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

[xsn10s]

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.

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.

 

[slick Nick]

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

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

 

[AkleyFan]

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.