Re: Vietnam M70 thread
Hi All, Ive been a long time reader on this excellent forum, I enjoy the interesting rifles and content - so keep it up fella's.
I've got intentions to build a reproduction usmc M70 in .30-06, and am a fairway through my researching & setting spec's for the project. Anyone else interested in the Mod70/Unertl combination, should look into Peter Senich's "The One-Round War"& Martin Pegler's "Out of Nowhere", they are both terrific sources of info. Elsewhere precious little seem's to have been recorded.
I Can't afford to be as fussy in the criteria I put upon components (i.e correct s/n range etc) due to their scarecity out here in Australia. I've not yet got a suitable action, these pre-64's are extortionately dear out here, let alone pre-war, let alone correct s/n range examples. So I'm going to be realistic & settle for just a "pre-64". I'd true it up if required, tune trigger,Generally accurize etc if its "clip slotted" all well & good, if not nor will I lose any sleep.
I wont "electropencil" it, or stamp any cartouches that don't belong. I'd fit a fresh barrel, ideally douglas manufacture (but could be local alternative) profiled to winchester "medium-heavy" spec.
There is an ebay seller in the US (silverhill) that does repro stocks & accesories (butplate, swivel rails), so once I know which variant of the pre-64 to inlett it for I'll probably get them to profile a M70 "target/marksman" stock out of a nice tastefully figured peice of timber (less the checkering). I would then give it the full glass bedding/floating treatment.
What I aim to acheive is something that ~ closely ~ approximates the original and in the end will shoot 3/4 moa or better, so probably not unlike Mike Lau's TBA rifles. I'm not adverse to using new parts other than the action which must be the real deal.
The Telescope would likely be one of the leatherwood repro's, which may or may not seem like a "cop out", at some point in the future if the real thing presents itself I can easily rectify the situation, changing it out for an original. anyone know much about the leatherwood copies? (I have seen the other thread but theres not much info in it)
I intend to do much of the fitting, machining, bedding, finishing work myself, should the action, repro mounts, stock etc require it? Does anyone know if there is a Ceracoate type finish that can closely approximate the blue/black shade & lustre of the winchester metalwork from that era, rather than blueing?
I'd be very interested to see or read of anyone else's repro USMC m70 project's that they may have on the go (cattle buyers, eodcam,etc).
If I'm happy with how this turns out, I'd love to build a period correct "fullbore" rifle (i think you call it "palma" over there) based on the 28" barrelled Mod70 pre-64 bullrifle (however in .308, per the rulebook).