I'm wondering how the Mod 70, left hand action in 7mm mag can be converted to the 458 Lott. As I remember, the action/magazine as is will not hold the longer cartridge. Is this someting as standard procedure that I don't know about - to open up or replace the magazine, bolt stop, and remove some metal from the receiver to get it all to feed and eject properly?

Thanks,
KB

Well can't speak to the Lott. I took a normal 7mag and coverted it to STW. Simply either remove the spacer in the back of the box or get a long mag box. Then swap out the ejector to a long mag or cut the original down. I didn't do anything to the action opening and it will feed and eject loaded cases without any problems.

yep, easy as fishing.. barrel, magbox, and some money to a smith...

or just a barrel and recut for 458 AR, which goes faster, anyway

jeffe

I had one converted a few years ago to 375 H&H. Smith charged me $120 and that included him drilling a new hole for the scope base and tapping it. Never should of sold the dang thing as it feed flawlessly.

Well, I've got two mod 70s, one in 338 WM and the other in 375H&H. There are several noticable differences in the actions. The follower and magazine are longer on the 375, and it's not just the spacer at the back removed - it's just longer. The bolt stop is different, and the rear bridge has less metal on the 375, and some other small differences. I tried a 375 round in the 338 magazine, and it won't fit.

If I wanted to go for such a project, I might consider a Montana '99 action, which would require no modifications.

Regards,
KB

quote:

If I wanted to go for such a project, I might consider a Montana '99 action, which would require no modifications.

I can't speak to the box in your 375. Like I said I have converted actually 3 7rem mags to 7stw. Two by replacing the box with the long box and the long magnum ejector. For my own I took the spacer out and cut off the ejector. If my memory is correct I didn't change out the follower. I removed no metal on the actions and they will feed and eject without any issues.

But I'm no one to stand in front of someone if they want a completely new rifle. Just wanted to restate the conversion is no big deal.

'm no expert on the subject but there are different length M70 actions - and not just magazine differences.

But, there seems to be plenty of examples of standard length magnums on actions that will take a H&H length cartridge with no trouble. I converted a M70 .458Winnie to Lott by the same suggestions above - new mag box, recut bolt stop, ejector, and chamber and go to town. were the only things needed on the action. It works great.

If you already have the M70 action, I'd pay for the conversion it since there's a good chance a MRC will need a bit of tweaking by a gunsmith, in addition to the cost of the thing in the first place. I don't know about typical cartridges ('06, 7mag etc) but Snowwolfe here and I have had struggles with a couple of MRC long action .45 Mags. I think the key to a MRC is to look at it as a "gunsmith" action.

quote:

I don't know about typical cartridges ('06, 7mag etc) but Snowwolfe here and I have had struggles with a couple of MRC long action .45 Mags. I think the key to a MRC is to look at it as a "gunsmith" action.

I considered a MRC 1999 along with a few others but decided not to for a number of reasons.

First, with the production slowdowns at MRC the updated delivery date for a SS LH action would be something like December as it stands now. Not horrible but it is extra time added to a project.

Second, I read the posts regarding you and snowwolfe mentioned above and took that into consideration as well. Granted they could be isolated cases but still negative press.

Third, there was a substitute readily available at the local gun store. One of the last M70's in left hand right off the rack. It may need a little work but I have it in my hand today. There is an opportunity cost associated with that.

No disrespect intended to MRC as I think it is truly noble for Dan@MRC to be posting his issues here at AR but that is how I came to my decision. I would love one of the PH actions in LH but with only 70-80 orders to date it may be 2010 by the time they start production. Maybe I will be order number 399 and 400.

I dunno about all that, but my gunsmith took a 30-06 M70 in the 28XXX serial number range, and turned it into a 458Lott using the original box and follower. He milled 1/2 the diameter difference of the '06 and Lott off the follower and the dang thing works so far. Three down, and one shoved up the pipe

Rich