For those of you w/ big bore M70s, what is the diameter of your barrel at the shank (in front of the receiver)??

My M70 Safari Express 416Rem shank diameter is 1.222" and is about 1.9" long before it starts into the radius. I was talking w/ Jim Borden over the phone about putting this rifle into one of his Rimrock stocks and it appears that the barrel is too big in the shank to fit. He may be able to get it to squeak by. Seems that the M70s he stocked in the past were between 1.18" to just under 1.2" in diameter at the shank. He had an M70 375H&H in the shop that measured 1.18"

My rifle is brand new and I was curious if this was normal for that caliber or is this a larger dimension than those made in the past.

Thanks much,
Gary

My Mdl 70 SS 375 H&H is 1.134 ahead of the reciever ring. It's about 8/9 years old if memory serves. It was one of the original SS in the fiberglas stock. Hope this helps.

I responded in the MPI stock post that my 375 H&H measures 1.220" right in front of the receiver ring. My M70 is a 2004 blue steel and walnut, left handed model.

I have a 375 barrel (unknown age but has the ERA/NECG sight) that is also 1.22 x 1.9 in the shank.

I recently installed a Rimrock on a pre-64 375 H&H which has an almost identical contour (shank 1.85x1.22), and it fit with plenty of room, so if the pre and post 64 Rimrock stocks are the same externally, then it will fit.
[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=389021&c=500&z=1"] [/url]
not the best pic but the only one that would show what you are asking about

I can see by the pic the thin area at the front of the barrel shank. I can see how Jim Borden is concerned that this would cut into his camo layer on the stocks that have the finish under the surface. I'm sure that he would err on the side of caution rather than risk his reputation having one crack in that spot.

My risk will be losing shipping costs both ways if he gives it thumbs down. For now, my backup plan is to fall back on Brown Precision. MPI gives me an uncomfortable feeling.