New Model 70 Featherweight in 7mm-08

[Montana_Wanderer]

I am looking for a smaller caliber hunting rifle and had planned on a Tikka, but the featherweight is really calling to me. My only concern are the mixed reviews I have heard about the accuracy of the new featherweight. Some people say they shoot great and others say they can be picky. I really don't want to end up with another picky rifle, but I would much prefer a more classic style.

Does anyone have the new model 70 featherweight in a 7mm-08 that can comment on the accuracy?

 

[Southern Elk]

I have one in 30-06. Killed an elk with it last fall. It shoots less than 1” groups at 100 yards with factory ammo with 165 grain partitions.

 

[MaddH]

I have one in 6.5 Creedmore and it’s a tack driver, my grandsons favorite rifle

 

[Sheltowee]

Fwiw, Tikka makes their wood-stocked Forest and Hunter in a 7-08. They're sharp rifles and you won't have to guess as to whether it will shoot.

 

[MTLabrador]

The FN made model 70s are great rifles, I have a model 70 sporter in .270 that I’ve had for a long time and it’s always been a shooter.

 

[kodiakisland]

If it is what you really want, buy it. If it doesn't shoot to your expectation, sell.

My personal experience with a new model featherweight in 7-08 was not great, but that doesn't mean another one wouldn't be. Mine was at best a 2.5 MOA rifle no matter what bullet or load I used. Absolutely beautiful wood though. I sold it to my neighbor who was aware of the accuracy issues but didn't care. He was more of a collector and not a shooter and just wanted it in his display case.

 

[kiwi hunter]

You can't get a better adjusting trigger than a mod 70, I like mine down at 1lb or lighter

 

[Montana_Wanderer]

Thank you for all the great info! I may just have to go for it. The safe play would likely be the wood stock Tikka, but the 70 is such a nice looking rifle. Something I could scratch up real nice and look at when I’m too old to chase elk anymore!

 

[Montana_Wanderer]

You can't get a better adjusting trigger than a mod 70, I like mine down at 1lb or lighter

One lb!! That scares me a bit.

 

[Montana_Wanderer]

If it is what you really want, buy it. If it doesn't shoot to your expectation, sell.

My personal experience with a new model featherweight in 7-08 was not great, but that doesn't mean another one wouldn't be. Mine was at best a 2.5 MOA rifle no matter what bullet or load I used. Absolutely beautiful wood though. I sold it to my neighbor who was aware of the accuracy issues but didn't care. He was more of a collector and not a shooter and just wanted it in his display case.

I was hoping a bad review would come from a different caliber! I better choose wisely.

 

[El Jason]

If by chance it doesn’t shoot, pretty high odds you could pillar bed it and it will make quite a bit of difference.

 

[Montana_Wanderer]

If by chance it doesn’t shoot, pretty high odds you could pillar bed it and it will make quite a bit of difference.

Good to know. I've never done that before, but it would be a good skill to learn. Or pay someone that knows what they are doing!

 

[Dougfirtree]

I had one of the FN rifles in 7mm-08 for a few years. That rifle seemed like a good luck charm. I killed whitetail, pronghorn and an elk with it. It was picky, but I found a factory load that shot under an inch. Once I started reloading, it was easy to create accurate loads. Pretty rifle!