They were a great gun that fell victim to being FN products. They were exceptional rifles and if FN would have caught the 6.5 Creedmoor wave sooner they probably would have stayed in the game at least a little bit longer.
Are the FN SPR enthusiasts extinct?
- Thread starter mahiman
- Start date
Well I do not have an official FN SPR but I do have an FN Model 70 chambered in .300 Win Mag that I bought when I was 18 back in 2011. It was the original long range rifle that I cut my teeth and it is the rifle I used to make my first shot over 200 yards as well as the reason I got into reloading because that thing was expensive to feed on a college budget.
Looking back now it is hilarious because the first time I shot long range I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I had decided I was going to get into long range hunting so rather than buy a dedicated long range gun I just bought a magnum hunting rifle, put a Nikon Buckmaster on it that had a Mil-dot reticle and 1/4” clicks and called it good. I was shooting Federal ammo with 180gr Nosler Partitions because I got them for $20 a box and I shimmed under the rear scope base to give me more elevation even though I never dialed.
So when we were up at a buddy’s cabin we decided to set out a milk jug at 600 yards and see who could hit it first. The kid in front of me shoots with his .243 and hits like 50yards in front of the target. So I step up, pick the factory ammo out of the Ballistic app, it tells me 4 mils so I back the scope off to 12 hold on the 4th dot and bam, jug pops. I probably could have played it cool if the first words out of my mouth weren’t “Holy shit, that actually fuckin worked”
Now it has come full circle as I just picked up a .300 win mag barrel for my Mausingfield hunting rifle which has pretty much made the Model 70 obsolete in my collection. I haven’t shot it in a few years but I can’t bring myself to part with it so I might eventually get a CF barrel in .300 H&H for it as a counterpart to my 1955 Bull gun.
Looking back now it is hilarious because the first time I shot long range I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I had decided I was going to get into long range hunting so rather than buy a dedicated long range gun I just bought a magnum hunting rifle, put a Nikon Buckmaster on it that had a Mil-dot reticle and 1/4” clicks and called it good. I was shooting Federal ammo with 180gr Nosler Partitions because I got them for $20 a box and I shimmed under the rear scope base to give me more elevation even though I never dialed.
So when we were up at a buddy’s cabin we decided to set out a milk jug at 600 yards and see who could hit it first. The kid in front of me shoots with his .243 and hits like 50yards in front of the target. So I step up, pick the factory ammo out of the Ballistic app, it tells me 4 mils so I back the scope off to 12 hold on the 4th dot and bam, jug pops. I probably could have played it cool if the first words out of my mouth weren’t “Holy shit, that actually fuckin worked”
Now it has come full circle as I just picked up a .300 win mag barrel for my Mausingfield hunting rifle which has pretty much made the Model 70 obsolete in my collection. I haven’t shot it in a few years but I can’t bring myself to part with it so I might eventually get a CF barrel in .300 H&H for it as a counterpart to my 1955 Bull gun.
I bet Mr. Dixon @ LRI could make your TBM feed like it's on roller bearings. It doesn't need pillars, it just needs the right height and angle.
My SPR’s A2/A4 and A5M. Both 308. I did the trigger jobs on them. Just over 2lbs. Both shot shoot 1/2-3/4 inch. Sometimes better. 168-175 FGMM. I’ve gone to these from 700’s.
I’ve got a 6.5 being built now, and one of these days, I’m gonna get an A1 or A1A to pair it. I should have got one from TacCord a long time ago. A LGS has/had? an A1A but they wanted wayyyy to much for it.
The A2/A4 was from Taccord. The A5M was from the Gun Dock. Taccord was good to go. I’ve heard some say they weren’t. Also, FN SPR Chromelined barrels have gone 20,000 rounds and still maintained 1/2 MOA (A3G).
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I have three built FN-SPR actions and they were my primary rifles for the last decade but after the last barrels burned out I've been swayed by the prefit barrel siren lately.
I could have sworn at one point there was a rumor they were going to start offering a factory 6.5 version.
Winchester should come back with them and offer 6.5 creed, 6 creed and just for giggles a long action 300 prc with a 26" barrel. All of em should come with threaded muzzles too.
Maybe they wouldn't sell cause everybody wants a chassis now, I dont know, but I want to build a m70 300 PRC set up like my A1 but with DBM.
Maybe they wouldn't sell cause everybody wants a chassis now, I dont know, but I want to build a m70 300 PRC set up like my A1 but with DBM.
I would be content with a reliable source for SPR receivers. I check GunBroker about once a week in case any pop up for sale.
Starting to think I probably should have held onto this one. Got no interest here and relisted a couple of times on GB before it finally sold for loss at $2k.
My 1st accurate bolt rifle was an FN SPR A1 24". Drove it down to Scorehigh Gunsmithing in 'Burque and they did a great job on bedding and the stock trigger--loved that thing, plinking in the desert and shooting Raton sporting matches. Sold it to a friend before moving back east, and if FN had ever made a lefty, I'd still have one. No muzzle brake .308 was good for learning.
Enjoyed slinging ejected brass 20' at others, lol!
Enjoyed slinging ejected brass 20' at others, lol!
I love Winchester, roughly half of my long guns are Winchesters and I check regularly to see what their new offering are to see if there were any that interest me. That being said whoever is in charge of their current R&D department for the Model 70 is a fucking moron. They didn’t offer the 6.5 Creedmoor until several years after the cartridge took off and they have exactly one heavier barrel model that is fluted and designed for coyote hunting. All of their twists are the standards they have been forever and all of the new models are simply the same ones reintroduced with different wood stocks. Winchester could easily offer a tactical long range line of rifles like the FN SPR but instead they focus on developing the cheaper XPR. Basically they are remaking the exact same mistake they did in 1964 proving that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Browning on the other hand has their shit together, instead of developing a cheap rifle like the XPR, they dumped their R&D funds into their flagship. They add new long range models every year, updated twists for old cartridges to take advantage of new high BC bullets and they introduce new cartridges shortly after they are announced. Honestly looking at how forward thinking Browning is compared to Winchester is embarrassing considering they are both owned by FN.
Agreed. FN/Winny should higher me. Come back out with a true heavy barreled rifle, get stocks that dont suck and bring in calibers people want. I think sometimes major company's just go "it's been fine for years why would we change it?".
You forgot to mention the Alaskan with a 25" barrel. Cause that's what you want chasing grizz through the brush.
You forgot to mention the Alaskan with a 25" barrel. Cause that's what you want chasing grizz through the brush.
Yeah it seems like they are paying more attention to the XPR which I would assume is not a bad rifle. However, the m70 is far superior and should be the one getting all the fancy upgrades and whatnot instead of staying with the old school wood stocks, twists, and caliber options.
They had the heavy barrel varmint, coyote, a few target rifle editions with heavy contours. Now, you don't see any of that.
I have a regular light contoured m70 in .270 for general hunting, a heavy barrel varmint in .223, and my FN SPR in .308.
They had the heavy barrel varmint, coyote, a few target rifle editions with heavy contours. Now, you don't see any of that.
I have a regular light contoured m70 in .270 for general hunting, a heavy barrel varmint in .223, and my FN SPR in .308.
Fn SPR A1, winny M70 FW 300 wsm, and a real pre-64 270 my uncle is in possession of on permanent loan.
If FN/Winny mad basically a A3G with a better DBM that took ai mags, in any good 6.5(x47, creed, hell 260) with threaded barrels I'd be in.
I also search for a spr action. I'm almost to the point of buying a Featherweight just to cannibalize the action for a 6.5 build.
If FN/Winny mad basically a A3G with a better DBM that took ai mags, in any good 6.5(x47, creed, hell 260) with threaded barrels I'd be in.
I also search for a spr action. I'm almost to the point of buying a Featherweight just to cannibalize the action for a 6.5 build.
A pair of un-fired samples from the safe. Got these maybe 15/18 years ago new.
This one is bedded.
This one is bedded.
That’s what I had to do. Blued 325 WSM rifle with a HORRID plastic camo stock. Sent to PCR with a Brux #5 1/8.5 and a McM Game Scout and they turned it into a helluva 6.5 SAUM and with a 3.1 COAL mag box perfect for seating the new crazy heavies.
What FN did with these guns and what Winchester is doing now is what Remington did to the 260, nearly criminal. You have a flat bottomed action with integral recoil lug, claw extractor, and a 3 pos safety. For all the love AI gets with the same features I don’t know how the M70 is like a cult classic instead of the All-American action.
Have an unfired SS 30-06 M70 with a similarly shitty stock in the back back of the safe waiting for me to figure out what to do with it. Maybe 280 AI, maybe 6.5-284, maybe just keep it -06 and sling 205 Bergers out of it. Will probably pull the barrel and stock and set it aside for my boy when he grows up.
I had an (FN) A3G for a few years. For those who aren't familiar with the A3G, it's the old Model 70 CRF action with 3-Position Wing Safety Marine-Tex bedded into a molded-in OD Green A3 Adjustable. Out-of-the box it mine was an easy 1/2 MOA shooter with FGMM and Black Hills 175 SMKs'. I don't know if it still holds true, but back then the molded-in OD A3 was exclusive to the A3G. GAP used to do the bedding on the A3Gs' but I several years ago an FN Tech told me they were doing the bedding in-house.
Anyway, back then the A3G also came with a skeletonized 20 MOA Ops2 Titanium Picatinny Rail. Always seeking improvement, I replaced the factory Modek 70 trigger with a Jewell Single Stage and the firing pin assembly with a Tubb SpeedLock (Titanium Firing Pin Assembly). After that, the only thing I didn't like about the A3G was the "Saddle" type cheekpiece adjustment, which always shot loose after a few rounds on mine. Aside from that it was a great rifle, but I sold it to retired LEO after I got my first Tac Ops, a Tac Ops X-Ray 51 .
My former A3G wearing a U.S. Optics SN-3 3.2-17X 42mm ERGO with 35mm Tube, .01 MIL EREK Elevation Knob, LH .01 MIL U.S. #3 Windage, & Green Illuminated GAP Reticle sitting in Seekins High Rings:
Keith
I remember Midwest gunwerks was selling those OD green A3 stocks not too long ago for $199 if I'm not mistaken but are now out. Anybody know where I can find one?
Also, does anybody know why some actions are engraved with a typo "fredricksburg" instead of "Fredericksburg" as well as a "roll mark" that some actions have and others don't?
I've heard that some rifles were not assembled by FN but others were.
I've heard that some rifles were not assembled by FN but others were.
@stello1001
Mine says Fredricksburg. It was one of the receivers CDNN was selling off about 10 years ago.
Mine says Fredricksburg. It was one of the receivers CDNN was selling off about 10 years ago.
If you are curious about a particular rifle, FN customer service can tell you if it was sold as a complete rifle, barreled action, or action if you provide the S/N.
I purchased one of the “A2/A4” rifles TAC COORD was selling. A few years later I was curious and about the rifle and spoke to FN. FN customer service was able to determine based on the SN that it was part of a lot of barreled actions that never left FN as complete rifles for whatever reason. It was a little confusing, as I asked TAC COORD if it was supposed to come with an FN test target and they said they had misplaced it. Being a barreled action, if never would have come from FN with one.
Mine shot OK, but never great. I replaced it with a Tikka TAC A1, and then a TRG 22, both of which were much better shooting rifles.
Mine also came from Tac Coord and I got the same story. Mine is a A1. It's a absolute hammer though and regularly (not always) shoots .25 MOA at 100 yards and has shot a few groups in the sub .2 in benchrest comps. Also won a significant number of midrange F T/R matches.
I have sent an email to FN just now regarding my question above.
Has anyone found that their m70/SPR trigger has a bit of side to side wobble? I've noticed this with 2 of my 3.
Has anyone found that their m70/SPR trigger has a bit of side to side wobble? I've noticed this with 2 of my 3.
Both of my triggers have a slight side to side wiggle but it in no way affects performance in anyway regardless of pull weight I've set for them, I like a lite trigger!
I’m thinking about getting a Timney 401 trigger for one of my FN’s. Not Necessary but I want to get it about 1.5lbs. Anyone try one yet?
I'm pretty sure you can get there with the factory trigger although I have no way of measuring pull weight to confirm on all mine.
I got my A5M down to 2.5 but any lower then that I can get the firing pin to fall by banging the buttstock. I do that to test safety. My A2A4 is at 2lbs and it is drop safe at that wt.
Both mine are almost right at 2lbs (+ or - a few ounces) and all I did was take the factory leaf spring out and put in the MCARBO spring. Super easy to do and way cheaper than paying big bucks for another that will most likely put you around the same weight. Drop safe with the "butt stock test" as well.
MCARBO spring? Where do I get one? Can you please give me more details please? Thanks
Winchester Model 70 Trigger Spring Kit
Trigger Spring Kit for the Winchester model 70 featherweight and all other Model 70 variations with the standard Winchester Model 70 Trigger Pre-2008 production. Compatible with all calibers to include the Winchester model 70 30-06 and Winchester...
www.mcarbo.com
It has good reviews and worked well for both my FNs. If it doesn't work all that great on yours, you will only be out 15 bucks.
Out of my 3 SPR/70s, one of them has that spring and it works great. I was going to get the spring for my other two rifles but when I finally got them from my FFL and finger banged them, I noticed they already had a relatively light trigger pull.
One of them had the original trigger & trigger spring with some trigger work. I liked it enough to not need to buy the Mcarbo spring.
The other had some trigger tuning with a different spring but I didn't like it. I threw on the original spring which I removed from the one with the Mcarbo spring and tuned it. The result was pretty good.
Otherwise, I would have gotten the springs for each one as they are good cheap upgrades that make the trigger better.
The FN trigger polished up and tuned actually feels better than the Timney and is more reliable too.
Which did you put in your FN? Pre 2008 or post 2008? ThanksWinchester Model 70 Trigger Spring Kit
Trigger Spring Kit for the Winchester model 70 featherweight and all other Model 70 variations with the standard Winchester Model 70 Trigger Pre-2008 production. Compatible with all calibers to include the Winchester model 70 30-06 and Winchester...
It has good reviews and worked well for both my FNs. If it doesn't work all that great on yours, you will only be out 15 bucks.
The reliability is exactly why I opted at other options rather than dropping in a whole new trigger in personally. Totally agree though you can polish up the factory and get it down to a nice light weight.
I never knew they had 2 versions. I guess when I purchase mine I didn't pay attention. I bought the one that looks to be of a gunmetal darker grey-ish color vs the lighter color looking one and it worked great.
I would have to assume it is the pre 2008.
There has been a crap load of Timneys that have failed. It's not exactly a secret. The Calvin Elite's have been plagued with issues, and yes the Winchester/FN triggers have had failures too. The FN trigger in these is a more reliable trigger.
I put the pre-2008 in my PBR-XP and SPR. I wasn't trying to imply Timney triggers are unreliable but in my experience anytime you start throwing a lot of aftermarket or non OEM stuff on a rifle (especially triggers), that's about the time something shits the bed when you didn't want it to.
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