I just picked up a newest production Featherweight chambered in 30-06 Springfield - assembled in Portugal. It will be a while before I can get to the range for some load development but there are some early impressions.

The fit of wood to metal is fair at best but the metal finish looks well done. My other newer Winchesters are a bit better in the wood to metal department, and they are all better than the ones that I have handled that were made in the old factory. The wood is straight grain and very plain. I do like the new trigger.

The Featherweight name will always be somewhat of a mystery to me as it weighs just a bit more than eight pounds with a VX3 2.5x8 on top.

My other newer Model 70 rifles are more accurate than any older Winchesters that I have ever shot - much better than the beloved old pre-64 models. I have had a lot of Winchesters and although they were not the most accurate rifles that I have owned they are still very good hunting rifles.

I am not sure if the relatively high price is justified for the Featherweight or the Standard models although I think my Safari Express was a good buy.

All together it should be a nice little rifle. I will wring it out on the range this spring sometime and post the results.