Is a pre-64 M70 long enough for the 375 H&H?
(asking for a mate of mine)

yep..., "All" pre-64's are the same length..
jeffe

I thought the Pre-64 M70 Winchester was a standard length (.30-06 Springfield) action that had to be opened-up to take a .375 H&H length cartridge. The action is long enough once it is machined open.

Buliwyf
the pre-64 22 hornet and 375HH are the same action, only opened up different. no joke

quote:

Originally posted by Bakes:
Is a pre-64 M70 long enough for the 375 H&H?
(asking for a mate of mine)

Right. The box length of 3.6" for .375 H&H is the max length that the Pre-64 M70 action was designed for, whether originally in 220 Swift or 375 H&H. I do believe it was specifically and originally designed to accommodate .375 H&H length with no weakening cuts. It was a match made in heaven.

Here is a 6.75# bare-naked-empty .375 H&H made from a Pre-64 M70 300 H&H action, the original box holding 4 down in .375 H&H, Brown Pounder stock, No.3 sporter barrel:

Yes a pre-64 win action will easily swallow a .375H&H. Just a suggestion. If you have a pre-64 win action consider a .450 Ackley on it. Its basically a .375H&H blown out to .45 cal. The slickest Big Bore I ever built was with that combo. It's a snap to get to feed and shoots MOA all day long. It will cycle empty brass upside down too! If the power scares you can load down to 45-70 levels. Much more omph than a .375 H&H.-Rob

Yes a pre-64 win action will easily swallow a .375H&H. Just a suggestion. If you have a pre-64 win action consider a .450 Ackley on it. Its basically a .375H&H blown out to .45 cal. The slickest Big Bore I ever built was with that combo. It's a snap to get to feed and shoots MOA all day long. It will cycle empty brass upside down too! If the power scares you can load down to 45-70 levels. Much more omph than a .375 H&H. Oh yes, choose a proper twist and you won't have pressure problems with std bullets -Rob

12" twist for .375 H&H has always worked well.
Don't go any slower than 12" twist on a .458 of any sort from .458 WinMag on up, if you would like to be capable of using any reasonable .458 bullet (including monometals) to best advantage.

Forget any pressure/velocity differences with twists from 10" to 20" in barrels from .375 caliber on up. The differences are trivial, less than 1/2 of 1%. Many other factors of bullet and barrel are far more important.

Thanks for the clarification.

The pre 64 m70's came in one overall length.
The part where the magazine box fits into the bottom of the action is different between an original 375 and 30-06 action. The 375 has a much shorter flat on the bottom of the receiver where the front guard screw goes through. This leaves more material around the front of the mag box on a 375. If you open an 06 to fit a 375 box the front of the mag box will not be supported like it is on an original 375.

I know the hole spacing for the guard screws on a Dakota are different, but the overall length of the actions are the same.
30-06 action 7.438" on center
375 action 7.638 on center

Not sure if the pre64 has these same #s for guard screws.

Guys many thanks for the replys.