Log In
November 7, 2015
Offline
Thanks for the history lesson, Bill. I’ll always be a fan of the Model 70 but it’s easy even for me to see the M700 receiver is a simpler and apparently stonger design. I may be mistaken on both points but if I’m right a simpler design saves production costs and a stronger design makes it possible to build a stiffer and possibly more accurate rifle. A long action Winchester M70 will always have a hard time keeping up with the short action M700 but I’ll never be able to prove it.
Barreled action came out of the stock minimal drama, a good hard pull and no foul language. Epoxy looks good. I think bedding jobs will always make me nervous, I’ll never do enough of them to feel comfortable. I’m no gunsmith, I remind myself of that fact now and then!
Mike
September 19, 2014
Offline
Mike, there is a reason to be nervous. Body and mind trying to preserve selves. Personally, I like your loading room as it appears. I think you would be comfortable in mine. Clean mine up and I won’t find anything. Tim
January 20, 2023
Offline
TXGunNut said
A long action Winchester M70 will always have a hard time keeping up with the short action M700 but I’ll never be able to prove it.
It’s already been proven in the marketplace for custom “accuracy” rifles. Not by brand because the Remington brand is out of the firearms business. On the other hand, the essential Model 700 DESIGN is being replicated by everybody and his dog who builds high dollar “hunting” rifles using “blueprinted” M700 clone actions apparently made of fairy dust, mated up to Lilja or other premium barrels and bedded in hand-laid glass stocks painted in whatever pattern and color your heart desires. Topped with a scope that costs more than my first house.
Apparently these are the “custom” rifles du jure – my brother in law has one and it will certainly kill a South Texas Whitetail and put ammunition it likes into a half inch at 200 yards. It is not cheap.
But I would trade three of them for TedK’s custom Model 70 built by Len Brownell. Any day, rain or shine.
- 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.
December 21, 2006
Offline
Well this is a custom I’ve had for many years. My youngest brother was in a car crash when He was 19 which left Him a parapalegic. He had got a special license to shoot varmints from the sholder of the road while remaining in the vehicle. He had this gun built for Him, in 1970, by Ellwood Epps , a well known local shop and gun smith,at the time. Sadly Vern, one of My hero’s, passed away in 1982. I kept the rifle and have used it on occasion. It is a Mauser action in 6mm Rem. and from a (car window), rest, is lethal for a ground hog at 400 yards. I hope to someday give it to one of His grand kids. 
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
November 7, 2015
Offline
Henry Mero said
Well this is a custom I’ve had for many years. My youngest brother was in a car crash when He was 19 which left Him a parapalegic. He had got a special license to shoot varmints from the sholder of the road while remaining in the vehicle. He had this gun built for Him, in 1970, by Ellwood Epps , a well known local shop and gun smith,at the time. Sadly Vern, one of My hero’s, passed away in 1982. I kept the rifle and have used it on occasion. It is a Mauser action in 6mm Rem. and from a (car window), rest, is lethal for a ground hog at 400 yards. I hope to someday give it to one of His grand kids.
Very nice, Harry. Not too many gunsmiths using laminated stocks back then, good to see an old school ‘smith making it work. I always thought laminated wood made a rifle too heavy but in your brother’s case it didn’t make much difference.
Mike
March 31, 2009
Offline
Zebulon said
On the other hand, the essential Model 700 DESIGN is being replicated by everybody and his dog who builds high dollar “hunting” rifles using “blueprinted” M700 clone actions apparently made of fairy dust, mated up to Lilja or other premium barrels and bedded in hand-laid glass stocks painted in whatever pattern and color your heart desires. Topped with a scope that costs more than my first house.
Apparently these are the “custom” rifles du jure – my brother in law has one and it will certainly kill a South Texas Whitetail and put ammunition it likes into a half inch at 200 yards. It is not cheap.
But I would trade three of them for TedK’s custom Model 70 built by Len Brownell. Any day, rain or shine.
Quite a few, if not the majority, high end actions are a modified version of a Remington 700. All 3 of my custom actions for my target rifles are. Usually the scope is the most expensive part. The action is next and finally the stock. Thing is, all 3 of these will last a life time. Same with spotting scopes. Buy once and cry once.
November 7, 2015
Offline
First range trip was quite enlightening if not a bit anticlimactic. Scope doesn’t adjust well (Redfield Revolution) but I finally herded those wandering crosshairs to a useful location. First five shot group was pretty good until the loose nut behind the butt had his way. I think I need to work on that before doing any more load development. This is what I call load #53, I assign all unique component combinations a load number, any variation in powder charge or seating depth is denoted by a letter suffix. Since this is a new bullet for me it’s a new load. Seems I SWAG’d pretty close, will need to work a little harder on my trigger control and follow through!
Mike
(errant shot is actually to the right of the group.)
April 15, 2005
Offline
Nice group! 
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
Offline
Thanks, Bert. Sierra manual listed 54.5gr of IMR 4350 for 2700fps and the Hodgdon site listed 54.0 IMR 4350 for 2720 so after perusing my other manuals and load records I figured 54.5grs would be a good place to start. Gonna need to up my game to do any load development!
Mike
April 15, 2005
Offline
TXGunNut said
Thanks, Bert. Sierra manual listed 54.5gr of IMR 4350 for 2700fps and the Hodgdon site listed 54.0 IMR 4350 for 2720 so after perusing my other manuals and load records I figured 54.5grs would be a good place to start. Gonna need to up my game to do any load development!
Mike
With a group like that, I would call it a day on the “load development” efforts. I have never been able to get my old Winchester Model 54 to shoot better than 1 MOA, and most times it is 1.5 MOA.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
Offline
Bert H. said
TXGunNut said
Thanks, Bert. Sierra manual listed 54.5gr of IMR 4350 for 2700fps and the Hodgdon site listed 54.0 IMR 4350 for 2720 so after perusing my other manuals and load records I figured 54.5grs would be a good place to start. Gonna need to up my game to do any load development!
Mike
With a group like that, I would call it a day on the “load development” efforts. I have never been able to get my old Winchester Model 54 to shoot better than 1 MOA, and most times it is 1.5 MOA.
Bert
I must admit I was looking forward to a load development adventure, it seems I’ll be better off focusing on shooter development. That was one of the goals of this project. I think I’ll order a couple hundred more of those bullets and follow your advice. Most days I’m not an MOA shooter, as far as the gun goes it seems my work here is done. I’ll load up some more of this load and have some fun!
Mike
September 19, 2014
Offline
Mike, welcome to the consuming world of shooter development. I amongst many could use the same help as I am pretty sure I am the main variable now. It takes a truly accurate rifle shooting truly accurate ammunition to find the next loose nut to adjust. Tim PS. The action on my truly accurate rifle is a Stolle Panda action. Basically a model 700 clone in hard anodized aluminum alloy of some kind.
November 7, 2015
Offline
tim tomlinson said
Mike, welcome to the consuming world of shooter development. I amongst many could use the same help as I am pretty sure I am the main variable now. It takes a truly accurate rifle shooting truly accurate ammunition to find the next loose nut to adjust. Tim PS. The action on my truly accurate rifle is a Stolle Panda action. Basically a model 700 clone in hard anodized aluminum alloy of some kind.
Thanks, Tim. It’s a project that will be a perennial challenge but it’s very enjoyable. I can never identify a favorite gun but I enjoy the rifles that shoot better than I do, even if it’s just something I threw together. 
Full disclosure; I’ve been developing loads for this cartridge in a very similar rifle for decades. There are better powders and better rifles out there but I had a bit of a head start on this project.
Mike
November 7, 2015
Offline
tim tomlinson said
Mike, welcome to the consuming world of shooter development. I amongst many could use the same help as I am pretty sure I am the main variable now. It takes a truly accurate rifle shooting truly accurate ammunition to find the next loose nut to adjust. Tim PS. The action on my truly accurate rifle is a Stolle Panda action. Basically a model 700 clone in hard anodized aluminum alloy of some kind.
Thanks, Tim. It’s a project that will be a perennial challenge but it’s very enjoyable. I can never identify a favorite gun but I enjoy the rifles that shoot better than I do, even if it’s just something I threw together. Full disclosure; I’ve been developing loads for this cartridge in a very similar rifle for decades. There are better powders and better rifles out there but I had a bit of a head start on this project.
Mike
1 Guest(s)
