Classic Model 70 Cartridge

Jmort1754

WKR
Joined
Aug 17, 2018
Messages
1,645
Mag Bolt Face,

Started life as 264 win mag, barrel picked up some rust in a house fire and looks to be shot, the action was checked out and deemed safe to use..

Have a 6.5 PRC no need to have a 264 as well.

Have a good mix of calibers just wanted to build something on this.

What would you say is the classic caliber for it?
 

Spoonbill

WKR
Joined
Jan 15, 2020
Messages
866
Mag Bolt Face,

Started life as 264 win mag, barrel picked up some rust in a house fire and looks to be shot, the action was checked out and deemed safe to use..

Have a 6.5 PRC no need to have a 264 as well.

Have a good mix of calibers just wanted to build something on this.

What would you say is the classic caliber for it?
If you are wanting a dangerous game rifle, a 375 ruger would work. Not sure if you could do a 375 h&h on a regular long action but if so, that is another option.
 

TaperPin

WKR
Joined
Jul 12, 2023
Messages
3,272
On the larger size I’ve had a 375 H&H in a Winchester and that was fun. As a more practical western/Alaskan rifle I rebarreled a model 70 7 mag to 340 Wby and that was also fun - I’d like to get another. Same recoil as the 375. Folks seem to either love or hate the double radiused shoulder. The 338 is also a classic - something about a hole in the barrel larger than 30 cal makes it more fun than it should be.

A 300 H&H is a classic - with an accurate barrel it will shoot as well as anything else.

257 or 270 Wby would be on my short list - all the old Wby cartridges are vintage at this point - these two were developed way back in the late 1940’s.

You can’t go wrong - it’s a classic with any barrel you end up screwing on it.
 
Joined
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Northeast Pa
300 H&H is as classic as it gets and the sloped shoulder allows for really slick feeding into the chamber, just as it was designed to do. The Brits were smart. It's also right on the heels of the 300 Win Mag.
 

bradmacmt

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Nov 14, 2014
Messages
274
Location
Mont.
Wow, good grief. It's pretty obvious this is not a rifle-nut's forum.

Firstly: IT'S A MAGNUM BOLTFACE... 30-06-based cartridges need not apply.

Secondly: 375 H&H/300H&H CARTRIDGES WILL NOT WORK IN THIS ACTION WITHOUT MODIFICATIONS.

So, it's not exactly a Pre-64 action which is what a truly "classic" M70 action is. It's a USRAC New Haven action, or maybe a BACO made action made in South Carolina.

A 338 WM would keep it in the Olin/Winchester camp, and be in the spirit of what you're after. Ditto a 300 WM.

I've had several 338 WM's on M70 actions. The cartridge works beautifully with a 22" barrel which is how I ran mine. If there is a more "classic" elk rifle than a 338 WM with a 22" barrel, I don't know what it would be. Load a 200 or 210 bullet and that's all you need to know about elk armament.

I'd go 338 WM, but I'm partial to the round...

A bull from 1998 taken with a 210 Partition from a 22" bbl'd M70 338 WM:

1998Elk.jpg

Another bull from 2000 taken with the same 210 Partition/22" bbl'd M70 338 WM:

bull11-11-2000-2.jpg
 
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