Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Light weight mod 70s

That's almost an unbelievable weight for a Classic model 70. That's Tikka territory.

Not for sale or trade

I'll bet it shoots damn well. You can tell that your smith knows what he's doing. I know that's a dumb thing to say, but it puts out a great vibe. Great looking rifle.

Got my rifle back, little bit disappointed with the barrel fluting weight reduction. It did lose about 5 ounces off at cost of roughly $100 per ounce after the milling and cerakoting costs. Finished weight is 6 pounds 15.4 ounces, barrel is still 26 inches long. Should be right at 8 pounds with Talley lightweights and a 3-15 Swaro Sheephunter scope.

Could bring it down by 2 more ounces if I mill the receiver to H&H standard but not worth the cost to me right now. The balance is perfect, center of mass is exactly at the joint of the barrel to the receiver.

Are you still talking about your 330 Dakota? I don't know why you did not cut the barrel down to 23-24" before fluting and cerakote. That would have shaved a few more oz's off. I'm also not sure where you found that you only get a 2oz reduction in weight by going with an H&H receiver. I'd wager on that one, that it is more of a weight reduction than 2 oz's. There are also more things to consider than just the material that is milled out of the H&H. Your scope base is also smaller on the rear, which also reduces some weight. Along with the mag box not having a spacer in it. Plus more material removed from the stock. All nit picks, but if you are chasing lightweight, it helps.

Here's a little excerpt from a guy that has some experience with Dakota rifles and pre 64's. He compares the Dakota to the WM:


Dewey hasn't posted here in a while, but he usually knew his chit. As it is, your rifle is no lighter than the 338wm pre 64 that I posted before, yet your rifle is lucky to hold 3 in the box, where the H&H pre 64 built 338wm holds 4 down, feeds those belted cases slicker than snot, balances perfectly and handles like an extension of my arm.. All stuff I value in a rifle.

To me that sounds like a great weight for the caliber. I like 26" barrels in magnums. They're quieter and usually there is some free velocity there. Chopping the front of the barrel usually saves 1 oz per inch cut, max. Sometimes less.

BSA, Yes, this is my 330 Dakota. The 2 ounce number comes from the folks at pre64win.com weighing two bare receivers side by side. If you think I'm mistaken, feel free to correct these numbers with your own data but this is what I found. The weight of the H&H is 1lb, 2.5 oz and the weight of the Standard is 1 lb, 4 oz. So not even 2 ounces in reality. I wish it were more, so please do double check my assumptions! I haven't weighed them in person, just requested the data from Pre64win and that's what Bethany responded with.

As to the 330 Dakota vs 338 Win Mag velocity question, the Dakota holds 85 grains of water with a 250 grain bullet installed, the Win will hold 73. 16% more powder typically equates to 4% more velocity from my observations which would be roughly 150 FPS in a 250 grain bullet load. I don't mind the 26 inch barrel, it probably adds 50-80 FPS and weighs about 1 ounce per inch so not a huge deal to me. It also reduces muzzle flash and boom by having full length.

Your observation of number of round count capacity is accurate and a noted downside to this rifle. If I were starting over, it would be chambered in 340 Weatherby, milled out to an H&H length receiver, and have a hinged floorplate. It would be lighter, carry more rounds, higher velocity, easier to find ammo. But I'm happy with it for now. If it fails to kill the next thing I shoot with it or feels too heavy on a hike then maybe I'll start over.

7mm-08 Synthetic Matte Carbine

It's actually rather simple to do. I've done it a couple times. Some years back, this was my recipie:

2001 production SS M70.

McMillan Hunters Edge.

Barrel shortened to 23"... I find it the right compromise. It feels perfectly balanced in the Edge stock (slightly muzzle heavy). Also, the Hunters Edge has a very short forearm and visually a 24" barrel looks too long in that stock to my eyes. Save 3/4 ounce cutting it.

Tubbs Firing pin installed. Save another ounce.

PT&G Bottom Metal. 2 1/2 ounces... saves a LOT of weight over the all-steel factory stuff, or even the one-piece aluminum/steel unit.

Talley X-Low mounts.

6x36LR... 9.5 ounces and as KISS a scope as there is.

With 3 rounds and Uncle Mikes Mountain Sling it goes 7lb's 9oz's all-up.

Nowadays, I'd put it in a Bansner. Fluting will knock a few ounces off too.

Brad
Thanks for posting that blueprint of a light weight M70 build.

Hal

Boy, I like that build. A guy could hunt that pretty hard and never want much more.

The 300 WSM is a really great, all-arounder.