Was curious what people thought of the newer m70 alaskans? Figured a 300 mag in one would be great, long barrel heavy. Recoil and muzzle blast should, i hope, be not too bad. 25 inch bbl and 8.75 lbs. are they accurate? Found a couple used but they are 338s which i would assume is stiff recoiling and quite loud?
M70 alaskan
- Thread starter m1978
- Start date
patricksbb391
CGN Regular
- Location
- Ottawa & WMU 62
I have a SS verison in .338 WM. Great build quality, very accurate(less than MOA @ 100 yds) and it is heavy, so recoil is not bad.
Nice, large, weighty, balanced, standard stock. Recoil will be there but will by no means be heavy. It will be a nice shooting rifle.
Muzzle blast and noise is usually a product of barrel length and how overbore a cartridge is. A 25" .338 Win Mag will not be excessive. A 24" .243 Win will be louder.
Muzzle blast and noise is usually a product of barrel length and how overbore a cartridge is. A 25" .338 Win Mag will not be excessive. A 24" .243 Win will be louder.
longbranch*
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria,BC.
Bought a .338 Alaskan when they came out. Very accurate. Not much heavier than a .30-06, but handled recoil better than any other .338 I've owned. Butt stock was a little high for my cheek shooting the sights, but no problem with scope. Only negative was the poorly executed checkering on forarm. Have noticed other Alaskans with same flaw.
I have one in 375 H&H. Accuracy is good. Excellent quality rifle overall except for as Longbranch stated the crappy laser cut checkering, which seems to be dependant at times which one you see. Probably would not be noticeable to the average fella but I have checkered and recut checkering on a lot of stocks so I pick up on it. I stripped my stock recut the checkering and installed a ebony forend tip, looks a away nicer. Stock design is good as it seems to reduce felt recoil. I purchased a pre 64 M-70 in 300 H&H with the same Alaskan stock design to compliment the 375, in the process of adding an ebony tip to it as well. I would recommend the rifle without hesitation. As for 338 I have never owned or even fired the cartridge so I can't comment. Pleasant rifle to shoot in 375 H&H.
I've got one in .375 H&H. Its very light with its hollowed-out stock and slender barrel with big hole
in it. Put it this way; Ive got a couple featherweights in .270 and the Alaskan .375 is lighter than one of them and mot much more than the other. Handles like a hunting rifle instead of an express rifle.
I use mine with light 235 gr bullets than come close to matching .300 Win trajectories out to 500 yards. Close enough to shoot to a B&C reticle anyway. Recoil is mild with those, and considerably higher with the standard 270
and 300 grain weights. You won't have to ask anyone if your gun went off.
. A .338 is going to be in that same ball-park with similar weight bullets. A Frame 285s will get your attention.
in it. Put it this way; Ive got a couple featherweights in .270 and the Alaskan .375 is lighter than one of them and mot much more than the other. Handles like a hunting rifle instead of an express rifle.
I use mine with light 235 gr bullets than come close to matching .300 Win trajectories out to 500 yards. Close enough to shoot to a B&C reticle anyway. Recoil is mild with those, and considerably higher with the standard 270
and 300 grain weights. You won't have to ask anyone if your gun went off.
. A .338 is going to be in that same ball-park with similar weight bullets. A Frame 285s will get your attention.
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Buddy of mine has an Alaskan in 375, it's a very nice rifle. He has had some challenges finding a really accurate load, most of what he has tried are fine for hunting but he's particular. The recoil isn't bad and the weight is supposed to be around 8.5 lbs but if it's an issue then the Express is half a pound heavier and will mitigate recoil a bit better.
Overall, the build quality is really good and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one but part of me wishes Winchester would chamber one in 300 H&H... just for the romantic types.
Overall, the build quality is really good and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one but part of me wishes Winchester would chamber one in 300 H&H... just for the romantic types.
Buddy of mine has an Alaskan in 375, it's a very nice rifle. He has had some challenges finding a really accurate load, most of what he has tried are fine for hunting but he's particular. The recoil isn't bad and the weight is supposed to be around 8.5 lbs but if it's an issue then the Express is half a pound heavier and will mitigate recoil a bit better.
Overall, the build quality is really good and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one but part of me wishes Winchester would chamber one in 300 H&H... just for the romantic types.
I am getting on in years and figured I would be dead and gone before Winchester ever chambered a M-70 in 300 H&H again so I bought a nice pre 64 in the same stock style as the Alaskan. Once I get done with it, it will look like the 375 Alaskan for the most part.
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Yeah, I already have a pre-64 in 300 H&H so I don't need another one but I like to dream some times. My 300 is in really good original condition so I won't be doing any modifications!
My pre 64 300 H&H had already been reblued and the stock refinished when I got it so the collector value was gone. Being a 1960 vintage it had no metal butt plate. So it will have a metal butt plate an real ebony fore end tip and the checkering recut to crisp it up. And then refinished again. The reblue was excellently done, and the bore was excellent as well. A very good rifle all around but a shooter not a collector, and that's what I wanted. I am not keeping guns in collector condition for some a$$hole to buy out of my estate at dirt prices and make money on.
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Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I hear you.
My rifle belonged to a friend that passed away and he always kept his stuff in really good condition so if for no other reason than out of respect for him I'd never modify this one. There's plenty of rifles out there to chose from that have been modded to various degree's without altering an original. As for someone getting it out of my estate to make money on, that could happen unless I give it to someone in the family first, either way at least I've enjoyed it in the mean time.
My rifle belonged to a friend that passed away and he always kept his stuff in really good condition so if for no other reason than out of respect for him I'd never modify this one. There's plenty of rifles out there to chose from that have been modded to various degree's without altering an original. As for someone getting it out of my estate to make money on, that could happen unless I give it to someone in the family first, either way at least I've enjoyed it in the mean time.
