Gents,
I just purchased a lefty Mod 70 in .375H&H from a fellow AR member.. I had been looking for this model of Win for over a year now.. I was content to purchase the Win in either the "Super Express" model or the "Safari Express" model, so long as it was left handed and CRF. The one I just ended up buying is the "Safari Express" model.

With that said, what are all the differences in these two styles of the M70? From what I can see, its little more than a slightly diff stock, a different colored recoil pad (I actually like the red classic pad on the Super Express better, more classic looking) and the rifle bands are slightly different. Other than that, is there any other differences? Sights, etc??

Along those same lines, when I receive the gun, I'm going to have the 'smith in the area replace the black recoil pad it currently has with the classic red one that the "Super Express" sports. Any idea where I can purchase that exact pad? I believe that Conn. Shotgun Comp. has Winnie pads, but I am not sure they are that exact pad I am going to be looking for.

Thanks gents..

They do make a red Decellerator but it is available in medium size only.

The stocks that originally came with a red pad were slimmer and trimmer than the later stocks that came with a black pad though. I think that the later stocks take a Pachmayer large size pad.

I vastly prefer the earlier, red pad stocks over the later ones, but they are hard to find.

Hopefully that made sense.

Working partially from memory, don't have either in front of me, and do not have a Safari Express (but do have a Safari Express stock...):

Safari Express -- Barrel bank sling swivel
Super Express -- Sling swivel attached at bottom of barrel (island type), no band

Safari Express -- standing adjustabe rear sight
Super Express -- folding rear sight

Safari Express -- "Classic" stock design (more or less)
Super Express -- "Monte Carlo" stock design, more or less

Super Express has bottom metal labeled as "Super Express."

Super Express has Super Grade type sling swivels (or should I believe).

Super Express has a grip cap.

Super Express has a jeweled bolt.

Edit: I have a red Decelerator on my Whitworth .458.

By the way, in a Super Express you want the Classic Super Express designation to ensure CRF.

I see Super Express rifles listed as Safari Express rifles with some frequency. The stock fit is different due to the design, and some may have a preference for one over the other.

Scottyboy:

Call Winchester: 1-800-322-4626 Ext 2863
They may have the "old" red pad you're wanting.

Good luck

Another thing to add is for 458 cal, the Safari Express has a 24 inch barrel. The Super Express usually had a 22 inch, although maybe some of the later CRF ones may have had a 24 inch too. I think they were all 24 inches in 375.

Charles is spot on as far as I can tell. I have a Super Express, or the base package of one. It's been done up to my specs by Roger Ferrell. I prefer the Safari Express, but for the price I couldn't pass it up.

As to the recoil pad, I'd go with the Decelerator if at all possible. I used the red on my M70 and on my Ruger RSM 416 Rigby. They work really well and look nice to boot. The Winny pad is hard and is nothing more than a thick butt plate.

David

Thanks for the input..

I'm going to try on Mon to give Win a call and see if I can get ahold of a Super Express red pad.

Here's the red Decelerator on my Whitworth:

Scotty,

Once again, and as stated before by myself and others, go with the red decelerator. It actually absorbs recoil. The red Winchester pad does nothing for recoil, or at least the one on my Super Express didn't. It's hard as a rock. The red decelerator made a huge difference on the M70 375, but even more on my Ruger in 416 Rigby.

Don't waste money on the Winchester pad. Get the Pachmayr. This is the one:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewP...productNumber=968953

Not a great pic, but red decel on my Super Express:


David Walker

Just to further muddy the waters...

There was a red pad stock without the Monte Carlo hump...I bought mine as a new take-off so I don't know what it was originally fitted to. Came with a factory inlet for a heavy barrel and lug. The only one I have seen on a rifle was a Custom Shop stainless 416 RemMag.

Scotty, the Winchester pad may start off soft but it quickly turns to stone. You'll have to fit (or have fitted) whichever pad you get and the Decellerator is a better pad. IMO

Scotty, I have the identical rifle you posted on, the late model LH Safari Express. I think you will like it. The only thing I have done to mine is a $40.00 trigger job. It is uncannily accurate with both my handloads and Remington factory 300 gr. A Frames. I have put over 1500 rounds through it and it has two safaris under it's belt, with two buffalo and variety of plains game to it's credit. I own more expensive rifles, but it has become my favorite.

It's scoped with Leupold QD rings and a Leupy 1.5-5x20 with the #4 reticle. It shoots very accurately to over 300 yards.

Thanks for the input, guys..

After seeing the pics of Charles' Whitworth and x2mosg's guns with the red Pachmyr decelerator, I may end up with that.. Both look really good in the pics and is the exact "look" I am hoping to achieve with this.. My only concern is when I see the pics ya'll have posted, then look at the pic of the pad on Midway's site, they look like 2 totally diff pads completely!! I'm gonna order one, and see how it'll work out. From the sound of it, its the pad to go with. I'll give it a shot. Hopefully the 'smith can grind it down to the proper shape. Good looking rifles, guys.

Jet, I'm hoping for the same excellent peformance out of this rifle. Previous owner (AR regular) says its a deadly accurate rifle with the same factory loads as you are shooting (300gr Swift A-frames). Rifle already has a 44" Zambian buff and a slew of PG under it's belt, so maybe it'll bring a little luck along with it when it goes to Zim with me in Oct.. Its going to be my backup to my 470NE on this upcoming hunt for buff and ele. If there is a hippo still on quota, it may become the primary in that case..
In a couple of years, I am going to add chui, sable and a Livingston's eland to it's notches.

I just picked up a .375 Safari Express also. No one above mentioned bottom metal but mine has a Williams 1 piece unit which is very nice. Not sure if that is standard on both the models in question.

I'm sending mine to a gunsmith for the following:
1. Red recoil pad
2. trigger job
3. bedding
3. Williams extractor and feed and function tuning.

I have 2 low power Leupolds in Talley QD rings for it, a 1.5x5 and a 1.5x6.

I haven't hunted a darn thing with it and I think it's my favorite rifle already!! Can't wait to take it to Africa!

quote:

No one above mentioned bottom metal but mine has a Williams 1 piece unit which is very nice. Not sure if that is standard on both the models in question.

The Safari Express bottom metal varies from the two-piece to the one-piece. The Super Express uses a different unit with the "Super Express" name on it.

When I tried it in a Safari Express stock it did not match up, even though both were two-piece.

Here is a recent post with some pics of mine and a description of the mods done to it. Roger Ferrell in Fayetteville, GA, about 10 minutes south of the airport did all the work and I highly recommend him. He's a guildmember smith and rifle builder, and he's been there/done that as to hunting. On top of that, a hell of a nice fellow.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...9411043/m/9991087421

Scotty,

Don't mean this to be a hijack, only more information for those of you considering mods on these type rifles. Hope this helps.

David Walker

quote:

Jet, I'm hoping for the same excellent peformance out of this rifle. Previous owner (AR regular) says its a deadly accurate rifle with the same factory loads as you are shooting (300gr Swift A-frames). Rifle already has a 44" Zambian buff and a slew of PG under it's belt, so maybe it'll bring a little luck along with it when it goes to Zim with me in Oct.. Its going to be my backup to my 470NE on this upcoming hunt for buff and ele. If there is a hippo still on quota, it may become the primary in that case..
In a couple of years, I am going to add chui, sable and a Livingston's eland to it's notches.

Some say the extractor needs to be changed, but the factory extractor has worked flawlessly for the previously stated 1500 rounds. I have never forced the claw over the 4th cartridge rim, though. I always shove the 4th round onto the top of the stack and allow the claw to pick it up on the way forward. This is an effortless way to load that 4th round.The Williams is not a bad mod and it's cheap. Since my African days are over, I'm going to leave mine alone.

With a good gunsmith having worked on it, my trigger breaks like a glass rod at slightly less that three pounds, which is where all my triggers are set.

I bought a custom .458 Win after my last hunt for the next one which is now cancelled. I've been a one rifle hunter on the previous two DG safaris I've been on and that .375 performs. I would hunt anything with it, should I have no choice for a bigger bore. I am repeating myself, but I cannot say enough about the accuracy that rifle delivers. I took a Nyassa wildebeest in the Selous at over 300 yards with the fctory Remington load.

OTOH, I have a friend who shoots an old Browning Safari Grade that shoots five inch groups with that ammo. Strange, but the factory A Frame load in my rifle ensures good kills all of the time. Good luck with it.

The other main difference not covered was the lack of a firing pin stop screw on the later Models. jorge

Thanks for the replys, guys..

Jorge, forgot to mention..this M70 is about 7 or 8 yrs old..

Scott: I don't know exactly when USRA stopped installing the screws, but it seems to me it was towards the end of production. I just picked up one for a great price, it has an HS Precision stock, bedded, Talley Rings & bases & Cerakoted, but for the first time, it has given me feeding problems. The extractor needed de-burring & fitting as did the rails. So far it has given me about 1/1" groups with my "go to" load, but nothing like my 1992 manufactured Safari (see link). That rifle shoots groups like that all day and feeds flawlessly. Regardless, Model 70s are THE way to go! Cheers, jorge 375 Target

I have a pre-64 and a "Stainless Classic" in .375. A gun smith can modify a post-64 Win. 375 so it will hold 4 in the magazine like the pre-64's do.