I was wondering which is the prefered choice for bottom metal on the Winchester M70s. I know they used one piece bottoms on the end run rifles, but they did make quite a few with the 2 piece.

Which would be preferred and why? Looking for experience and opinions.

The answer and reason is simple:
The one piece bottom metal is to be preferred because with the middle screw missing there is no chance of bending the action.
The 2 piece bottom metal has the tendency to bend the action if the middle screw (front trigger bow screw) is over torqued, it should be just snug enough so that it doesn't work loose.

I am actually in the process of changing my existing model 70's with the one piece bottom metal. I'm hoping it makes a difference to their accuracy, but if not, I'll still be happy with them, both shoot under MoA as it is now!

Perhaps D'Arcy Echols could chime in here as pics suggest his Legend rifles use the factory 2 piece bottom metal. I would hasten a guess he has thought this issue through.

I have owned lots of model 70's, most were pre 64 and a few post 64. I have never heard of there being an issue of bent, flexed, twisted or tweaked receivers due to the three screw set up???

I have no idea of the validity of this claim. My opinion and only my opinion is Winchester changed the design from people whining about thew extra screw. Again, I reiterate this is my opinion with no basis on fact??? I find it hard to believe I never read this in the m70's basic design of 70 years???

Properly done, the two-piece system does not affect the action. I still prefer the one piece.

Among other arguments, the two piece advocates say that the distance between the action screws can vary, and using a one piece bottom metal can result in some torque because of this.

One piece advocates claim that you can torque the action by cranking down on the center screw. If you crank down that hard, you're probably firearms illiterate and can't shoot anyhow.

Personally, I like the one piece bottom metal because it allows the magazine box to "float" as opposed to being held firmly in place by the middle screw. The key is to make sure that the one piece bottom metal is properly fit or it can put the action in a bigger bind than any middle screw.

As for D'Arcy, I believe he uses both types. I know for a fact that he does use some one piece bottom metal because I held in my hands a beautiful piece made by Brian that was residing on a Legend rifle.

This is a FN PBR, one of the last actions assembled at New Haven.

I prefer the one piece trigger guard. Easier to assemble, one less screw to keep track. All the darn screws are different on the two piece version.

Stocks are different. I purchased a few CDNN Winchester close out stocks. They were one piece and two piece trigger guard stocks. The one piece guard does not drop into the two piece stock.

The one Model 70 super grade I actually owned had a one piece bottom metal. It had a slicker looking hinge that the two piece. It looked better than the newer one piece.

Is there any difference in capacity between the one piece and the two piece iterations?

quote:

I have owned lots of model 70's, most were pre 64 and a few post 64. I have never heard of there being an issue of bent, flexed, twisted or tweaked receivers due to the three screw set up???

This is quite easy to determine, using a depth micrometer on the action, as the centre screw is tightened it will bend the action down if there is too much torque applied.

quote:

The one piece guard does not drop into the two piece stock.

It will if minor inletting is done to the stock, and the mag box is altered slightly.