Chamber my new M70

[Bishopus]

So I've got a donor Win model 70 long action, standard bolt face, 'classic' CRF. Want to build a classic hunting rifle I could use for whitetail, mule deer, black bear, on up to small African plains game. It will be blued in a walnut stock, not planning to build it as an ultralight or mountain rifle--medium weight sporter barrel, either 22" or 24".

Not going to open up the boltface for a magnum case; I've got plenty of magnum rifles already.

What I can't decide is, which cartridge to chamber it in? Been going back and forth on it for weeks now, and figured I'd ask the wise heads of CGN.

 

[Dogleg]

Classic and classy, .270 Win and some nice wood. Jack O'Connor would be grinning.

 

[westcoaster]

I would suggest 3006 - a time honored classic that can still be used on pretty much anything.

Or for a little more exotic taste... 9.3 x 62.

Both got plenty of poop, mild recoil, lots of history.

 

[pilgrim]

+1 for .270Win ..... have rifle in this calibre for 5 years and love it

 

[todbartell]

6.5-06 gets my vote

 

[p-17]

For a true all-around classic, the .30-06 is the way to go. With a 168-grain Tripleshock, it will do it all, and with style.

Second choice (for a truly CLASSIC cartridge) would be a 7x57.

 

[Sako300]

375 H&H. There's just no need for more....

 

[Bishopus]

Keep 'em coming guys; I knew .270 would be in here, and I am considering it.

No dice on the '06--already have one. Ditto the .375....

 

[blargon]

.280 Rem or 7x57

 

[Pathfinder]

6.5-06 with a 24" barrel

 

[Pblatzz]

Say isn't 6.5-06 the same as 270 win?

My vote is 9.3 x 62

 

[NAA]

.270

Another + 1 for the .270 Win.............

 

['Boo]

Other: 338-06

The ultimate all-round cartridge for Canadian hunting as well as African plains game..

 

[Boomer]

The .30/06 does so many things well there would seem to be little choice. Those who need an excuse to buy more than one rifle don't seem to like it though.

 

[33hoffman]

270 or 30-06. the -06 might be bit better for bear than 270, but it all comes down to shot placement anyway

 

[kman300]

Build a 25 Gibbs. It's an old classic cartridge and with a 100gr tsx it will do everything you want it to.

 

[Mad-Trapper]

35 Whelen might be a bit big.........but

 

[Eagleye]

While I have a penchant for hunting deer with the 270, I believe if I was having a rifle "built" the 275 Rigby (7x57) would get the nod. I would have it chambered with a throat slightly shorter than the usual loooooong 7x57 throat that was designed solely for the 173-175 grain pills. Twist would be 1-9", Barrel length 24" My bullets of choice for deer hunting would fall into the 130-154 grain slot, with the 140 Accubond, Partition or 140 TSX topping that list. Then I would go shoot some deer, and look out any Elk or Moose that happened to be legal!! Regards, Eagleye.

 

[Bishopus]

While I have a penchant for hunting deer with the 270, I believe if I was having a rifle "built" the 275 Rigby (7x57) would get the nod. I would have it chambered with a throat slightly shorter than the usual loooooong 7x57 throat that was designed solely for the 173-175 grain pills. Twist would be 1-9", Barrel length 24" My bullets of choice for deer hunting would fall into the 130-154 grain slot, with the 140 Accubond, Partition or 140 TSX topping that list. Then I would go shoot some deer, and look out any Elk or Moose that happened to be legal!! Regards, Eagleye.

You make a very compelling case here... that sounds like exactly what I'm looking for.

I'm tempted to go whole-hog and stamp the barrel '.275 Rigby', but the thread about handloads in Africa, with the description of customs checking headstamp versus barrel stamp, has me a little wary of it...

 

[Kilo Charlie]

Either of my two favourite cartridges....the .280 or the .257 Roberts, which I would not bother Improving.