375 project on deck

The smith who did my 400 agreed to pt together my next project gun, common as can be this time!

Winchester Classic M70 in 300 Wby, NIB from New Haven (was previously in the classifieds) and a Wilson heavy sporter bbl are off to become a 375 H&H. I have a Win custom shop stock nearly finished and waiting for the barrel channel work when the gun gets back.

Ive already got a good M70 375, but honestly its too damn heavy for my taste. The Winchester factory bbl profile is way too heavy. Im guessing my new gun will come in over a pound lighter. Now I need to either figure out a rebore for the old one, or stain the stock and sell it (any one looking for a M70 375 for a good price??)

Im undecided at the moment, but need to figure that out quick, as to barrel length. Im thinking of going 22-23". Its a bit heavier than your standard factory profile, but lighter than factory 375's. Im shooting (pun intended) for around 8.75-9lbs all up. My current 375 is a bit over 9.5 with scope but very bbl heavy.

Not trying to push you off your new project, but have you considered a fiberglass stock for the older 375?
You could probably drop a pound or so by doing this, more if it was kevlar or carbon fiber.
I understand that this may further aggravate the forward weight of the rifle and upset the balance even further.
Just a thought.

Edit - I went with a 22" barrel with my 375 and I love it.

It actually started life as a synthetic stock from the factory. It was lighter, but yea it was even more muzzle heavy. I almost bought an MPI Dakota style stock for it but I waited too long and someone else bought it.

I have a 376 Steyr being built in a synthetic stock that'll cover my basic needs in a 375.

Looking forward to seeing pictures of your project.

You're absolutely right. We have a M70 stainless/synthetic classic (CRF) in 416 Rem. It's way too muzzle heavy. We cut the barrel to 22" put a 12oz mercury recoil reducer in the stock, so now it balances nicely and since it's a 416 the weight is fine. It's a nice rifle though.

Are you going with a #4 barrel contour on the 375?

Im not sure on the exact contour, i'm not sure how Wilson names their contour, but basically yea its probably about a #3.5-4 heavy sporter range. The factory Winchester is basically a varmint contour.

Coincidentally today my smith sent a text and said he got the mystery 98 squared up last night and will be opening up the bolt face to .496 tonight. The barrel was already threaded for a LR98 so my 376 might be done next week!

On my 416 Taylor project, JD Jones said that he could work all the way down to a barrel wall thickness at the muzzle of .01 if I wanted to go that light on a 416. That would mean than I could go with #4 all the way out to 23" or so. That would be pretty light for a 416, but would be perfect for a 375. My Kimber 375 has what I believe to be #4 contour, and it has a muzzle diameter od .700 @ 24". Where as my Winchester 70 416 Rem has a muzzle diameter of .720 at the muzzle. The Kimber weighs 7lbs 12oz bare and the Winchester weighs 9lbs bare. With scopes they weigh 8lbs 6oz and 9lbs 13oz. Both have fiberglass stocks. So the 375 definitely is better with a lighter contour barrel. I feel like anything over 8.5-9lbs for a total gun weight with scope is heavy for a 375 H&H. And judging by the weight of the Ruger Guide guns, you can get away with a total scoped weight of 8lbs 12oz on a 416 as well.

These are the weights of my rifles, per my scales, rounded to the nearest ounce.
Edited to add: Both M70's have sling stud barrel bands and the Ruger the factory type.

375 H&H, M70 Classic SS, barrel cut to 22", factory sights, stainless Talley bases and screw lock rings, PT&G one-piece bottom metal, McMillan Supergrade mag-fill in recoil/action area with molded in colors, Swarovski 1-6x24 = 10# 2 oz

416 Rem, M70 Classic SS, re-barrel 22", factory sights, stainless Talley bases and screw lock rings, 2-piece factory bottom metal, HS Precision stock, Schmidt & Bender 1.1-4x24 =
9# 14 oz

416 Ruger Alaskan, 20" factory barrel and sights, McMillan Ruger Classic mag-fill in recoil / action area with molded in colors, Alaska Arms rings, Schmidt & Bender 1.5-8x42 = 9# 12 oz

TOBY458 said:

On my 416 Taylor project, JD Jones said that he could work all the way down to a barrel wall thickness at the muzzle of .01 if I wanted to go that light on a 416. That would mean than I could go with #4 all the way out to 23" or so. That would be pretty light for a 416, but would be perfect for a 375. My Kimber 375 has what I believe to be #4 contour, and it has a muzzle diameter od .700 @ 24". Where as my Winchester 70 416 Rem has a muzzle diameter of .720 at the muzzle. The Kimber weighs 7lbs 12oz bare and the Winchester weighs 9lbs bare. With scopes they weigh 8lbs 6oz and 9lbs 13oz. Both have fiberglass stocks. So the 375 definitely is better with a lighter contour barrel. I feel like anything over 8.5-9lbs for a total gun weight with scope is heavy for a 375 H&H. And judging by the weight of the Ruger Guide guns, you can get away with a total scoped weight of 8lbs 12oz on a 416 as well.

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I assume you mean 0.1" thickness at the muzzle? 1/100 of an inch is dang near paper thin and would dent the first time you bumped it on something.

375 Ruger 20" Alaskan, McMillan Hunter stock with mag-fill in recoil / action area, Warne lever mounts, 1.1-4x24 Kahles =
9# 3oz

ldmay375 said:

These are the weights of my rifles, per my scales, rounded to the nearest ounce.
Edited to add: Both M70's have sling stud barrel bands and the Ruger the factory type.

375 H&H, M70 Classic SS, barrel cut to 22", factory sights, stainless Talley bases and screw lock rings, PT&G one-piece bottom metal, McMillan Supergrade mag-fill in recoil/action area with molded in colors, Swarovski 1-6x24 = 10# 2 oz

416 Rem, M70 Classic SS, re-barrel 22", factory sights, stainless Talley bases and screw lock rings, 2-piece factory bottom metal, HS Precision stock, Schmidt & Bender 1.1-4x24 =
9# 14 oz

416 Ruger Alaskan, 20" factory barrel and sights, McMillan Ruger Classic mag-fill in recoil / action area with molded in colors, Alaska Arms rings, Schmidt & Bender 1.5-8x42 = 9# 12 oz

Click to expand...