The Winchester model 70 Stealth is a direct replacement for their older “Heavy Varminter” and is advertised as a varmint rifle. But the solid black stock and matte black finish on all exposed parts lends itself well to tactical use. I figure this is the “politically correct” way USRA could build a tactical rifle. What ever the case, its a very nice entry level tactical rifle, and some think its the same as the FN Special Police. The quality of the rifles are fairly high for a production rifle, and accuracy is averaging around .65 MOA for these rifles with match ammo, with the typical rifles shooting between .5 and 1 MOA. That is the one big down side to mass produced rifles, you get a great rifle followed by a bad rifle, so be forewarned. The things I do not like about the Stealth is that it does not have the palm swell (like the Remington 700P) and it uses the push feed 70 action, I would prefer their claw feed, but the model 70 action is still a good action. I also prefer the wider trigger that is standard on the Remington rifles. Overall, the rifle is good and will perform as well as Remington and maybe even savage out of the box. There is a new serious player in the low end tactical rifle field.
I own one that I bought in 2000. Mine is. Stealth 1 in .308. It has a 1:12 twist. Mine does very well with a handload with Lapua brass, CCI BR2 primer, and Sierra 175gr. MK.
What powder?
IMR4895
Think I bought my stealth 2 in 2012 in 308. 1:12 twist. Using Vit N140 powder. All loaded at .003 back from the lands to the bullet ogive. Good loads are Sierra SMK’s at 42.2gr for 2575fps or 44.8 for 2750fps. Sierra 155gr TMK’s at 42.4gr for 2600fps. A possibly better load for accuracy is the Nossler 150gr pt39585 plastic tipped varmint round at 44.5gr of N140. Not chronographed yet as I only tried these Thursday and need to revisit 38.5 grain as 4 out of 5 of those may have gone through the same hole. All of the above give 0.5moa or less off a back bag. Will consolidate the Nosslers on the next range visit and move onto RS52 powder.
I wish sometimes that Winchester would re-introduce the Stealth in 6.5 Creedmoor with a 26” barrel. I would buy one right away.
I would agree!
MEL
Find you one and re-barrel it, bud. You won’t regret it and you can do whatever you want to that action/stock combo.
I did with a 223. No regerts.
You are spreading misinformation about the Model 70 stealth having a push feed action. here is winchester’s website clearly stating that it has the pre-64 action.
https://www.winchesterguns.com/products/rifles/model-70/Model-70-Past-Products/model-70-stealth.html
Check out the Stealth II
https://www.winchesterguns.com/products/rifles/model-70/Model-70-Past-Products/model-70-stealth-ii.html
Honestly, I do not recall the first Stealth having it either, but I could be mistaken.
I have a stealth in .223 and it has push feed bolt
me too… they called it Controlled round push feed. the 308 has the pre 64 styled bolt
I have both push feed and claw, depends who made them.
My shooting partner uses an M700 I’ve one every bet using my M70 but when he uses my M70 he then has the edge.
Stealth 2 .308 shoots better with the Timney trigger. Had my 26” barrel threaded to 1:18 to take the SL5 moderator.
I own a WINCHESTER 70 STEALTH II chambered in .308 Win. So far, it shoots even better than my CZ 750 S1M1. I read somewhere on the web that STEALTH and STEALTH II rifles were used during AFGHANISTAN and IRAK : is there a way to attest this information ? Thanks.
We have not heard of the Stealth’s being used in combat, but it doesn’t mean some small obscure unit didn’t procure some at some point. But we have not heard of any.
MEL