I have a relative with a Winchester Model 70 .270 rifle that needs to be rebarreled. I know it can be easily converted to several calibers but I don't know what the options are without major modifications to the bolt or magazine. Any suggestions? He shoots mostly factory ammo so ammo availability is a consideration.

The easy ones:

6mm-06
25-06
30-06
8mm x 57 Mauser or any of that family
338-06
9.3 x 62
35 Whelen


longer list if you get into wildcats or European specialties

Oops, 6mm isn't factory but 240 Weatherby would be. 6mm Remington would go under 8mm Mauser variants as would 257 Roberts

Also forgot 280 Remington.

30-06 without question. It's a wal-mart no brainer. Availability? every wal-mart, truck stop and wide spot in the road has 30-06.
Timan
www.satterleearms.com

Basically any caliber, based on the 30/06 type of case.

quote:

I have a relative with a Winchester Model 70 .270 rifle that needs to be rebarreled.

I can see no reason to not rebarrel to the original .270........a very fine cartridge....there is no law requiring a rebarrel to be to a different caliber.

Consider the 257 Roberts.

Just out of curiosity,is it a pre-64 or post 64?

It's a post-'64 model. This person already has a 30-06 and a different .270 so we're looking at something else. Smaller, perhaps that would work as a varmint gun or for deer-sized game.

well, if he already has a 30-06 and he wants something for varmints but could be used for deer in a pinch I would suggest a .243. Most places that carry 30-06 ammo will also have .243 ammo as well.

Smaller than a .270 with the same cartridge suggests 25-06. I think this is a bit more versatile than the .243. It is readily available and perfect for varmints to any of the deer on this continent. No feeding issues, no magazine block is needed.

Roger

that factory ammo part is the catch....
a 25-06 fits the bill perfectly, but not all places sell 25-06, walmarts won't carry it if they don't sell a gun that it is chambered for it. is the 700ADL chambered for it?.... maybe the savage is.....
anything bigger than 25 cal. is pretty much over kill for varmints, except maybe a coyote, real far away. despite needing a mag block, the .243 might be a better choice, except that is IMHO....slightly marginal for deer. that said, there are plenty of deer taken with the .243 at all distances,so...

"but not all places sell 25-06, walmarts won't carry it if they don't sell a gun that it is chambered for it. is the 700ADL chambered for it?.... maybe the savage is....."


Remington, Winchester, Ruger, Savage, Kimber, Marlin, Sako, Weatherby among others all make or have made 25-06's. I guess I don't know what Wallmart sells; but most gas stations, convenience stores and outdoor stores that carry ammunition in this part of Mn have 2506.


"except that is IMHO....slightly marginal for deer"

I agree to a point. It depends on what type of hunting you are doing. The .243 is fine if you are a hidden deer shooter and have time for ideal bullet placement. I don't see many .243's used in timber or swamps. Most favor something that shoots a heavier bullet for deer.

Roger

CHEAT!
Grab a catalogue of reloading equipement, look up shell holders for .270 and anything else that fits the shell holder is a strong possibility. You might have a feeding problem with the super short like the .22/250. I doubt if you would have too short a magazine with the .35 whelan and long bullets, but maybe. Anything in between...

.270 is really a .27/'06. '06 was pirated off the Mauser rim with more space for the lesser powders of USA in 1903 [.30/'03] and redesigned with better powders by 1906 [.30/'06]... So the only real problems might be the "odd" Mausers. 6.5 Swede has a different rim. Not sure about the 7.65 Belgian without looking. .308 was designed on this pattern with a slightly thicker rim. No big deal to civilians. .243. .260. 7/08. .308. .358 WCF. .333 Fed? Look at the shell holder list and then start narrowing down. .243 is almost as popular as the '06 for factory ammo. .257 Roberts has been doing the same work for twice as long. LUCK. Happy trails.

Thanks all! I think we'll be looking very closely at the 25-06. Your ideas and suggestions are much appreciated.

that's the thing roger, they all chamber it but not all wally worlds sell all of what a manufacturer makes. walmarts are volume buyers and they'll buy a bunch in a few of the most popular chamberings and won't order others, it's not worth thier time. i would assume the adl is chambered for 25-06, but i don't know for sure,or whether wallyworld sells that particular gun in that particular chambering. hence the question. i don't care to make statements i 'm not sure about,ya know what i mean? around here, allot of the convenience stores don't sell ammo much beyond "06, "thuddy-thuddy" and .270, they've given up on trying to keep all the right stuff in stock and won't pay for someone who would know what to order.

quote:

Originally posted by nateh:
I have a relative with a Winchester Model 70 .270 rifle that needs to be rebarreled. I know it can be easily converted to several calibers but I don't know what the options are without major modifications to the bolt or magazine. Any suggestions? He shoots mostly factory ammo so ammo availability is a consideration.

6.5x55 Swede.. it's what i rebarreled my 270 to, and I'm very happy...