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November 7, 2015
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Test fitting didn’t go well today. Got those useless sights off and 6-48 plugs have gotten smaller! The new stock needs a little fitting here and there. I’ve run out of patience for now, may do a little precision woodworking after my nap.😴
Mike
January 20, 2023
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Best to tools down while you are still patient and untired, unless you are in the middle of a glue-up and can’t.
I’ve not learned patience but I certainly been taught!
One of the things I do like about the post-1963 Model 670 and 70 versions with sights is the sights are so easily and neatly removed. I’ve heard the bushwa that the 6-48 holes adversely affect accuracy. By far the most accurate Model 70 I’ve owned was a 1966 standard grade .243. Ugly yes, inaccurate no. Sights on or off, didn’t matter. Looked marginally better with sights off. Very marginally. But the Bausch & Lomb 4X-12X AO needed the room and seriously improved its reach.
Once you get this 670 bedded, we will do some load development and wring it out. I predict great things for it..
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
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I figured the sights would be pretty much useless and look silly on this rifle. Someday I’ll need a bigger parts box. Snagged a set of low rings out of there but with this stock I’ll probably leave the medium rings on there for now. Did a bit more woodwork today, a bit new to pillar bedding so I’m giving myself time to think things through with the glass bedding portion. Seems all the “experts” have a favorite method and I’ll probably use a hybrid. USPS delivered the Fix It Stick torque tool and glass bedding kit. Couldn’t pass up Midway’s factory second 168gr BTHP (OT?) bullets at less than 20 cents each. Look like Sierra. Weighed a dozen or so and noted an ES of over a grain in bullet weight. They described them as “blemished” and later “factory seconds” I figure it was just a batch that failed QC. I’ll weigh them as I use them and set the outliers aside.
Mike
March 3, 2020
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I have a Model 70XTR that was made in 1977. It is configured similar to a 670, with the exception of a walnut stock instead of the birch. It has a nice polished blue finish, and a blind box magazine. It is a very accurate hunting rifle, and has taken deer, pigs, javelina, and pronghorn all across the land. It is my “go to” hunting rifle.
When I first got it, I pulled the walnut stock and pillar/glass bedded it into a synthetic Winchester one that I fished off the auction site. I made up some test loads and went to the range. I had the that rifle zeroed and sub MOA in about 15 rounds. I don’t care that it is post-64, it is a sweetheart of a rifle.
November 7, 2015
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John D.-
I’ve heard there’s something inherently accurate in the CF M70 and wonder if a blind magazine helps in that area. My first 670 barreled action did time in a cheap synthetic stock with too much flex. Had to be careful when using a sling.
Loaded up some of those factory second bullets. Still not sure who made them. They’re HPBT 168gr bullets with what may be a red plastic cap well inside the hollow/open tip. I loaded 20 that were within .5grs in weight over a modest charge of IMR4350. Never had much luck with BT’s. I have a fair bit of IMR4350 and Remington 9 1/2 primers so I’ll limit this project to these components as this is a budget project. I have 400 of my go-to Hornady hunting bullets on the shelf but want to see what these components will do. Enjoyed two hours in the room where the magic happens working out the details of my starting load. Used a comparator OAL that works with my hunting bullets for a starting point. SWAG’d towards the low end of the listed powder charges as some match bullets don’t like to be pushed too hard.
Hopefully I’ll be ready to glass bed the stock tomorrow. When it comes to fitting stuff I’m probably slower than most. I knew a ‘smith that wouldn’t tackle a custom job unless he was in the right frame of mind. I’ll never have his skill but I’m trying to emulate his patience.
Mike
April 15, 2005
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Mike,
I primarily load my 30-06 cartridges with 52.0 grains of IMR 4064 underneath a Sierra 150-grain SPBT Game King bullet with a Remington No. 9 ½ primer. If I am short on IMR 4064, I use 54.0 grains of IMR 4350. When I load for heavier work, I use a 175-grain SPBT with 50.0 grains of IMR 4064 (or 57.0 grains of IMR 4350). Even though there are lots of other bullet weights to choose from, I have found that the 150-grain works extremely for everything smaller than a Bull Elk, and the 175-grain works for everything else on the North American continent.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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Thanks, Bert. I’d rather be using 4064 or Varget but I have a big bottle of IMR4350 that I have no plans for. For some reason over 30years ago I settled on the 165 Hornady spire point (#3040) and my rifles seem to like it. My brother has killed quite a few deer with it so I won’t make any changes to my current hunting load. I may try it in this 670 as that load was developed in my first 670. I have a load for the 180gr Nosler Partition or Hornady that used to hit almost the same POI as the 165 Hornady (or 165 Nosler) with decent groups using all four bullets. I don’t have much use for 180gr bullets or Nosler bullets but found it quite interesting. The recoil of that 180gr load was a bit vigorous, as I recall. Was a pretty cool arrangement until I discovered H4350 performed slightly better in my hunting loads and new Super Grade rifle while I was evaluating Hornady cases. Haven’t tried H4350 with the other bullets. I’ve tried the 150gr Hornady bullets but not your Sierra bullets. I tried the Sierra 165 BTSP but that was in a rifle that didn’t like anything. So now I have a good supply of once-fired R-P cases and IMR4350 powder. I think the 150 should be the ideal weight for our little Texas deer but this rifle will never go hunting so it’s all about accuracy, not terminal performance. I’m curious to see what these match bullets will do.
I figure these 20 rounds will let me zero the scope and settle the barreled action into the new stock. They’re talking 70 degree weather here in a few days, should work out nicely!
Mike
January 20, 2023
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I assume they are available from Nosler under another name but, in 2007, I bought a couple of boxes of Winchester’s black box 30/06 ammo loaded with 180 grain Nosler solid base “Ballistic Silvertip.” I killed several heavy-bodied – for West Texas – bucks with them, a couple with a 1956 Model 70 Featherweight and the largest with the Browning Safari High Power I still have.
I mention this for two reasons. First, the bullets shot very accurately in both rifles. Second, terminal bullet performance was impressive. One round per animal, the distances varied, although none was over 200 yards, all high lung shots. Some portion of each bullet made an exit wound.
From experience, I expect a mature Whitetail buck, solidly hit high in the lungs, to flinch and run twenty yards or so before collapsing. These all just dropped to the shot as if electrocuted. Damage to the coronary arteries and lungs was massive, more like what you’d see from a .277 130 grain Power Point than a .30 caliber 180 grain bullet at moderate velocity.
I commend this bullet to you, if you can find some.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
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Zeb-
My brother has used the #3040 Hornady bullet and evolving load for nearly 30 years for dozens of S Texas white tail and more than a few hogs. He’s a much better shot on hair than he is on paper and he rarely needs a second shot, in important skill as tracking a wounded animal in the thick S Texas brush requires a good eye, tracking skills and patience. I loaded some 180’s for him to deal with some large hogs one year but can’t recall any details about the results. I think the 165 penetrates nearly as well as the 180 and transmits energy nearly as well as the 150 and is similar in weight to the famous 168 BTHP match bullets. That’s the great thing about the 30-06, there are dozens of great bullets that all work well in the majority of rifles. Colonel Whelen was right, the 30-06 is never a mistake. It’s a grand old cartridge and the model 70 is a grand old rifle.
Bedding kit is calling my name but I have errands and chores demanding my attention this morning.
Mike
March 3, 2020
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Mike,
Curious as to what bedding kit you’re using – I used the “Score High” kit with great success. Excellent instructions, straightforward (if not a bit labor intensive) procedure, very satisfying results.
On those red tipped bullets you got from Midway….. if you got those a while ago (I haven’t seen them offered recently) they should perform very, very well. I bought about 500 of them a few years back, and used them in my Garand to win more than a few trophies. I believe they are Hornady A-Max, but can not be sure about that. In any case, blemished or not, they fly well.
For hunting, I used to use the Sierra 165 Game King, but switched to the 150gr GK to get a bit more velocity. Those Sierra bullets have been one shot stoppers on everything they have hit, from big heavily structured hogs to slim and relatively fragile pronghorns.
I happen to use H4895, butthat is not germane to this discussion as you are using a different powder. However, using that 150gr bullet I am getting 2,850fps with the .308, and a little over 2,900fps with the 30-06. Both under 1 MOA.
April 15, 2005
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John D. said
Mike,
Curious as to what bedding kit you’re using – I used the “Score High” kit with great success. Excellent instructions, straightforward (if not a bit labor intensive) procedure, very satisfying results.
On those red tipped bullets you got from Midway….. if you got those a while ago (I haven’t seen them offered recently) they should perform very, very well. I bought about 500 of them a few years back, and used them in my Garand to win more than a few trophies. I believe they are Hornady A-Max, but can not be sure about that. In any case, blemished or not, they fly well.
For hunting, I used to use the Sierra 165 Game King, but switched to the 150gr GK to get a bit more velocity. Those Sierra bullets have been one shot stoppers on everything they have hit, from big heavily structured hogs to slim and relatively fragile pronghorns.
I happen to use H4895, butthat is not germane to this discussion as you are using a different powder. However, using that 150gr bullet I am getting 2,850fps with the .308, and a little over 2,900fps with the 30-06. Both under 1 MOA.
Concur on the Sierra 150-grain GK bullets! With my pet load of 52.0 grains of IMR 4064, I am getting 2,980 fps shooting it in my Winchester Model 54.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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John D.-
I’ll be using the Score High kit, my old kit doesn’t seem to be available. It was more than I needed and I like using fresh chemicals. Looks like a good product, all seem to involve about the same amount of work. I’m only bedding around the recoil lug and front action pillar. If final test fir goes well I’ll bed it this afternoon. I don’t believe these bullets are the A-Max as the tip is completely inside the open tip of the jacket, not exposed to form a point like the A-Max. I believe it could be their BTHP match bullet but their site shows two different photos. If they do well for me I’ll order a few more. I’ve always been a fan of Hornady bullets but since I won’t be shooting past 200 yards a Match HPBT is probably a better bullet than I need.
Mike
March 3, 2020
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Is this the bullet?
November 7, 2015
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No, this looks like it.
Mike
November 7, 2015
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Finally got the stock prepped to my satisfaction and got the recoil lug and front action pillar area bedded. The room where the magic happens is a glorious mess with this project, two rifle and one pistol ammo project underway.
Mike
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