Model 70 weight

[Evanguy]

I've been toying with the idea of this for a while now. I took the rifle as my backup on a flyin goat hunt last summer (left at base camp) but I want to use it as my main rifle this year.

It weighs 8 pounds 12oz just the rifle. And for me that is way too heavy. The rifle it was backing up only weighed 7 pounds 12oz with scope and sling on it (sporter lee Enfield no1)

So I'm hoping to get the model 70 in 375hh to just under 7 pounds with scope. The scope weighs 14oz

So ideally I'd get the rifle 6 pounds even bare rifle.

I like the 24" barrel, although the LOP can be shortened

If I get a light weight stock and turn the barrel to a thin profile what is the chances ill get this under 6 pounds? Maybe skeletonized the bolt handle or action a bit?

And before we talk about too light of weight my 460 weatherby is 8.5lbs and my 500 Jeffery is 8 pounds even

 

[guntech]

I made my cousin a .375 H & H on a Remington 700 that weighed about 6 and a half pounds with iron sights... I think with a very light contour and a 20 inch barrel and a light stock you may get down to 6 pounds.

He shot it a bit, hunting it for a year and went back to a 7mm Rem Mag. The recoil got to him. It will get to most people eventually.

 

[Decker9]

I’m excited to see what you come up with Evan! Had my 375-338 out today for the first time this year. Excited for bears it is. Both mine sit about 7 1/2 pounds bare with 21 and 22 inch barrels. It would take some handy work to get 6 pounds, but you have proven to own that term!

 

[wolf300H&H]

Eeesshhh. Recoil

 

[Rod]

If your rifle is in 375 H&H and a Model 70 don't expect it to ever be under 7 lbs. Mine is a 1953 M70, 375 H&H with a VX-3HD Leupold with steel QD rings and bases but it's total weight is okay with me. It's of course a bit heavier than my other M70's in smaller calibers but needs the heavier barrel to hold it down when you touch it off. A proper rifle sling makes all the difference in the world when you're packing it around. If you're looking for a lighter M70 in a stout caliber then go with the 338 Win Mag. Mine is a 1959 M70 and weighs about the same as my 30-06 or 270. Just an inch longer barrel is all.

 

[Mik123]

You can get a wildcat stock to under 20 oz. That’s as light as it gets.

 

[Evanguy]

Awesome thanks guys. I think I will get into this project and see what I come up with.

This rifle will be used in the mountains so really it will be easily 20-30kms hiking per shot. I don't mind the recoil and am kinda of a recoil junky, (as Scott would say, it's time to ride the lightning)I love the hit for easily 5 shots, then it gets too much but that should never happen in a hunting scene so I'm into modifying the rifle.

I just don't want to ruin the finish just to save a pound maybe 2. If I can't realistically get it lighter id almost rather leave it where it is and do something else. Although it balances like crap a little ahead of the front cross bolt (basically 8 inches ahead of the trigger) so the barrel is too heavy anyway.

 

[elKrusto]

Yeah you'll need to concentrate your weight loss on the barrel and stock. I bet the wildcat stock will get you the biggest weight loss of all modifications. Skeletonizing the action makes it look cool, but you don't lose a lot of weight. Mine weighs 6 pounds 10 ounces (in 7mm rem mag)

 

[gordonlbyrne]

Nice rifle love what you did to it to make it lighter, certainly pay of on a long march

 

[Leeper]

With a recontoured barrel, glass stock, and FWT bottom metal, you can probably manage 7 to 7 1/4 pounds, all up, unless you insist on a heavy scope and mounts.

 

[DGY]

What about trying to make a carbon fibre bottom metal? Carbon fibre follower?
Cutting off the bolt knob and replacing it with a carbon fibre one or plastic?
I don’t know, just thinking out loud

 

[Northern Shooter]

Great time to buy a new Model 70 Extreme Weather. Mine weighs 7.0 lbs naked. Pretty sure you can get even lighter in a Featherweight model.

 

[guntech]

Most factory magnum barrels can be reduced 8 to 12 ounces by turning and cutting a bit.

 

[Rod]

When Winchester brought out the M70 in 1936 the 375 H&H used the standard weight barrel with the site boss, similar to the 1958, 338 Win Mag. The problem was the vibration from the power of the 375 caused, for the lack of the proper term, barrel whip. Winchester addressed this issue with a heavier barrel finally settling on the C-1 barrel as a compromise.

I wouldn't do anything to a pre-64 375 but the current models with CRF could lose a few ounces with some thoughtful alterations. I'm not as familiar with the new models as I am with the pre-64's but here's a few ideas:

1. replace bottom metal and trigger guard with F/W aluminium
2. replace stock with light weight composite synthetic stock and recoil pad
3. flatten bolt knob on both sides and re-shape a bit
4. lightweight military sling
5. light weight scope, rings and bases
6. if the new models have a 25" barrel removing one inch wouldn't hurt
7. I'd be reluctant to reducing the OD of the barrel but a tad might not hurt?

 

[Dogleg]

My M70 Alaskan in 375 weighs a tiny bit less than one of my Featherweight 270s and a tiny bit more than the other one. Barrel is already about as slender as you can get without seeng through it, and the factory stock is already hollowed out so I don’t know how much can be gained there, but the 26” barrel could be shortened some I guess. What you want might be awful close to existing already.