The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores Barrel chop .375 Win. M70Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| One of Us |
Ok I am considering buying a new gun or chopping and possibly fluting my stainless classic .375 to put it on a diet. I am also going to lighten the Mcmillan stock. I accidently got a "magnum" fill express stock and together with scope seem a bit heavy for a Alaska mountain bear rifle. I am thinking 22" and possibly fluting. Or should I go more chop and no fluting? Heard mixed reviews about fluting. Going to remove material from barrel channel and drill out some weight from butt end on McMillan. Or am I "ruining" a possibly collectable gun and should just buy the one in the classifieds? Thanks White Mountains Arizona | ||
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We have an older LH M70 stainless/synthetic classic in 416 Rem and it's pretty heavy. We had the barrel shortened to 22" but I think the barrel contour and the stock really add to it's weight. Nice rifle though. Regards, Chuck "There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit" Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness" | |||
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Chopping the barrel to 22" and lightening the butt.of the rifle will help A lot. Maybe not go too far too fast. If you want more to go lighter you can but not go beyond the point of no return. Phil Shoemaker : "I went to a .30-06 on a fine old Mauser action. That worked successfully for a few years until a wounded, vindictive brown bear taught me that precise bullet placement is not always possible in thick alders, at spitting distances and when time is measured in split seconds. Lucky to come out of that lesson alive, I decided to look for a more suitable rifle." | |||
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2" won't save enough to cover the spend -- the barrel is "fat" from the shank to 1/2 way or so ... sorry opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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Your not saving much weight, you could accomplish the same thing by losing 20 lbs. of body weight or getting into better condition for your hunt..Not being sarcastic, just offering an option that has worked for me for many years of packing 10 to 11 pound rifles. You only save about 6 oz. to perhaps a pound no matter what you do short of a total remake. then with the Titanium monster you have a gun so damn light that when you run to the top of a mountain, sucking air, and have to take a fast off hand shot the lighter than a feather rifle won't allow you to shoot, its bouncing all over hell... That is the reason I packed my standard weight mod. 70s with 25 and 26 inch barrels in 375 and 300 H&H for so many years, The fwt mod. 70 left me cold after a few incidents. But to each his own, as individual circumstances are the final chapter in what someone is happy with, and that changes many times in a lifetime of hunting. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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Interesting variation of replies. I just did 15 miles yesterday so the getting in shape part is being taken care of. Still would like to trim it down it is a fat barrel for sure and there is a smith in town that won't kill me on the work. I like his idea of lightening the stock. Mcmillan magnum fills are heavy. I can get the chop, remount the front sight and drill and mill the stock quite reasonable. The fluting costs more. No comments on fluting? White Mountains Arizona | |||
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Agree 100%
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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True the heavy gun shoots well
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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OK so this is what I was getting at. What about fluting? What about 20-21" and drilling/milling stock. I was under the impression 2 lbs could be lost, and when humping the Talkeetnas that may help and it still won't be a lightweight
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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| Moderator |
awesome reply -- sometimes our curmudgeons are full of prunes. if it where me, and i had decent access to a reamer, i would just rebarrel to the profile *I* like ... and that tends to be a tad light... 26" barrels are a tad on the silly side, if you ask me.. 21" is great.. of course some people pine over light, short trim rifles in 10,75x68 whilest calling you names for a reasonable 375... two pounds is A LOT of milling ... opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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My son's XCR II in 375 (which I gave him after my bear hunt) weighs 7.25 lbs with scope, 1 1/4 lbs less than our walnut BDL in 270 with scope. It doesn't kick bad either. Not sure why the M70 Classics are so heavy. Then again my CZ 550 in 500 Jeffery (with two recoil reducers) weighs 12 lbs with Talley QR rings and a Leupold 1.5-5x scope on it (no sling or ammo). Somehow it doesn't feel heavy ...  Regards, Chuck "There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit" Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness" | |||
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I have the same gun with the same stock and I agree, it's too heavy. I am planning to rebore it to something in .416, cut down the barrel to 21" and then see what it is like, before i mess with the stock. The barrel is too long and too heavy of a contour for a 375. | |||
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Yeah 21" would be quite handy. 2 lbs is possible as there is a lot of weight in the stock that is not necessary for a .375. What not take weight out of the butt to counterbalance the barrel chop? I am leaning against fluting as I want to preserve the original barrel markings but not sure if that is a valid reason? Same idea on turning the barrel down. It is a good shooter and I want to try and keep it that way
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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One reason is the magnum fill Mcmillan. They are heavy for a reason. But overly so for a .375. They are great shooters due to the barrel though, and bedded in the McMillan it is wonderful shooter
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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I have a .416 so I am going to go a different route.....Or not? The magnum fill added a lot of weight compared to the Tupperware stock
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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I am talking 2 lbs between barrel and stock. Less would be fine to even a pound and a handier handling gun would make me happy
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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The barrel is a lot heavier profile and you are using factory Tupperware stock I presume? Mine was a lot lighter with Tupperware too maybe should of kept it and saved the money, But the McMillan is a nice setup and can be lightened by a guy who has done it hundreds of times.
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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And with that barrel profile if I cut 3" down to 21" and lighten stock it should be noticeable. How much velocity loss with a 300 grn .375 at 21" vs 24"? White Mountains Arizona | |||
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This gun is near the weight of my 505 with 22" tube empty....But the hole in the barrel is a lot bigger on the 505 compared to the similar profile 375....LOL.....
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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rule of thumb , 75fps .. reloads tuned to 21"? zero opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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| one of us |
If I was worried that much about weight I just carry a smaller lighter weight caliber rifle and kill bears with it. | |||
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Now what fun would that be? White Mountains Arizona | |||
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Maybe rebore it to 416? You say it is a right fine shooter; hate to take a chance on messing that up. Cutting 3" SHOULD not hurt accuracy. Drilling out the stock seems benign enough. My .416 Rem Mag with a fat Sako barrel in a magnum fill stock is a trifle bit heavy, but boy does it settle nicely for accurate shooting, even when I am sucking wind...  | |||
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Hate chopping barrel length. Just me. Other ways to save weight. Doesn't even help in thick brush, which is the usual justification. | |||
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Opions vary-- both of my 416s have a 20 in barrel and a 13 in lop--gives me a nice balanced weapon- and that 5 inches sure makes it handier getting in and out of vehicles and on and off horses. the nice thing is--here in the US we can all have it the way we want it---there is no wrong answer on these things, find out what works for you and go for it. "The rule is perfect: in all matters of opinion our adversaries are insane." Mark Twain TANSTAAFL www.savannagems.com A unique way to own a piece of Africa. DSC Life NRA Life | |||
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I find this interesting, I have a stainless classic in 375 also, but mine has been re-chambered to the 375 Weatherby, the tupperware stock has been ditched and replaced with a HS Precision sporter stock. The weight has only changed about an ounce all up, to the lighter side. I would never actually trim this barrel, or even change the contour to lighten it, I'm quite comfortable with the 24" barrel, in fact, I don't like the blast from barrels 22" or shorter. Cheers.  | |||
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I agree with you on the 24" barrel. It's truly a matter of preference. I bought the LH M70 in 416 for my oldest son. He was more comfortable with a shorter barrel, his choice of course. Regards, Chuck "There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit" Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness" | |||
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HS precision is not a magnum fill Mcmillan. They are intentionally made heavier
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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If I did not already have a .416 I would but that's a bigger gunsmithing deal I don't want to go crazy before my hunt LOL. I'm thinking 2" chop and lighten stock. Can always do more later
White Mountains Arizona | |||
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