Hello Gents,

I've been considering replacing the mag box in my M70 Classic for some time now. The rifle started life as a 300 Win Mag, but now is chambered in 416 Taylor. My goal is to be able to seat the bullets a bit longer, so they'll be closer to the lands.

On the Winchester website, they have nice listing and pictures of their rifles, plus info on how to order spare parts.

I want to get a 375H&H/416 Rem length mag box, follower, bolt stop, and ejector. But, in the listing for stainless rifles, these cartridges are not listed. What is listed (besides "magnum length and 30-06 length, etc) is a box for the 300 Weatherby. Plus all the other parts I mentioned above are listed for the Weatherby.

When I look at the parts list for Winchesters "Safari" type rifles, they do list part numbers for the 375H&H type magazine boxes and associated parts. They even list the 300 Weathrby parts again, but with different part numbers than before. I guess the difference is the stainless steel.

Anyhow, finally a question!

Will the 300 Weatherby mag box, follower, bolt stop, and ejector accomplish the same feat (lengthening my current mag box) as effectively as the 375H&H/416 Rem parts?

These parts are available to the general public, as opposed to some parts which are only available to gunsmiths, etc.

How hard is it to replace the bolt stop and ejector? I know their pinned in, but will I be screwing around with the trigger?

Thanks!

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Brian
The 416 Taylor WebPage!

Brian, look in the African Big Game Room, read the post about rechambering a 458 Win to 458 Lott.

Or give me an Email, I have done several. (star@olypen.com)

You need to mill the rear bridge for good ejection.

I replaced the box, follower, and ejector on my post '64 .338 with parts from a .375. I also replaced the alloy trigger guard and floor plate with steel. I had to modify the follower a bit to get reliable feeding of the last round in the magazine (just found this problem after using the rifle for 25 yrs!) but it wasn't difficult. Stainless parts should be available from Winchester as they are turning out s.s .375's.
Hope this helped.
C.G.B.

Brian,
The soul purpose of the Chatfield Taylor rounds is to have a medium lenth actioned rifle as opposed to a long action...

Why not just rechamber to a 416 Remington and be able to buy ammo at most country stores, and get a little more velocity. I think you got the cart before the horse.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Hi Ray,

Whenever I ask questions like this, I just know your going to say something like that!

I hate to keep repeating this (but it doesn't ever seem to stop me )...

I bought a standard length action due to the non-availability of a magnum length CRF action that was both stainless steel and left-handed. Add to that, the need for the donor rifle (or action) to be reasonable priced!

That's why I ended up chambering for a Taylor as opposed to the Remington version.

Now I'd just like to get the bullets a little farther down the barrel, closer to the lands. Hence the magazine modification question.

I do appreciate the advice though Ray! You may be happy to hear, that thanks to guys like you and Customstox, I've finally taken the plunge into the world of "blued and wood" rifles. Got a left-handed Winchester M70 "Super Express" chambered in 375H&H (finally a real magnum length action!) being shipped up here as we speak (type.)

Thanks to all who have replied!

John,

I'll send ya an e-mail soon. I'd like to have my Taylor "re-done", as the last 'smith lacked the quality control I desired...

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Brian
The 416 Taylor WebPage!

Brian,

Maybe I'm missing something. I've made two 7STW from the Model 70 Stainless in 7mag. The 416 is the same case. I simply purchased a new box, bolt stop and ejector for a 300WBY. Or you could just remove the spacer and shorten the bolt stop and ejector. I didn't open the port and didn't have any ejection problems.

BW,
I was just making a point that the minute you make the described conversion, you no longer own a medium lenth action because you just made a long action out of it....

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

I fail to see how this project is more cost-effective than to simply trade in the factory-original .300 Winchester on a Model 70 in .416 Remington..........

AD

Ramrod340,

You didn't miss a thing. What you did to your 7mm Rem Mag is exactly what I was asking about. Thanks for the help!

It was John Ricks who suggested actually opening up the action a bit on the rear bridge, which is taking my idea the next logical step forward.

I've gotten a couple e-mails from people who have replaced the mag box, follower, etc, without doing the machine work, and they also have had good results.

I think I'll do the "parts swap" first, and see how it works out. The truth be know though, I've been looking for an "excuse" to send John my 416 Taylor, I bet he'll make it better than it is now.

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Brian
The 416 Taylor WebPage!

Allen wrote...

quote:

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I fail to see how this project is more cost-effective than to simply trade in the factory-original .300 Winchester on a Model 70 in .416 Remington...

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Allen,

I'm not sure, did you read my reply to Ray above? I stated the action I wanted needed to be left-handed and stainless steel. Not to mention I desired a "CRF" action, which eliminated many manafactures products right away.

If you check the current Winchester website, you'll see that stainless rifles are going for around $760 MSRP. A slightly closer look will reveal that Winchester does not offer this rifle in a left-hand version! I'm not sure why they stopped, but it sure makes life hard for some of us.

If you check out Winchesters Custom Shop webpage, you'll find a lefty 375H&H for a measily $2700, yet even this is not a stainless rifle!

I guess what I mean to say is...

If you know anyone willing to trade me a $2700+ Custom (and out of production) rifle for my old $600 (plus the cost of the Douglas barrel and installation) rifle, I'm all ears!

Thanks!

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Brian
The 416 Taylor WebPage!

[This message has been edited by BW (edited 10-30-2001).]

Brian, I didn't read your post nearly well enough, and you have my sincere apologies.

At a local gunstore there is a used left-hand Model 70 (blued/walnut) in .375 H&H that I can probably round up for you at a reasonable price. If your interested, just let me know....

AD