Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats For exp. gun plummers

I'm a just a working stiff that happens to have a shop with 2 lathes and 2 milling units. I also have good buddy that is a excellent metal worker. We have put together about 25 rifles in the past 5 years. They have all been 25-06, 7mm mauser, 308, 22-250, ect. The largest thing we have put together is a 375 H&H on a winchester 7mm mag.

I have 2 Win model 70 actions (7mm, 300) and I want to do the imposible. I want to do a 416 Rigby on one, and a Jeffery or 500 AHR for feeding issues on the other. What type of metal work mod's would I have to do. I know that the 70' is long enough, because I've have seen to built that way. I just never had time to pick them apart.

I know there are some excellent smith's out on this board and just wanted to pick their brain. I've seen some of Charlie Sisks work and it is GGGREAT!!, but my buddy and I get the satsifaction out of doing and learning. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

First of all you didn't say if your model 70's were Pre-64's, G-series Push Feeds, or Classics. For purposes of discussion I'll assume it's one of the new classics. Also please note that I'm not a extremely experienced gunsmith, but have played with a couple dozen Model 70's. I may give you a couple good ideas but don't take anything I reccommend as gospel, other more experienced smiths might have even better advice.
You need to start with one of the Ultra Mag, 375,416 or 300 Weatherby actions. The rear bridge of the action is moved back further for ejection and you would have to fill the scope mount holes, mill the rear bridge further back and retap the holes to the proper .330 hole spacing found on the magnum actions. IMO you would be a lot happier just starting with the action with the proper length ejection port. Of course you will also have to change out the ejector.
The magazine box and feeding of course are going to be the biggest problems. On the classic the magazine box just takes up too much room inside the rails to allow for a proper width box. I forget the actual equation but basically you want the bottom of the top round to touch the top of the third round when in the box, and allow about .010 for slop. You also want the follower to have a little play and properly fit the lowest round without wobbling too much, i.e. you may have to make a new one.
The way you might try and go is to order a magazine box for one of the ultra-mags with the section cut out of it and also an Ultra-Mag Follower. The cut-out section may allow you to cheat a bit on magazine box width. This is what I'm planning to try on a 330 Dakota I have built on a Model 70. Another Idea would be to go with Blackburn drop-box bottom metal and work your magazine box to come to the bottom of the action and ajust the rails to work without the box coming all the way up under the rails.
Somewhere I've got the equation for box width recorded, If I can find it I'll relay it on to you and that will give you a place to start...........DJ

liled
You may want to go to Lilja's website and read the article about putting a 378 Wby on a Rem 700 action. Talks about the barrel shank not being large enough. The Wby and Rem are 1.062 diameter, the Win in 1.000. It can be done, but I wont do it.
Charlie

The M-70 isn't a long enough action for the 416 Rigby, you probably saw a 416 Remington, which is a shorter round. As Charlie mentions, the barrel stub isn't prudently large enough for that dia of case either, and the 500 AHR is an even larger dia case.

I'd say go 416 Rem, it is in all practical sense just as good a round as the 416 Rigby, and it'll fit in your M-70. If you want the max power prudently harnessed in the M-70, then go with a 470 Capstick, the 375 H&H case blown out nearly straight, or slightly more practicle w/ no real loss of power over the 470 is the 458 Lott.

If you want to harness some of the bigger rounds, then get one of the CZ-550 magnum actions.

No,
458 it was a rigby! I have seen a number of Rigby's and a few built on M98 standard actions, and the M70 is longer than a Mauser! Check out Harry Selby old rifle, it was built on a M98. I my just be a easy does it kind of guy and do a taylor or is there a shorter case on a 404 I could do it with?

Liled: One thing to remember....just because is has been done doesn't mean it should be done! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

In addition to the safety issue, using a big case like the Jeffrey/Rigby/Weatherby in a nominally sized reciever will guarantee extraction problems as the reciever expands and then contacts as the pressure drops during firing. The result is a case that has expaned to follow the chamber...except that the case is now wedged into a smaller chamber. Bad JuJu all the way around.

The big CZ actions or the Sako/Tikka M995 action as used for the 338 Lapua are what you need for a project like this. Or a big custom action. Be safe. -Al

Al, I'm a lefty and am limited in my choices. I'll do a taylor and chalange myself at a later date!!

Ed