A sad Pre64 M 70 story

Lenny Foffa · Jun 14, 2026

I know i have mentioned how happy I am with purchase of the 1949 Win. Model 70 ! Put it in a Boyd's Walnut stock and had it pilar bedded!! Hunted it last year , took an 8 point with a single shot !!Everything is just perfect . now this year i decided i needed another 300 H and H !! So i find another Pre64 Model 70 , 1953/1954. The rifle is chambered in300 Norma Mag !! It's in an aftermarket walnut stock and it also came with a Factory Winchester stock ,circa 1950,s !! then i go on the Pre64 sight , snd purchase a Winchester barrel, mfg 1950, in very good condition, already chambered in300 H and H !! so far so good !! Order some sights and a barrel band , and bring it to my gunsmith !!! then the sad phone call comes from the smith !! Len, your Model70 action cannot be opened up safely to allow you to turn this into a 300 H and H !!! 300 norma ;264 Win Mag;338 WinMag sure , but not what i was really wanting ! so now its. sell the rifle with two stocks and see if Pre 64 will allow me to return the Winchester barrel! to say i feel foolish would be a gross understatement!!!!

Panhandlin Pat · Jun 14, 2026

If I were you I'd keep looking for an h&h donor and continue with your build. I've bought some ratty old rifles for small sums of money, including a 300 h&h that's been on the bench getting turned into a 404 Jeffery. It had bad corrosion in the barrel, paid $600 for it 2 or 3 years ago. They're out there!

Rodbolt · Jun 14, 2026

I'd get a second opinion.

ShtrRdy · Jun 14, 2026

You can rest assured that this sort of thing has happened to many of us.

22250imp · Jun 14, 2026

I'm no expert, but I would think that if it would handle a 338 it would handle a 300 H&H.

Lenny Foffa · Jun 14, 2026

Panhandlin Pat said:
If I were you I'd keep looking for an h&h donor and continue with your build. I've bought some ratty old rifles for small sums of money, including a 300 h&h that's been on the bench getting turned into a 404 Jeffery. It had bad corrosion in the barrel, paid $600 for it 2 or 3 years ago. They're out there!

thank you buddy

8x68s · Jun 14, 2026

I am wondering why the gunsmith felt your action wouldn't accept the H&H chambered barrel. They were certainly built on those rifles and even altered to 300 Weatherby when that cartridge became popular. Were those older H&H's built on longer actions? I was under the impression that pre-64's were a single size action??

stazmania · Jun 14, 2026

I miss read the post. The norma bolt face is already opened larger than the h&h bolt face, isn't it?

Huntslow · Jun 14, 2026

A friend of my uncle had several and he said the were built on a "special" longer than standard action. Was also used for the .375 H&H

MagnumManiac · Jun 14, 2026

Lenny Foffa said:
Len, your Model70 action cannot be opened up safely to allow you to turn this into a 300 H and H !!! 300 norma ;264 Win Mag;338 WinMag sure , but not what i was really wanting

This is completely incorrect. The rear bridge is opened, the mag box, follower spring and follower all get replaced with a 3.6" long H&H set-up and the bolt stop is altered to gain the extra 1/4" for ejection.
I don't know who your GS is, but, this is a simple operation I have done numerous times.
You need to find someone competent in altering model 70's.

Cheers.

Rifleman97 · Jun 14, 2026

stazmania said:
I miss read the post. The norma bolt face is already opened larger than the h&h bolt face, isn't it?

Yes. It seems Lenny simply confused 300 norma mag with 308 norma mag, a shortened 300 h&h cartridge

MagnumManiac · Jun 14, 2026

Well, I'm now confused. Serious alteration is required to accept a .590" bolt face on a Model 70.
Need more info to clarify exactly which cartridge it is chambered for, because a 264WM or 338WM will not fit either…

Cheers.

stazmania · Jun 14, 2026

Rifleman97 said:
Yes. It seems Lenny simply confused 300 norma mag with 308 norma mag, a shortened 300 h&h cartridge

If he has the 308 norma bolt face he is all set. If the box is not already long enough get the correct box for the 300 h&h and the correct ejector or shorten the one he has.

Lenny Foffa · Jun 14, 2026

8x68s said:
I am wondering why the gunsmith felt your action wouldn't accept the H&H chambered barrel. They were certainly built on those rifles and even altered to 300 Weatherby when that cartridge became popular. Were those older H&H's built on longer actions? I was under the impression that pre-64's were a single size action??

Hi. my gunsmith said the Reciever could not be opened up to accommodate the length and Shape of the 300 H and H casing ! the barrel i purchased would be fine if the action was a true 300 or 375 H and H action! Since it is a Magnum Action , but not a 300 H and H action ! The rifle could used as is , or Re Barreled to many other shorter Magnums!!

A sad Pre64 M 70 story

Lenny Foffa

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Panhandlin Pat

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Rodbolt

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ShtrRdy

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22250imp

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Lenny Foffa

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8x68s

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stazmania

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Huntslow

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MagnumManiac

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Rifleman97

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MagnumManiac

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stazmania

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Lenny Foffa

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