Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Redneck -- M-70 Classic in 358 Win.

Considering building 358 Win. on long action M-70 classic. I know 35 Whelen is a natural, but I have brass & dies, and just like the 358.

Any feed problems possible; any other surprises ??
Woodchuck

Anytime you go to a different OAL cartridge the possibility always exists that you "might" encounter some feeding problems...but nothing that isn't fixable by a good smith.

There are plenty of functioning long action rifles out there that were re-chambered for shorter cartridges than they were originally designed for.

A short cartridge in a long magazine can and will double feed and jam.

It jams when the bolt is short stroked. Instead of ejecting the fired (or unfired for that mattter) shell the extractor will still hold the shell of course. When the bolt is moved forward it's bolt face will pick up a second round from the magazine if the magazine does not hold the rounds back far enough to place their rims beyond the ejector. Long magazines and short rounds are like that.

I noticed this with the ZB Brno rifles in 7-57 and 8-57 as they are in long actions which is not good.

I have a picture somewhere of such a jam in a 22f 8-57 and I may post it if I can find it.

sell the brass and dies, or sell the rifle and buy a short action.

Nothing unsurmountable.. Best course of action (I'm going from memory here; always a scary situation.. ) would be to change the mag box/follower and bolt stop.. Not any huge investment by any means.. Frankly, I don't see a problem.. Send me a pm and I'll do some research by Tuesday and give you some specifics..

Savage99: while it can happen, a good gunsmith can overcome this little issue..

And indeed Redneck you are a superb gunsmith. I really enjoy your posts.

True, Winchester put a spacer in the pre 64 M70 308's etc.

The path of least resistance here if one must have a .35 is to chamber the .35 Whelan in that action.

Still a .358 Win. in a M70 SA Classic with a Featherweight barrel would be sweet.

Somewhat like this old M70.

A big "Thank You" to all of you who responded with info.

RN--will be forwarding contact information in PM>
Have a plesant and safe Holiday weekend.

Woodchuck

Nice rifle... Not too many of those around.