I've got a pre-64 actio and stock,trying to decide what to do with it. It apparently was a 30-06 originally. No barrel on it at the moment so reducing collector value ship has sailed. I've got a Montana 458 barrel blank so a 458 Win mag makes sense, but for the cost of everything involved I could easily buy a new model 70 or CZ, and have money left over for optics, tune-ups, etc.
I'm starting to lean towards making it a 270 as close to original pre-64 styling selling the blank, and when the time to hunt elephant comes up to get a 458. Or maybe just use my 404.
Does this sound crazy?

No, semi custom builds are never crazy. They are exciting. (Some full customs are but the owners don't think so).
Make it a medium bore; small bores like 270s are boring and fairly useless. (To me; please stop mailing me about how you kill elephants with a 270, etc. IDC))
Something in the 35 Whelen and 9.3x62 range is good. Low recoil and lots of punch. And unique. Why build something you can just buy?
I'm doing exactly that on a Model 70 now with pre-64 barrel contour. One 9.3 and one 35.
Oh, 458s are nice but not as much fun to shoot.

Already own a 375, and have a 9.3x62 work in progress. Below that have a void between 243 and 300, hence the 270.

There are several good condition factory pre-64 spare barrels about - I think I have a few. Since you have the action and stock, it would make sense to get a factory barrel and have the rifle put back together.

Then go with another classic; 275 Rigby. Or 280 Rem.
But yes, if you can put it back factory, do that.

I've got a spare pre 64 stock in excellent condition .

quote:

Originally posted by Gary MacDonald:
I've got a spare pre 64 stock in excellent condition .

Mine has stock, just need barrel and some barrel hardware.

do it classy -- 7x64, the real original --

or sell the action, buy a whole gun in whatever caliber you want...

mmm 7x64 mmmm

H-mantle



https://rws-munition.de/en/rws...tel-bullet/7x64.html

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
do it classy -- 7x64, the real original --

or sell the action, buy a whole gun in whatever caliber you want...

yeah .. 7x64 ... i think this is the only round i have nostalgia for .. that, and it's perfect

I have an excellent, original pre 64 30-06 barrel if you want to restore. PM me if you are interested.

A Winchester profile barrel in something interesting.

A pre '64 M-70 in 270 is about as "classic" as bolt action rifles get - how could you go wrong...

257 Roberts

The win barrel profile is in one of the old gunsmith books . I think it the NRA gunsmith book .
Go with a 30-06 with a faster twist than traditional .

6.5 x 55 , I'm very happy with mine!

cable68,

Have you considered doing a .280Rem? Much less 'vanilla' than a .270 and also based on the '06 case that the action was originally made for. Maybe....an 8.5 to 1 twist and some 175 grain Nosler partition handloads for mulies?

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
cable68,

Have you considered doing a .280Rem? Much less 'vanilla' than a .270 and also based on the '06 case that the action was originally made for. Maybe....an 8.5 to 1 twist and some 175 grain Nosler partition handloads for mulies?

.280 would be most excellent!!

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
cable68,

Have you considered doing a .280Rem? Much less 'vanilla' than a .270 and also based on the '06 case that the action was originally made for. Maybe....an 8.5 to 1 twist and some 175 grain Nosler partition handloads for mulies?

I happen to like vanilla. I've now bought a take-off pre-64 barrel, perhaps what I didn't make clear in original posting was that if I wasn't going to go custom was to make it more like a restoration.

Glad you found a suitable original style barrel for your project. My caliber suggestion was geared more towards a custom build & subsequently "filling the void" with regard to caliber as in your second post.
Happy shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by cable68:

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
cable68,

Have you considered doing a .280Rem? Much less 'vanilla' than a .270 and also based on the '06 case that the action was originally made for. Maybe....an 8.5 to 1 twist and some 175 grain Nosler partition handloads for mulies?

I happen to like vanilla. I've now bought a take-off pre-64 barrel, perhaps what I didn't make clear in original posting was that if I wasn't going to go custom was to make it more like a restoration.

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
cable68,

Have you considered doing a .280Rem? Much less 'vanilla' than a .270 and also based on the '06 case that the action was originally made for. Maybe....an 8.5 to 1 twist and some 175 grain Nosler partition handloads for mulies?

ahm ... 7x64... why do a me too

Save yourself the headache and costs, sell me your action and stock and buy yourself a nice finished rifle..

I've warmed up to the .280 rem. a bit. Yet still, it is not as exciting to me as a 7X57. Just picked it based on case size. No muss no fuss as is possible with shorter or longer cases, wider shoulders etc.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
cable68,

Have you considered doing a .280Rem? Much less 'vanilla' than a .270 and also based on the '06 case that the action was originally made for. Maybe....an 8.5 to 1 twist and some 175 grain Nosler partition handloads for mulies?

ahm ... 7x64... why do a me too