Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing 416 in a win 70

a fellow just called me and asked me if i could look at his mod.70 in 416 rigby. he told me it started life as a 375 h&h. has any one else seen one of these or tried this conversion type of conversion. i never have.

Okay, no one has responded so I'll provide my amateur thoughts.........

The M-70 is a bit on the short side for a 416 Rigby, but with proper machining it aought to work okay. I think if I were using an M-70 action (which I never would, but that is another story) I'm make a 416 Rem. It works quite well in an M-70. For the Rigby, a CZ 550 Safari (Brno 602) or the Ruger Rigby are better choices.

However, I have a CZ 550 Safari that is barreled in 416 Rem, so I guess I am backwards as well.

i haven't yet seen the gun. he still hasn't shown up with it. if it was long enough for the 375 i would think it would fit the rigby length. my thoughts were as to the inch diameter if the barrel shank, although it doesn't seem to be a problem in the ruger #1. also i was interested in the alterations required to get this to feed given its diameter. that is the issue he man was complaining about, not feeding well.

Just saw your post. I have two M70's based on the 416 Rigby case that is actually .100" longer than the actual Rigby. Total over all length of the cartridges is 3.95". One is a claw extractor and the other is a push feed. Used the Claw extractor, in a 416 Rigby (style, on steroids) to take a cape buffalo, zebra, 2 water buffalos and a dingo.

I haven't a clue as how to post photos or I could post photos of both rifles. By the way, I'm presently building another drop box magazine for the 416. It will hold 7 rounds. Present magazine only holds 5 rounds. Both rifles are switch barrel types, with a couple of barrels for each in different flavors.

There is a lot of work to be done to create such a rifle. Since I have the equipment, I can do the job. As for your local gunsmith doing it, look at spending lots of money.

Feeding problems?

Many, if trying to use the OEM designed system.

Not with a "center feed", staggered stack magazine. Mine will feed empty cases without any problems.