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I reckon you pack it a lot more than you shoot it.

But, I don’t like really light rifles, especially chambered in serious rounds.

Good bud and very successful hunter loves the Sendero. I asked him why he used such heavy rifles. His comment, “I know what it’ll do when I get it there”. That includes about everything from WT’s and pronghorns to PG in Africa. Works for him and he’s no youngster. His two fav are .270 and 7RM.

DF

To each his own when it comes to cartridges and rifles. Recoil has never bothered me but lugging an artillery piece up a steep mountain sure has!

John, at almost 79yrs old I won't be climbing a mountain for sheep. I am not macho enough to say I shoot all calibers and rifles without some recoil bothering me. Lots of factors involved in recoil.

Thanks for all the help! Anyone know the difference between a Williams BM and a Blackburn off the top of their head? I’m doing some parts weighing today and have a Williams but not the Blackburn on hand. Thanks for the pic Rick!

I’ve heard the Williams unit weighs 3-4oz but have never used it so don’t take my word on that!
Butch, I had a 300 RUM built up several years back. I made it heavy for using on the range and for flat country hunts. IIRC it weighed about 10 pounds with the big NF scope. It was very tolerable in that guise, even when launching 230gr Bergers at 3000 FPS. When I replaced that scope and lost over a pound it still was easily shootable. It’s definitely a fast and hard kicker but it’s also an awesome hunting cartridge for elk and other large game.

I’ve got a pair of Model 70’s in early Echols edge stocks. Both are all steel in construction and both weigh under 8lbs scoped. One has Williams bottom metal and the other a Blackburn unit and both wear #2 contour barrels.

About double that.
6.75 oz LA Williams Ob.


7.10 oz LA Blackburn, so less than half an ounce more than a Williams.

Thanks so much guys!

Is the Williams BM you weighed an aluminum or steel unit?

Steel; I’m not aware that they made an aluminum unit.

John55, it will be steel, the info you've gotten seems to be spot on.
My 300 H&H Pre 64 M70 Echols legend/edge fill, #2 Lilja @24", factory steel BM, swaro Z3 3-10x42 in S&K mounts comes in at 7 3/4 lbs. unloaded with sling.

Yes, they do make their BM in aluminum for the Classic actions. That’s what I was referring to. Only steel for the pre ‘64s.

Williams isn’t making anything anymore; unfortunately.

PT&G will be your least expensive bet for non oem aluminum one piece bottom metal for the classics - and those do weigh in at roughly half the Williams steel unit.

I see that Sunny Hill makes a nice looking 1 piece unit in steel or aluminum for the Classic actions.

I struggled to get Sunny Hill on the phone last year and ended up purchasing PT&A aluminum which weighs a bit over 2 oz. I like Williams (now closed) and Blackburn bottom metal much more but the weight savings might be worth it to you.

I’ve never used aluminum 1pc metal, always used Blackburn steel units. Have used factory 2pc aluminum and compared to steel it’s 5oz lighter. Just depends on how light you want the rifle!

John,
I dug a little deeper into this last night including looking back at several of Matt Williams posts from here (he used to post as triggerguard). Still not finding anything on Williams aluminum one piece bottom metal for m70 classics. Can you post a link where you have seen them or seen them discussed? I would be quite interested as I have a couple McMillan’s that are inlet for the Williams bottom metal and I am always looking to shed some weight from m70s - although I’ll acknowledge that finding any Williams bottom metal since the closure is nearly impossible.
Thanks!

I was writing Williams but thinking Sunny Hill! Sorry for the confusion, I never caught it until your post.

Ah!
👍

My son is getting a 70 built up and will be using the Sunny Hill aluminum BM. I’ll get a good look at it then. The gunsmith seemed very positive about it so we shall see!