How to make a 45/70 bolt action....

[SHOOTER]

Is there anyway to take a ruger M77 and make it into a 45/70 bolt action? Would I use a 458 M77 African model and still be able to use the barrel? What's the least expensive route?

 

[Snake45]

Can't answer your Qs about .45-70 in M77, but I can tell you that a few years ago, it was somewhat popular to convert Siamese Mausers to .45-70. Apparently they were originally built to take a similar large rimmed cartridge of some sort and the conversion was fairly straightforward, or at least possible. I think at one point, somebody--Century, perhaps?--was even selling pre-converted ones, ready to shoot.

You might be able to find one of those at a gun show or on Gunbroker, etc. They were originally pretty cheap. Dunno what one would go for these days but I'd think it would still be cheaper than buying a M77 .458 African and then having it converted--assuming that could even be done at all.

Others may know more, though. :?

ETA: A quick google turned up this old thread on another board, which has a lot of good information on them. Looks like they were made by Navy Arms.

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?67874-Siamese-Mausers-in-.45-70

 

[SHOOTER]

I don't want a Mauser. I want a ruger or Remington bolt...

 

[Snake45]

Sorry to have wasted your time, then. :?

 

[BlkHawk73]

Wiyh anough $$$$, it's likely possible but probably with the magnum action.

 

[Major T]

As BH73 said, you have enough money a smith somewhere will take on the challenge. I know a guy who could likely do it, he just does not do work for anyone except himself and a few close shooting buddies. (I'm not in that select circle as although we are friends, it is from another venue.) Good luck. If it can be done on a Mauser, it can likely be done on a Ruger. Since the Mauser was originally for a large rimmed cartridge, you just have farther to go. Bolt face, extractor, rails, and magazine and follower to name a few challenges. Jack

 

[pisgah]

The economical way to go would probably be the .450 Marlin. But then, really you'd better off just getting a .458 and downloading it.

 

[SHOOTER]

I guess my questions regard should I go with something a little smaller the then the barrel can be rebored or will a 458lott 458 WM barrel work also. For the handloader and just a lover of the 45/70 , I think a bolt gun would be sweet!

 

[dfletcher]

Is there anyway to take a ruger M77 and make it into a 45/70 bolt action? Would I use a 458 M77 African model and still be able to use the barrel? What's the least expensive route?

I have a Navy Arms bolt action 45/70 made off the SMLE no1 MkIII action - don't recall if the model is the "Summit" or "Frontier" but it's a ball to shoot.

I think a plain old 308 sized bolt face has enough metal on it to work well if opened up a bit and the extractor modified. The challenge is getting the rimmed cases to feed from a magazine. On the Enfield it's done by slanting the rear wall of the magazine so the rims sit on top and in front of the one below. I think you'll end up with a 30.06 length action that can carry probably 2 rounds in an internal magazine.

I've no idea regarding compatibility of barrels - anyone know if putting a No1 45/70 barrel on a 77 possible?

I don't think iit's all that difficult a conversion. If Navy Arms can do it with old Enfields I'd suppose it can be done with a 77 or Remington.

 

[Ruger1nut]

Winchester did a factory run in the old model 70's (pre 64) . It can be done

They are hard rifles to find

Dave

 

[pisgah]

Winchester did a factory run in the old model 70's (pre 64) . It can be done

They are hard rifles to find

Dave

Never heard of that, nor can I find any reference. Care to point us to your source of information?

 

[cruzerlou]

dlfletcher,
I was gonna mention that some company a few years back was making them out of Enfeild actions on the No5 jungle carbine platform .The original No5's wouldn't hold there zero but thats because the Brits were doing lightning cuts in the recevers of the No4's and cutting down the barrels to make the No5's .This Co. was making No5's w/o the lightning cuts and they held there zero just fine .So you could get a No5 copy in .303 Brit, or a No 5 in .45-70 seems to me that that would be one hell of a brush gun for large/dangrous game and they wern't very expencive ether .In ether caliber you got a lot of gun for your money .A good friend of mine has an original No5 J.C. and true to forum it won't hold zero and that thing kicks like a mule ..He also has a MkIII no1 and it's a real sweetheart to shoot ,very accurate ,and the recoil's not bad ether .
Lou

 

[hammie]

@snake45: As my dad used to say, "No good deed goes unpunished".

 

[rangerbob]

I have a 700 Remington in 450 Marlin that was rebarreled by E R Shaw Co. on a 700 SAUM action. No mods were required other than rebarreling. I'm sure a M77 short magnum action would accomodate the 450 Marlin. The 45-70 is another matter with it's big rim. Bob!

 

[SHOOTER]

That sounds cool. But the rim is the problem.

 

[Snake45]

@snake45: As my dad used to say, "No good deed goes unpunished".

:wink:

Story of my life. :wink:

 

[dfletcher]

dlfletcher,
I was gonna mention that some company a few years back was making them out of Enfeild actions on the No5 jungle carbine platform .The original No5's wouldn't hold there zero but thats because the Brits were doing lightning cuts in the recevers of the No4's and cutting down the barrels to make the No5's .This Co. was making No5's w/o the lightning cuts and they held there zero just fine .So you could get a No5 copy in .303 Brit, or a No 5 in .45-70 seems to me that that would be one hell of a brush gun for large/dangrous game and they wern't very expencive ether .In ether caliber you got a lot of gun for your money .A good friend of mine has an original No5 J.C. and true to forum it won't hold zero and that thing kicks like a mule ..He also has a MkIII no1 and it's a real sweetheart to shoot ,very accurate ,and the recoil's not bad ether .
Lou

Navy Arms did a few carbines on the No4 mostly, may have used the No5 also. Turned them into mostly 308 carbines, they used No1 actions also. My 45/70 barrel is stamped with "Navy Arms" although I understand it was made by Gibbs - heck, who knows but it's a fun gun. I found a SMLE buttstock with a conventional recoil pad so it's pretty easy to shoot. Getting it drilled & tapped was kind of a pain but the Williams mount is fine.

I think a 77 or 700 is quite do-able once one solves the magazine issue.

 

[clintsfolly]

Another way is to just think of the 458win mag as a 45/90. I have a 458AccRel (458 Lott class in a standard mag action)And load as a hot45/70 or medium 458win mag with cast bullets. Also have a 450Marlin that in a Savage 110 bolt it just a 45/70 with a belt! Any 45cal bolt is fun gun but you must reload to get the versatility and keep the cost down!! Just more food for your thoughts. Have Fun Clint

 

[Major T]

I'm no smith, but think the .458 W or Lott barrels could be set back enough to solve that issue. A slanted magazine modification solves that problem. Another approach might center around the new Gunsight model and a single stack magazine. I think the rails and bolt face can be worked out. If you are willing to finance, I still think some smith somewhere can and will do the deed. Good luck, Jack