So, I have been wanting a Winchester m70 for quite a while, particularly a Super Grade in 338 Win Mag.

I had been torturing myself perusing GB and others, wishing, conniving, calculating how I could possibly make this happen.

Then I come across a brand new FN/Winchester Super Grade in 338 Win Mag at a price that is about $150 less than almost every one else I have found and he is open to trades.

So, I sold my S&W/Walther PPK/S for cash and offered the man $400 plus my S&W 1911TA E-Series in used but excellent condition. He accepted and now I await the arrival of one of my grail rifles!

Am I crazy??? Maybe so, but I am completely happy with the meat and potatoes of the deal and as long as the rifle is everything it is said to be when I see it in person for the first time I won't even look back. I'm more of a wheelgun man anyway...

Here are the pics from the auction. She sure looks like a winner to me. And I have absolutely ZERO qualms about it being an FN made Winchester. I have not found one negative thing said about the new FN rifles. In fact, I have seen it said more than once by folks who own/have owned Pre-64's that the FN Winchesters are quite possibly the highest quality rifle to bear the Winchester name in quite some time, if not ever. My brother has a Pre-64, a 1971, a late New Haven Sporter (made shortly before New Haven closed) and an FN made Featherweight. He feels that his FN is the cream of his crop as well....

So here they are... I am so excited to lay my hands on this work of art!

Attached Images

	pix888594494.jpg (86.0 KB, 137 views)
	pix679248973.jpg (92.8 KB, 133 views)
	pix276154870.jpg (94.2 KB, 121 views)
	pix783668499.jpg (108.1 KB, 107 views)

A few more pics....

Attached Images

	pix988486445.jpg (109.8 KB, 47 views)
	pix204495965.jpg (97.5 KB, 52 views)
	pix112924900.jpg (111.1 KB, 46 views)
	pix176823844.jpg (93.9 KB, 42 views)

You might just be crazy! But, if you're happy with the deal, that's all that really matters.

Well, you don't seem very excited about the trade .

Pretty stunning wood for a modern production rifle. Please let us know how it shoots, and enjoy!

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Never crazy if you are happy...Now, you are ready for all those rascally bears that people worry about so much on these forums...Nice rifle!

I am a pre 64 man myself and wouldn't own any others and they definitely have some advantages over the newer crop of model 70's. However the newer models are beautiful guns built to exacting standards with new CMC machines. The sure aren't any flies on the new models. But for us Winchester guys the cream of the crop are the models built before 1952. I used the 338 Winchester for many years on everything from coyotes and javalina to deer and elk. A superb hunting cartridge. I just bought a new super grade in 30-06 for a former employee. A great looking rifle.

Congrats that's a nice one!

Can't make a sanity call, since I've sold all my modern guns (read plastic) for obsolete wheel guns and all metal pistols.

You, my friend, are COMPLETELY "normal".

Thanks for the kind words and feedback.

Going for the 338 isn't so much about those wascawy Yogis... Lord knows there really aren't that many in my parts up northern NY. I just like the not so main stream things... My other obsession is old Honda 3-wheelers...

The main reason I wanted a 338 is pretty simple actually, I am making a significant investment in this. I am not in a situation where I can drop a G on something on a whim. I wanted to buy that heirloom rifle that my son will admire and will inherit from me down the road. And I wanted it in a kick-butt caliber. I have never owned of fired a 338 before and it's just what tickled me most of all the chamberings offered in the current Super Grades.

That's one fine firearm. My kid brother has one of the newer model 70s and it is a great looking gun. I think he could remove the nuts from a tick at a hundred yards with that thing as well. Nice gun. Have fun and shoot straight.

You traded two for one?!?!?!

Oh yeah, I've done that. In fact, I once traded three for one back when I was nickel and dime-ing.

I feel it's more important to be able to shoot more guns than it is to own more guns. So when something new or more interesting comes along, I'm quick to let something go if I don't want to outright buy it.

__________________
- The Federalist #46 -

Traded one for two. Actually one higher end not being used, sitting in the safe, no future use anticipated, for two that were to be used almost every day, and a lot of ammunition.
Maybe not the norm, but almost zero invested in the one, so made me happy.

__________________
Wherever my mind isn't
Jim

I got that kind of "crazy." I once traded a Beretta .25 acp, an AMT .380 "backup" and an Iver Johnson TP22 for a new Sig 228. Dealer couldn't stop laughing at "taking a rube." Still have the 228. Joe

__________________
Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Ride-Red. You did great. I did a 2 fer trade this week too and even my wife says you look excited and pumped up.

When you get what you've been looking for it is a good feeling.

I've owned 3 or 4 338 Win MAgs all but 1 were Win M-70 Push feeders and one was a Ruger M-77 and a couple of Weatherby 340 Mags. I loaded my own for both. The lightest bullet weight will work well for deer. I've taken some deer with them.

I had and sold a pre-64 collection. I kept 3 of them, all in 270 Win. I sold the SG's but none had wood as nice as yours.

What I perceived was, the 338 Win and 340 WBY recoil was not as pronounced as the 300's in Win and WBY. The 300s come back hard, the 338's come back with authority but recoil seems lighter. Don't know why, larger diameter bullet with larger bore?

The most drop dead in the tracks kills I had on deer, I'm talking heart shot not shoulder or spine, was with the 338 and 200 grain Hornady interlock.

I know you've been talking about this for a while. Glad you found one. Great gun and great caliber.

My excitement was trading 2 guns I bought quite a while ago, both have doubled in value, I traded them and 1 crisp $100.00 bill for a 1966 Colt National Match. I've wanted one for a long time but it seemed everyone thought theirs was personally owned by Elvis and was gold underneath the blue. EXCITED. Yep that be us this week. Have fun.

Crazy??, don't think so. I like 30-06's and bolt actions except for one Garand that went home with me one day. I used to have about 4 pre'64 model 70's. 3 '06 and one featherweight in 308. All shot well but went down the road when I wanted something else. But I still have a post '64 model 70 in '06 match rifle with the marksman stock. As long as you got what you wanted and are happy that's all that matters. Frank

Nice gun and not at all crazy for making the trades. Earlier this year I traded 5 guns I didn't use for a Ruger 1911 and a fair amount of cash. Still have the cash in my "gun fund" for a deal that may come along.
I've always had a problem too of breaking that one thousand mark for a gun but have done it a few times. Not the amount of money it was 15 years ago when I first broke that mark but still serious money to me.

Is that a scratch?!

Attached Images

image.jpg (125.7 KB, 26 views)

I don't see one... where?


Better not be! It's factory new.


Side note: I have to tip my hat to ya Sir.... I was certain that as I scrolled down and saw a reply from Hillbilly77 there was going to be some "over compensating" jokes for sure!! LOL!

There's going to be some man size holes in that target now! Wiseguy! LOL! (once I find some ammo that is)

Bring that to our elk camp here in the mountains, it will get scratched, we don't hunt from tree stands. There is a television commercial about a new car owners neighbor, who wants to scratch his new car. Sounds good, send it to me and I will take the suspense out of when and if it will get its first "character mark".

I like the Super Grades and FN makes great firearms. I think you did great. I don't think I'd have manned-up to a .338 win mag, but if they made the SG in lefty, a .308 would be on my short list of long guns.

BTW, that one is a beauty.

__________________
paws for friendship

Just messing with ya.
You know me... Never pass up an opportunity.
Nah, not on the open forum. Those comments would get me dinged. I have your phone number for that!

I'm just teasing the OP.

I'm sure he'll earn a few beauty marks in his new rifle.
We hunt some thick country here in CNY.

I'm still wondering what I was thinking giving you my number! Lol!!!

Caller ID work?

As old Barney Fife said, you can nip it in the bud.

I was gifted a newer production super grade in 25.06 a while back. 2 trips trips back to winchester to get the feeding corrected and it's been aces since.

Usually I send a text.

Morbid curiosity gets the best of him.

Shooting a 338 magnum to me is crazy. Ouch.

I don't figure it to be much worse than my Rem 870 with slugs... That thing is brutal.

IMHO, YOU MADE A GREAT DEAL ! ! ! ENJOY YOUR WINCHESTER…..

__________________
'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I think you hit the nail on the head with that ounce and a quarter slug.

3.5" 12 gauge recoils much harder too.

I'd rather shoot the 338's from a bench than 3.5ers while standing.

Caveat on the 3.5, if there is a goose or a turkey involved I seem to not feel recoil. It must be a mental thing. But if that's the case I got no mentals, I should not feel any recoil.

Just got word it is waiting for me at my LGS!!!

I have to wait for my wife to get home from work before I can go get it... TORTURE!!!!!

Will update when I get her home..

My 870 is an older Express Magnum with a slug bbl I bought brand new back in about 1994 when I was 16. It will take 3", but no 3.5"s...thankfully! LOL!

I remember "sighting it in" back then... Being as I had something to prove I guess, I was convinced I needed to sight in and use 3" Magnum slugs... Well, 15 or so rds into it I decided that was "close enough" and hung it up... Now, I know how to shoot and did then as well... But the pocket of my shoulder was quite pretty the next day... Sore as a mutha for several days after too!

On the off occasion I hunt with the old slug chucker these days, good ol std 2-3/4" slugs work just fine.

And I know what you mean about not feeling recoil when firing at game... Not only do I not notice recoil during a live shot, but I hardly notice the report of the rifle either.

Well, she's HOME!

Now that I have cuddled with this thing a little bit, I can say it is everything I was hoping for and then some! Now, I won't be able to fire it till probably friday so I cannot yet give a full functionality report till then...

But I HAVE mounted my scope.

This thing is a work of art. The blueing is highly polished, reminiscent of the old school blueing found on my 1971 m19-3. Not quite as "smoked chrome" looking, but very very nice just the same. The wood is flawless and very easy on the eyes.

This is far and away the highest quality long gun I have ever purchased and I have no regrets whatsoever at this point...

I'm really looking forward to sending some hot copper downrange with this beast! (if I can find a couple boxes of factory ammo to get me started while I tool up to reload)

1911?? What 1911??!

So, here is the first ops check report...

Now, 338 WM isn't exactly common to find around my area. And being that I am not yet tooled and supplied to make my own ammo for this thing I figured I would try to find a couple boxes of factory ammo locally to get me started.. Well, that didn't work out so well... of the 4 places I hit I was able to score a partial box from a small gun shop... 16 rds. Luckily that was just enough to get her darned close at 100yds. It is grouping 3/4" about 1/2" high an 1/2" right. If I had 5 more rounds I would have been able to bring it in those last couple of fine adjustments. But I wanted to save 3 rds to hunt with so thats what I did... Still more than adequate for hunting purposes, I'm just a little OCD about these things.

Now that bad:

First time to the range to sight in was an epic fail. I have never returned home with a target with no holes in it. Yep, pulled the trigger and click. Tried several times and several different cartridges... no boom.

So, after a bit of playing around I figured out that the firing pin was for some reason not protruding through the bolt face when fired.

On the side of the rear bolt shroud (which houses the firing pin and safety) I noticed a small roll pin, and another identically sized small empty hole next to it. So I got to wondering... is there is supposed to be another roll pin in that second hole and if for some reason it was seated to deeply and wound up inside the bolt shroud and interfering with the firing pin?

Took the firing pin out of the shroud..(tricky) and there it was, a small plug for the hole in the shroud! I reinstalled the firing pin (MUCH trickier than removal!) installed the plug in it's proper hole, flipped the safety to the fired position and BINGO!!! Problem solved!

So that was the only problem, minor as it turned out to be I was very dissapointed there for a bit.

But after today's session at the range I am head over heels for this new Winchester! The 338 barks (even with muffs on) but its is actually no sharper in terms of felt recoil than my synthetic stocked Remington 700 ADL chambered in 270. I attribute this to the very well functioning Pachmeyr Deccelerator recoil pad and the fact that the rifle has some weight to it.

Biggest differences I notice about my new Winchester compared to the 700 ADL I have been using for the last 8 years or so is that it is significantly heavier, and the barrel seems a mile long! It has a 26" bbl compared to the 22" on the Remmy. 4" doesn't sound like much, but when you are used to the handling characteristics of a 22" bbl and then walk through the woods with a 26", it feels like a huge difference!

Hunted with it for the first time tonight..came close to bagging a deer too but I could not take the shot for safety reasons. That would have been so cool to bag a deer first time out with it!

Bottom line: Overall, I am more than happy with this new rifle and have zero regrets.

You will get one with this rifle. Yell and we'll give you our address for some jerky.