Model 70 Super Grade Maple|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

Brian-

My experience was with BACO or Browning, owners of the Winchester brand at the time (2009-2010). I ordered and received two Super Grades in 30-06, one for my brother, one for me. Both had some of the prettiest wood I’ve seen on a modern production gun. The one I kept had serious accuracy issues and each fired case had a bright ring slightly above the head of the case. I contacted BACO and they blamed my handloads. Same results with new cases and factory loads. Tried several different loads. Told BACO the rifle had headspace issues. They didn’t believe me. I bought a set of headspace gauges and proved it. They told me to mail the rifle back to them. I had invested a few hundred dollars in factory loads, different bullets and powders before investing in a set of gauges. A short time later they shipped me a replacement rifle. The wood was pretty nice but not nearly as nice as the original. Accuracy was a problem with the second rifle as well, I tried dozens of loads with dismal results. I finally returned the second rifle and when it returned it shot quite a bit better. They did not tell me what they did to repair it, only said it was within specs or something like that. The “MOA” trigger was terrible after they worked on the rifle so I pulled the barreled action out of the stock to adjust the trigger and discovered someone had glued the adjustment screws to prevent adjustment. They also bedded the recoil lug and rear tang. Some of you may know the normal “bedding” of production rifles at this time was a bead of something like hot glue across the recoil lug recess. I solved the trigger issue with a new assembly from Timney. I don’t know what else they did and they would only tell me it met their standards or some such corporate-speak. I think they did something else but I could not tell what, if anything, they did. It finally delivered the “MOA” implied by their advertising but it was only a little under MOA with very carefully tailored loads. It’s a beautiful rifle, it shoots pretty well, my only complaint is that they didn’t think I knew what I was talking about when I contacted them with my concerns. Gluing the trigger adjustment screws was a bit spiteful, I think. Heat to release the adhesive would have distorted the stamped steel trigger housing (and probably voided the warranty) so I just wrote it off. I think BACO was having some issues in the warranty repair department at that time.

I’m glad they decided your concerns were indeed valid from the start, I sincerely believe they will do the right thing for you. 

Mike

Brian-

It was indeed unpleasant but If I had it to do all over again I’d buy the same rifle. Those Maple stock guns are certainly showy with good fit and finish. My brother’s rifle, the twin to mine, is flawless. Only issue is it’s so pretty he won’t hunt his South Texas lease with it when weather is bad. His other Model 70, a wedding gift from his wife, is still like new after 40 years and lots of hunting trips. I gave him my Ruger 77 stainless/synthetic 30-06 to save his pretty guns. I have no idea how your rifle got past QC but I’m glad they responded quickly. Winchester may not be the company they used to be but I’d still buy one.

Mike