Replacement sights And bases for a Winchester 70 Classic Stainless 375 H&H (1999 New Haven)

[MaxM25]

I recently acquired a Winchester Model 70 Classic Stainless in 375 H&H. It is a New Haven model built in 1999. Unfortunately, the fixed sights were taken off of it and they are no were to be found. The previous owner mounted a huge scope that interfered with the rear sight so he took off the rear sight and base along with the front sight ramp and sight. I included a picture below where you can see the hole left empty on top of the barrel and the scope overlapping it.

I have looked online and I can find new front sight ramps and sight parts for a 458 Win Mag, but the 375 H&H sights are not available new. I have heard criticism of the Winchester sights mostly centered around the rear iron sight having a fold down sight blade. Can anyone recommend high quality replacement fixed sights that would fit this rifle using the original mounting? I really like the kind of sights that have a fixed sight blade at 100 meters and a folding blade for different distances beyond that, but a single fixed blade would also be OK.

 

[MaxM25]

Originally, the rifle would have had sights like the ones in the pictures below.

 

[Riflecrank]

Go to the NECG web site and take your pick of the parts to be installed.
A banded-ramp front sight is more desirable than a ramp alone.
They have rear sights galore too.

 

[Jefferry404]

I have the same rifle and replacing sights with stainless quarter rib kit (quarter rib, banded front sight, banded swivel)
Hope to have this month.
Here is thread
“

quarter rib, banded sling swivel and banded front sight kit interest​

“

 

[Jefferry404]

Machined example

 

[TSIBINDI]

...Max, I have the front sight ramp, insert, screws, and hood. All like new. $60 shipped.

 

[MaxM25]

...Max, I have the front sight ramp, insert, screws, and hood. All like new. $60 shipped.

PM sent.

 

[MaxM25]

Go to the NECG web site and take your pick of the parts to be installed.
A banded-ramp front sight is more desirable than a ramp alone.
They have rear sights galore too.

Thanks. I checked out NECG and they have very nice stuff.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

As many people upgrade their sights there has to be some take offs floating around. You might try some gunsmiths who work on these rifles.

 

[MaxM25]

As many people upgrade their sights there has to be some take offs floating around. You might try some gunsmiths who work on these rifles.

Could you point out some that you are thinking about? I am not familiar with them. Sure there are a lot of gunsmiths (unfortunately less than before), but anll of them I know are not working on Safari type rifles. It would be helpful.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Could you point out some that you are thinking about? I am not familiar with them. Sure there are a lot of gunsmiths (unfortunately less than before), but anll of them I know are not working on Safari type rifles. It would be helpful.

I was just speculating, I am sure some other members will have some leads for you.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Some NECG sights on my stick of lumber.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Hood folds down if desired

 

[Riflecrank]

Flipper Dude,
That is the NECG Classic.
I have a couple of those, including the flip-up "H&H Moon Bead" and the bomb-proof folding hood.
I consider that to be the ultimate for front sight.
Second best would be the NECG Masterpiece.

Last time I looked at NECG they said they were not going to be able to offer the Classic after the existing stock runs out due to the maker/supplier issues.
The Masterpiece continues as usual.
The biggest inside band diameter for that is 0.805".

Here is one that my alter-ego named Bubba installed himself yesterday:

The insert with 3/32" gold bead and the flip-up Moon bead can also be used on the NECG Masterpiece.
The push-button latch of the slide-on-off hood on the Masterpiece usually lets go on a hard kicker.
Best to remove it before shooting and keep it in your pocket.
That is the main reason the NECG Classic is preferred by me, even if it is kind of ugly, compared to the more streamlined NECG Masterpiece.

Rear barrel sights ?
I have tried them all.
A single fixed flattop square notch is my favorite, for use with a patridge/sourdough, square blade front.

Better is a peep rear, ghost ring, like one from NECG shown above on the Ruger integral base.

For the M70 I would get steel cross slot scope bases (Weaver/Picatinny)
and use a peep that attaches to that when the scope is removed.

I have been coo-coo for rear express sight on barrel in the past, but no more.
Prefer only a peep rear and a front sight now.

 

[Riflecrank]

Another Ruger .458 WinMag (M77 MK II) this one with 25" barrel,
an NECG Classic banded ramp, and a Wisner copy of the Winchester M70 "African" rear sight:

When it was in the white:

On a 23"-barreled 500 Mbogo, here is the NECG Masterpiece, with 3/32" & Moon Bead insert, and the usual multi-leaf express sight,
one fixed and 3 folding leaves, and the barrel-banded swivel stud that sounds like what OP wants on his M70, all available from NECG:

 

[Riflecrank]

Bubba has been at it again. He installed a barrel band sling base on my 400 Whelen Hawkeye.

It was a perfect fit for the barrel and no beating with a ballpeen hammer was required.
J-B Weld was an easy cleanup with GunScrubber aerosol spray on a shop towel.

This solved a dilemna. The slick-barreled rifle had been Cerakoted, I was too cheap to do it all again.
Just cold-blued the in-white barrel band before before J-B Welding the tight fit into place.
Call it a fashion accent highlight.

 

[Riflecrank]

Now bubba wants to add a banded-ramp front sight, NECG Masterpiece, to the 400 Whelen.
He prefers no hammering so will order a band that is oversize enough to slide onto barrel and set-screw and J-B Weld into place. He figures the 0.748" ID band will do, but they are out of stock at NECG.
He called NECG and they said they ought to be back in stock within 30 days, not discontinued like the Classic was.

BTW, here is the banded swivel base:

Looking through the "Discontinued" items at NECG I found another banded-ramp front sight that might come already blued, and they do still have some stock that is 0.748" ID for the band.
I'll have to ask Bubba if he could use this instead:

 

[Riflecrank]

I measured the muzzle diameter on my rifle
like this Winchester M70 Classic Stainless Synthetic .375 H&H pictured above:

~0.725" muzzle diameter is what I got.
The 0.728" ID Masterpiece Banded Ramp is in stock.
You can get it in the white, beat the sides of the band circumferentially with a hammer to expand it if it does not slide on far enough. Polish, blue and LocTite or J-B-Weld in place. Tighten the set screw after you get it positioned properly before the LocTite or J-B Weld sets.

Bubba reminds, if you want a barrel band swivel base, do it before the front sight band !
Measure the barrel diameter about 2 inches in front of the fore end tip (or farther if you want to be stylish) and order the one with ID closest to that. Use a light coat of J-B Weld to grease it into a tight fit where you want it. Wrap the barrel behind (breechward of) the band with masking tape.
Start cleaning up any J-B Weld ooze ASAP with Gun Scrubber spray and a shop towel.

 

[Riflecrank]

I found another discontinued front sight at NECG and they have a size I can use on another rifle.
The Banded Universal Ramp is discontinued.
The Universal Ramp (screw-on) will be continued.

The sight inserts and hoods above work on the screw-on Universal Ramp as well as the banded one.
There is a non-windowed hood as well.
The Universal hoods might stay on in recoil better than the Masterpiece hoods,
which seem to slip their pushbutton latch on a .500 Mbogo and .458 WinMag I have them on.