Build me a rifle....

[Blacktail Sniper]

Okay, I did an AR-15 and enjoyed it quite a bit, now I think it may be time for something else.

This will be kind of long, but please bear with till the end....

Recently picked-up a 1978 Winchester Model 70 in .300 Win mag. Had a Weatherby 3-9 on it which is now off and sold, bringing the cost of the rifle down to under $200.00 out of pocket, which just makes me want to do something cool with it.

Now, since I have wayyy more time than money and good sense, this build would not be as quick as my AR went, so I have time to research and hunt parts and get work done here & there, so that opens up a lot of possibilities.

I don't reload, so need a factory round.

Want to not have to do any work on the bolt/bolt face if at all possible (other than lapping/squaring up in receiver as needed), so first choice is a cartridge that has a base size in comparison to the .300 mag.

Not going to be carrying it in the woods or up & down mountains, so something to reach out and punch holes in paper and make some noise on steel....wayyyy out yonder!!

Now, for the fun part!!!

Caliber?
Barrel brand?
Stainless steel or ?
Barrel diameter:
Barrel length (try to stay under 30"):
Trigger:
Stock:


That sounds like a good starting point.  I would like to hear from folks who have or use the componet they recommend and their thoughts on it and performance.


Also, since there will be some machine work needed during the process, who should do the work and why? 

Keeping in mind this is a rebuild, so looking for those that are willing to work on customer's rifles and not just sell their own builds.

So hit me with your best shots...and maybe in the next year or so, we can take the old Model 70 below and turn it into.......

[huntnphool]

Rebarrel with a 26" Hart, Jewel trigger and make a 7mm/300

I'd leave the stock, I like the old model 70 wood.

[2labs]

6.5-300 win mag. yea do it!....

[CAMPMEAT]

6.5-300 win mag. yea do it!....

My friend just did that in 6.5x300wsm....yikes !

[Blacktail Sniper]

Rebarrel with a 26" Hart, Jewel trigger and make a 7mm/300

I'd leave the stock, I like the old model 70 wood.

Well, this has got my attention!!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jx4D0ZBcd0

[huntnphool]

Rebarrel with a 26" Hart, Jewel trigger and make a 7mm/300

I'd leave the stock, I like the old model 70 wood.

Well, this has got my attention!!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jx4D0ZBcd0

 You did say you wanted to be able to reach out.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Time to dream big and see what happens.....

[Simcoe hunter]

Kenny Jarrett does a 7/300 cartridge for quite q while now.

[RadSav]

I don't reload, so need a factory round...

Caliber?
Barrel brand?
Stainless steel or ?
Barrel diameter:
Barrel length (try to stay under 30"):
Trigger:
Stock:

Factory ammo I'd stick right where you are!  Dang hard to beat the 300 WM for long work!  IF you wanted more "cool" factor, though not easy to find good factory ammo, I'd probably look at the 264 or the original RUM...8mm.

I also like that Winchester stock.  But, I also really like my laminated thumbhole stocks for long range plinking.  Some great ones out there for the 70 without much pain in the wallet!

Barrels are like Dodge, Chevy, Ford, Toyota.  Ask four different people and get four different answers.  All claiming they are the best 'till their dying breath.  Pick a barrel smith and go with their recommendation.

I'm a Timney fan.  Nice thing about them is cost, readily available for the 70 and easy to install yourself.

I like shorter barrels.  Not sure what barrel taper I would chose off the top of my head. Probably go 26" fluted heavy contour.  I like Remington's Sendero barrel.  Think the muzzle on that is 13/16".  Stainless is cool, but not sure it is needed on a plinker.

Sounds like a lot of fun!  Good luck.

[Wanttohuntmore]

264, 7mm, 300win, 338, all would be nice.  I'd opt for a long barrel, 28".  You can easily and cheaply shorten it later but you won't be able to add inches.

[Skyvalhunter]

Your probably better off with this!!! 

[coachcw]

Ok paper puncher huh ?   Id start with a 7mmor 300wm since you don't reload . If you go with a 6.5 hand loads are a must and they are barrel burners . Id go with a Hart barrel 28/30 inch with a break in a number four contour. i'd use a timmey trigger for the money every bit as good as a jewel . as far as a stock id go with a pillar bedded tactical of some sort like  something from stockeys if wieght isnt a issue and cost is a factor  you will be more accurate than the wood one though its purdy. set the front end on a extreme bipod . as far as glass pick a budget and go from there but nightforce , huskima, ziess, and leupold in that order . or just pick up a cooper or savage long range hunter and be done !

[Blacktail Sniper]

Thanks all!

I really do like the .300, it is the second one I have owned.

Being limited to factory ammo choices, I kind of figured there wouldn't be too many options out there.

If I were to take-up reloading again, what would your sugguestions be then?

I have to say, that 7mm-.300 sure looks like a good one! Is that just a variation of the old 7mm STW??

And is there a significant amout of difference to give it the nod over the STW?

Are any manufactures still producing factory 7mm STW ammo? I believe Remington did for awhile, do they still?

[coachcw]

no reason the 7mm rem mag gives you a world of choices . you may want to get a hold of the shooters shop in ghram.

[rbros]

Either a 7rm or 300wm would fit the bill.  28" rem varmint would be plenty stiff for long range work.  If it was a Remington I could help ya out with the build, but I don't build off winchesters unfortunately.

[Blacklab]

Here's my belly button.

6.5/264
Radsav is right on with barrel makers. I prefer Lilja. length 24-28 will fill your needs. If they make the caliber you want.
Timney triggers are great single stage drop in.
Just as important as the other 2 is glass. If you can't see it, you won't be able to hit.

Have fun with the build 

[yorketransport]

If you want to stick with factory ammo I think the 300 WM or 7mm RM are ideal options. If you were to handload, the 7/375 Ruger or 7mm Dakota would be my pick. I'm partial to the Ruger case but the Dakota gives identical performance.

For the build specs:

Benchmark 28" stainless varmint contour barrel. Have it nitrided so that it matches your action.
keep your stock
Jewel JT-10 trigger

You'll be less than $1000 into the build and have lots of money to spend on optics.

Andrew

[Blacktail Sniper]

Thanks every one!! This is just what I was hoping for, lots of knowledgable opinions!

I will admit, I am surprised at the sugguestions on keeping the factory wood stock...

I do love the natural wood look and feel over synthetic, but surprises me that isn't one of the first things everyone says to toss!!

Keep'em coming....gonna be a long winter, likely without any hunting for me, so this is like therapy!!!

[RadSav]

I am not positive you will be able to use that stock once you choose a barrel. A heavy varmint contour could be too much diameter for a sporting stock to adapt. 

Manners has their aluminum chassis FN/Police Special stocks for the 70 on sale quite often for around $500.  That's one heck of a stock!  Pretty sure Stocky's carries them.  Those guys give great service!  I think Carpsniper2 deals with HS Prec. and they have similar quality.  I've seen HS sporting stocks with chassis for under $350 on occasion. 

One stock I have always fantasized about is the Eberlestock Stealth chassis.  Glen has been saying they are going to make it in a Win 70 since 2011.  Not sure if he has succeeded in doing that yet.  But I think that would be a rather cool man toy none of your friends would have! 

For laminated stocks for a heavy contour 70 I think you will need to order an unfinished product from Richards Microfit.  I love their stuff!  But it will be a project to get it just right.  That's fun and relaxing to me...others might not think so.

[huntnphool]

For laminated stocks for a heavy contour 70 I think you will need to order an unfinished product from Richards Microfit.  I love their stuff!  But it will be a project to get it just right.  That's fun and relaxing to me...others might not think so.

 +1, I've done a few of theirs and love them, will be doing more in the future.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Okay, been doing some looking around out on the old inter-web. This is my working outline so far:

Custom Winchester Model 70 Build

New barrel - Benchmark, Sendero contour (if possible), or ??, in .300 Win Mag

Twist rate?? Best for 180 - 200ish weight bullets or suggestions...

Action work - Benchmark shop

Muzzle brake - Benchmark Miller, medium

Bolt knob upgrade - larger sized

Stock - McMillan A2 w/pillars and bedded

Trigger - Jewell or  Timney, other than cost, is there really much of a difference?

New bottom metal - Suggestions?? Currently factory 2 piece...

Optics and mounting hardware are a conversation for another day, but what are the thoughts, opinions and/or reccomendations based on the above for the base rifle?

[JDHasty]

26 inch stainless Lilja in factory Winchester Sporter contour, 300 wby, the factory model 70 trigger is usually fine, I like MPI stocks but McMillan are nice too. 

I like the 300 Wby because the trajectory is almost identical to the 243, 22-250 and 17 Rem out as far as I shoot them and I shoot them a lot at chucks and prairie dogs every year.  I have never seen a need for a heavier barrel on medium a big game rifle.  If we were talking 340 Wby or something larger I may change my mind and go up a bit.  Those old model 70 triggers have been OK usually.  I like to get away from wood on rifles used in crappy weather conditions like western Washington. 

FWIW, I have one almost exactly like that w/the McMillan stock.  It came from Winchester that way and except for taking the thermoplastic bedding out and bedding it all I do is shoot it. The factory barrel is 24 inches, if I shoot the throat out I will replace it with a 26" Lilja.  My rifle shoots the first three shots into about a half inch at a hundred yards, and then they open up.  But I have never shot more than a shot or two at game animals.   

http://www.gundigest.com/ammunition-reviews-articles/greatest-cartridges-300-weatherby-magnum

[WoodlandShooter]

well, this is what I did.

Factory Weatherby MKV with standard bolt face

270 winny

27" sender contour barrel from Benchmark

Timney Trigger

stock is stock.

it's a shooter.

[WoodlandShooter]

another view

[The scout]

I like what you are building there, but you would be able to get better accuracy out of the gun you have now with new glass on it if you were to reload yourself apposed to building a custom and running factory ammo through it. kinda like buying a dragster and putting regular unleaded in it

[Bronzepoint]

Try the 7mm practical that is based on the 300 Win. Case. A 27" barrel would be about right in a number 4 contour. Add a good trigger and add a MacMillian stock and start shooting.

[JDHasty]

Really, in all candidness, what is so hard to understand about:
I don't reload, so need a factory round.?

Not to mention that the overwhelming majority of wildcat rounds are duplicated by factory rounds, out performed by factory round or are just plain poorly designed to begin with, the man is not interested in a rifle chambered for a wildcat cartridge.  I own, and have owned an Oehler 33 and an Oehler 35P, for decades and have chronographed a lot of wildcat rounds and precious few of them live up to claims made.  Truth be known, very few come close. 

[Biggerhammer]

Box the barreled action up and send it to Pac-Nor in Oregon. Have them do all the work you need done in one shot. Since you don't reload that leaves you with the best choice for "Way out there" being in all good sense and performance the .300 Winchester Magnum. You can purchase your "Way out there" factory ammo here.

http://www.buyabmammo.com/300-winchester-magnum-230gr-berger-match-hybrid-target.html

A 26" stainless, 10 twist, super match barrel, throated for the Berger 230gr OTM's should do you right.

[RB]

Must be the end of the year thing to do, rifle season is over and we start dreaming of new rifles. Good advice in this thread glad I read through it lots of differing perspectives from the people that have already built rifles. 

[JDHasty]

Really, in all candidness, what is so hard to understand about:
I don't reload, so need a factory round.?

Not to mention that the overwhelming majority of wildcat rounds are duplicated by factory rounds, out performed by factory round or are just plain poorly designed to begin with, the man is not interested in a rifle chambered for a wildcat cartridge.  I own, and have owned an Oehler 33 and an Oehler 35P, for decades and have chronographed a lot of wildcat rounds and precious few of them live up to claims made.  Truth be known, very few come close.

Hasty, you magnificent *censored*!! ... That's why after research going with the
New trendy round..........?....... 6.5x55
Double the speed of sound and no more string jump!


That's censored , really.  BoBkitten is that you?

I have exactly ONE wildcat and it is a 10 inch Contender barrel chambered in 37 Herrett  and it really is a hot little number.  I have been at the range with chronographs set up and had people ask to shoot wildcat rounds over them and....

Now, that being said the guys that are really serious probably have access to a laboratory grade chrono and they are not the ones I have personal experience with.  This much I will tell you though, some of them don't know how to use a chronograph to get an idea of when they are outside of acceptable pressure limits.  I have seen a lot of brass with serious extrusion into the ejector slot or hole in the bolt face that has been sheared off laying on the bench after they decamp for the day.       

[high country]

I'd never spend a penny on a trigger for a winchester. They have a design that is great to work with and can attain about anything you desire over a pound. They are near impossible to foul with debris and the bolt mounted safety make it easy to feel warm and fuzzy about accidental dischages.

Just my $.02

[Blacktail Sniper]

another view

Very nice looking weapon!

What kind of performance do you get out of it on the average for grouping?

Handloaded or factory?

Thoughts on the brake? Seeing some very polarized thoughts on them.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Box the barreled action up and send it to Pac-Nor in Oregon. Have them do all the work you need done in one shot. Since you don't reload that leaves you with the best choice for "Way out there" being in all good sense and performance the .300 Winchester Magnum. You can purchase your "Way out there" factory ammo here.

http://www.buyabmammo.com/300-winchester-magnum-230gr-berger-match-hybrid-target.html

A 26" stainless, 10 twist, super match barrel, throated for the Berger 230gr OTM's should do you right.

Thank you!

[JDHasty]

I'd never spend a penny on a trigger for a winchester. They have a design that is great to work with and can attain about anything you desire over a pound. They are near impossible to foul with debris and the bolt mounted safety make it easy to feel warm and fuzzy about accidental dischages.

Just my $.02

[CAMPMEAT]

A guy I was with yesterday was shooting a 6.5 SAUM. Wholly crap batman....