I am left handed and mulling over what action to use for a new project.

If your choices were limited to

Win M70 (late production)
Ruger M77
MRC 1999

what action would you pick and why ?

Feedback & views appreciated.

Joe

Either standard length or magnum length cartridge I would choose the Winchester M70 Classic.

what are you going to build?

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
Either standard length or magnum length cartridge I would choose the Winchester M70 Classic.

every time!

I still have that Left Hand Sako L691 Magnum if you are interested.

Gents

I appreciate that the M70 is the sentimental favorite, but Winchester's late production has a bad reputation for quality and only real late model production is available in LH. One local smith said that late M70 production he has seen was so bad he suggested basing it on a MRC or Ruger ! Hence the question to you folks.

The intended rifle would be a working gun, ideally in SS and synthetic stock. It would be set up for shooting cast and good construction 458 projectiles in 350-400 gr. I considered a 450 Marlin but I favour a 458 Win with a no throat chamber for loading flexibility. Loads would be top end 45/70, maybe a touch more.

All up weight is targetted at 8.5 lb, fully kitted with scope etc - so quite light weight for the calibre. I might consider a Cr Moly action with some wonder coating.

Both the M70 WSM action and MRC have 3.1" mag boxes and given intended loadings, this should be fine. A longer box might actually be a disadvantage. Interested in views here too.
The M77 in LH would be a std length action but are available in SS and represent another viable option.

Views / comments most appreciated on action to use given this background.

Jim - not sure it would be viable to send an action to Oz but please PM me with your price indication. Happy to consider all options.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
Either standard length or magnum length cartridge I would choose the Winchester M70 Classic.

every time!

+2

JFE -

i've no experience at all in any of aspects of this project that you mentioned; however, i have been and continue to remain very impressed with MRC's commitment to quality and customer service. the dealings i have had with them have been top-notch and from what i can see, they offer a superior product to boot.

based on the description of your intended project, i am guessing that you are looking for something special that you intend to keep with you and possibly in your family for quite some time. considering the production problems you mentioned with winchester and the "ho-hum" factor you get with ruger, i'd say that if you are looking to build a unique heirloom, it looks like you've only got one choice.

quote:

Originally posted by JFE:

One local smith said that late M70 production he has seen was so bad he suggested basing it on a MRC or Ruger ! Hence the question to you folks.

A gunsmith is supposed to be able to fix guns, right? It shouldn't matter to him what you're basing it on, he should be able to build it on any of these actions if he's worth calling himself a gunsmith. The quality control problems at winchester tend to get blown out of proportion on this board. I've got several late M70's and all of them are of as good quality as anything else in their price range out there. My vote, of course, would be for the M70. Done up right it'll build a nicer rifle than either the montana or especially the ruger.

I've never had a problem with a late M70 Classic action that could'nt be fixed as part of normal rifle building. And I've always found them miles ahead of MRC actions. You can put ALOT of time into a MRC all to have nothing better than a M70. Ruger would be my last choice of the three.

JFE,
Dig up a early production "classic" winchester 70.

Model 70 or MRC
Not the Ruger

Certainly not an expert, but I have a few of the classic model 70s, and they all shooot into an inch, and function beautifully, with one exception, an early classic in 280 which I just received that I havent yet developed a load for. It shoots into one and a half inches and functions beautifully. I like them a lot even though I have had browning, remington, ruger, tikka, mauusers and other brands.

Considering Win 70 LH SS actions were only made for around 2 years. I looked for 5 years before I foound one afordable. It is a good shooter adn quality in nice. I just got a LH SS Laminate LH Ruger 06. It shot a 3 shot group
just over .5". With a generic handload, newer
Rugers quality has been quite good. And you can find a LH Ruger. MRC actions are heavy and need some work but they make a SS LH action.
I have a LH Win 70 9.3 X 62 and a LH Ruger 77
in .25 Whelen Imp. the Ruger is more accurate. And Win 70 safety has given me some issues. Both are nice rifles.