Win 70 EW Accuracy

[Hoopleheader]

Mentioned in a 30-06 thread that I bought a Winchester 70 Extreme Weather SS in ‘06 last year and have been really disappointed in accuracy. I’d say I’m looking at ~ 2-3 MOA with a handful of factory loads with really bad vertical stringing.

I’m having trouble walking away from this one as, aside from how it shoots, it fits the bill in terms of what I was looking for (stainless 30-06 at ~ 7 lbs without scope, 22 in barrel, no muzzle break, with a stiff composite stock… Nosler needs to offer the 21 in ‘06)

I’m tempted to go down the troubleshooting rabbit hole.

How big of a factor do you think this factory bedding job is? It looks like they didn’t apply enough release agent to the receiver flat of the front receiver (bedding compound is still attached to the receiver at the front action screw area).

I’m thinking the rear tang & action screw area might be a bigger problem. There is no support for the rear tang on the driver side as all of the bedding compound broke away. The entire rear screw area looks pretty sloppy.

Do you think fixing the bedding has a decent chance of curing this rifle?

I am thinking of calling Winchester to take a look at it, but they don’t guarantee accuracy and a glass bedding job is not that expensive.

 

[davsco]

not the best looking stock work for sure. i'd def try to take it up the ladder with winchester. no reason a rifle in today's market can't shoot at least close to moa. are you easily moa with your other (or buddy's) rifles, or have you had some moa shooters try this rifle? i wouldn't touch it though before winchester does something or says FU, hopefully the former.

 

[Hoopleheader]

not the best looking stock work for sure. i'd def try to take it up the ladder with winchester. no reason a rifle in today's market can't shoot at least close to moa. are you easily moa with your other (or buddy's) rifles, or have you had some moa shooters try this rifle? i wouldn't touch it though before winchester does something or says FU, hopefully the former.

Thanks.

I don’t claim to be the best shot in the world, but did not have an issue turning it in sub MOA groups with my nearly identical Montana 99 in ‘06 in the same sessions. Or my Tikka in ‘06 before I sold it, and that light SOB was not fun to shoot and had bad trigger over travel.

 

[Cahunter805]

I wouldn’t count on Winchester helping you at all but it may be worth a call.
The EW stocks are pretty solid. I would cut out the factory “bedding” and skim bed the entire action and rear tang as well as keep the barrel free floated.
Another area to check is the most forward front scope base screw. If the screw is to long it can contact the barrel threads and cause accuracy/mount issues also.

 

[Hoopleheader]

I wouldn’t count on Winchester helping you at all but it may be worth a call.
The EW stocks are pretty solid. I would cut out the factory “bedding” and skim bed the entire action and rear tang as well as keep the barrel free floated.
Another area to check is the most forward front scope base screw. If the screw is to long it can contact the barrel threads and cause accuracy/mount issues also.

Thanks.

Will check the front base screw, but had used 2 different bases (swapped out leupold for Talley) so with the same results, so I’m guessing the screw wasn’t bottoming out with both bases.

 

[Cahunter805]

Thanks.

Will check the front base screw, but had used 2 different bases (swapped out leupold for Talley) so with the same results, so I’m guessing the screw wasn’t bottoming out with both bases.

Just curious if you are using a proven scope. Also regarding bedding the stock. I’ve never seen a good bedding job make a rifle shoot worse so you have nothing to lose and probably some accuracy to gain.
Once the bedding is complete also check that the mag box isn’t binding when you torque everything down. Another common problem with many rifles.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I have a m70 EWSS in 30-06 that easily shoots under an inch with several different rounds.

 

[83cj-7]

A quick and easy thing to do at the range to see if the bedding may be a problem is to shove a few business cards under the barrel at the end of the stock. This forces upward pressure on the barrel and can show if the rifle simply won’t shoot or if the barrel is whipping around. I have solved several accuracy issues by full length bedding a barrel with a small amount of tension pre-set in the bedding. Doesn’t always work, but when it does, you will know it.