Chassis for Winchester 70

[zog]

Can anybody direct me to somebody who would make and sell a chassis for my Winchester Model 70 300 wsm? About 2005 vintage.

I see lots of applications for Rem 700 but not so many for Win model 70.

Sorry if this has been covered in this forum; I did a search before i posted my question.

 

[jetmd]

Since your options are limited you will most likely need to contact the manufacturer directly for
guaranteed fitment, and or custom configuration.

Here are your 3 best options IMHO, and in no particular order:

XLR Industries
MDT TAC
McRees Precision

Good Luck!

 

[acudaowner]

do you have the original stock ? there are people who own jigs that allow them to duplicate your old stock from new wood https://doantrevor.com/duplicating/
here are a few win 70 in 300 win mag
https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Keywords=winchester model 70

.300 Winchester Short Magnum Rifles | Cheaper Than Dirt

Find .300 Winchester Short Magnum bolt-action rifles from a variety of manufacturers. Choose the lowest price from our multiple warehouses.

www.cheaperthandirt.com

 

[zog]

Since your options are limited you will most likely need to contact the manufacturer directly for
guaranteed fitment, and or custom configuration.

Here are your 3 best options IMHO, and in no particular order:

XLR Industries
MDT TAC
McRees Precision

Good Luck!

Thanks you found one for me! XLR stopped making chassis for Winchester due to inconsistency and low sales. MDT Tac does have one though.

 

[zog]

Since your options are limited you will most likely need to contact the manufacturer directly for
guaranteed fitment, and or custom configuration.

Here are your 3 best options IMHO, and in no particular order:

XLR Industries
MDT TAC
McRees Precision

Good Luck!

Well, scratch that one. MDT Tac doesn't make one for my model 70. They confirmed what XLR says about inconsistency. My action is USA made and they can't fit it. This from MDT Tac Q&A . . . .

"A: Thanks for reaching out. Winchester has made the Model 70 for more than 80 years now on a few different continents, this chassis design was based on the FN made actions in Belgium. If your action screws don't match up or if it was made in the USA or Portugal then unfortunately it will not work."

 

[jetmd]

Yep.

I love my M70's but the aftermarket support is very limited.

All of mine have been converted to CDI bottom metal and run like an open sore.

 

[zog]

Thanks

My real intent is to get a different stock or chassis and want to use a DBM instead of the hinged floorplate I now have.

What my pea-brain can't figure out is whether I buy a stock with DBM and simply install the stock, or whether I need to convert the mag first.

Can I simply remove the stock with the hinged floorplate, then install the new stock with the DBM? Is there anything else I need to do to get the receiver to accept cartridges from the drop-out mag?

 

[rgv]

That is not up to date information from MDT.

The current ESS chassis will work on any post 1984 model 70 with 7-1/8” guard screw spacing.

You do need to use MDT metal mags or trim the fronts of polymer mags.

 

[zog]

That is not up to date information from MDT.

The current ESS chassis will work on any post 1984 model 70 with 7-1/8” guard screw spacing.

You do need to use MDT metal mags or trim the fronts of polymer mags.

Thanks for that - you are correct sir. I just phoned MDT to ask. He was confused by their own poorly worded answer under the ESS Q&A. It should not say what it does. It's not out of date - it's just wrong.

Good news is yes the ESS will fit my 2003 Win Model 70 which does have the 7-1/8 spacing. However he said 90% chance I will have to modify for the magazine by bending some tabs on the mag (? - must be what you are referring to).

Also he says most likely I will need to notch out my feed ramp in the receiver to allow the bullet tip to pass upward and not get caught. A little over my head; now I will have to look in the action while cycling and see what he means by that. I don't know if I am comfortable taking a saw or file or dremel to my receiver.

He also did say that Model 70's are a bit of a headache for them due to different fits.

They do have a 30-day return, so might be worth a try. My other dilemma is whether this Model 70 is worthy of a stock twice its value.

 

[65x55guy]

Thanks for that - you are correct sir. I just phoned MDT to ask. He was confused by their own poorly worded answer under the ESS Q&A. It should not say what it does. It's not out of date - it's just wrong.

Good news is yes the ESS will fit my 2003 Win Model 70 which does have the 7-1/8 spacing. However he said 90% chance I will have to modify for the magazine by bending some tabs on the mag (? - must be what you are referring to).

Also he says most likely I will need to notch out my feed ramp in the receiver to allow the bullet tip to pass upward and not get caught. A little over my head; now I will have to look in the action while cycling and see what he means by that. I don't know if I am comfortable taking a saw or file or dremel to my receiver.

He also did say that Model 70's are a bit of a headache for them due to different fits.

They do have a 30-day return, so might be worth a try. My other dilemma is whether this Model 70 is worthy of a stock twice its value.

that’s a great question that only you can answer. For me, it comes back to whether the rifle is a shooter before the change to chassis.

Also, if your main goal is just having a shooter with a DBM then there are easier and cheaper methods for sure. Comes down to whether that rifle has any sentimental value (first hunting rifle, dads rifle, lucky rifle).

personally, I also have zero interest in modifying my own action so it will feed. I have lots of faith in my ability to hose that up.

 

[zog]

that’s a great question that only you can answer. For me, it comes back to whether the rifle is a shooter before the change to chassis.

Also, if your main goal is just having a shooter with a DBM then there are easier and cheaper methods for sure. Comes down to whether that rifle has any sentimental value (first hunting rifle, dads rifle, lucky rifle).

personally, I also have zero interest in modifying my own action so it will feed. I have lots of faith in my ability to hose that up.

Thanks

Really all I want is a new stock; I have always hated the super shadow stock, and I thought the adjustability of a chassis might be the way to go. I figured as long as I'm going for a new stock, might as well change the mag too.

I bought this Win 70 "super shadow" because it was a bargain at the time (probably hard to sell because of the stupid stock), and figured I would change the stock someday. 15 years later, it's now someday, and I'm giving the rifle to my son who also hates the stock but loves the gun.

It isn't all that sentimental, but it's worth so little now that I might as well change it rather than sell it for pennies. I was hoping that, being among the last of the USA made Winchesters, it would gain some collector's value. But I now believe that trying to keep a struggling factory open back then, they had some legacy so-so people and practices and there's too much competition. Proven by their attempts to keep in the market by making really corny stocks with dumb fashion flare lines and ugly rubberized grips that wear off quickly.

You also make a good point - I should see how it groups. All I know is it hits deer, elk, and antelope behind the lower shoulder.

Side note - lucky me - I inherited a 1958 Winchester 70 .270 (same age as me) and it's a beautiful piece of work to this day. All original and still in top condition. It's going to one of the kids too.

I also always hated hinged floor plates - they remind me of a roadrunner cartoon spro-i-ing and seems like I drop all my ammo every time I empty it. The DBM is something I learned to really like after buying a rifle in Canada where the laws make you remove all ammo from the gun every time you get in a car.

So please help me - what is the easier way to convert to DBM?

 

[jetmd]

zog, need some clarification to answer your question.

Do you want a DBM that is reliable and feeds from readily available aftermarket AI or Accurate mags,
Or a cheap and easy method to convert?

If you are wanting the first option you can have your action milled to allow flawless function.
This is not a big deal but it is best accomplished by a smith with a mill.
Unfortunately CDI Precision is no longer in business, so you are faced with finding used or NOS bottom
metal.
Or, God forgive me.....you can purchase bottom metal from PTG.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck!

 

[zog]

Do you want a DBM that is reliable and feeds from readily available aftermarket AI or Accurate mags,
Or a cheap and easy method to convert?

Thank again for your advice - I was not aware that I had to make a choice. My lack of knowledge, and why these forums are great.

I only want quality or it's not worth doing. Since posting this I got similar advice from a gunsmith at LRI in Sturgis, who kind of said the same thing. He told me that I can get any of about a dozen DBM's on the market and just screw one in, some will have gaps all the way around and some I would be trimming with a chisel or box knife in the stock, then filing the action, then cussing every time I cycle it, finally giving up and taking my wrecked gun to a smith.

Or i can take it to a smith and get the stock with DBM right the first time. Once again I have to make the decision as to whether my rifle is worth it, and it isn't.

The rifle's value to me is right in-between - It would actually be a fun little hobby to hack away and see if I could get a DBM to work, but the rifle is worth more than that. But it's not worth enough to spend too many $$$ on.

So I bought a stock on sale from Stockys (again VERY few choices for Win model 70 short mag compared to roughly one million choices for Rem 700), and will just screw it in and leave the spr-o-oing as is.

I guess my son will have to decide for himself whether he wants to bed and upgrade. You'll see his posts in about five years.

THANKS again for all your answers! Now that I have delved in to this I'm going to learn more about how mags and receivers interact and fit together, just cuz shooting is a hobby for me.

 

[Waorani]

Shameless plug:

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/ptg-aics-dbm-for-fn-spr-winchester-sa.6945714/