winchester safari model 70

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Model 70 Safari Express

Perfect for your once-in-a-lifetime hunt.  The Model 70™ Safari Express in a matte blued finish is the perfect choice for your once-in-a-lifetime hunt because it’s built to handle the heavy cartridges necessary to take dangerous game. Important details like the Pre-’64 type claw extractor, Pachmayr® Decelerator® recoil pad, barrel band front swivel base, hooded-blade front sight and express-style rear sight make the Safari Express ideal for any African hunt. The dual recoil lugs and two steel stock reinforcing crossbolts handle the punishment from heavy magnum loads. The time-tested Three-Position Safety has been a hallmark of the Model 70 for decades. The secure hex socket action screws won’t snag on clothing, and the one-piece steel trigger guard helps maintain rigidity and provides added strength. The handsome cheekpiece positions your eye instantly and firmly on target. Flip open the flush-mounted, hinged steel magazine floorplate for fast and easy unloading. Large calibers are available, making the Model 70 Safari Express the finest big game rifle in the world.

Model 70 Safari Express Features

• Satin finish grade I Walnut stock with cut checkering and deluxe cheekpiece places your eye in perfect alignment with open sights or a scope
• One-piece bottom metal with steel floorplate adds rigidity for better accuracy
• Matte finished metal surfaces reduce glare
• Dual decorative steel crossbolts add strength, rigidity and a touch of stylish refinement
• Forged steel receiver with double integral recoil lugs is bedded front and rear to eliminate shifts in zero for exceptional long-range accuracy
• Fully adjustable rear sight with hooded brass bead front get you on target quickly
• Barrel-mounted front sling swivel adds a classic touch

Model 70 Features

• Three-Position Safety
• Free-Floating Barrel
• Recessed Target Crown
• M.O.A. Trigger
• Blade-Type Ejector
• Pachmayr Decelerator Recoil Pad
• Pre-'64 Style controlled round feed with claw extractor
• 375 HH • 24"
• 416 Rem • 24"
• 458 Win Mag • 24"

Additional Product Information

Gun review: Winchester’s Model 70 Safari Express is an iconic safari rifle

The Model 70 Safari Express promises to down dangerous game

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There is something special about stalking game that can suddenly become a deadly adversary. Such hunts have always elevated my hunter instincts, and driven my adrenalin flow to new heights. The old adage “use enough gun” certainly applies, but a hunter on the trail of dangerous game also requires a rifle that is utterly dependable, fast on point and able to deliver quick follow-up shots when necessary. The Winchester Model 70 Safari Express is just such a gun, and it has “iconic safari rifle” written all over it.

This Winchester certainly has it all, from the front barrel-mounted sling swivel to the checkered walnut stock. Along with the flawless fit and finish, features include a deluxe cheekpiece, Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad, matte finish on all metal surfaces, dual steel crossbolts, hooded brass bead front sight, and one-piece metal trigger guard and magazine frame with a steel floorplate. But as we all know, aesthetic appeal is only the first layer, so let’s take a look at the real guts of this rifle.

It begins with a cold hammer-forged and free-floated barrel with a forged steel receiver and double integral recoil lugs. This double lug feature is designed to eliminate any shift of the barrel and receiver during recoil from a heavyweight magnum cartridge, thereby maintaining the rifle’s inherent accuracy. Next, and a close second, is the Model 70’s MOA trigger that offers zero take-up, zero creep and zero overtravel. The trigger on my test rifle was so precise that, with a half-dozen pulls, the weight fell between three pounds 14 ounces and three pounds 14.6 ounces. If that’s not enough to impress you, there was also no creep or overtravel. This is simply a great trigger.

Perhaps the rifle’s most historic component is the pre-1964 controlled round feed and claw extractor bolt design. The massive claw extractor firmly grips the cartridge base, thereby ensuring complete control of the cartridge from the magazine to the chamber, and during ejection. Ultimately, this offers an all but flawless delivery of the cartridge to the chamber—a must when your life could depend on it.

While it has been around for some time, Winchester’s three-position safety is another hunter-friendly feature worth mentioning, as are the iron sights. The front bead sight showed up well under low light, with the hood helping me find my target more quickly. At very close range and under duress, in fact, you could almost use the hood as a sight window. And while it protects the rifling to ensure accuracy, the recessed target crown also provided the appearance of quality precision workmanship.

TEST RESULTS

I topped my test Safari with a Leupold VX-6 1-6×24 scope, which proved to be the rifle’s equal in every respect. I simply could not find a single flaw in either component—a rare thing, indeed. On the range, this rifle was the most accurate big-bore rifle I have ever shot. In particular, my handloads simply shot lights out. The 300-grain Barnes TSX bullet provided three-shot 100-yard groups that measured 0.25 and 0.31 inches. Yes, you read that right—0.25 inches (below), an all but varmint rifle-type performance!

The factory ammo I tested did not miss the mark, either. Federal’s Woodleigh Hydro Solids, Hornady’s DGX and Remington’s Swift A-Frame rounds all grouped into 1.0, 0.61 and 0.42 inches, respectively. That is superb accuracy.

Because of its diversity, the .416 Rem. Mag. is quite possibly my favourite big-bore cartridge. With more than two and a half tons of muzzle energy, it will readily handle the world’s largest and most deadly game. And with its velocity and inherent accuracy, it’s also ideal for other game where longer shots are required. Unquestionably, this combo will be my top choice on my next trip across the pond, or anywhere else, for that matter, where I need to use “enough gun.”

• Calibre: .416 Rem. Mag.
• Weight: 9 lb
• Overall length: 44¾”
• Barrel length: 24″
• Length of pull: 13¾”
• Drop at comb: 0.5″
• Drop at heel: 0.5″

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Model 70 Rifles

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Model 70 Bolt-Action Rifles

"the rifleman's rifle.".

It's still the Rifleman's Rifle.  No other bolt-action rifle in history can inspire the passion, command the loyalty or create a sense of excitement among dedicated marksmen like the Model 70.® Since 1936 it’s been the benchmark against which every other bolt-action rifle is measured. Discover the rifleman’s rifle for yourself.

Get your piece of the legend.  Three-quarters of a century of total performance is what comes with every Winchester Model 70. Today's Model 70 has the addition of the M.O.A.™ Trigger System, improved fit and finish and enhanced accuracy to go along with its classic Pre-’64 controlled round feeding. It is all there: Three-Position Safety and solid, sure handling. The M.O.A. Trigger helps the model 70 deliver the extreme accuracy benchmark 1" group at 100 yards. It’s what you deserve.

With the Triple Zero Advantage. The Model 70’s new M.O.A. Trigger System is the most precise three-lever trigger system in the world. Operating on a simple pivoting lever principle, the trigger mechanism has been completely redesigned to exhibit zero take up, zero creep and zero overtravel. The pull weight ranges from 3 to 5 pounds and is factory-set at 3 3/4 pounds. Because of the enhanced ergonomics, wide smooth triggerpiece and 2:1 mechanical advantage created by the unique design geometry, it actually feels like half that weight. Click "Read More" below for the rest of the story. 

PRE-’64 STYLE CONTROLLED ROUND FEED WITH CLAW EXTRACTOR. Fully controls the cartridge from magazine, to chamber, to ejection

Winchester M.O.A Trigger System.

Zero Take Up.   Take up is the distance the triggerpiece travels prior to the sear moving toward release and the shooter feeling resistance. The new Model 70 M.O.A. Trigger System has no take up because the take up spring keeps the triggerpiece in constant contact with the actuator.

Zero Creep.  Creep is the perceptible movement of the trigger prior to the release of the firing pin or striker. Creep has a negative influence on accuracy because it adds inconsistency and uncertainty during the trigger pull. This contributes to jerking the trigger and thus adds to the movement of the firearm during firing. The 2:1 mechanical advantage created by the trigger design’s unique geometry is how creep has been virtually eliminated in the new Model 70 M.O.A. Trigger.

Zero OverTravel.  Overtravel is the rearward movement of the trigger after the firing pin or striker has been released. It can actually jar the gun away from its intended point of aim and is also very distracting to the shooter. That’s why the new Model 70 M.O.A. Trigger System is set at the factory to have no perceptible overtravel . Where you aim is where you shoot.

The Model 70 is no ordinary bolt action. The Model 70 still has the famous  3-position safety  which is convenient to operate with the thumb of your firing hand, lifting the firing pin away from the sear. When the safety is in the intermediate or middle position, the action can still be operated, allowing unfired cartridges to be cycled with the safety on. It's smooth to engage and easily identifies the safety status of the rifle.

A blade-type ejector gives you full control when ejecting a fired case. If you pull the bolt back slowly, the empty case doesn't fly anywhere, so you can catch it in your hand and the case is not damaged as it hits the ground. If you pull the bolt back quickly, it ejects the cartridge with more force, throwing it well clear of the action.

The  forged steel receiver  starts as a forged from a solid block of steel. (What could be stronger?) This is expensive to do, but the regal Model 70 is worth it. Each finished forging is precisely machined, creating a strong, stiff and solid receiver that resists flexing and delivers uncanny accuracy. The bottom profile of this receiver is flat to offer greater surface area for bedding. It is bedded with a two-part epoxy in two places, at the front and rear to keep things from shifting around inside the stock during firing. Why all this trouble and time? So pinpoint accuracy is preserved.

If there were a single feature responsible for the Model 70 being known as the "Bolt-Action Rifle of the Century," it would be the classic  Controlled Round Feed (CRF)  bolt design. This is a massive claw extractor that smoothly slips onto and secures about one-quarter of the base of the cartridge. This exerts full control over the cartridge from the time it leaves the magazine, as it enters the chamber, gripping tightly until the cartridge is fully ejected. This design also allows an unfired cartridge to be extracted even if it is not yet fully chambered. It's another feature found on the Model 70.

Most rifles have a  recoil lug  that is installed between the barrel and the action, much like a washer on a bolt. It is a metal piece that extends below the receiver and fits into a matching recess in the stock. It helps spread out the hammering effects of recoil across a wider surface so the rifle won't be damaged. The recoil lug in the Model 70 is not added during assembly. It's forged and machined  as part of the receiver.  This allows the barrel to be trued in perfect alignment to the front ring of the receiver for greater accuracy. There is nothing to move or shift the barrel out of alignment, ever.

To accuracy is nearly impossible if a barrel is of low quality, either from inferior steel, poor workmanship or poor fit. Every Today, Model 70 barrel is button rifled in a process that assures superior accuracy and durability. 

Free-floating a barrel in the stock means no part of the forearm area touches the barrel. The slightest pressure from the forearm as it cradles the barrel can adversely influence accuracy. Try pulling a dollar bill under your current rifle's barrel. Does it slip all the way to the receiver without hangup? If not, you're missing the kind of accuracy that produces results in the field.

Please note that all optics and accessories in photos are shown for illustrative purposes only. Firearms do not inlcude scopes or accessories shown unless specifically indicated in the description. 

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Rifle Review: Winchester Model 70 Safari Express (Part I)

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By David E. Petzal | Published Apr 13, 2011 8:42 PM EDT

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“It follows, therefore, that by far the most valuable trophy I brought out of Africa with me is that scarred, worn, grand, old Winchester [Model 70] .375. It is the last rifle of mine I would ever part with.” –Finn Aagaard

There are a whole bunch of reasons I wish Finn were still with us, and one of them is so he could shoot the Winchester Model 70 Safari Express I’ve been fooling with these past two weeks. Finn’s gun was made in 1948, when Model 70s were of no better than average quality, and frequently much worse than average. (His stock split, and he patched it.) The rifle that I have is one of the best designed, highest-quality guns I’ve seen come out of a factory. It is made overly strong. There’s nothing on it I’d change, or can see how to improve. Winchester says it’s the best heavy rifle in the world, and they have a case.

The stock is very heavy, very dense straight-grained American walnut with a Pachmayr Decelerator Pad, fore-end swivel on the barrel (down close to the wood, where it belongs) and lots of very good laser-cut checkering. It’s finished flat, as is the metal, which is what you want in a dangerous-game rifle.

Overall weight on my rifle, with a Leupold Vari-X III 2.5X-8X scope on board, is 10 pounds, 5 ounces, which is heavy for a .375, but is just fine with me, because it cuts recoil way down and lets you get off quick shots. My last .375 had a synthetic stock that was stuffed full of lead shot to bring it to this exact weight.

The trigger is Winchester’s new M.O.A. model, which, on this gun, is set at a dead-clean 4 pounds 8 ounces. That’s heavy for any other rifle, but perfect for a dangerous-game gun. It is a virtually perfect trigger pull with no discernable movement.

Barrel length is 24 inches, and the barrel contour is quite heavy, the same, I understand, as is used on the .416 Remington and .458 versions of this gun. The barrel is equipped with a secondary recoil lug midway down, which is bedded in steel epoxy, as is the main recoil lug, and there are two reinforcing bolts through the stock ahead of and behind the magazine well. If you want to split this stock you’ll need a wedge and a maul.

To be continued…

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