How many types of M70 actions are there? I thought there was short, long and long mag. But a 300WM (long action) I have is the same as my long mag (416Rem) except for a couple mods. Is the long mag action the same as a standard long action but with larger ejection port and larger bottom metal setup?

Yes, your correct.

My understanding of the M70 product line is:

1. An action for the WSSM cartridges

2. An action for the WSM cartridges

3. A short action for .243, .308, etc

4. A long (.375 H&H action) for .25-06 up thru .470 Capstick

That's confusing me more, if that's possible.

quote:

Originally posted by Showbart:
That's confusing me more, if that's possible.

Slowspeak = Winchester has f***ked up everything they have made since 1965! Like most modern manufacturers, they don't make an action that actually fits the cartridges for which they were designed!

Had the rear bridge been designed like the WSSMs
and mated to the short and long actiion, it would have worked perfectly. No one needs, or wants, an action made for the H&H line reduced 1/2" for a 308! For Christ's sake, it would not have not cost any more capital to do it right!
If they want to chamber long magnum cartridges, make a friggin magnum action!

so the only difference in the receiver between rifles chambered for .30-06 length cartridges and .375H&H length cartridges is just the bolt stop, bolt face (all magnum diameter in .375H&H, etc.), extractor and follower?

I sure thought the receivers were longer on the .375H&H length cartridge rifles.

thanks for straightening me out

quote:

Originally posted by S. Texan:
so the only difference in the receiver between rifles chambered for .30-06 length cartridges and .375H&H length cartridges is just the bolt stop, bolt face (all magnum diameter in .375H&H, etc.), extractor and follower?

I sure thought the receivers were longer on the .375H&H length cartridge rifles.

thanks for straightening me out

You have it right, Tex. That's been my number one bitch for decades! To me it would have been just as easy and just as cost effective to have shortened the 375 H&H length action 3/4" as it
was to shorten it 1/2"! They have messed with the action length several times recently and still f***ed it up royaly!

Gumpchester? Raising prices and moving to North Carolina isn't going to fix their problems!

Extractor goes hand in hand with the bolt. The example I give is the best, 300WM, as it has a mag bolt setup. The only difference in the receiver compared to H&H in ALL parts is, ejector, bolt stop and mag box w/the receiver having a smaller ejection port on the 300WM.

My goal was to build a 22" 458WM bush rifle on the action upon wich it was designed, '06 length, but was confounded when I brought home this 300WM (w/BOSS) to convert only to find it's receiver was identical the my 416 Safari Express action, except for the above mentioned. I gave up and have bought another 458WM Safari Express and will live with it. The stroke is still short but I was looking to reduce OAL in the receiver AND barrel as well as improve balance.

Don, now I'm PO'd right along with you.

I have several M70 Classic rifles in varous calibers from 30-06, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm STW, 375 H&H, 416 Rem Mag, and a 300 WSM.

All of these rifles, except the WSM and 308 Win class cartidges, are built on the same action. Winchester called the same action, with a few mods, "Long" and "Express". In the long action, they chambered 30-06 class calibers, 7mm Rem Mag and 300 Win Mag class cartidges. In the Express action, they chambered 375 H&H length cartridges, including the 7mm STW. The difference between these two action, are in 3 modifications. The bolts are the same in both of these versions of the action, except for the bolt face to accommodate belted mags or -06 size cartidges.
1. The rear brigde is cut back about 1/4 inch to open the ejection port for the 375 H&H length cartridges. This also results in the need for a different rear scope base (.330 vs .860 hole spacing).
2. The bolt stop and ejector are shortened in the express action, again to accomodate the longer cartriges and the resulting longer bolt throw.
3. The magazine in the long action has a spacer (about 1/4 inch and a shorter follower) in the rear to push the cartidges forward to match the position of the bolt face. There are different magazine box and follower geometries for different cartridge shapes.

The M70 short action was used for both the 308 Win length cartidges and the WSM cartidges. The only difference here is the bolt face and differnent followers and magazine boxes to accomodate the different cartidge shapes.

I don't have a WSSM to compare, so I don't know about any differnces here or if they made a special action just for these.