Pre64 Model 70, 30-06 to 458

[Cable68]

Posted in the firearms section as well.

I now have a pre-64 action, stock and barrel blank. Action was originally a 30-06 (action is actually older than the WinMag family). Now choice is which 458 to turn it into. I'm leaning towards the Win Mag on the KISS ( keep it simple stupid) principle. More machining involved with the Lott, and therefore more chances for things to go wrong.

Any thoughts?

 

[enysse]

Do you know a good gunsmith?

 

[Cable68]

Had one, now I've moved; might take it back to him.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Cable68,

If you don't mind sending it off to Arizona and perhaps waiting a little while, I've got a guy who specializes in taking pre-64 M70 actions and converting them to big bore African calibers. He has done this over and over and takes them to Africa where he sells them to PH's. Just let me know.

Phil

 

[JTEX]

Simple thing to do..... Just about any competent smith can open up the bolt face and fit the barrel.


.

 

[IronCowboy]

Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe the Lott can be made to fit. I know the pre-64's were all the same length, so the shorter cartridge models simply had blocks in the rear of the mag, but I remember reading a time or two that they were all "long action" models, not magnum length. I suppose a guy can alter the port a bit and maybe get there, but for what it's worth, I'd probably stick with the .458WM (doing a similar project myself now on Ruger 77 actions).

You might also consider looking into simply finding a .532" boltface bolt, as these can occasionally be found for almost as cheap as having a CRF bolt face opened.

 

[Cable68]

Phoenix Phil: definitely interested in someone who has done this before. Please post his info, or PM me some contact info.

I own 3 modern M70's, and I'm no expert on them, but I think the blocks in the mag boxes didn't come about until after 64. Feed rails will definitely need to be opened, and some metal removed from front and rear rings to get length for a Lott.

I've found pictures of the factory pre64's in H&H length and now understand the cutouts.

 

[JTEX]

If the 375 H&H would fit the Lott will too................. and they did build 375 H&H on the pre 65.


.

 

[rookhawk]

Um, I don't think this will work very easily.

The 300H&H and 375 H&H were magnum actions, those would convert to 458 Lott or other magnums. Can a 30-06 long action model 70 be made into a magnum action? I'd think not?

 

[Imbambala]

Cable68,

If you don't mind sending it off to Arizona and perhaps waiting a little while, I've got a guy who specializes in taking pre-64 M70 actions and converting them to big bore African calibers. He has done this over and over and takes them to Africa where he sells them to PH's. Just let me know.

Phil

Phoenix Phil - Please could you send me the details for the gunsmith converting winchester action to dangerous game rifles.

I might be interested in a 404 jeffery on a pre 64 action.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Phoenix Phil - Please could you send me the details for the gunsmith converting winchester action to dangerous game rifles.

I might be interested in a 404 jeffery on a pre 64 action.

I'm actually in your part of the world right now, but will be back in Phoenix on Sunday evening. I can get you that info then. Please ping me through PM if you haven't heard from me by middle of next week.

 

[Imbambala]

Thanks I will.

 

[sbrmike]

All pre 64 Win 70 actions are long action receivers; they all have the same overall length and same guard screw spacing. The H&H actions were relieved front and rear in the mag well and ejection port area. The Standard 30-06 can be opened up the same way. The rear bridge scope mount holes will need changed as well.

The shorter cartridges in pre 64's used spacers in the magazine box, longer ejectors, and different extensions brazed to the extractor collar to shorten bolt travel. They were this way from 1936-1963.

The Win Mag actions had wider feed rails than all of the other receivers; this started in 1956 with the 458. These 458 receivers were the basis for the subsequent 338, 264, and 300 Win mag.

Different cartridges had different magazine boxes, follower combinations, and extractors.

Converting a standard to any magnum is best left to someone who knows what they are doing as these actions are getting scarcer by the day and costlier as well; not something to experiment with.

 

[Dave Hawkins]

Cable 68, whatever happened? Phoenix Phil ever reply? You guys left us hanging. You're only thinking of yourselves!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Cable 68, whatever happened? Phoenix Phil ever reply? You guys left us hanging. You're only thinking of yourselves!

I sure hope I did if he PM'd me. For those who would have interest here's the contact info:

John MacIvor
Home: 928-339-1869
Cell: 928-245-6183

 

[Ray B]

The 458 win mag fits into a standard pre-64 M70 with no adjustment to length. To get the Lott to fit the action needs to be opened up lengthwise to what the factory did for the action to accommodate the H&H series. If it were mine, I'd barrel it to the Win Mag and if I wanted a Lott I'd get an action that started out life as magnum length.

 

[Dave Hawkins]

I'm interested in an action for a custom build 404 Jeff. I've been looking around for old military K98 and FN actions to use when I came across this thread. Now I'm wondering about trying to use a Model 70 action. If a magnum action is long enough, why not?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I'm interested in an action for a custom build 404 Jeff. I've been looking around for old military K98 and FN actions to use when I came across this thread. Now I'm wondering about trying to use a Model 70 action. If a magnum action is long enough, why not?

Sitting in my home office is a M70 of more recent build that started life as a .300RUM, it's now a .404J.

 

[Dave Hawkins]

Why did you choose it? Is it cheaper to go that route or did you simply have magnum action on hand?

 

[Dave Hawkins]

Let me rephrase my question. Did you buy the 300 RUM for that purpose or decide to convert it from a gun you didn't care for?