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I've got a M70 classic featherweight in 7mm-08 sitting in the safe, and it doesn't get carried much these days. I've got the 7mm slots covered with 7mm-08, 7 rsaum, and 280 AI, so I'm thinking about having a .358 tube spun on as a shorter range thumper. Eastern bears and short range deer would be the targets. I'd be keeping the rifle as close to the same as possible in terms of barrel contour, and the walnut stays. A factory takeoff barrel wouldn't hurt my feelings at all, but I don't recall ever seeing a factory m70 featherweight in .358. Thoughts?

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Sounds like a fun plan to me. I've only owned one .358 (a BLR) but it shot great and was easy to load for. If it's what you want - build it. Have Pac-Nor or someone else that will dup that contour make you a barrel (assuming they will do so in a .35 caliber) and rock on.



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i tend to remember that the 358 was chambered in relitively very few winchester featherweight guns.i like the cartridge but i find myself now without one now.

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The .358 is an excellent cartridge, in addition to .35 caliber rifle bullets you can shoot a broad range of other bullets. These include .35 cast bullets, .357 pistol bullets both cast and jacketed. That is a big part of the .358's appeal for me, I have owned pre '64 Winchester M/70 Featherweight and M/88 lever actions chambered in .358. Currently I am shooting two .35 Whelen's based on pre '64 M/70's. I would recommend reboring as the most practical option, I have used Randall Redman to rebore and rechamber one of my Whelen's. I can recommend his work without reservation.

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Originally Posted by mpwolf

Thoughts?


wolf, My 1st thought was "WHY NOT! - What a great idea"

Also, thought of the rebore vs a rebarrel since your want to keep the original contour. I don't remember the tip diameter ot the feather weight barrels. I personally would want a barrel tip thichness of no less than 0.125" after the rebore - You may not have that much left. But since you want to stay close to the original contour this could also apply to a new barrel.

Good Luck and post us some pics



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I really like the .358. You could try the rebore and have an inch or two shortened if it was way to thin at the crown...shortening it would get you a little more thickness there (not sure how much) and would have very minor effects on the .358...it is pretty efficient.

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I dunno if it will be the case, but if you remove that much barrel steel, will the rifle handle funny?


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There is that chance...balance point will change for sure...could be better or worse, but the front end will be a bit lighter.

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I like my 338 Federal. Might be another option.


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I'll have to pour a beverage, settle in with the rifle and calipers and just see what's what. You folks may be right about just how much meat there is in the barrel.

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Originally Posted by KDK
I dunno if it will be the case, but if you remove that much barrel steel, will the rifle handle funny?


It's easy enough to add weight in the forend under the barrel to regain balance.

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I do believe Douglas has a Featherweight factory contour as standard production. You might want to check them out.

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I've used the .358 Winchester a bunch. Kills everything very handily and thumps the crap out of them.

Dunno how many mule der I've killed with the .358, but it's been a passel and, of course, lots of elk. They just fall down most sincerely dead.

Don't go crazy with the bullet weight, 200-grainers will normally fully-penetrate an elk, so anything heavier simply kicks more and compromises your trajectory.

I wrote the lead-in to the .358 Winchester load data section for one of the Nosler Handloading Guides ... I've forgotten which one, but it describes a kill I made with my .358 one day.

(I do beliee that I forgot to mention the other three dead big bucks I found laying there with the two I wrote about grin Funny about that)

The .358 Winchester? A Frackin' killer

Steve



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I've got a 358 WSSM, which approximates the 358 Win with a 200 grain Hornaday SP. I'd go with a minimum #3 contour barrel, which will be hard to fit in a featherweight stock without a lot of barrel channel hogging. We've used the 25 WSSM featherweight rifles for donors and had to hog out several barrel channels. JMO, YMMV...


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Your M70 7-08 is a perfectly good rifle now just as it is. It would be a waste to change it to some other chambering.

There are .358 Win rifles for sale. Ruger made some recently in the M77 and thats a good rifle.

I have hunted with the .358 Win since 1966 and have taken deer in the North East with the round. I have M99's, a M70 Featherweight and a MS so chambered.

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Sounds like an AWESOME idea! You don't have anything to loose do ya? For a few hundred bucks you'd have a "new" rifle in a familiar gun in a great 0-200 yard deer thumper. Im with 007FJ though and would try out the 338 federal. My Montana chambered in 338 fed is my go to hunting rig. Shot two deer with it last week and it just put em down like a light switch went off. The 358 and 338 fed are pretty similar and you wouldn't go wrong either way. I say go for it and don't second guess yourself!

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mpwolf Offline OP
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I'll check with Douglas. I'd rather not rebore, as it would be nice to be able to return the rifle to as bought condition, and swapping barrels on a M70 is mighty easy with that integral recoil lug.

I agree that there's nothing wrong with the 7mm-08, but I've got a Ti in that chambering, as well as 700 based builds in 7 rsausm, adn .280 AI., but I've got nothing bigger. I spent a bit of time in bear camp this spring, and came away with a new appreciation for bigger diameter bullets at moderate velocity.

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Originally Posted by mpwolf
I spent a bit of time in beer camp this spring, and came away with a new appreciation for bigger diameter bullets at moderate velocity.


Spending too much time in "beer camp" will change your perspective on lots of things! grin

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mpwolf Offline OP
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Originally Posted by PastorDan
Originally Posted by mpwolf
I spent a bit of time in beer camp this spring, and came away with a new appreciation for bigger diameter bullets at moderate velocity.


Spending too much time in "beer camp" will change your perspective on lots of things! grin


you're not kidding!

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I had a PF M70 FWT rebarreled from 243Win to 358Win. Its my favourite rifle and one that will never be sold. A #3 contour only just fitted, at the time nobody locally would go a lighter contour with that sized hole through it. I would do it again, but would give thought to a 338Federal with a lighter barrel in the #2 range. If you really wanted to be different, 375/08 using a Rem700 375H&H takeoff barrel.
Cheers...
Con

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