Show your Custom Pre-64 and CRF Model 70’s

[Ku-winda]

Stunning rifle @michael458, and one hell of a buff to boot!!! At first glance from afar looks like birds-eye maple - I love things that are different and absolutely love the contrast with the matte black finish. Well done Sir!

 

[michael458]

At first glance from afar looks like birds-eye maple - I love things that are different and absolutely love the contrast with the matte black finish.

I fell in love with Myrtle many years ago, the 500 MDM Myrtle stock has been completely refinished and checkered. These photos showed in in "white" condition, invariably Myrtle tends to darken and turn color with age....... I have another Myrtle on a 416 B&M and my Favorite is a 500 B&M that is Myrtle.... will show later...........

This post is about a few 458 B&Ms........ this first one is just an outstanding rifle coming in at 7.25 lbs no scope, with its Accurate Innovations Bastogne stock and 18 inch barrel, it is also Matte Black GunKote. This one has paid its dues and then some......

And much more................. I think that gun is without doubt my favorite 458 of all time.......... very easy to work with........

On a lighter note......... 18 inch Stainless Ultimate Stock 458 B&M coming in at 6.5 lbs no scope, I figure about the perfect Alaskan Rifle........ Before this stock, this gun spent time in Australia in 2009 wacking wads of Aussie Buffalo as well..... but today, its retired and waiting to go to Alaska some day..............

This old gun was built in 2006, it was actually the second 458 B&M ever built, barrel is on the long side at 20 inches, plain jane claro AI Stock. I had given it to one of my Sons, but he never used it for anything so a couple of years ago I confiscated it back, had Wes at Accurate Innovations refinish the stock, and set it up for a friend of mine to take to Africa for his first Cape Buffalo. It sports a forward scope mount which has its uses........ the odd iron setup I have on it looks odd, but damn it works great.............Its a high polish SSK Blue............

And another is a rifle that was built for a fellow in TX a few years ago. It sports a 19 inch barrel, English Accurate Innovations stock and Matte Black Gunkote finish. He had it built for a Buffalo hunt he was going on, but before he could take it he came down ill and could not go, and worse became so bad that his hunting days were done. I bought the rifle from him and have it today. Its nice, but damn that English stick of wood makes it heavy at 8.25 lbs........ I don't think he fired it more than 5 times....... I have not fired it a lot, maybe now it has 25-30 rounds through it..... Nice gun to shoot because its so heavy..... LOL

 

[Goopy]

I'd like to play also:
Winchester CRF Model 70 Safari Express in .375 Holland & Holland, of course!
Very minor stock mods and very nicely slicked up action.
Photo taken with 2nd buffalo to its credit, tip of the cap to Newboomer for the 1st...

 

[RR 314]

Not a custom, but no reason to gild the Lily! My favorite original Model 70 - a stunning ‘59 vintage Super Grade in 300 H&H. Will have to get some better pics in the sun.

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That is awesome. Rumor has it there is a great pre-64 Davenport floating around your neck of the woods. Have you seen it?

 

[Ku-winda]

Rumors are often true @RR 314 and as soon as I can take some pics befitting of that beauty, I will unveil for all to see - "our" rifle is indeed spectacular!!!

 

[JD Noblin]

Here is one of my custom Pre-64 M70 rifles in 375 H&H Improved. I have not hunted with it yet but hope to take it on an African hunt in the near future. I bought this rifle from a gun shop that was assisting with selling off a gentleman's collection. The rifle had been used fairly extensively, presumably in Africa, and had lost some of its luster. My custom gunsmith stripped and refinished the stock and re-cut the checkering. He also stripped the metal and rust-blued it.

Interestingly, there are no marks anywhere on the rifle as to the identity of the builder. My gunsmith (who is a member of the American Custom Gunmakers Guild) stated that whoever trued the action and inletted the stock was a master gunsmith as it is the best work he has ever seen. I am very happy to have this rifle as part of my collection and I hope you enjoy seeing it as well.

 

[bobdahunter84]

Excellent post Mark! Custom pre64 70s is my guiltiness of pleasures! Out of town for work, but I'll add a few guns to the chain when I'm back home. You'll know one of the guns!

Everyone, let’s post our custom Pre-64 and late model Controlled Round Feed (CFR) Winchester Model 70’s. Please tell us a little about each rifle you post.

Below is a Pre-64 M70 by Jim Kobe in 375 H&H. I’ve used it to bag a lioness, cape buffalo, giraffe, zebra, baboon, and monkeys (at 170 yards!). I also shot a bison with it. Everyones need to own at least one 375 H&H. Even better if that rifle is a Model 70 ! She sports a Leopold VX-5HD 2-10X scope.

 

[amschind]

I hesitate to post pics because my M70 is hideous, but I bought it with money I earned cutting grass and have been working on it for over 20 years. It's a stainless classic with a Proof carbon 29" barrel in a slightly blown out .300 WSM case. It has a stainless Williams billet extractor, a Timney trigger, custom magazine AICS bottom metal with 2.950" OAL magazines, a Manners stock, TIG welded bolt handle, Leupold VX6HD 4-24 on Talley mono rings with a custom bolt handle and a Fat Bastard brake or a Gemtech Dagger II as the situation dictates. 225 AMAX can get to 2800, but now that I have a separate .300 WSM for long range and this is a hunting rifle, I will move it over to 212 ELDX which should hit about 2850. I'll post pics when I am back home, but it's still my favorite all these years later. It has put up with a lot, including my efforts to learn what to and what NOT to do while reloading.

My only gripe with the M70 is that shooting enough to wear out barrels is VERY expensive in any bolt gun with an extractor cutout unless you're machining them yourself.

 

[Fatback]

Here is my M70 chambered in 458 Win. This is from 11 days again in Zimbabwe. I also have M70s in 375 H&H, 300 Win, 30-06 and 270 Win. I also have 3 at the gunsmith being re-barreled into 404Jeffery, 416 Rem Mag and 7MM PRC. I think I am covered and then some for any hunting/shooting I might ever do.

 

[Mark R]

Featherweight 250-3000 with custom stock from my mate, Cameron Hatcher here in Oz.

 

[Mark R]

Featherweight 250-3000 with custom stock from my mate, Cameron Hatcher here in Oz.

Sometimes it’s damned difficult uploading pics on here…..

 

[Mark R]

I’ll try this one, an M70 in 416RM.

 

[Mark R]

And another in 9.3x62.... One of, if not the most accurate rifle I own..

 

[CZDiesel]

And another in 9.3x62.... One of, if not the most accurate rifle I own..
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Damn fine rifles!

 

[Mark R]

Featherweight 250-3000 with custom stock from my mate, Cameron Hatcher here in Oz.

Third time lucky I guess….

 

[Ku-winda]

Acquired from my friend @RR 314, this Sterling Davenport 416 Hoffman must be seen in person to be appreciated. Unfortunately, my camera skills leave much to be desired, so a good bit of the beauty is “lost in translation”! I’ll work on getting some better ones.

 

[rnnhntr]

This is a timely post. I just acquired a pre-64 model 70 H&H length action that I will be building into a .416 Remington. I will be doing all of the work myself including stocking the rifle from the block, so examples of other folks' rifles are a big help.

 

[wyosteve]

Please post pics once it’s built. I’ve been keeping my eyes open for that kind of a build.

 

[bobdahunter84]

I almost forgot about this post. Here's a few from my safe. There are probably 3 or 4 more custom 70s in an, but these were easiest to dig out. Love 'em all.

#1- nothing looks too special about this one optically. Jeweled bolt, but was rechambered back in the 60's at the Weatherby factory to 300Wby. Took down a nice moose in new foundland last month with it.

#2- Bliss Titus Custom 30-06. Beautiful gun.

#3- Not sure who customized this guy back in the day. This is one heavy son of a...220 swift target gun with ivory forend. Cool gun.

#4- Another one I don't know background on. just liked the wood so I snatched it up. 30-06.

#5- This one came courtesy of the original poster Mark--great guy. Custom Biesen rechambered to 458 Lott. This was my go-to in Africa. Killed a lot of sh!t with this beast, 1 and done for everything. A beauty.

#6 Got this guy last year and haven't shot it yet. Super cool custom 416 Remington. I believe it started life as a 30-06. Serial number indicates it was purchased by U.S. military pre WWII. someone sanded or reblued over "U.S. Property", but it's still faintly visible. My intention is to take a hippo and crocodile with this big guy next trip to Africa, likely in 2026.

 

[amschind]

Finally done! It's a 54 with a 3 position safety from time immemorial, now with a new .30-06 barrel, a color case hardened receiver, and a Claro Walnut stock.