Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Teach me about the Model 70

I hear that all pre-64 model 70’s were long action.....the way they put 308, etc in them was with a longer bolt stop and mag spacer. True?

I hear model 70 classics are the same way....true? Such that I can buy a 270 win or other .473 bolt face and load/throat to 3.6” by removing the mag spacer and adjusting the bolt stop.....is this true?

I’m asking because I want to get a base rifle in 0.473” bolt face that I can run 3.600” rounds out of it, including ejecting live rounds and feeding from the magazine.

Will I need bottom metal, or will I just remove a spacer, or something?

Really no need to comment on the post 64 push feed actions...I also get WSM actions are their own bird.

You'd also have to modify the ejector.

I have a 7mm rem mag that I replaced the magazine and follower with one from a .375 H&H, also the bolt stop and ejector. It feeds perfectly and allows a 3.6" round. There isn't a factory magazine without the block available for non-magnum rounds that I'm aware of.

I once did something similar with a short action M70 classic to fit 257 Roberts rounds. I removed the spacer then shortened the bolt stop and ejector. I also had to file some on the feed rails at the rear of the magazine. I never did get it to feed 100% and it was stolen in a break in before I had a chance to fix it.

What you're talking about is doable but I'd be prepared to work through some feeding issues.

Not true in that the classic SAs are built on a true SA; max coal after removing spacer on the SA is ~ 3.1”.

Above isn’t relevant to your LA (crow addressed that) but more for completeness of answering the original question...

Thanks.

OK, but LA and 375 H&H are the same size?

Also, if a guy wanted an m70 to be even smoother, especially considering bolt lift and feeding, what would you do?

Of my factory actions my stainless classics have the lightest bolt lift. Actually lighter than my Bighorns.

The 375 actions (and stw and ultra and 416&458) are built on long actions with extended ejection ports, shortened bolt stop, and full mag box. Hence the different scope base spacing.

What caliber is your stainless classic?

The best feature of the Model 70 is it’s 1/2 lb heavier than a 700 and is almost as good.





I do like the old trigger design. But I would not pick a 70 over a Dakota 97 action.

Pretty much all of them. A good 270 and an STW escape me.

Its refered to as SA, but physical reality
Indicates an intermediate. ..



Be aware Pre64s that were made to run H&H rounds
had the lug abutement modified/shortened to create
a larger loading-extraction port.

You are kidding with the almost as good part, right?

I think the Model 70 receiver is fine. I have a couple. But I like the 700 and the 700 clones better, feel more comfortable to me.

All the other stuff, like CRF, open vs enclosed trigger, integral lug, etc is different, but not better than the 700. In statistically insignificant statements, I’ve seen more problems with Model 70s in the field than I’ve seen with 700s.

I think the best receiver might be the Model 70 Push Feed.

You’re on ignore

Ha!

It’s okay, I like them all but I’ve yet to see a P64 malfunction during a hunt.

Joel, who’s 70 has been jacked up during hunting season?

Funny stuff, never saw a 70 fail either, but did get in a hurry with some buds running and gunning a 700 and short stroked the sombitch.

Also slammed a pmag in past the gotdamn plastic mag stop, needed a set of pliers to yank that sombitch, old man at the event said those mags were made for human use, not apes, that old chit head nearly hurt my feelers ; ]

Just a couple, Bill’s bolt wouldn’t open a couple years ago, and I had to work out some feeding with my PF70. Nothing serious.

And to be sure, M70s outnumber M700s around us about 5 to 1. I think I’m the only one carrying 700s.

I got the Borden rifle out and held it, put it down/picked up the CRF70, , picked up the PF70, picked up the Borden. I think the 70 is just a touch thicker through the middle of the rifle, the Borden just a bit slimmer. Weight is about the same.

And even if/when I have a rifle problem during hunting season it’s still my fault, because I should have figured that [bleep] out before the season started!

I’m not suggesting the 70 is a poor action. I just don’t warm up to it.

I think Bill’s is a push feed too.

As for feeding I would say both are acceptable if fixed. The 700 DM of mine is finicky. It feeds about as well as your old Mashburn PF70 that Bill has now. As in, it will feed if you work the bolt with authority quickly, but it pushes the round to the right if you move too slow.

My other 70s and 700s all feed without issue.

They can ALL have problems, if some were indeed bullet proof, no replacement repair parts would have ever been made, try as I might, pretty sure I'm never going have to buy a replacement head for my 8# splitting maul ; ]

Sounds like if I buy a model 70 classic with either moa or earlier trigger, in 30’06, 270 win, etc.....I can remove a spacer or put a 375 h&h mag in to get 3.6” oal cartridges in it?? Just confirming I’m reading right....

And maybe change the magazine follower, shorten ejector, open loading port. But a 375 H&H mag may be too wide and allow the cartridges to sit too low to feed well.

That’s a fact Gunner!

Yeah, the rifles you’re talking about Joel were Bills PF 300, my old Masher, and Bills old 700 7 Rem Mag. Not saying that Pre 64’s don’t have issues and the Classics can be parts rifles in a box but if they are worked out they are pretty damned hard to make act poorly.

Saying that, 700’s don’t bother me either. But like Gunner, things just break in my paws sometimes...

When you put a barrel on the model 70, true the action.

And even the PF70s are darn good. Like Gunner said I agree they can all have problems. My CRF 70 is a newer version, I’ve never had a Pre-64.

While I agree, my smith suggests most benefit little from this work and prefers to check them first.

Ive had plenty 700's fail to extract too. Finaly said im never buying another one of those sob's again. I dont trust them. Never had a pre 64 fail for any reason.

Ive short stroked my left hand 870 wingmaster while shooting doubles trap. Usually recovered and busted the bird when it was falling hard and fast though. I love Remington shotguns. Remington rifles and 22lr ammo, not so much. Seen far too many duds there

You really are out in left field, ain't ya???

Scotty does have a Pre-64 30-06 featherweight I would be willing to give a try...

You'd use the rest of your 700's to hang tomato vines..

Yup, wingmasters and featherweights make the world go round. The rest is kinda...meh

For a Win M70 Classic, as Utah said, shorten or replace the ejector and the bolt stop. Acquire a longer magazine cartridge follower. Mag box: simple way is to drill or dremel the spot welds on the rear of the factory mag box to remove the 0.200" spacer. Cleaner way is to purchase a .375H&H length mag box with out the spacer. Although not sure if it will work with 0.473" base cartridges. Probably will NOT need to enlarge the ejection port, which is a good thing. Many more options for scope bases and mounts for the standard 0.860" scope hole spacing versus the long magnum 0.330" scope bases.

FWIW, Redneck here on 24HCF would be a good resource if you wanted to just pay a Winchester M70 knowledgeable 'smith to do the work.

Yeah, those sacks gave me some kind of short barreled m700 in 308 Winchester with either an aimpoint or eo-tech on it, hell fire and brimstone, I short stroked a short action!

Well, that would be like a gorilla trying to ride a tricycle. What did you expect?

LOL, sombitch had a threaded barrel too, no telling what they'd been out doing!

IMO, nothing feeds like a M70 (except a 03 Springfield, which is basically cone-breeched the same way - imitation, flattery, and all).
I have 3 Pre-64s and one post 64 full length classic, and they are sweet, but I recently got a stainless 270 WSM which has a 3.00" magazine and that dang thing will cycle and feed a magazine full of EMPTY cases, those short, fat, steep-shouldered 270WSM cases, in and out of the chamber slicker than owl snot. Feeding just doesn't get any better than that, IMO.
The Rem 700 is a darn fine action and probably superior in inherent accuracy to the M70, but feeding-wise there's no contest. When it absolutely positively has to go BANG, the second (or third, or forth) time, use a model 70!

Cheers,
Rex

I think you're right here.

Shhhhhhh! The prices are where I like them..............