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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,188
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,188 |
While there is no shortage of M70 guys around here, I never hear anyone talking about the lightweights. There seems to be a following for the XTR Featherweights (myself included), isnt the lightweight the same without the fancy stock?
Stuck in airports, Terrorized Sent to meetings, Hypnotized Over-exposed, Commercialized Handle me with Care... -Traveling Wilbury's
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,102 Likes: 4
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,102 Likes: 4 |
The guys that own them keep them locked away from the market. I have not seen a Lighweight (.308) for at least 5-6 years.
JW
When truth is ignored, it does not change an untruth from remaining a lie.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 39
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 39 |
I have one that started off as a 243, and has since been rebarreled to .358 Win. I absoluteely love it, and it will be what I take with me when I get drawn for Cypress Hills Elk.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,188
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,188 |
I have often thought about doing the same, but dont see many short actions around here. Usually just 270, 30-06. Did you stick with the fwt barrel contour?
JW- I definetly agree, seems the folks that have them, arent parting with them.
Stuck in airports, Terrorized Sent to meetings, Hypnotized Over-exposed, Commercialized Handle me with Care... -Traveling Wilbury's
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 568
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 568 |
I've been trying to find a standard short action M70 for about a year now. No luck.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,904 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,904 Likes: 2 |
My brother has one in 243 but usually uses his Ruger M77 for hunting. I have offered to buy it from him many times. He always declines. Hopefully some day....and then I can make a 7mm-08 out of it. RH
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,584
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,584 |
I have wondered the same. As my smith pointed out to me, that stock is very similar to McMillans Compact stock design.
Anybody who seriously concerns themselves with the adequacy of a Big 7mm for anything we hunt here short of brown bear, is a dufus. They are mostly making shidt up. Crunch! Nite-nite!
Stolen from an erudite CF member.
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Posts: 32,235 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,235 Likes: 1 |
I have 2 of them in 250-3000, but swapped the stocks for the FWT style. The LWT stocks are equally functional, but I like the schnabled forearm tip of the FWT.
Jeff
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 39
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 39 |
I'll try to post some pictures of mine. I kept the barrel contour the same, and had it blued. Just something about a stainless barrel on a blued action that doesn't look right to me. It's a wonderful light rifle, and it shoots about 1 1/4" with Sierra 225gr BTSP and AA2520. The recoil is not bad, I've had .30-06 that kicked worse. I think it's the very straight comb and minmal drop at the heel that helps. I have thought about putting a recoil pad on, but for right now I'll stick with it the way it is.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884 |
I have one that isn't for sale. I like the Lightweight stock design much better than the standard fwt.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 39
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 39 |
Last edited by dragoon7214; 11/15/09.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,651 Likes: 2
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,651 Likes: 2 |
The action is the problem... Light 70 is an oxymoron.
Screwing a skinny tube in a fat action does not make a lightweight. Handling suffers...
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 39
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 39 |
I don't know about that. Mine has a 22" tube and handles very nicely. It's a push feed action, so it's a tiny bit lighter than the controlled round actions. It's point of balance is just behind the hinge of the floor plate, about dead center of the rifle. I find that it is easy to carry, and shoot from field positions. This summer, I was shooting with a friend at the local range and we were both able to hit a 10" steel gong at 300yds with it from the sittng and kneeling position, with the aid of the sling. I needed about a 4" holdover from the top of the gong to hit it, but managed it without any problems.
Last edited by dragoon7214; 11/15/09.
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Joined: Jun 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,188 |
Very nice dragoon. Looks like an ideal package where light and power might come together. Any work needs on the rails/ramp to get it to feed in the conversion?
I imagine that fwt barrel has to be pretty thin considering the .35 bore.
Stuck in airports, Terrorized Sent to meetings, Hypnotized Over-exposed, Commercialized Handle me with Care... -Traveling Wilbury's
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,349
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,349 |
I have 2 of them in 250-3000, but swapped the stocks for the FWT style. The LWT stocks are equally functional, but I like the schnabled forearm tip of the FWT.
Jeff You should pull one of those, nobody needs two. BTW, I'll take it if you do.
I am the NorthEast WoodsBeast!
"System version 1.3, divorced"
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,954 Likes: 5
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,954 Likes: 5 |
I have a 30-06 Carbine. Same rifle with a 20" barrel. Mine is quite accurate and carries well in the thick stuff.
Most people don't really want the truth.
They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,813
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,813 |
Shot a friends today in .308W. It is a great consistent shooter that sometimes is scary accurate.
Not a lightweight, but still a great carry rifle for most normal hunting conditions.
Last edited by battue; 11/15/09.
laissez les bons temps rouler
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,192 Likes: 6
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,192 Likes: 6 |
I had/have one which I also re-barreled to 358 Winchester. I reshaped the stock a bit and added a steel grip cap and a forend tip. It looked nice and I shot a couple of deer with it (225 Sieeras at 2500 kill deer REAL well!). I then re-barreled it to 6.5x55. It shot real well and I shot a deer with it. It is currently wearing a heavy 308 barrel and sits in a laminated Marksman stock. I have no plans to shoot a deer in this configuration but may try a coyote. My rifles tend to change a bit depending on my mood. I considered the lightweight to be a real bargain and liked the stock better than the FWT. When the weight is in the action area, it is between the hands making for a very quick handling rifle. Handling suffers only where the stock is heavy so the rifle becomes butt-heavy and balances too far to the rear. Action weight will change handling very little. The Winchester lightweight stocks are generally made of fairly light walnut and are relatively small in the butt so they still balance fairly well. Scope choice can affect handling more than three onces on the action will. The fact is, a rifle with a light barrel has to be made light in order to balance well. Light barrels need light stocks. Conversely, heavy barrels need some stock weight to balance them. The 358 barrel is thinnish but I will make them a little heavier forward of the fore arm to keep balance. If the barrel channel dimensions are not an issue I might make the barrel heavier over it's full length with balance being the determining factor. GD
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,651 Likes: 2
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,651 Likes: 2 |
greydog "The fact is, a rifle with a light barrel has to be made light in order to balance well." Sorry friend, but you cannot have it both ways. They are thin in the tube and not light enough in the stock because of the normal limits of walnut specific gravity. Because they are so heavy in the action it makes them sluggish. And in a bad way, where shooting them in field positiions seems compromised. The barrels move as a function of the rest of the rifle rather than being the leader. YMMV art
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,813
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,813 |
The only Lightweight Model 70 that I've see is the one I mentioned. If one has one that shoots even close to that one, you could live with its weight easily.
For those who want or need a flyweight for extreme mountain hunting that may not be the case, for everything else I can't see a problem.
The LW Model 70 is a fine rifle. Many are not aware of them being made.
Last edited by battue; 11/16/09.
laissez les bons temps rouler
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