|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854 |
I'm a M700 guy through and through. But I have a full-blown custom 257 Rbts built on a pre-war M70 action and absolutely love it. I acquired another Pre-64 M70 that was unfortunately rechambered from the original 257 Roberts to 25-06 Ackley.
Soooooo.......I'd like to build a modern custom on this action and don't know much about M70's.
I'm thinkin' 35 Whelen. Here's what I have so far.
* Stainless #3 contour with a short shank - probably Brux - finished at 23". * McMillan Pre 64 Monte Carlo pattern stock with Edge fill (brown with tan specks and red pad).
I need help with bottom metal. The metal on the donor was engraved with a previous owner's last name. So I guess I need to buy metal. Don't really want to spend over $300 for Blackburn. What else is available??
Am I good using the factory trigger?? I think it's fine, but don't have any experience with Winchester's.
Last edited by 257heaven; 11/18/14.
Sent from my Dingleberry Handheld Wireless
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,093 Likes: 6
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,093 Likes: 6 |
Sounds great so far. I'd definitely keep the factory trigger. I use the factory fwt btm metal, but know some guys upgrade to Williams. Have you seen GSSP's 9.3x62mm? Or maybe 458Win's 9.3x62mm? This one has the echols legend edge stock on it: Nothing wrong with the pre 64 monte carlo pattern, it's just not as popular with the guys as the legend or hunters compact. As far as going with the 35 Whelen, that would be pretty cool and plenty useful.. Are you planning on putting irons on it? Good luck and post pictures of your finished product...
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854 |
Thanks BSA. So is Williams still making bottom metal for the pre-64?
And can I get a Legend stock straight from McMillan?? Or do you have to go through Echols? I see them on his site, but I want to order with my barrel inlet and pad, etc.
ETA: I wasn't wanting to spend a ton of money on it....so no irons.
Last edited by 257heaven; 11/18/14.
Sent from my Dingleberry Handheld Wireless
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,000
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,000 |
You have to go through Echols, then have the stock fitted, pad installed, paint, etc. done separately. I don't think a Williams is producing new bottom metal for pre-64's anymore. You might check out Duane Weibe's stuff but it is expensive. Best bet is just factory bottom metal. It isn't stylish, but it works and can be found for under $100 if you stay off eBay and other rip-off sites. You might also consider going ADL style. You could use a trigger guard from a later, push feed blind mag M70 and modifying the magazine box should be do-able.
I have had the pre-64 Monte Carlo pattern McMillan and it is nice, but I prefer the McMillan Supergrade for heavier barreled long action 70's. The Winchester compact pattern is great for a long action Featherwight barrel rifle, but I didn't like it as much for the heavier barrel long action 70's I tried in it.
Irons are a waste of money for a rifle build like yours, in my opinion. A good used Leupold 4x in QD rings will usually end up costing less and none of the McMillan stocks I have had on my M70's were well suited to irons. The Echols pattern is the exception to that rule.
Last edited by Oregon45; 11/18/14.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,093 Likes: 6
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,093 Likes: 6 |
Thanks BSA. So is Williams still making bottom metal for the pre-64?
And can I get a Legend stock straight from McMillan?? Or do you have to go through Echols? I see them on his site, but I want to order with my barrel inlet and pad, etc.
ETA: I wasn't wanting to spend a ton of money on it....so no irons. Oregon45 pretty much covered it in his post. He's pretty sharp when it comes to building these pre 64's. Most of mine are still pretty much original except for McMillan stocks.
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854 |
Thanks. I might be able to polish out the engraving on the metal I have? Not sure. I'd rather not go ADL on this one, although I'm a M700 ADL slut.
Sounds like the Echols stock is above my pay grade. I will check out the Supergrade. I thought the Pre 63 MC pattern because it would be the same as the wood stock that's on it. And it feels good to me.
Last edited by 257heaven; 11/18/14.
Sent from my Dingleberry Handheld Wireless
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,093 Likes: 6
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,093 Likes: 6 |
Thanks. I might be able to polish out the engraving on the metal I have? Not sure. I'd rather not go ADL on this one, although I'm a M700 ADL slut.
Sounds like the Echols stock is above my pay grade. I will check out the Supergrade. I thought the Pre 63 MC pattern because it would be the same as the wood stock that's on it. And it feels good to me.
I like the pre 64 monte carlo pattern as well. I love the original monte carlos too. They fit me very well and I can use the factory irons with this stock. However, the hunters compact will be lighter and probably somewhat better handling. I hate to admit that because I've always liked the pre 64 monte carlo, but after getting the hunters compact (standard fill) on my 270 fwt, it changed my mind towards that stock. I felt the hunters compact (edge fill) on my extreme weather was too light and I didn't really care for it. I've handled and shot both my fwt's extensively and if I were to grab one over the other, it would be the hunters compact:
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854 |
Pics of bottom metal and the couple-thousand $$ boo-boo.
Sent from my Dingleberry Handheld Wireless
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,093 Likes: 6
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,093 Likes: 6 |
That's too bad. I've been watching this on ebay. I know O45 doesn't like ebay or GB, but some of us use them becasue they tend to have a lot of hard to find parts there: http://www.ebay.com/itm/181585793500
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854 |
$500? I'd buy the Blackburn before that.
Sent from my Dingleberry Handheld Wireless
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854 |
I'd love to be able to just rebore/rechamber the 25-06 barrel to 35 Whelen....but I don't think a 35 Whelen reamer would clean up the chamber.
Sent from my Dingleberry Handheld Wireless
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,000
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,000 |
I bet you could mill that engraving off; you may have to re-contour the floor plate somewhat but the pre-64 steel bottom metal is pretty thick.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,000
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,000 |
I'd love to be able to just rebore/rechamber the 25-06 barrel to 35 Whelen....but I don't think a 35 Whelen reamer would clean up the chamber.
Might set it back a turn, you'd have to cut the chamber for the extractor and remove the factor irons but it'd conceal the caliber marking.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,184 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,184 Likes: 1 |
Check with PT&G for bottom metal, they make nice stuff and it's usually a good bit cheaper than the other brands. That said I'm pretty sure that floor plate isn't "engraved" as in engraver's hammer and chisel, it looks like it was done on a pantograph machine which doesn't "cut" per se it scratches. Point being that it's likely you can polish it out pretty easy. Screw the bottom metal to a pine block using wood screws through the guard screw holes and lightly draw file until the letters are gone taking care to keep from getting a wallow in the center. Then polish the file marks out using progressively finer grit sand paper. I could have that baby ready for the blue tank in a half hour with just files and sandpaper.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,880
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,880 |
Hey Steve, I have some bottom metal for you. Send me a pm....
"Then join in hand, brave Americans all!.....By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 80
Campfire Greenhorn
|
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 80 |
How about .280 AI? (Okay, bring out the koolaid and popcorn) Anyways, I have a few spare FW bottom metal in the shop with no chicken scratches on it
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854 |
Check with PT&G for bottom metal, they make nice stuff and it's usually a good bit cheaper than the other brands. That said I'm pretty sure that floor plate isn't "engraved" as in engraver's hammer and chisel, it looks like it was done on a pantograph machine which doesn't "cut" per se it scratches. Point being that it's likely you can polish it out pretty easy. Screw the bottom metal to a pine block using wood screws through the guard screw holes and lightly draw file until the letters are gone taking care to keep from getting a wallow in the center. Then polish the file marks out using progressively finer grit sand paper. I could have that baby ready for the blue tank in a half hour with just files and sandpaper. I checked PT&G and it looks like all they have is post 1964. And I think you're right on the filing/engraving.
Sent from my Dingleberry Handheld Wireless
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854 |
How about .280 AI? (Okay, bring out the koolaid and popcorn) Anyways, I have a few spare FW bottom metal in the shop with no chicken scratches on it Great cartridge, but I already have one. Hmmmmm. I may be contacting you on the FW metal. Thanks.
Sent from my Dingleberry Handheld Wireless
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,854 |
Hey Steve, I have some bottom metal for you. Send me a pm.... PM'ing now.
Sent from my Dingleberry Handheld Wireless
|
|
|
|
391 members (219 Wasp, 1_deuce, 204guy, 1moredeer, 160user, 06hunter59, 51 invisible),
2,513
guests, and
1,224
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,238
Posts18,485,834
Members73,966
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|