I have 2 M70 375s and want to customize one of them. This rifle will be used for some NA big game and hopefully Alaska bear and moose hunts. The rifle will wear a McMillan stock and have a Teflon type coating. It will be a user and not a safe queen. I am seriously thinking of having Hill Country Rifles do the work as they have a good rep, decent turnaround at a fair price and are great to talk with about your project.

Here are the two rifles in question:
1. M70 SS/Syn Classic CRF. Bought this rifle from a forum member years ago and haven't shot it. Budget plan McMillan stock and Tef coat. Full deal is stock, Tef coat, Lilja barrel and Williams bottom metal.

2. M70 Pre-64 IIRC early 50s vintage. A shooter not a collector. Previous owner(s) had it bedded, Magnaported and initialed the trigger guard. Shoots and feeds good, but I hate the Magnaporting as for me it is too loud for field use w/o protection...others differ but the 4 port Magnaport isn't for me. With this rifle I would do the full stock, Tef coat, Lilja barrel and bottom metal. I really like the bolt handle of this rifle and the feeding. I could probably sell the take off stock and barrel to help a little with the costs.

I will "build" one and sell the other. The Classic can fetch around $1000 and the Pre-64 maybe $1100-1200 but selling off parts would make it about even.

I am leaning toward the Pre-64 build. Looking for input and opinions on this! Thanks.

John

I strongly recommend against F__ing the pre 64! Besides that a hunting rifle is a TOOL, so use the the stainless Classic! Anything else is shear stupidity!

PS - George screw you!

ScottS,

If you read my post you would have picked up where my Pre-64 isn't a virgin collector...shes already been deflowered! That being said I also have my doubts about using a working rifle as an action donor.

John

My point is use the stainless action as it will hold up to more atmospheric abuse!

Just curious,why rebarrel the classic and change bottom metal and teflon coat. Is the barrel shot out? Send it to McMillan and have them stock it and get on with hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by zimbabwe:
Just curious,why rebarrel the classic and change bottom metal and teflon coat. Is the barrel shot out? Send it to McMillan and have them stock it and get on with hunting.

Maybe the stock barrel isn't accurate enough? Mine has issues and barely holds .5 MOA

if the value of the two actions (once you sell the stock & barrel) is equal, I would go with the pre-64 because;

-it will be worth more andeasier to sell

-it will hold four rounds of 375 H&H vs three in the classic

-you stated you like the bolt handle and feeding

-they are slightly lighter

free miner,

Yep, you summed up my thougts well. I originally wanted to turn the Pre 64 into an African classic with a new tube and classic wood stock. Plans and finances change.

Fjold,

I love the profile of the barrel but I do not like the Magnaporting that has been done. As I said, opinions vary but it isn't for me...hence the rebarrel. I'm sure it will shoot better with the Lilja but that is icing.

Keep the comments comming!

John

I think I would go with the pre-64. Either can be made to hold four cartridges down. My SS classic in 375 H&H does, and very well indeed.

Here is the stock I used:

and I would use it again - highly recommended - best design hunting stock ever invented IMO. McMillan apparently thinks so too, since they offer it for Sako, Remington, Ruger, Mauser, Winchester, and probably others. It's a copy of the Sako Hunter.

It's one of those choices where either way, you won't make the wrong decision.

KB

zimbabwe,

Good question. The cheapest route is to stock the classic and be done. I want to Tef coat the rifle for the fact that I don't like the stainless look on a big game rifle. Your MMV. On the classic the floorplate is pretty mediocre, hence my wanting a Williams set up. The stock on a factory classic is better than a Rem700 IMO but I want a better one!

Stage one would be a new stock and Tef coat. That is a good plan but I want more! If I put the $$ out I want a rifle that will be one MOA or better. Yes, you don't need this for big bame but I will
be busting squirrels with this rifle in the off season.

I know the easy answer is redo the Classic, but I'm asking the minds of AR help me.


John

i just went through basically the same process and - since I already had a stainless, classic in 375 H&H, decided to use a pre-64 with a stainless bbl in 9.3x62 and an Echols/McMillan Edge stock. Both are great rifles.
For what it is worth - both D'Arcy Echols and David Miller think there are some real benefits to using the Classic action - especially for the 375 H&H.

458Win
Please keep us posted on how the 9,3x62 works for you. What bullet(s) do you plan to use?

JKS

I'll make it easy for you: Just sell me the magnaported, glassed, initialed, pre '64 for $1200, and then you'll have the funds available for your project!!

I have also been where you are and I used a 1953 vintage pre-64 action to build a .375.

I would think as far as quality and function are concerned it wouldn't make any difference if you preferred the modern classic action, though.

Always go with the pre 64 on a custom project, it will have better resale value, and it's simply a better rifle from the start.

All my DGRs are pre 64 or Mausers that have been overhauled to a pre 64 status.

I'd consider shortening the barrel(to eliminate the magnaporting) on the pre-64 and then have it teflon coated and dropped into the McMillen stock.

My 375SS Classic is in a David Miller laminate and has original barrel the target was 20 rounds fired without any particular cooling just the time required to reload. Incidentally this rifle only holds 3 rounds,2 down 1 up as the stock is thinner thru the magazine area requiring a 1/8" be cut off magazine box. Probably could modify to accept 3 rounds but have never needed it in 8 safaris to Zimbabwe. Incidentally the group measures .7".

A 375 that shoots that well - and a hunter who can use it - shouldn't be needing more than a couple extra shots.

As for my 9.3x63 - so far I have been very happy with the 286 gr partitions @ 2350fps. The newest large caliber partitions, with their thicker jackets and partition moved forward, are about as good as bullets get.

Seems the question has been answered in the descriptions of the two rifles, now the question is to go with a budget plan or spend the extra money for a barrel swap. If in a hurry for a completed rifle go with the budget plan on the stainless model, if not in a hurry I would swap out the barrel on the pre-64 and complete it like you wanted it and it will be ready for a fall hunt or at least next spring. My preference is the pre-64. R.

I would save the pre-64 action for a custom rifle using a stock of best quality French walnut. It deserves it. Either for you or for some one else that appreciates the quaility of a pre-64. IMHO no plastic stocked rifle is a true custom rifle, great using rifles but just not a true custom rifle.

465H&H

I have done both recently and opted for the classic versus the pre-64. The Classic felt better in my hand and shoots very well. I am no expert on the metalurgy of the romance of the pre-64, I just like the newer models.

Shoot what feels best to you.

fireman,

You know I hadn't considered that, sort of the seeing the trees but for the forest thing or vice versa!. I just pulled out the Pre 64 from the safe and took a look at it. I can cut the barrel back to 23" and be in business w/o the Magnaport.

Now 465 H&H, which I respect very much, brings up the "issue" of putting my 64 into a McMillan stock. I think I have the answer.

I will shorten the bbl to 23", get it put in a McMillan stock and have the factory stock refinished for future African use! Now I get rid of my Magnaport objection, get it stocked in a NA friendly synthetic for use now and still retain a some of its original
glory with the wood stock for future African hunts.

What do you think

quote:

Originally posted by JKS:
fireman,

You know I hadn't considered that, sort of the seeing the trees but for the forest thing or vice versa!. I just pulled out the Pre 64 from the safe and took a look at it. I can cut the barrel back to 23" and be in business w/o the Magnaport.

Now 465 H&H, which I respect very much, brings up the "issue" of putting my 64 into a McMillan stock. I think I have the answer.

I will shorten the bbl to 23", get it put in a McMillan stock and have the factory stock refinished for future African use! Now I get rid of my Magnaport objection, get it stocked in a NA friendly synthetic for use now and still retain a some of its original
glory with the wood stock for future African hunts.

What do you think

An excellent solution!

JKS!

Works for me. Good thinking.

465H&H