I’m looking to restock a Model 70 375 H&H stainless. While testing the feeding on this action I realized that it will only hold 3 down in the magazine.

So I tried loading 3 in the mag and dropping one in the chamber and closing the bolt. This doesn’t feel good. Sometimes the claw will snap on easy…sometimes not so easy. Seems like an easy way to break something in the middle of no where!!

The mag spring seems to be a factor in only 3 down as it has humped up shape at the bottom that takes up better than a ¼” of space.

So in my mind for a DGR 3 rounds seems like to few, 4 rounds seems about right, and 5 would be perfect.

I’m sure to get to 5 I would have to go with a drop mag of some sort which leads me back to my stock options. A drop mag type stock and drop mag I’m sure are mucho bucks so getting to 5 is probably not an option.

So is there a way to get to 4 down with a normal stock and say a Williams 1 piece BM? Or is closing the bolt on a round dropped in the chamber OK to do?

Let me know how you guys are running your Model 70s.

Thanks,
wyattd

Change the spring to a non-magnum. I get 4 down + 1 in the chamber of my H&H with the factory bottom metal. I push the fifth down in the mag far enough to slip the extractor over it.

My pre64 holds 4 down easy. I usually just drop the fifth down the spout and close the bolt, but you can flex the extractor or do some other gyrations if that makes you more comfortable.

Double rifles are DGR's and they only hold two

I'm going through the same exercise now with a new McMillan stock on a SS M70 in 375.

Got the factory magazine box chopped off and fitted, screws shortened and indexed, but I haven't started to work on magazine capacity yet.

This is the Sunny Hill drop-box.

New guy,

You copied my gun. I had a patent! LOL
I re chambered mine for 375 Wea. Love it!

EZ

Wyattd,

When you are loading a round directly into the chamber hold the rifle in the palm of your left hand (assuming a right hander rifle)and wrap you finger around the stock to the loading port. Depress the middle of the extractor with your middle finger while pushing the bolt into battery with you other hand. This lift cantilevers the extractor hook ever so slightly away from the bolt face. Moves it away enough so that it will slip over the cartridge rim without having to snap over it. Though if it takes considerable effort to get the extractor to snap over a cartridge rim I would have a rifle-smith look it over and tune it if necessary because you don't want that problem in the field. Especially since you mentioned DGR.

Tried 2 of the ideas above and both seem to work well. Flexing the extractor allows it to snap over the rim fairly easily. Pressing the 4th cartridge into the mag as far as it will go and pushing the bolt forward engaging the cartridge works well too.

new_guy,
Look forward to seeing your finished rifle. Although right now a wood stock is my first choice I'll be going with a McMillan for my second.

Thanks guys.

I have found that the easiest and best way to load one in the chamber over a full magazine in a CRF rifle like the Model 70 is as follows.

With a fully loaded magazine, there's going to be plenty of room left to depress one additional round about halfway down into the magazine.

Do that, and then push the bolt forward, while applying light pressure with your thumb on the extra round. As you move the bolt forward, ease up on the thumb pressure and allow the base of the round to slide up onto the bolt face, and then allow the extractor groove in the case to engage the extractor. Pushing the bolt home will then chamber the round.

You'll then have a full magazine and a round in the chamber - and avoid having to apply any pressure or stress to the extractor.

mrlexma is right, and on my model 70 it seems even easier, the 4th round can go in half way and stays there, just closing the bolt is enough for the extractor to pick it up and chamber it almost like a round from the magazine.

You should also be able to chamber one round and load three in the magazine through the bottom, assuming you have a hinged floorplate.

With 4 down my M70 375H&H bolt will not close.

The top cartridge drags really bad on the bottom of the bolt. The 5th round won't push down the 4th at all, it is rock solid. I've got an extra magazine floorplate that I was going to grind down to see if I could get that needed 1/16th of an inch.

I assume it is a M70 Classic, so it will only hold 3 on the magazine and they will be TIGHT not much additional room (none really). To load the fourth round simply remove the bolt, slide a cartridge on the bolt, and reinsert bolt while holding the top round in the magazine down so that is will clear the bolt. This is standard CRF (read Mauser) practice. No big deal. Of course since you said you are restocking you could spend ~$450 and buy a drop box magazine & bottom metal for the rifle which will hold four down.

I use mrlexma's method in my Classic. It works. If double rifle guys can hunt two and then reload, I figger I can hunt four and then reload. It's worked well so far.

You boys must all have "special" Winchester M70's! Case in point:

quote:

With a fully loaded magazine, there's going to be plenty of room left to depress one additional round about halfway down into the magazine.

Do those only exist on the internet, or can you get them from Cracker Jack boxes?

My Mod70 Classic only takes three down but will let me put an extra up the spout. If I try and put 4 down, it jams solid (under left rail)until I drop the floorplate - not so good if done accidently in a stressful situation I would imagine! Will have to try the standard magazine spring.
Interestingly, my old H&H 375H&H has a slightly shallower magazine, but will take 4 down (is a magnum action).

MY M-70 Classic stainless allows me to drop in four and load a fifth with no issues. All I did was change my magazine spring as mentioned above.

Surestrike, where would I be able to purchase a standard spring? Don't want to pinch it out of my .270! Thanks, CHris

My M70 Classic in .416 Rem can now after the donation from mrlexma take 3 rounds in the magazine and I am able to push one fourth round half way down so it will slip into the claw when I push the bolt forward. Just as mrlexma said.

If you can get the fourth round into the magazine I guess it can not be a .416. Maybe it is the .375 that can do that.

quote:

Maybe it is the .375 that can do that.

Not mine. 3 down only. No way to get a 4th in there.