The Accurate Reloading Forums
New 1953 m70 featherwieght range report

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3221043/m/693106931

19 June 2004, 13:44
GSP7
New 1953 m70 featherwieght range report
Shot my new 1953 m70 featherwieght yesterday just up in the hills off the hood of my truck at 100yard target.

It did ok with its terrible looking barrel. It wasnt takin care of and after scrubing the bore for a couple days it showed light rust tarnishing/damage and a chipped land at the crown



I lapped the crown with the Brass round head screw and lapping compound method. Looked like I cleaned up the chipped land.



I used R15 winchester primers and Nosler 165 ballistic tips. Worked up to 44gr of R15 and I was supprised to get one .475" with the 12,13,15 rounds.

I was getting under a Inch group with a 2x7 VXI and new leupold rings and bases at 100 yards . A few shots got some of my groups out to 1 1/2 ",2", but I think it was shooter error as I was relieseing my 2 shorthairs so they could run inbetween 3 shot groups to check and mark my target.

It was not the most tranquil bench shooting session calling in the dogs chaseing quail inbetween each shot string and getting settled in again . So Im pleased with the groups i did get.



I will Try 45 + grains of r15 with some 165 gr noslers nest time. The nosler manual shows 44 R15 max, but I had no pressure signs at all and the speer manual shows 47gr R15 max,



Rick
19 June 2004, 15:58
Savage99
Good shooting GSP. Your my kind of guy with that crown job.

I too have a 1953 Featherweight. It does not get much better than that.
20 June 2004, 04:19
Hot Core
Quote:

...It did ok with its terrible looking barrel. It wasnt takin care of and after scrubing the bore for a couple days it showed light rust tarnishing/damage and a chipped land at the crown





Hey GSP7, Darn shame about the condition of the rifle(especially a "Holy Grail" model), but the same is true on a lot of firearms from that era if they got used, irregardless of the manufacturer.



Quote:

I was supprised to get one .475" with the 12,13,15 rounds. I was getting under a Inch group with a 2x7 VXI and new leupold rings and bases at 100 yards . A few shots got some of my groups out to 1 1/2 ",2", but I think it was shooter error as I was relieseing my 2 shorthairs so they could run inbetween 3 shot groups to check and mark my target. ...





Playing with dogs would certainly have "my" shooting concentration out of whack. As I think back, some really sharp, knowledgeable fellow recently mentioned in another thread that people shouldn't be surprised if the Pre-64 M70s shoot in the 1.5"-2" range.



However, I don't think he mentioned "one trick" that generally tightens them up a bit has to do with that Forward Stock Screw. No need for me to go into how to cure this major accuracy affecting problem, since it should be common knowledge among the "Holy Grail" experts. I feel sure they will have more fun arguing over it than if I just tell you how to fix it, or they always have in the past.



Best of luck with your Pre-64 M70. Looks like it has the potential to be a fine Hunting rifle.
20 June 2004, 05:10
Savage99
gsp,



Here is a site with trigger adjusting information.



http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/AdjustingWinTrigger.asp



It mentions the stock screws. In general with all the screws loose but the action secure in the stock tighten the front screw and then the rear screw some. Now make the front screw really tight. Leave the middle screw loose as can be. It's just to hold the guard.



There is a good comment on 24hr on how to manage a rough bore cleaning wise. My feeling is to just use a bore cleaner and a brush and smooth it out this way every twenty shots. We never get all the fouling out of any barrel anyway unless one cleaned after each shot.



http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=Howell&Number=305793&Forum=,All_Forums,&Words=&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=305443&Search=true&where=&Name=1108&daterange=&newerval=&newertype=&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post305793



The comment by MuleDeer is the one I am talking about.