I picked up an M70 Winchester .375 Safari Express, one of the push feed jobs with the barrel mounted recoil lug. The metal still bears original finish, and virtually no wear, but the previous owner used an aftermarket 'glass stock, and bedded another 2-2 1/2 pounds of shot into the forend, bringing total weight up around 12 pounds sans scope.
Without the 'right' stock, this thing is a shooter, but about useless at this weight and length. Has anyone actually put one of the shorter barreled .375's across the chronograph with useful loads to see how much velocity is actually ending up as flash at the end of the tube? I've been thinking of leaving this one at the original diameter, but cutting it back to 20 inches, having it bead blasted and parkerized, and putting it into a straight combed, 'classic' or 'express' style laminate, and using iron sights. (Yes, the black timber does get a little claustrophobia-inducing tight down here once in awhile).
What would you do? Leave it as is and use the bejeebers out of it, or try and make it a bit more useful?
Without the 'right' stock, this thing is a shooter, but about useless at this weight and length. Has anyone actually put one of the shorter barreled .375's across the chronograph with useful loads to see how much velocity is actually ending up as flash at the end of the tube? I've been thinking of leaving this one at the original diameter, but cutting it back to 20 inches, having it bead blasted and parkerized, and putting it into a straight combed, 'classic' or 'express' style laminate, and using iron sights. (Yes, the black timber does get a little claustrophobia-inducing tight down here once in awhile).
What would you do? Leave it as is and use the bejeebers out of it, or try and make it a bit more useful?
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