Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

[sharpshot]

Hello, I am new here and I have some questions regarding a project thats been in the back of my mind for a while

I've been kicking around the idea of building a long range plinking/hunting gun on a Winchester M70 receiver, but have a few questions. First, I know that the Remington 700 action is preferred, but is the M70 action a suitable platform for building the rifle I had in mind? Second, would I want a Controlled Round Feed(pre '64 action), or a Push Round Feed(post '64 action)? Third, do I want a long action or short action receiver? Is one (long action or short action) going to be more accurate than the other? I would like to build the rifle to replicate the Winchester M70 sniper rifle that was used in Vietnam. The rifle doesn't have to be an exact copy, just have the overall look.

Here is what I have been thinking:
1.Start with a M70 action.
2.Add a heavy contour/varmint grade barrel.
3.Have the barreled action timed,trued, reblued etc...
4.Add a plain jane walnut stock
5.Top it off with a Unertl 8x or 10x target type scope.

As for the caliber I have been thinking of a 30-06(long action) or 308.(short action)

Let me know what you think and thanks for the help

 

[ArcticFun]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

Have you considered the 7mm Remington Magnum? They can launch those Berger VLD's pretty fast and have them keep going for quite a ways (saw a one-shot kill at 960yards on an Elk, the bullet hit and it dropped where it stood). Also the pre '64 action is sought after for a reason, I'd go with one of those. That or get one of the new M70's that are just getting released and start from there.

I have a M70 in 7mm Remington Magnum with just the 22" sporter barrel and it works flawlessly, I've taken moose with one-shot at 300 yards no problem using factory Winchester XP3 ammo.

 

[Jester8]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

You can't go wrong with a Mod 70 action. I had one trued and threaded post 64' and it is a laser beam. As whether to go with a SA or LA depends on the round that you want to use. Either is fine. For hunting you would be wise to get a variable power scope.

 

[krummarine]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

+1 on the 7 Mag. Pushes you slightly more than a 30-06 but the ballistics are great, and factory ammo is everywhere if you don't reload. There was a M70 Laredo in 7mm mag for sale over on the classifieds this morning for 650.00. This is a great price. You get a CRF action, HS Prec. stock, (alum. bedding block) and a heavy barrel in a long range caliber. Buy this, practice with it, then if you still want to trick it out, get a custom barrel and/or stock put on it. You'll be set.

 

[SMOKIN 243]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

I favor the 30-06...but the guys are right about the ballistics and the acc.

 

[sharpshot]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

Should I proceed with my "sniper" project, are there any books or manuals out there that give detailed specs. on the Win. M70 sniper? Thanks

 

[18Echo]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

I'm building a .338-06 on a winchester LA classic receiver. Not a long range hunter, but will anchor any beast in North America at mid range shooting.

 

[jona]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

i am in the early stages of the very same project. I can give you to pieces of advice: 1 Go with the pre 64 action 2 check out texas brigada armory

 

[head2h2o]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

You may also want to look at Louisana Precision. They are doing work on the M70's now. Depending on your targets and distance will dictate the round choice. The others are right about the 7mmRM. Solid ballistics, especially with the heavier grain bullets. Between the two calibers that you have listed, if you are serious about long range hunting, you need to go with the 30-06. It will have more energy at longer ranges. The accuracy is a factor of multiple things, and I don't think the long or short action is going to be any more inherently accurate than the other. Things like the barrel, stock and bedding job are some other things to think about in terms of accuracy. To some, the M70 is more valued that the 700.

 

[sharpshot]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

Keep it comin guys I like the help. I'll have to check out louisana precision. The texas brigade armory is about 120 miles from my house so thats pretty good. It looks like I can send them the rifle action, and choice of scope and they will build it for me. Does anybody else have any experience with TBA?

 

[ArcticFun]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

Your sniper project as you put it is spot on. Carlos Hathcock of the USMC had one of the longest sniper kills in history with a Winchester Model 70 chambered for a .308. Go with the McMillian M40 stock, McMillian makes some of the finest rifle stocks around (personal opinion). Also the .300 Winchester Magnum will out preform the .30-06 down range, throwing bigger bullets faster than the .30-06. What kind of range are you talking about here by the way?

Oops I forgot about the WSM's. The 7mm WSM, .270 WSM and .300 WSM are all good choices if you want to approach (some instances exceed) LA power in a SA platform.

 

[42769vette]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

i have a mod 70 post 64. the action has been trued and it has a target stock and 28 in shielin barrel. its 1 1-8 twist 260. i couldnt be happier with it. it shoots alot better than i do. i found it already done while doing research on building basically the same gun.

as far as long range hunting it would depend on what you are hunting. if elk and moose are in your future i wouldn't do a 260 if whitetail and mullies are your primary concern id throw the 260 out there with the other cal mentioned

 

[sharpshot]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ArcticFun</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What kind of range are you talking about here by the way?</div></div>

My longest shot might be 400yds(not really long range). So, I think that the 30-06 should do just fine out to that range. The deer and hogs wont be able to tell if its a 30-06 or7mm RM that just punched through 'em.

I must admit that the 300 win. mag. looks pretty good.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

My understanding is that Hathcock purchased a post '64 Winchester Model 70 Hunting rifle from the Danang Base Exchange, with a Redfield 10X scope. The odds favor it being mounted with a sporter weight barrel, and I would also guess that something like a Leupold or Redfield JR type mount was used.

That's the sort of things which were available from such sources in those days.

The M40 was later developed because the orignal M70 setup in use did not meet USMC Sniper Rifle performance requirements that were developed after its original adoption.

IMHO, this began a spiral toward heavier rifles; which I think may have reached less than optimal extremes. Personally, I like the original concept better, and believe the problem with the later requirements may have been related to a necessity for multiple/repetitive hits, which would not be the forte of a lighter weight barrel.

If my thinking is correct, Carlos did not fault his orignal rifle, and used it in a manner which suited its capabilities well.

I consider a rifle to be a tool, and have a basic concept of letting the tool do the work. Carlos knew his job and he knew his tools, and the rifle he chose would certainly be good enough for anything I'd need to be doing.

Greg

 

[ArcticFun]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

Alright I had a little mis information about Hathcock. His long range shot was made with a .50 BMG. By the way he used a pre '64 action. The reason the USMC adopted the M700 vs the M70 was because the the post '64 actions were inferior to the pre '64 actions.
If your primarily going to hunt and not target practice then a sporter contour will serve you well. You can generally get 2-3 shots off without a POI shift.

 

[Bryan27]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

I love the M70's, like'm more than the 700's as a matter of fact but for no good reason. If you are in fact looking to build off a CRF M70 use a M70 Classic and not a true pre'64 action. A true pre'64 is going to run you more money than it is worth for building off of and you won't be able to tell the differenc in it and a classic.

 

[bignada]

Re: Building a long range hunting rifle on a Win. m70?

Unless you're just going for Nostalgia's Sake;
I would go Heavy Varmint or Stealth, paint the stock brown and add a match stainless barrel and call it a day.

Just what I did, in fact; but haven't painted the stock yet...

Go .284 win if you really want the longrange potential and open up the magazine fully. Shoot those heavy Bergers with RL17 at 3100fps???

Get the synthetic stock and wring-out all the precision you can. Unless you just have $5k to stick on the wall as a memento, build with the best there is. The win 70 is the way to begin, but don't hamstring yourself. The FN patrol rifle is a turnkey solution.