Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats What can i build on a pre-64 model 70 in 30-06?

i have a 1961 model 70 in 30-06 and i wanted to know what my caliber options were for a rebarrel. is the .375 ruger a possibility or is that too much for an old gun. i will most likely go bigger than 30-06.

338-06 or 35 Whelen would just require a rebore or rebarrel.

Doc

The diameter of your bolt face is .473 inches. Yes, you can open up the bolt face by a gunsmith that knows what he is doing. If you go the magnum cartridge then the bolt face route will need to be opened up to .532" and the extractor modified plus probably a new ejector. Maybe a new magazine box and follower depending on what you decide upon. You can get them as replacements parts from Wiseman. If you want to stay with a standard .473 bolt face get out a good reloading manual and look at the case dimensions. Anything larger than a .30/06 without opening up the bolt face would be 8mm/06, .338/06, .35 Whelen, and that about covers it. Otherwise almost everything else will be a magnum case head of at least .532 inches.

9.3x62.

It'll do anything that needs doing....

Take your pick.Rebarrel and there's countless cartridge choice's standard and magnums.Myself I would open the boltface up and go 300 Win mag on that classy action.More because I live in good moose country and that would be a sensible choice for myself.Your cartridge choice will vary of course.

.........I can't see why you wouldn't just go, as has been sugested, with a 9.3X62. No change in the bolt, magazine, or more than a re-bore of the barrel would be necessary. This is a very potent hard hitting cartridge,used a lot in African hunting,it has proven itself to be the very near equal of the venerable 375 H&H. In North America this would be a superb elk,bison,and brown bear caliber.

I'll second the 338/06... Great round!

....Adding that if the barrel is a slender taper (like the featherweight model) it might be necessary to cut the barrel shorter to accomidate the larger .366 bore leaving sufficent steel all around. This isn't really any problem with the 9.3X62 , since it achieves great velocity without the need of longer barrels. 20 inch barrels still get VERY near max velocity with proper loads.

I hate the thought of messin' with it period. 35 Whelen would be my choice, if you must.......

The Colonel and the Model 70 go hand-in-hand IMO.....

It's perked my attention over the last couple of years.

I have had many of these and have had short mags. built on them, this takes a 'smith who knows his stuff or they are real draggy in feeding. I don't care for metric rounds in P-64s, although my buddy free-miner has a very light 9.3x62 on a re-bored .30-06 in a Edge, quite the little Grizzly buster.

I would re-bore it to .35 Whelen, no question and load 270 NFs of 280 SAFs for serious work; the classic Whelen just seems to fit a nice old P-64.

These are my favourite working rifle due to quality and simplicity, I have used them in bush work for decades and still have 11 on hand. Good piece, treaure it.

[quote=]I don't care for metric rounds in P-64s,
I would re-bore it to .35 Whelen, no question and load 270 NFs of 280 SAFs for serious work; the classic Whelen just seems to fit a nice old P-64.

These are my favourite working rifle due to quality and simplicity, I have used them in bush work for decades and still have 11 on hand. Good piece, treaure it.[/quote]

Can't argue with that......

To address the original question; I think the 375 Ruger would make a great conversion. I would build it a bit on the chunky side with a 22 inch barrel but with as much of the weight between my hands as possible for quick handling. Other fine choices would be the 358 Norma or even the 338. The pre-64 is kind of an ideal action for a gunsmith to work from. There is enough room for improvement that the 'smith can make his mark on them and they are refined enough it doesn't become drudgery. GD

is 9.3x62 legal for cape buff?

In most African countries, yes.

Ask on the African forum; and find a good smith with a 9.3x62 reamer....

I'd leave it alone.

If is in good conditions I'll would second to leave it alone but if you already decide to rebarelled or rebored it's the 35 whelen perfect option

Send the barrel/action to Dan at Classic Barrel and Gun Works, he will work his magic and send you back a great shooting 338-06. BTDT.

My model 70 of similar vintage is now my wonderful 257 Weatherby. A 375 Ruger is another great choice for this action and yes, it will handle it just fine.

HOW ABOUT THE NEW 338 FEDERAL?