I have a somewhat newer Winchester Model 70 in .300 Win Mag with the cheap plastic stock. Would this be a good candidate for a conversion to a .425 Express?
Thanks.

From what Cam Hopkins said when he created the round, in most cases, all it requires is the installation of a new .423" barrel.
Of course, check the feeding once you've re-barreled.

George

As I remember the 425 Express is the 300 Winchester necked up.

For easy conversion and even easier loading you might also look to the 416 Taylor. The 416 Taylor is about as close to a factory round as you can get with out actually being a factory round.

Much better for bullet availability and it will be far easier necking 458 Winchesters down to 416 as opposed to necking 300 Winchesters up to 423 or necking and shortening 375s or 416 Remingtons.

Mike

I've done two of them and had no problem with feeding, and fireforming with cornmeal took care of the cases quickly. It's an excellent choice that doesn't get looked at often enough.
~Arctic~

Thanks for the replies. I am pondering using a BAR Mark II instead for this conversion. I posted it on the gunsmithing board and received one response that this has been done with a .458 Win Mag. That should be a hoss of a semi-auto.

John Wootters had a .416 Taylor built on a Browning BAR for his wife.

George

Thanks for your replies. I will not have to build one. I just purchase a used one built on a Sako A5 action. Finally I get my .425 Express that I have always wanted. I will have to start reloading; the ammo from Asquare is expensive!
Thanks again.
Recoilpad

Cool! Let us know how it works out.

I wonder how complicated it would be to build a switch-barrel .300Win./.425Express/.458Win.Mag. on an M-70. Hmmm.

George

HI,


GeorgeS, This does not have anything to do with the topic, but I have always wanted to ask you. The pic you always have in your post, what was the spread on that beast. Kev

Kev,

It was 43 3/8" wide.

George

recoilpad,

Is that the one that was on GunsAmerica?

George

George,
Yes it is. It came from Boise Gun Shop.
Recoilpad

I have been told the neck on the 425 Express has been the problem as it is short even for the 300...I am not sure I buy off on this but I do like a long neck for big long bullets..I do know that someone once wrote an article on a long necked 300 made from 300 Win cases, believe it was some baseball player...I remember thinking he created a non existant problem much like installing a double action trigger in a 1911 colt.....a fools errand.

I understand that a longer neck would better in this situation, but this is what Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Collins gave us. My cousin has been loading this cartridge since 1995 and has never complained about it. It is his favorite hunting rifle, even though he gets ribbed about being over gunned at the deer camp in Louisiana. He has taken everything from brown bear down to coyotes with this cartridge. He is the one that got me interested in this caliber. He said if I would get brass to him, he would load them up for me. He has stocked up on 350 and 400 gr. .423 bullets. He even casts some oddball lead bullets too. I think he as a 510 gr. that he casts for hunting buffalo in Colorado.