There is much flack about rem700 bolt handles, but I also hear of M70 bolt handles spinning free of the bolt body as well.
Was wondering If DaveMillerRifles and Mr Echols "legends" have this potential problem addressed/eliminated?

I'll hazard a guess on this one.....

first there's millions of M-700 and M-70 rifles out there.....the chances that all of them are flawless is 0.00000

Of the "big name" customs there's hundreds of them out there and if a bolt handle did come off one of them I'd wager the owner would never fess up for obvious reasons.

Not only are the guns difficult (impossible) to compare but also the owners are as well.

D'Arcy pins his bolt handles. The impetus for this failsafe was a conversation he had with Robin Hurt, a professional hunter out of Tanzania. Mr. Hurt had the disconcerting experience of pulling a bolt handle loose off of one of his Classic Model 70s. He was understandably disillusioned with Winchester, to say the least. Not long after that conversation D'Arcy came across a Model 70 with a bolt handle that had not been properly induction brazed and was loose on the bolt.

The pin goes through the root of the bolt handle collar and into the shank of the bolt body and then is soldered into place. Once it is dressed off and blued it is barely noticeable. Standard issue on all current Legends and retrofitted on any that come back into the shop for service.

Brian Bingham

Thanks XL,

I had a feeling that Darcy would address this issue, just was not sure what method he used.
When building arig of that quality/price,
I dont know why he just does not do a deal with Hein to get some real quality pre64 type recievers for his projects,rather than the winchester compromise. Im sure his customers will pay. Hell one of them ordered a $6K H&W magnum98 reciever, and asked Darcy to cut the bolt handle off and weld a new shape on.
So I guess a Hein reciever for well under $2K,(without bottom metal so he can fit his own), is not to much to pay over the price of a classic M70.
Suppose what Im saying is,when Im spending that much money on a rig, there are better platforms to build it up from than a classic m70(imo). With the price of guided hunts these days,the cost of an upgrade reciever on such rigs is not a big deal. Being built up from a solid foundation, gives the rifle real integrity.But that is only my value sytem.
As strange as it may seem, i quite like rifles that have the best metal work and inletting, but am happy to have wood uncheckered and reasonably unfinished on the outside(gives the textured grip i like), as long as the right ergonomics are in the stock for me, final finish on the wood is not critical, for arifle that will be banged up in the field.
Anything good starts from the inside out.

" Everyday, at least one fool is born in this world, but they die at the rate of one a year."

thats why i had my M98 built with an integeral bolt and handle...and thats why STUART SATTERLEE hates me so much for it !!!!apparentley its a machining night mare
by the way who in there right mind would have a custom action built an a M 70....broached threads in the reciver ring , sloppy tolerances, loose bolt handles......
regards daniel