I'm glad it worked out for you. I had a varmint target model made at the tail end of US manufacturing a few years ago (US again?) and it sucked. It was a 22-250 and would not group better than a grapefruit at 100 yards regardless of the ammo. Free floated, great scope, solid mounts, etc...all the usual suspect just a stinking lemon. I stay away of anything bolt action that Winchester made from 2000 to around 2006 for sure.
However, you have one really nice gun and I love the Model 70 actions.