Gentlemen,

I have placed a deposit on an M70 .375 H&H and this will be my first M70, I plan to keep the factory barrel. The stock will be changed eventually but that will be down the track.

What jobs should I get my smith to do this rifle to get it up to speed and get it finished nicely, and what would each of these jobs cost.

Thanks PC.

First you need to shoot it of course to see how it does. Then adjust the trigger using these instructions www.snipercountry.com/Articles/AdjustingWinTrigger.htm

Check how smooth the safety works. Ask your smith what he thinks of it.

Hopefully that's all.

PC,

This is a list that I copied from some thread or other. The fellow that shared his list was having this done to his new M70 375.

Trigger job
Install Pachmayer Decelerator
Pillar bed/free float
Talley QD rings
convert to 8/40 screws for scope base
PME Extractor and Magazine spring
Polish feed ramp
retime safety
install hex-head guard screws

I would also smooth up/polish the magazine follower, maybe generally slick up the action inside for smooth bolt operation, and on my rifle I bedded the underside of the rear iron sight with some JB weld.

Others will undoubtedly have additional and useful advice.

Good luck,
Steve

First I would determine what it needs. I would shoot it before making any changes..Sometimes the triggers can be adjusted just fine on a M-70, if not cut and polish...Glass bed it if needed, I doubt the safty need be smoothed out, perhaps polish the rails, but wear will do that...I would not use Hex head screws as the heads are too small and you can tork them too tight...Those stocks are a little flemsy IMO... A Laminate would suit me better.

PC,

While you are spending money trying to eliminate all potential problems, consider having the rifle recrowned. It is one of the most overlooked sources of trouble in factory guns.

Malm

Thankyou gentlemen,

I will copy and paste these suggestions into my "gun file"

I have strayed from my beloved CZ's so it is un-charted waters for me !!

Ray, I fully agree with you that the stock is less than desirable and time & a little more $ will see that problem resolved.

This is my .375 SS. It has a Macmillan Stock decelerator pad (a must to replace the POS Winchester stock), 2x7 Leupold with the Leupold QR post mounts. I had it tefloned and blackened (to reduce the bright glare of the SS).

I left the trigger alone as I was happy with the stock setting. Brownells steel/glass bedding, free-floated. Not pillar bedded as I don't think it is that big a deal and didn't want to bother.

Balance point is 1" in front of guard screw as shown.

First shot is always 2" high and dead on. Second and third shots both 2" high and 1/2 - 3/4" to the right.

Ray is right about shooting it to smooth it up. It will.

Weight loaded is 9 1/2 pounds.

total cost above cost of rifle is about US$400.

Gator nice rough weather Rig.

what bullets are your shooting ?? does the mag box have enough room in it so that I will be able to seat 300 gr woodleigh's and crimp them in the cannelure ??.

If you thinned the follower a little would you be able to get four cartridges down or is it a little more involved than that in your rifle, I mean how close is it to holding four down as standard ??

Did you epoxy your bases on, all my big game rifles to date have integral scope bases so rifles with power and screw down bases is also unchartered waters for me.

Have you been happy with your rig Gator ??

By the way what sort of Iron sights does the stainless M70 .375 come with and are they any good ???

PC

I shoot 300 grain Noslers and 350 grain Woodlieghs. Both fit fine in the mag.

If you load one in the chamber and then turn the rifle over you can load three in the mag for a total of four.

I replaced the magazine spring with a new one that looks like the old pre-64 type. The new ones have a 'step' in the spring that precludes an extra round. The old ones lack the little 'step'. The new followers are thinner than the pre-64 ones and thus you can easily get 4 in the mag. A total of 5.

I replaced the screws with #8s and did not epoxy the bases. This is not a hard recoiling rifle.

The iron sights are alright. I could use a larger front bead.

One part I am nervous about is the spring on the bolt relase. I had one break on a trip in Alaska and the bolt came out of the rifle with shell attached. Very embarassing and potentialy dangerous, depending on the situation.

I am very pleased with it. I have had it for 5 years now and shot quite alot of N. Amer Game including Brown, Grizzly and Black Bears, Caribou and Moose. No worries about the rifle.

Gator,

what do you mean by turn the rifle over to get 3 in the mag ??

and will it hold four or do I obtain a pre 64 mag spring and install that for a 4 down capacity ??

Just a question on the irons are they same/similar to rem 700 irons ??

Thanks heaps mate.

Gator is it possible for you to strengthen modify the bolt release spring ??

I have read on another thread somewhere that a person changed there bolt relaes to be a more attractive stronger working part. I do not know what was involved in doing this however.

PC

As the rifle comes stock. Put 1 round in the magazine and cycle into chamber. Turn rifle upside down and open base plate. Drop in three rounds and close. 4 rounds, 1 in chamber and 3 in mag.

Or

Replace mag spring with pre-64 style. (I had one made to be same height as SS one) This will allow you to put 4 in magazine and one in the chamber by method one.

I don't know if the sights are similar, I suppose so.

I am not a gunsmith but I think you could do something different on the bolet release for a price. The one the new rifles have is a coil spring inside the stock. The pre-64 had a coil spring in a hole drilled into the action, more expensive but more reliable.

Thanks Gator.

Do you think you will get your bolt release changed ?? Some have said when the fully custmise the classic M70's they somehow make them more attractive (bolt release that is)

I wouldn't do it because it is attractive. If it worked better would be good enough.