Model 70 Extreme Weather accuracy issues

[muledeerchaser]

I just purchased a European made Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather 30-06 . The barrel seems to be extremely picky as to what commercial ammunition it likes. It only seems to like Hornady 178 grain Precision Hunter Ammunition or Sierra 165 Grain Game Kings……. Pretty disappointed at its performance…
I have two other current manufacture Model 70s, an Alaskan and a Super Grade in 30-06 also and their accuracy is pretty consistent across the board.
Has anybody else had trouble with these Extreme Weather versions of the rifle, stainless steel barrels?

 

[allstajacket]

I have a model 70 extreme weather MB in .308 and have been pretty happy with its performance.

I can get around 1/2 MOA with 165 interlock handloads, but have gotten ~1 moa with multiple factory loads.


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[thinhorn_AK]

Did you torque down your action screws? I have one in 30-06 that I got back in 2016, it’s an incredibly accurate gun. I mostly shoot hand loads through it but it seems to stack pretty much anything I feed it.

 

[Choupique]

Mine is a solid 1.5 MOA rifle with anything I put in it. Mine doesn't seem to care at all. It's a BACO/Portugal ewss.

I'm inclined to think that if it shoots anything good, it's not really a rifle problem. If it's screwed up it shouldn't shoot anything good. Did some 10 shot groups to see if anything is really different?

 

[RobDP]

I have had several rifles like this. I feel like it is common for rifles to like one load over others. I also have some that are not picky. As long as they will shoot an acceptable load for the intended job at hand don’t worry. The 165g Gamekings should be pretty good for most medium sized game so that’s a positive! The 178g ELD-X should be a stellar load for larger game and for shooting steel out quite some distance. For me if it’ll shoot an SST or a Partition well I am confident that it’s going to do the job.

 

[Rich M]

I have a 1980’s model 70 SS. It shoots 150 sierra pro hunters at 2900 fps into an inch at 250 yds when i do my part. My problem is i like to flinch w that gun.

 

[Bluumoon]

I seen one improve dramatically w a suppressor… pretty punchy w out one.

 

[BigNate]

If it shoots something we'll, it's harmonics. Action screws being torqued wrong, or bedding can drastically effect accuracy.

 

[muledeerchaser]

I want to thank everyone for their response to my question….. Just to let you know I am returning the rifle to Winchester for warranty repair or replacement. I have never had a rifle like this and at 68 years old I have had many many rifles to include Sakos, Blazers, Winchesters, Brownings, and Remingtons. I had high hopes for this rifle but I believe it to be cursed by the Devil himself.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

 

[Bratch]

Was there any resolution to this? I’m dealing with a new EWSS 300WM that doesn’t like almost anything I’ve tried. The best I’ve gotten is a little over an inch with 150gr Winchester. 180gr SST, 185gr Berger Hybrid, and 200gr ELD-X are 3-4”.

 

[muledeerchaser]

Was there any resolution to this? I’m dealing with a new EWSS 300WM that doesn’t like almost anything I’ve tried. The best I’ve gotten is a little over an inch with 150gr Winchester. 180gr SST, 185gr Berger Hybrid, and 200gr ELD-X are 3-4”.

I sent the rifle back to Winchester-Browning for a physical exam. They sent the rifle back stating that no rifle disease was noted on examination. They also returned a test target with 3 rounds fired, group under an inch using 180 grain Remington coreloks.
I have never been able to duplicate the results of this test and I am a very good rifleman.
I have found that the barrel likes 150 Remington Coreloks at just over an inch group. This is not a bullet I like to shoot.

Searching the internet I have found that some of the rifles are very problematic and some are gems.

The barrels are of light contour and the fluting is quite deep. The barrel heats up fast and it will not shoot well even when just warm. The chamber area is bedded to about 2 inches and when the chamber is hot it might modify the dimensions to a degree. Most target rifles are bedded just to the recoil lug for this reason.

I really like the feel, handling and esthetics of the rifle. I just might have it rebarreled . Compared to my other 4 Model 70s of European manufacture It has been a disappointment.

If I were you I would foul the barrel with 5 to 10 rounds after a thorough copper cleaning. Bring it back to the range another day so the barrel is at equilibrium with the temperature and shoot two shot groups about 10 minutes apart. Probably give you a good idea of hunting accuracy…. If you have not killed the animal with 2 shots, he is probably running at full speed and extremely accuracy will not be a factor, praying might work at that time.

What would life be like if we did not have women and rifles we just can not figure out.

Wishing you a good life and a safe hunting season……

 

[Kyguy]

A few years ago, I bought an Extreme Weather 30-06. Beautiful rifle and it was well machined and definitely as fine as about any other model 70 that I've had. BUT..... it drove me crazy. EVERY factory load (but one) that I tried, and I think I currently have 20 different factory loads stacked away, would shoot 2" for a 4 shot group. Fire one shot, the next was out 2". The next shot would cut the first, the 4th shot would cut the 2nd hole. The only load that made nice pretty triangles was Federal Fusion 150, and it was boringly consistent 1.25" 3 shot groups. Not much variation on the target either, groups on different targets would be right on top of each other. Granted, that load would do 90% of what needed to be done with a 30-06 but I eventually become enamored with other rifle and sent it down the road.

 

[Choupique]

I guess I got a pretty good one. Mine will outshoot me.

 

[Mike 338]

I had one in 338 Win Mag. A collection of popular parts whose sum was lesser that its parts. I doubt I'll ever buy another Winchester.

 

[Bratch]

I sent the rifle back to Winchester-Browning for a physical exam. They sent the rifle back stating that no rifle disease was noted on examination. They also returned a test target with 3 rounds fired, group under an inch using 180 grain Remington coreloks.
I have never been able to duplicate the results of this test and I am a very good rifleman.
I have found that the barrel likes 150 Remington Coreloks at just over an inch group. This is not a bullet I like to shoot.

Searching the internet I have found that some of the rifles are very problematic and some are gems.

The barrels are of light contour and the fluting is quite deep. The barrel heats up fast and it will not shoot well even when just warm. The chamber area is bedded to about 2 inches and when the chamber is hot it might modify the dimensions to a degree. Most target rifles are bedded just to the recoil lug for this reason.

I really like the feel, handling and esthetics of the rifle. I just might have it rebarreled . Compared to my other 4 Model 70s of European manufacture It has been a disappointment.

If I were you I would foul the barrel with 5 to 10 rounds after a thorough copper cleaning. Bring it back to the range another day so the barrel is at equilibrium with the temperature and shoot two shot groups about 10 minutes apart. Probably give you a good idea of hunting accuracy…. If you have not killed the animal with 2 shots, he is probably running at full speed and extremely accuracy will not be a factor, praying might work at that time.

What would life be like if we did not have women and rifles we just can not figure out.

Wishing you a good life and a safe hunting season……

Thanks for the follow up. Definitely reinforced that I should keep running it down on my end before thinking about sending it back.

Your experience mirrors mine. I really like the rifle and wanted it to be my do-it-all rifle but until I find a bullet it will group that I want to shoot its staying in the safe.

I’ve noticed how hot the barrel gets after a single shot, last trip it was one of 5 rifles I took the range and the other rifles would all get shot at least once if not twice before the 300 was cool enough to shoot again.

I’ve noticed that a lot of the time it will put two touching and a third flyer but it’s not always the second or third shot that is the flyer.

I’m going to try some 165gr ammo and see if it likes it any better, best group so far has been with Winchester 150gr.

Here were the groups last trip:

180 gr SST Superperformance


185gr Federal Berger Hybrids


150gr Winchester XP. This is the best group this rifle has ever shot.


I have 3 other M70s: 2-270s and a 243 that will all shoot multiple rounds into an inch or better.

This was .270 Precision Hunter on the same day I shot those .300 groups

 

[Pre64]

I have many older mod 70 ( made in the 1950s ) all shoot very well after floating barrel and bedding action. I have most of them in Brown stocks I built for them. They are all well under MOA with my loads. My 338 WM is a great shooting rifle , only down side is a barrel that is hard to clean . I think you just need to find that sweet spot , maybe handloading will fix it. Make sure your middle action screw has no pressure on the trigger guard. It should be just touching the guard. Here is one of my groups with 338 WM 185 ttsx at 3190 FPS . It will shoot Nosler 210 partitions just as good. Don’t give up and good luck.

 

[Macintosh]

No one has really mentioned it, so I’ll ask. Have you completely eliminated the possibility that this is caused by an action screw, a scope mount, or the scope itself? Check that any blind screws are actually snug as opposed to just bottoming-out in their blind hole, check to make sure all screws are torqued, check that scope hasnt slipped in the rings, check that the scope itself isnt wandering a bit. I had a rifle that just was too picky for me, but Id check these ^^ first, as to me they are the more likely culprit. I have definitely chased my tail multiple times tthinking it was me or the rifle before, only to finally figure out I had a loose base screw or a broken scope.

 

[Bratch]

My EWSS ended up loving Federal 180gr TSX. I’m running with that load and calling it a day

 

[Pre64]

Never torqued an action screw in my life . I sure that works but in all my mod 70 I have the front and rear action screw snug down and middle screw just touching the trigger guard. Never tighten the middle screw on mod 70 it will most times affect the accuracy in a bad way. Just start checking possibilities one at a time you will most likely get it shooting.