Fellow big bore shooters ----- I just got my Winchester Model 70 Safari Classic in .416 Rem from the gunsmith and I thought I should report. I bought the rifle in 2002, installed a muzzle brake and have enjoyed shooting it since. I took it to the Selous in 2004 and it performed handsomely on a Buffalo. I always enjoyed shooting it because it had great accuracy with Hornady FMJ (400 grs.) and North Fork softs and solids in 370 grains. It would do one holers when I did my part. A month ago I noticed that the groups had grown to 1-2 inchs and while puzzled blamed in on myself. Then when it continued I started checking all screws etc and notice the front cross bolt was moving back into the wood slightly. I took it to my favorite gunsmith, Frank Elliot of W.H. McGuns in Humbolt Tennessee. Frank is one of the best and has worked on all my guns for years, no problem to big or hard. Frank discovered that the bedding was none to good and the cross bolt was bent and shattering the wood on the side with each shot, and the recoil lug was undone completely, this after approximately 200 shots. He repaired the rifle, rebedded, and made a better recoil lug. I look forward to an extended shooting session this weekend to re-zero and get it back to where it was. ----- The purpose of this post is to make you Model 70 users aware of this possible problem in your rifles. I have many Model 70's and love them one and all. After this problem I looked at all my Model 70's and decided to check the hard kickers, one of which is a Custom Shop .358 STA, that is also a big kicker. I had Frank check it out and it had no problem, I remember when I bought it we went over it extensively and he thought he had rebedded it at the time. Saeed created this site to help and inform, I thought I should report this to you guys and gals. Good shooting.

phurley,

You need to edit the title......

I was pretty excited to hear about the .460 Reminton....in a Model 70 no less

AzGuy ----- Thanks, I posted and reread all of it, except the title. Done. Good shooting.

That kind of stuff happens more often to wood than Kevlar.
Any serious DG rifle should have a synthetic stock.

Yup...My 416 broke the stock at the front cross bolt within the first six shots. Now most everything gets bedded properly before I shoot it.

Even the latest 416...and it's in a McMillan!

I had the same thing happen to my Model 70 (.416 Rem. also)a week before a buffalo hunt in Tanzania. When the trip was done I took the stock to a gunsmith and was told that type of break should never happen. After calling Winchester and being told a new stock which probably was no better than the original could be had for a mere $625, I bought a Lone Wolf stock which included bedding for $45 more. I was less than happy with the stock or Winchester's response. On a happy note however, the new stock has been a joy to shoot and performed very well.

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
That kind of stuff happens more often to wood than Kevlar.
Any serious DG rifle should have a synthetic stock.

OR a proper bedding job w/ steel cross bolts. My 404j has had some 500rds through it & still tight as drum. I had my 338-06 start wonderng around, found out thelaminate stock had split @ the recoil lug. Some glass & steel cross bolt fixed that right now!

Thanks Phurley5

Great to have another Win M70 fan! I have 3 of the 416s and 2 of those 358s. All have been shot quite a bit without issue. I did bust the stock on a Win M70 458 Lott however, action moved enough to knock a big chip out of the tang.

The other one that is death to stocks is the 500 MDM. Bedded and busted twice. The AI stock with the alum chassis solved all issues there. However after 350 rds I did bust the scope that was on it, but that is nothing new either.

Michael