I too have owned and shot many different pre- 64s, post- 64s PFs, post- 64 classic CRFs and even a post- New Haven (aka the FN). There was (is) nothing special about the FN. The one I owned even had a small but distinct double hitch that could be felt in the lug raceway during bolt throw. It was purchased new so it wasn't a lug setback from an over pressure event in its history. CNC or not, it was made that way. I don't really care if a bunch of individual operations are done CNC, it was not superior IMO to any previous M70 that I've had experience with. The MOA trigger, which came with the FN change, is simply some version of a "lawyer" trigger and in IMO inferior to the original M70 design. The barrel, bore and chamber on the FN were so-so. The rifle overall was no more accurate than any other Winchester M70. If anything it was I guess in the average somewhere. Not saying it was a lemon nor suffered inferior manufacture or assembly. It just wasn't better than any other M70 I've had experience with and the trigger was not better.
One improvement in the Winchester M70 took place IIRC in '68 with the introduction of the anti-bind "feature". That was done during the infamous early PF era so naturally it would have been ignored or over-looked by many. That change is rarely mentioned and is usually far overshadowed by the tantrums the purists obsess over about the PF-CRF change of '64. The anti bind design change was a great improvement to the action and one that even the M98 could benefit from. If you've ever had an M98 type bolt "bind" at the beginning of the forward thrust right at the point of maximum rear travel, you'll know what that is. Winchester corrected that bind potential in the M70 in 1968 with that simple design change.
Ironically, one of the the most accurate M70s I ever owned was a push feed made in 1972. That thing was used continuously under all manner of field conditions over many years and never burped, hiccuped, hesitated or failed to operate perfectly and shoot accurately.
