Barrel/caliber change on 69 30-06 Winchester model 70

slick Nick said:

Really didn't think that one through. I have seen and used the 30s with great results and to be honest I haven't even put a round through the 30-06 yet but have purchased a couple of boxes and will see how she does. It Was used as a meat pole for a long time and I just didn't like the idea of getting behind an 06 in feather weight and since I have started punching paper more than hunting just jumped at the chance to rebuild. But I am considering keep at least one set up for hunting so I may have to completely redo my thought process here. Everyone has given some great ideas and an 06 AI looks really good I like a good hold on the round for something like that.

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I have a pushfeed M70 XTR Featherweight in a McMillan stock in 30-06. I had a Limbsaver buttpad installed and it helped tame it's recoil. It really isn't bad to shoot even with some of my hot handloads. It's been my go-to hunting rifle for over twenty years.

Guy M said:

Am a huge fan of the good ol' 30-06, seem to have four of 'em lurking inside my gunsafe these days. Mostly I hunt with the 30-06, and wow - with today's powders and bullets it can do great either on targets or on big game. I've taken grizzly, black bear, elk, mule deer, pronghorn and likely something I'm forgetting with mine. 400 yards on elk? Not a problem.

So it's a 1969 vintage Winchester? A push feed action I'd think. Those actions did great work for high power match rifles, long range or across the course. I used a Cloward built .308 match rifle based on the push-feed Model 70 for quite a while. What a shooter it was!

Guy

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Used for dangerous game big old claw owns it after pick up.

Target shooting mostly - think simple, moderate recoiling and inexpensive. If you don't want to muck with the feed rails and all of the other exciting issues encountered when altering an action for a new cartridge and loading for a wildcat, I'd stay in the '06 case family. A 6.5-06 would be a fun LR shooter, as would a great number of other chamberings including that boring 'ol 30-06 (with the Serengeti chamber of course). I usually get inspriation looking at the Nosler Load Data website, it's a fantasitc resource for us. Keep us posted.

Good ol' 30-06 is no slouch for accuracy either. This was fired from a Savage in a Boyd's stock at 100 yards. Used the 130 grain Barnes TTSX bullet and Varget for over 3200 fps. Yes, that's a published load, with data available from Hodgdon.



Also shot this with my Remington 700 CDL at 100 yards using the 165 grain Hornady CX bullet and H4350 for 2860 fps with excellent accuracy. Took a small black bear at about 65 yards with one shot using this combo. Bullet exited of course, as expected. Quick kill.


The grizzly was seven years ago, using Nosler's 200 grain Partition. That was quite a hunt. That bullet was surprisingly accurate too.

Regards, Guy

blksno said:

For that action and bolt face. FOR ME, it would be either a 6.5 or 25 x 284 and use the 153 Berger or 131 Sierrra with a twist fast enough to run them.
I've got a 6.5 Sweed Improoved (6.5 Addiction) as well as a 6x284 and after having used both...when the time comes, I'll be rebarreling to a 25x284 about 20" long

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What bullet and velocity was you getting in the short barrel 6x284? I'm really wanting to do a 20-22" and shoot 90g accubonds but everyone keeps telling me it won't do good I just having a hard time believing that lol

slick Nick said:

I am looking at the 6.5 06/ 280 AI so far the folks I've been chatting with seem to think 6.5 is the better option. Having never used the 6.5-06 before but having shot a very boring (read small group consistency) 6.5 CM I like this caliber as well. So now comes the note taking and comparisons, I have found several threads on here extolling both as being great shooters when the nut does his job I will look at powders and loads as well as efficiency to try and make a decision. As we all know "I think " are scary words.
Thanks for the input and I am still taking arguments ether way guys.

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I am curious about what you intend to use this rifle for? Knowing what you intend to do with this rifle is a variable that would be helpful. If you are looking at .284 caliber you will be hard pressed to beat the .280 Ackley Improved. I always recommend that one considers the availability of components when doing a build and the costs for those components. By this I mean to actually do a search for the brass. I have done this more than once when replying to a thread similar to yours. Many of the new designer cartridges will be listed as "not available" or cost $2-4+ each for brass. For me the 6.5 falls into the latest and greatest caliber until next year when the latest and the greatest will be another designer, proprietary cartridge; capitalism/economics dictating policy. In the recent years we had the .270 WSM hit the market, great cartridge by all means. After a few years the "now" latest and greatest is the 6.8 Western. Change the twist of the barrel, move the shoulder and we now have the latest and the greatest. If you have read this far then you get my point. If I were going to build on an "06" platform it would be the .280 Ackley Improved, if it were for deer sized animals or smaller I would not rule out the 6.5-06 Ackley Improved. If I were building this rifle it would have to be with a 26 inch barrel to get all of the horsepower out of the overbore cartridge. My .02c Good luck with your build.

Longranger1 said:

What bullet and velocity was you getting in the short barrel 6x284? I'm really wanting to do a 20-22" and shoot 90g accubonds but everyone keeps telling me it won't do good I just having a hard time believing that lol

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6-284 with 115 DTACs and 19" pipe was 3100 for matches.
Went to 21" and hunted around 3300

blksno said:

6-284 with 115 DTACs and 19" pipe was 3100 for matches.
Went to 21" and hunted around 3300

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Good deal I'm wanting to run 20-22" and shoot 90g bullets 3300+ seems like I shouldn't have an issue doing that. I appreciate your response, I'm just starting to use this site. I've been on accurate shooter for years and anytime I ask about something like this it's just a dog fight of people telling me why I shouldn't, but I just want knowledge from people that have done it

slick Nick said:

So I've come into an old but very clean model 70 and am considering a rebuild, any suggestions. I do more long range target than hunting so just some thoughts please.

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6.5 Sherman or 280 Sherman if you don't mind fire forming from 270 case. I'm about to start load dev for an 06 I rechambered to 300 Sherman. After 10 or so pieces of brass, necking up then false shoulder, you get the hang of it. Ain't that bad. I have high hopes. We'll see

Cheers

blksno said:

For that action and bolt face. FOR ME, it would be either a 6.5 or 25 x 284 and use the 153 Berger or 131 Sierrra with a twist fast enough to run them.
I've got a 6.5 Sweed Improoved (6.5 Addiction) as well as a 6x284 and after having used both...when the time comes, I'll be rebarreling to a 25x284 about 20" long

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You think you have a 26cal addiction then how many different cartridges do you have in that cal? I became a 26cal fan in '76 by shooting a 264wm. I have these in 26cal; 6.5gren, 6.5creed, 260rem, 6.5prc and 264wm. How many firearms do i have currently in those combined? 15 so far and counting! I plan on adding at least 5 more in '25.


To the op, 6.5-06imp will set the world on fire!

ARlife4me said:

You think you have a 26cal addiction then how many different cartridges do you have in that cal? I became a 26cal fan in '76 by shooting a 264wm. I have these in 26cal; 6.5gren, 6.5creed, 260rem, 6.5prc and 264wm. How many firearms do i have currently in those combined? 15 so far and counting! I plan on adding at least 5 more in '25.


To the op, 6.5-06imp will set the world on fire!

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"6.5 Addiction" is the cartridge name.

2 months and 4 pages of inspiration and encouragement, do we have a winner yet?

240 weatherby
25-06 or imp
6.5 Weatherby rpm
270AI
280AI
Good old 06' or 06' imp
As we age, Ones that don't kick as much look more desirable
I LOVE The 204 Ruger for that reason