Model 70 FWT Compact: 7mm-08 or 6.5 Creedmoor?

[RC5487]

Looking to purchase a Model 70 FWT or FWT compact in 7mm-08 or 6.5 Creedmoor as a traditional wood stocked primary hunting rifle for everything from hiking around Appalachians to hunting from ground blinds to tree stands, (hence the compact). Hope is to run 120-130gr bullets in either as shots are typically in the 25-150yd range where I mostly hunt.

I have a 6.5CM (and have had a 7mm-08) so very familiar with both, but especially with the 6.5. No issues with terminal performance with either.

Does anyone have experience with the model 70 FWT or FWT compact that can speak to function, reliability, preferred grain weight for accuracy, etc?

Which would you get and why. I don’t want to waste money on a rifle that doesn’t function reliably or can’t shoot…

I love the aesthetic of the classics.

Items I’m contemplating:

1. Model 70s and Ammo are abundant in 6.5 currently.
2. .264 in various flavors is my most used hunting caliber for many years, I tend gravitate toward that out of ease and familiarity.
3. Model 70s in 7mm-08 are sold out everywhere right now (Winchester says they’ll be available in July though, but who knows…)
4. 7mm-08 velocity seems less effected by a 20in barrel than the 6.5

Thoughts? Experiences?

 

[AZ_Hunter]

6.5cm for rifle and ammo availability. With the bullet weights and ranges you intend to use it, there is zero reason not to.

 

[b0nes]

Small sample size but I would avoid Winchester 70’s. I bought 1 and it has never grouped any better than 1 1/4”. I had work done to it (fluting, bedding, timney trigger) and the accuracy never changed. Ra2 and tikka will be much better for you. Our RA2 and my Kimber Montana consistently shoot 3/4 and under groups. I love a schnabel forend but the 70 is not the one in my opinion.

 

[OXN939]

Looking to purchase a Model 70 FWT or FWT compact in 7mm-08 or 6.5 Creedmoor as a traditional wood stocked primary hunting rifle for everything from hiking around Appalachians to hunting from ground blinds to tree stands, (hence the compact). Hope is to run 120-130gr bullets in either as shots are typically in the 25-150yd range where I mostly hunt.

I have a 6.5CM (and have had a 7mm-08) so very familiar with both, but especially with the 6.5. No issues with terminal performance with either.

Does anyone have experience with the model 70 FWT or FWT compact that can speak to function, reliability, preferred grain weight for accuracy, etc?

Which would you get and why. I don’t want to waste money on a rifle that doesn’t function reliably or can’t shoot…

I love the aesthetic of the classics.

Items I’m contemplating:

1. Model 70s and Ammo are abundant in 6.5 currently.
2. .264 in various flavors is my most used hunting caliber for many years, I tend gravitate toward that out of ease and familiarity.
3. Model 70s in 7mm-08 are sold out everywhere right now (Winchester says they’ll be available in July though, but who knows…)
4. 7mm-08 velocity seems less effected by a 20in barrel than the 6.5

Thoughts? Experiences?

Great choice. An M70 compact in 7mm-08 is a "one size fits all, very well" solution for most hunting in the US. Look into shooting Hammer Hunter 120s, they go with the 7mm-08 like peas and carrots. See my post for the terminal effectiveness of that combo.

 

[SDHNTR]

Fabulous choice in a factory rifle and a slice of Americana. To me, the determining factor between your cartridge choices is whether or not you reload. If yes, 7mm-08. If not, 6.5 Creed.

 

[xrangerx]

I went through the same dilemma on caliber. I went with 6.5 purely based on factory ammo options. I cut it from 22” to 18” to put an OG on it as soon as it is here

 

[SDHNTR]

Small sample size but I would avoid Winchester 70’s. I bought 1 and it has never grouped any better than 1 1/4”. I had work done to it (fluting, bedding, timney trigger) and the accuracy never changed. Ra2 and tikka will be much better for you. Our RA2 and my Kimber Montana consistently shoot 3/4 and under groups. I love a schnabel forend but the 70 is not the one in my opinion.

I don’t know where to find the thumbs down button but this deserves a big one. Disparaging a M70 is like insulting John Wayne, simply unAmerican!

 

[roosiebull]

6.5cm for rifle and ammo availability. With the bullet weights and ranges you intend to use it, there is zero reason not to.

I agree, they are such similar cartridges, but 6.5 has more options in rifles and factory ammo, And no critter would know the difference

 

[RC5487]

Ra2 and tikka will be much better for you.

I understand. It’s good to get balanced approach and feedback. Thank you for suggestions.

I have a Tikka in a different chambering, it’s a good shooter, but after handling a m70 featherweight 22in 6.5cm in store very recently, I liked the feel, look, better. Appeared high quality.

I’m looking for:
- 20in barrel
- wood stock
- 6.5 or 7mm-08

I want it to check those boxes.

 

[RC5487]

Fabulous choice in a factory rifle and a slice of Americana. To me, the determining factor between your cartridge choices is whether or not you reload. If yes, 7mm-08. If not, 6.5 Creed.

I don’t reload, and wide availability of accurate factory ammo is a plus for 6.5

I can find it anywhere in a pinch. I can order from ammoseek often, but even looking online I see less offerings, options of 7mm-08 that was the downside to me.

 

[roosiebull]

I understand. It’s good to get balanced approach and feedback. Thank you for suggestions.

I have a Tikka in a different chambering, it’s a good shooter, but after handling a m70 featherweight 22in 6.5cm in store very recently, I liked the feel, look, better. Appeared high quality.

I’m looking for:
- 20in barrel
- wood stock
- 6.5 or 7mm-08

I want it to check those boxes.

Agree, and what could be a possible scenario where a 7-08 would outperform a 6.5creed?

I like the 7-08 and have had a few (4 I think) but I really can’t think of a reason to pick it over a 6.5, even if i planned on reloading, aside from the extremely played out creed jokes, I can’t think of a reason to buy a 7-08 over a 6.5 creed today

 

[Snowwolfe]

My wife has the Win 70 compact in 7mm/08 and it is her favorite rifle. Or I should say was her favorite rifle when we lived in Tennessee. I also purchased her a Tikka 6.5 CM and put it in a correct LOP McMillan stock and had the barrel cut down to 20 inches for rainy day hunting.
She still preferred the W70.
Great choice.

 

[RC5487]

Agree, and what could be a possible scenario where a 7-08 would outperform a 6.5creed?

I like the 7-08 and have had a few (4 I think) but I really can’t think of a reason to pick it over a 6.5, even if i planned on reloading, aside from the extremely played out creed jokes, I can’t think of a reason to buy a 7-08 over a 6.5 creed today

That’s where my line of reasoning went too, and where I’m leaning unless someone has compelling evidence otherwise.

The main advantage I could see was I have a 6.5x55 and I don’t have a 7mm of any variety.

But also worry I run into the same issue with 6.5x55… lack of availability and variety of ammo as I don’t reload. It seems like there are fewer 7mm-08 offerings even compared to a few years and more and more 6.5 offerings.

The only “advantage” of 7mm-08 was what, 100-150fps difference and .02 bigger diameter which is null more or less at ranges I most often hunt.

 

[DeadSound]

I would strongly recommend the 6.5 Creed, 7mm-08 is rapidly losing popularity and ammo is going to get scarce. A couple guys at Hornady necked a 6.5 Creed up to .284 and that was pretty cool but that's a ton of wildcat work haha. You cant go wrong with the 6.5.

One more thing is that you can get modernized aftermarket stocks for Model 70's now which is huge, MLOK & Arca options, QD swivel stud attachments. All the good stuff! Good luck hunting!

 

[RC5487]

I would strongly recommend the 6.5 Creed, 7mm-08 is rapidly losing popularity and ammo is going to get scarce. A couple guys at Hornady necked a 6.5 Creed up to .284 and that was pretty cool but that's a ton of wildcat work haha. You cant go wrong with the 6.5.

One more thing is that you can get modernized aftermarket stocks for Model 70's now which is huge, MLOK & Arca options, QD swivel stud attachments. All the good stuff! Good luck hunting!

This seems to be the consensus. That’s pretty interesting, too.

I had a 7mm-08 a few years ago, liked it well enough but traded it for another rifle. It seems like even online there is less ammo options now.

 

[Maddog58]

I have the model 70 Featherweight in 6.5 and it shoots lights out. Great gun and no regrets buying it. My Grandson shoots it more than me and has killed multiple critters with it

 

[RC5487]

I have the model 70 Featherweight in 6.5 and it shoots lights out. Great gun and no regrets buying it. My Grandson shoots it more than me and has killed multiple critters with it

Great to hear! What shoots best out of it?

 

[Maddog58]

Great to hear! What shoots best out of it?

Hornady Superperformance 129gr SST

 

[displacedtexan]

I really like 6.5cm... Had a few, just bought a real nice (by my standards) 6.5 rifle, and put a Tenmile on it, with the goal/plan of it being the rifle I use on big game. The caliber just makes sense and checks a lot of boxes for a primary rifle.

Wood stock would make me look hard at the 7mm-08 though. More classic.

 

[RC5487]

Hornady Superperformance 129gr SST

Thank you, you’re the second person to tell me that they’re model 70 in 6.5cm likes 129gr-130gr I know that no two rifles are guaranteed to love the same ammo, but at least it’s a clue on where to start.