The guy who runs Duane Wiebes CNC mill is a friend of mine and I've been talking to him about B&M bottom metal. Price would probably be about $500 depending on what technical solution is used, they'd hold four down without a drop box and the quality of Custom Gun and Rifle bottom metal is of course no secret. They'd need to do thirty to justify it but I only need to pay up front for a couple of them to cover the cost of tooling and then you guys can buy them off the shelf after they are run.

I want to gauge interest so post here or message me if you want an extra round or (much) better than factory bottom metal. When the numbers make sense I will break open the piggy bank and get the ball rolling.

Thanks guys, and if I stepped on anyone's toes posting it here and now I apologize. I also cross posted to the B&M thread.

Ryan....

As we discussed, count me in for TWO, where do I send the check?

Also, will be happy to send a rifle or two to confirm fit and finish, feed and function as well........

Michael

Sounds interesting!

There might how ever be possible feeding problems when the rounds are stacked further away from the centerline of the bore. Especially when using flat point bullets in .458 caliber and up.

Any one know if the length of the feed ramp is the same on the M70 actions made for the WSM's as on the standard length actions? A longer feed ramp would likely be needed to ensure positive feeding when the angle from the side of the magazine well to the chamber gets more acute. Unless the magazine is designed so that it narrows down towards the top to simulate single stack feeding or more "in line" feeding.

I'll be looking for your feedback when you test the first one!

Would this include the 500 MDM as well, or just the shorties?

Put me down for ONE to start.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Would this include the 500 MDM as well, or just the shorties?

Nahh... These are specifically for the Standard B&Ms... 9.3--50.....

Who knows however, if this turns out good......... Thing is, I am not so sure there is not already a
3.6 inch box for these guns??? Maybe Ryan can ask.... 3.6...4 down, RUM???

Michael, so it's only for the "Baby" calibers? :-)

Presuming a standard depth magazine/bottom metal – then the answer currently is “No” regarding a 4-down 3.6” magazine/bottom metal for the M70 Winchester from Custom Gun & Rifle (Duane Wiebe's shop). However I believe it can fairly easily be accomplished using Duane’s trapezoid magazine shaped boxes and I believe it could be a very good selling item.

Duane currently manufacturers a standard depth trapezoid shaped XRM magazine box that is designed to hold 4-down .300H&H/.375 H&H cartridges and the 4W one-piece bottom metal which is designed specifically for use with the trapezoid shaped XRM box. The combined price for the XRM magazine box and the 4W bottom metal is $484. He also offers a new machined M70 follower (replaces the Classic plastic follower) for $49 and a new magazine spring for $27.

A standard depth trapezoid shaped RUM specific XRM magazine box could be fairly easily designed to accommodate 4-down of the 500 B&M and 500 MDM cartridges. The only issue I can foresee is that rifle stocks with minimal clearance around the current factory RUM 3-down box may require minor fitting to assure proper clearance is maintained with a trapezoid shaped RUM 4-down box.

Only ya’ll can decide if there’s sufficient interest for it to be worth Duane’s shop to do a 30 piece run.

And since FN SC factory isn’t ‘factory chambering’ the M70 in any RUM cartridges at some point ya’ll will have to make the move to either modifying a non-RUM M70 action to run the RUMs or move to the Montana M99 RUM action for the 500 B&M and 500 MDM cartridges. I’d think that would weigh heavily on any decision to have Duane’s shop manufacture a run of XRM-RUM 4-down magazine boxes.

I must admit I am interested, but at that price point I want to wait to see how well they work before i invest--

as a practical point, how often do we need 4 down compared to 3 down? i just received my copy of the book by Richard Harlan--he and others credit the 4 down M-S 458s for saving their lives---
when cropping entire herds of elephants-----

The pursuit of perfection is fun, so lets see how well they work-

We might be interested in a couple of these, but like Sean, I am inclined to take a wait and see attitude at the $500 price point for a DG rifle modification that may or may not work correctly 100% of the time.

I think Michael would be the most qualified to make such an evaluation and publish the unbiased results.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Michael, so it's only for the "Baby" calibers? :-)

Baby Calibers? Two Rat Calibers, but the rest I would hardly say they are babies.... One of course could look at the Super Short series as baby CARTRIDGES, but not calibers... 458-474-500 LOL...
HEH....

quote:

as a practical point, how often do we need 4 down compared to 3 down?

I concur completely...... In 18 years of beating the bush I have never had the need for more than 3 down..... Now, I have most certainly fired more rounds in the heat of battle, but by the time I expended the first 3, I had ample time to do some quick reloading...... There was the one time that the 3rd round was the magic round, and the very last one. Maybe I could have used a 4th..... but the 3rd one did the deed......

quote:

I think Michael would be the most qualified to make such an evaluation and publish the unbiased results.

Exactly why I am in for TWO of them..... One in 50 B&M and one for 458 B&M... We will be most concerned with retaining in the magazine box...........

M

quote:

Originally posted by michael458:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Biebs:
Michael, so it's only for the "Baby" calibers? :-)

I am with Beibs on this one!

quote:

Originally posted by Duane Wiebe (CG&R):
Well...This post was just called to my attention this morning (surprise!)...... Ryan and I need to have a mini conference. I'm not shutting the door on this project, but was a little out of the loop while Ryan and Mario were kicking it around.

Later this week, we will have ammo and an action in hand to evaluate the possibilities.

Ruk ro… Big dog was busy so cats were at play… LOL…

Wife does that to me all the time – unfortunately I have little to say about the final outcome!

quote:

Originally posted by brent ebeling:

quote:

Originally posted by michael458:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Biebs:
Michael, so it's only for the "Baby" calibers? :-)

I am with Beibs on this one!

Yeah, and I think ya'll are beginning to look alike as well....

quote:

Originally posted by Duane Wiebe (CG&R):
Well...This post was just called to my attention this morning (surprise!)...... Ryan and I need to have a mini conference. I'm not shutting the door on this project, but was a little out of the loop while Ryan and Mario were kicking it around.

Later this week, we will have ammo and an action in hand to evaluate the possibilities.

Thanks Duane, do keep us posted on what you think....... Also, if needed I could send one of my rifles that you could check
as well........

Michael

An extra round would be a good confidence boost with big critters. Would this work for regular WSM rounds?

quote:

An extra round would be a good confidence boost with big critters. Would this work for regular WSM rounds?

I see no reason it wouldn't work.

That would open up a larger market.

Any news on this project?