Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Mod 70 box length.......

I'd appreciate it if someone can give me the measured mag box length of a short action Mod 70 Classic. I'm planning in advance for a 6.5x55 build and the action choice seems to be coming down to a Montana 99 short listed at 3.125" or a donor Mod 70 short if its the same length. TIA

2.850 IL.. (that's with the spacer.. 3.1" w/o spacer)..

One book I have sez the Swede is 3.150 max OAL.. Why not use a standard M70 action with the mags that measure 3.4" IL?

Thanks for the info. I thought it was about that but didn't have one handy to measure.



I guess it's just a looney thang. I have a nice mannlicher length stock blank I'm going to use and a short action full length makes an attractive package. Longest bullets I'd use will be the 130 AB or 120 TTSX. Either can be loaded to fit the mag and if there are no other problems it'll be "sweet" for lack of a better term. Another thing I've considered is a used Kimber 84L in 25-06 rebored, set back and rechambered for the 6.5x55 (but haven't run the specs). I'd save some weight and gain some mag length but considering the price of a used Kimber and the labor involved I'd probably have just as much in the Kimber as in a rebarreled Montana 99 and more than in a rebarreled Mod 70. Still pondering and gathering parts. Son's grad present isn't finished yet and I need for that rifle to be done before I commit to this project. BTW and FYI a rebarrel from Bartlein took about a week longer than 6 months for completion.

How are the Mod 70 short action mag box spacer put in them, and how are they removed?

The only spacers I've ever played with are the Remington 700 spacers to convert the 308 length to 223 length.

If you're asking me, I don't know. I've not played around with a short action 70 at all. Redneck on the other hand is a veritable cornucopia of Model 70 knowledge. (practicing my big words)

Personally, I wouldn't remove it.. Part of the spacer unit is a tab that aids greatly in feeding rounds into the box. But it's obviously not a necessary item.. BUT - if you remove it, you'll have to modify the bolt stop and ejector to accommodate the further back-spacing of the rims..

Since the spacer is just mostly tack-welded in place it's fairly easy to remove. Any leftover roughness is easily cleaned with a good file or a Dremel..

I think that the standard length action is the best idea.

Then just make it into a 6.5-06. Dies are everywhere, brass is everywhere, and you know it will feed like corn through a goose's butt. Its is much easier to get 6.5x55 performance out of a 6.5-06 than it is - well you get the picture.

That's the problem with the 7x57 and the 6.5x55. Our actions are made for 06 length rounds. You have to make certain to stack them to the back of the box. Maybe I'm just too obsessive. But, then I am a rifle looney.

Ditto..