So, I’m into lightweight rifles. Think Kimber Montana, Remington 700 Titanium, Weatherby backcountry, etc. That being said, I’ve got a Pre-64 model 70 that I’m considering building on. I also have a Brown Precision stock for it, that weighs in at 24oz. Was thinking of a carbon barrel, in something like 280ai, 7mm Weatherby RPM, etc. finished at 22”-24”. Has anyone gone this route before? What could one expect the finished weight to be of similar rifle, or how light can a Pre-64 be made?

About 6 to 6 and a 1/4 bare I think. Not sure how the carbon barrel factors but the 0 and 1 contours were pretty light and your Brown should help stuff.

Sounds like a great project though.

The lightest ones I have are 7 pounds on the nose with Talley mounts. The H&H receiver is lighter than your standard receiver. IF your stock is a PoundR, that is going to help for sure. That is how both of mine are stocked. Great stocks by the way. They really mitigate recoil well.


Crappy pic, but you get the idea on weight. That rifle uses aluminum fwt bottom metal, so that reduces the overall weight by a few oz's. A carbon fiber wrapped barrel should bring the weight down quite a bit. Build it and let us know what it weighs when you are done. Should be a cool project. Good luck with it..

You can’t build a super light M70 because the action is around 40oz. A Ti Rem 700 is around 20 for a comparison.
Also the Proof Carbon wrapped barrels are at least 11-12oz heavier that the M70 Fwt barrel which is around 2#-2oz depending on the size of the hole.
The Douglas Fwt barrels are about as light as you can get.

The lightest pre-64 M70’s are original Fwt’s with Brown PoundR stocks that are installed by Brown Precision.
Haven’t seen a single installer come close to Brown with the PoundR AND be aware that a conventional pad will gain all the weight you are trying to loose.

My son's pre 64 M70 06' fwt
(factory barrel) w/o scope and mounts is just a hair under 6 1/2 pounds with a mcm edge, 1" pad but it does have steel Williams 1pcs.BM.
I have several set up about the same way and scoped they are all right about 8 lbs. but his is the lightest of the group.

Yeah, beretzs is spot on. Hard to make a ~44 oz action much lighter. And that’s with the featherweight barrel weighing 34 oz. Your carbon is going to add at least 8 oz to that even if you go with the lightest carbon 6.

I would also check to make sure that you’re going to have enough space in that brown for a thick carbon contour.

I have two questions: what are you going to so with this rifle, and how do you define "light"?

I hunt blacktails an island in western Washington. The typical shot is about 35 yards, fast, and offhand, and it often comes toward the end of 10-12 hours of still-hunting on old trails in dense brush and pouring rain. I tried a lot of different things but the best rifle I ever found for that was a pre-64 M-70 Featherweight 308 in a Pacific Research stock with a 4x Leupold in Weaver rings and bases. Ready to hunt, it weighed 7.5 pounds. It balanced perfectly for close, fast shots, it was easy to carry for long stretches, and I put a lot of meat on the table with it.

There are plenty of ways to minimize the weight you add to a heavy action, but at the end of the day, that's still what you're doing. So rather than locking in on weight, what if you build a rifle that works for the way you hunt?

Instead of trying to turn a M-70 in to something it was never meant to be, maybe use it for a cartridge that needs some weight like a 35 Whelen, 9.3x62, or 338 WM. A lightweight stock like the Brown would help the rifle balance so the weight isn't all in once place. As long as you don't go crazy with the optic, you could come in around eight pounds scoped with a 22" barrel.

That's light for any of those cartridges, which you'll learn as soon as you touch one off in an eight-pound rifle.


Okie John

270, 280, or 30-06 in a 22" Fwt contour, make it easy on yourself. It'll feed easy and shouldn't frustrate you w/mag-box length.

As has been said, M70 actions are heavy. There's a number of easy ways to lighten the rifle, the stock and barrel contour being the first place to start. Find a 24 oz stock and you're on your way. The M70 Featherweight barrel contour is a brilliant compromise that eliminates the typical barrel shank, but still has a nice medium taper from the little mini 1/4" shank to the muzzle. It's stiff, but not a pencil barrel like the M700 Mountain Rifle contour. The next place to think about weight is the scope and mounts. The Talley lightweight's in x-low are the place to be for lightweight unit. Mount a scope that doesn't go over 12 oz's. Bottom metal is another place to look - ditch the factory stuff and go to an all-aluminum bottom metal assembly (like PT&G). Get rid of the metal factory follower and replace it with a composite follower. Use a Butler Creek Mountain Sling (there really is no lighter, functional sling). You can even ditch the factory firing pin and get a Tubbs speed lock unit, saving an ounce.

Here's a lightweight 308 Win I did (you could lose 2 oz's going to a blind magazine with aluminum trigger bow and losing one round) :

Dog Schit glass and mounting systems,ain't a "savings" but rather heavy concessions and them differences are stark. Pun be intended. Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!...........

That's a gorgeous rifle. Let me know if you ever get tired of it.


Okie John

Pray for BS. He knows not that which he does not know.

If Delusional Dumbfhuqktitude soothes your Realities,you are welcome to it. Hint.







Bless your heart.

Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!.............

Maybe you shouldn’t toss those rifles on a pile of rocks before shooting them for YouTube ??

LOL…. I guess that’s how you break in scope rings ?

You have to laugh at yourself every once and a while stick.

With a Brown PoundR stock that really does weigh a pound before finishing, you MIGHT get a complete rifle with scope to go under 7 pounds. There’s just too much weight in a 70 to ever get a complete rig like those you mentioned. Couple years ago my son had Kevin Weaver make him a light 270 on a M70. Kevin used a light contour 22” barrel, fluted it as well as the bolt body, removed as much weight as he could from the action and mag box, aluminum bottom metal, Hunter Edge stock. with a VX3 scope it still went over 7.
For comparison, my Wby Back Country weigh 6-3/4 all up, with a 20oz scope.

That's a nice rifle Brad! Mine is right at 7lbs 1.8oz scoped not bad for a .30-06. I deleted the bottom metal, and used a 670 TG.

My FWT 308 is 7.4 lbs. But, that aint because Winchester did me any favors. There aint much featherweight about the Featherweight.

Thanks for the feedback guys. To answer a few questions:

I plan on hunting deer in PA with it(unique situation in the places I normally hunt where I can shoot pretty much as far as I can see, but wouldn’t plan on shooting over 600 yards). Also woukd use it out west(Montana, Wyoming, etc. for mule deer and elk).

Rifle weight versus recoil isn’t a concern. I currently have/shoot a 5lb 15oz 7mm-08 with 150s at 2850fps, a 6lb 12oz 6.5 Wby RPM with 140s at 3000fps, a 7lb 3oz 350 Rem Mag with 225s at 2700fps, a 7lb 15oz 7mm wsm with 160s at 3020fps, and an 8lb 10oz 300 RUM with 200s at 3150fps.

The brown precision stock I have currently weighs 24oz, and according to a few rough measurements, there’s enough room in the barrel channel to fit a proof research in it that’s the same dimensions as the one on my 7mm wsm, with a little bit of material removal(so maybe lose a couple oz there).

It’s all just an idea at this point. The pre 64 that I plan on using for the build is nothing more than a shooter grade rifle at best(sights removed eand rear dovetail filled and blended with barrel contour, reblued, bottom metal worn shiny, etc. No collector value whatsoever, so figured I would do something interesting with it.

TwatShooter,

To date,I've only had (8) LW's fail me. Hint.

'Course,I long ago discontinued their service from my larder,which by default,precludes the 9th failure. Read that again. Now one more time. Hint.



Hint.................

Things you can do to lighten a Model 70 (we'll assume a post-64 short action since we are going for light).
1. You can modify the tang to a pre-war style.
2. You can thin the recoil lug (leave a ridge in the center for stiffness and strength).
3. On the post-64, the magazine box forms the feed rails so the mag well does not have to be so deep. You can remove an eighth inch.
4. You can scallop the left side of the receiver ( like a BRNO ZKK)
5. You can turn the flat off the bottom of the receiver ring. While I'm not real big on this mod, it is doable.
6. You can replace the mag follower with an aluminum one.
7.Use pre-64 featherweight bottom metal (you have to shorten the floorplate)
8.Hollow the bolt handle and knob.
9. Ditch the middle screw.
With all of these mods, you will end up at a weight about the same as a 700.
As for the rest of the rifle, the formula is pretty standard fare. Skinny barrel. Lightweight stock. Lightweight pad. Don't add a bipod or a 2 pound scope. For light weight scope mounts, the old standard Weavers are pretty effective. GD

Lie. Tell everyone it weighs 6 lbs with scope and shoots 1/2" groups at 200 yards.

The simplest thing to do is sell the brown and pre 64 barreled action and grab a Kimber Montana 270.

But I don’t think that’s the motivation behind this.

Sounds like a great idea to me. However, how much does this barrel weigh? Someone here said those barrels are heavier than a factory featherweight barrel. If that is true, maybe find one of those or go with something like BobinNH used to like to use. A Brux #1 I believe is what he said he would use if he absolutely needed to go with an aftermarket barrel. He also admitted that he wouldn't change one out unless he absolutely had to because the factory fwt barrels shot so well. My plain jane 1956 FWT 30-06 weighs 6.5 pounds in its factory stock. In a Brown PoundR, the weight would go down more. The rifle I pictured earlier is my 338wm and I do not want it any lighter. I also have a 300WBY in a Brown PoundR at the same weight. Again, I would NOT want it any lighter. As they are now, they are very manageable. Something to keep in mind when you go lighter. The cartridge you choose will make a difference. Just like a Tikka lightweight rifle, I don't want anything bigger than a 30-06 in that platform. Good luck with your build and keep us posted.

He has a pre 64 and asking about a pre 64, not a post 64..

Well, crap. I missed the re-64 part of the op's post. With a pre-64, I would reshape the tang to pre-war specs, thin the left receiver wall, and hollow the bolt handle, if it is not already hollowed. I would thin the recoil lug. I would replace the bottom metal with fwt metal. I would not trim the mag well or turn the ring. The rest stands. GD

Best answer yet!

Maybe a dissident voice...

To me the ultimate FUNCTIONAL Lwt is the ergonomics as comfortable fitting and compromise with just how bad recoil and muzzle blast I'm willing to tolerate. Those Remington Model 700 Titanium rifles, ref above, were light and could be made even lighter, but the question becoming 'why'!

The real question to me is "bragging rights" versus "utility". I have a few rifles that are simply uncomfortable to shoot. My more than sufficiently heavy .458 Win & .416 Rem rifles. Heavy recoil but decent stocks & no pretense of LWT. My .450 Marlin Guide Gun is a bugger & not comfortable!
Your own body geometry and 'tolerance' factors.

I have a 'lot' of rifles! But for lwt fun guns, below my favorite. Under 7lbs, 8x57 & comfortable no nonsense gun! Oh ya, I only have a 'C' Note invested! Also with a 1903 Steyr MS probably lightest but the 6.5x54 ammo, Walmart says temporarily O/S! Not $$ practical shooter!

I enjoy the talk about LW guns, but they have to make sense as maybe shooting a 40 rounds of ammo on outing & not needing all your filings replaced!

Just my 'non-techie' take!
Best!
John

Good post John. That is what I was alluding to in my last post as well. I certainly agree with you on this. The last time I took my light 300wby out, I fired off 46 rounds I think and that was enough for me. I didn't even want to shoot the 223 after that. Shooting a 7 pound 300WBY gives me a damn headache, I don't care how it's stocked!!! ha ha.. Now, if it were a 243 or 257 Roberts, I wouldn't mind if it were 6 pounds. But it would have to be very balanced. Balance and how it carries and handles in the field are more important than super lightweight IMHO...

+1

I have built a few fairly light Model 70's but a light Model 70 is usually around 7.5 pounds, all-up. You work pretty hard to lose another 1/4 pound.
I consider the carbon wrapped barrels to be a bit of a gimmick. GD

You CLUELESS Drooling Fhuqktards are a HOOT! Hint.............

Shouldn't you be out throwing your rifle at a fish or something?

I had a Montana in 280ai, but my brother wanted it more than I did, so it lives with him now. For a factory option, and for my wants and needs, the Montanas can’t be beat. I’ve got 3 of them, and had 3 others that I’ve let go, just because they were duplicate calibers, and the other guns in like calibers had more sentimental value.

I’m not looking for the lightest rifle possible, I’ve got ones in the safe I’d never come close to, weight wise, with a model 70, and I know that. I’ve just always wanted a custom on a pre 64 70 action, and I like lighter rifles. I’m just looking for feedback on real world lightness, without shaving every possible minuscule oz. and throwing tons of money at it. Already have the action, stock, factory featherweight bottom metal. So just trying to brainstorm with the help of the fire, and see what is realistically possible.

6 3/8 bare with your brown, action, fw bm, and a fw contour at 22.

That would work out quite nicely.

280 Remington, 6 digit classic featherweight with factory barrel.

McMillan "Bridges" Edge, 13 7/8" LOP

All metal cerrakoted, PT&G Oberndorf LW bottom metal.

6lb, 6oz.

Lex says 5 3/4#.

http://riflesinc.com/riflemodels.html

Lex makes an excellent rifle.

Ask Lex Webernick at Rifles, Inc.

There's one pictured there at 5 3/4 lbs.

I put mine together nearly 15 years ago, and cost me me around $1200 for the bare rifle. It took a lot of time and effort to find a SS Classic FWT for $650, and I picked up the McMillan off the classifieds here for $300, and Kevin Weaver cleaned up the old bedding and and re-bedded it for around $200. My rifle roughly weighs 6.25 lbs bare, that makes it over $280 an oz to get to 5.75 lbs from what I paid originally. I'm sure the Rifles Inc M70 is an awesome rifle, but I'm not paying $2300 to lose 8 ounces on my rifle. I'm very happy where I'm at.

≠



No question lex builds an excellent rifle; for 4 k it’s an expensive 8 -10 oz. The original poster has been asking about attainable weights using a stock he already has that weighs 24 oz; lex uses a stock that weighs quite a bit less.

LOL ..... Not a bad plan. Hardcharger's rifles do look like pike lures.

Oh my eyes! LGBTQ 2022 commemorative rifle?

At least SuperKchunt can "afford" to fhuqking steal pictures,if only to horn bluetits up...you "lucky" kchunts. Hint. Congratulations?!?



Bless your hearts,for "living" vicariously.

Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!...............

7ish pounds scoped is what is practical. That weight and platform makes a great hunting rifle.

This is good info!
Get your hands on a NULA.
It will cost you 4K, but you will never make a mdl 70 that light.
I had a phenomenal smith take a 5 digit featherweight classic and turn it into a 35 whelen with a Kreiger #3 and a Brown stock, fully blueprinted. It is unbelievably accurate, but I definitely think about how nice it would be if I built it 3/4 of a pound heavier lol. Everything I hit with it acts like they got hit by a garbage truck though

Sweetie,

NULA's pale to Fieldcrafts. Hint.



Fhuqking LAUGHING!............

Strolling down memory lane and those 7lb model 70’s do the trick. I prefer the bigger action to the lighter weight offerings.

Most of the hunters I meet while afield are 20+ pounds overweight, few walk at all so the question is: "why a light model 70?"

Looks like you're not affording much these days as well.

I just dropped a pre 64 06' FWT B/A with factory BM into a 25oz. MCM edge I have and it came in at 6Lbs. 7 oz.
Just a FYI

TAG

I guess because I want one, so, “why not?”

You're obviously not a backpack hunter.

Those look like some of utah708's rifles. Beauties!!

Speaking of Talley's and Leupold, my favorite part of this thread:




Of course, if you're a ham-fisted lumberjack that doesn't know how to lap rings or use a torque wrench, you're going to break things... the rest of us don't. And, those of us with a passing education also know how to use "hint" in a sentence. Hint...

So overweight guys can't appreciate a lighweight rifle? ha ha..

An extra pound or two in the hands all day is much heavier than an extra pound or two under the shirt.



Bruce

Your about due for a hissy fit dummy.👊🏻

Maybe you Greg and liar Larry can combine forces and get a epic bitch and whine fest goin like the cuunts you fuucks are!! LOL

Bradgelina,

Pardon wares actually in the Wild. Hint. Fhuqking LAUGHING!

I've "only" failed 8 LW's,but I shoot in a volume you cannot begin to comprehend and LW's certainly failed said 223 AI. So did the Reupold. Hint.







Bless your heart,for "living" vicariously.

Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!.............

[quote=borden811]
I currently have/shoot a 5lb 15oz 7mm-08 with 150s at 2850fps, a 350 Rem Mag with 225s at 2700fps]

Imo, you have your bases covered already and are just blowing money. Take it from a guy that's wasted too much time thinking about the next rifle. Ditch the other rifles and spend the money hunting. Ymmv