I just purchased at 375H&H M70 Super Express last month. I removed all the factory "bedding" and replaced it with Acraglass, I also bedded the bottom metal so that came out flush with the botom of the stock. It was a little high before... plus did a little polishing here and there on burs, I think she's about ready for RSA come September

Anyway, when I got the rifle the front gaurd screw only bit about one and a half turns, as it does once I've finished with my bedding. Is this enough threads to keep it all together when I touch her off? I personally don't think that one and a half turns will be enough to keep it together, but maybe with a solid bed job it will be ok... Should I get a lonoger front screw? If so where can I find one? I looked at Brownells, and all I could find were factory length replacements... Could I just get a rear screw and cut it down to fit?

get the rear one and shorten it accordingly

Hello,
Most would advise that at least 3 threads have purchase/contact and since you are into the heavy recoil side on cartridges, more would not hurt. Not sure if Win. has allen head screws, but if you can equip with them, better off than slot type. Just a suggestion for it is easier to use torque wrench and "set" each screw at equal torque. Better than "she is snugged up..." Again, just a suggestion.
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dsiteman

Ivan,
If you set the bottom metal in deeper, then how many threads were holding before? You should be in better shape than you were before unless you did not snug the front screw down when you bedded the action. There are not a lot of forces applying themselves at 90 degrees to the bore. Suspect you will be fine.

Thanks for the help... I ordered up a longer screw. Just for the piece of mind if for anything.

Everything was snug when it bedded it. I may have be able to get half a turn more out of the screw before I bedded the bottom metal flush... I wouldn't have even dicked with it, except the bottom floor plate bound up becasue the trigger guard was too deep. Either way I think the longer screw should fix all my problems.

I have the same problem on two new unbedded M70's, what is going on is Winchester using too short of a screw up front? I thought it was only me!
bigbull

Mine wasn't a new one, but an "estate" sale rifle... I belive it was made in 95, and looks to have been shot very little if at all. If he did shoot it before, he probalby didn't have any problem with it due to all the locktite that was every where... The guy even fuggn glued the scope to the rings! I guess the thought it would fly appart with all that recoil!