufacturing moved to Portugal. So you can find US built post 2006 rifles out there.

 

[Kevin Wagner]

thank you Doug, so is it safe to assume if i se a CRF Model 70 with a post 2006 serial number ( not a G series) with the barrel stamped "made in USA. BACO. Inc. MORGAN UTAH" its a 07/08 gun made in SC? Also in your opinion have you seen any quality difference between the New Have and SC guns?

 

[Doug3006]

Lots of the Winchester faithful, of which I’m a card carrying member, prefer the New Haven-made post ‘06 guns. I believe some of this is due to a made-in-American bias. Some of it is due to (bad) personal experiences with guns they bought. My experience has been different. The later New Haven production runs had a lot of lemons in them. Poor fit and finish. Even guns that failed to feed, fire and extract reliably.

I bought a NIB 1994 manufactured M70 Custom Express that simply would not feed from the magazine. My gunsmith replaced the mag spring and filed the ramps. Now it feeds perfectly. That rifle should have never left New Haven, the custom shop no less, in such condition.

The South Carolina guns I bought were better in terms of fit, finish and function. The Portugal guns were better yet. Recently I’ve read posts on this forum discussing really shoddy quality coming out of Portugal lately. I can’t comment because I bought my last Portugal gun some years ago.

 

[RedTag]

Brief overview:
Late 1930s to 1963, the vaunted pre-‘64 Model 70 with controlled round feed and open trigger design. Best version in my opinion and my personal favorite rifles in my collection. The pre-‘64 H&H Magnum rifles have a magazine capacity of four rounds, one round more than later versions. The pre WW2 guns have a safety that swings the opposite direction, which I think is pretty cool.
1964 to 1992, the often maligned push feed rifles. In all honesty most of these are not bad rifles. They retained their open trigger design (which is arguably the best trigger for any hunting rifle ever designed) and their excellent 3-position safety. Receivers redesigned with uniform measurements (versus pre-‘64 guns which is a somewhat nuanced topic) for mounting scopes.
1992-2006, the classic series reintroduced the controlled round feed, retaining the post-‘64 receiver measurements for scope mounting. The push feed models continued being offered as a budget option.
2006 to present, new design under FN ownership. The major difference is the MoA trigger advertised as new and improved. This was a wrong move in my opinion. The MoA is a fine target trigger but the old trigger was/is better for hunting. FN closed the CT factory due to quality concerns among other reasons and moved production to SC. The SC built rifles aren’t marked SC but are marked with Morgan Utah made in USA. Eventually they moved production to Portugal and those rifles are clearly marked as such.

 

[cash_tx]

Slight correction to the above - FN made the Model 70 in the South Carolina plant from 2007 - 2013 (I have one of the 2013 Featherweights in 270 Winchester). The FN made rifles from SC were pretty well done, and one can easily swap the MOA trigger for a Timney if desired (I actually don't mind mine). Everything went to Portugal in 2014.

 

[cash_tx]

Just a quick follow up note - I pulled my 2013 Model 70 Featherweight out of the safe, and it does say 'Made in USA - BACO Inc. - Morgan, Utah" on the barrel; which I believe is specific to the FN South Carolina guns.

 

[maxtheflyinghorse]

Three of my mod 70s all
Made in New haven CT