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Model 70 and 6x47 Lapua

jakelly

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
  • Dec 31, 2011
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    Norman, OK
    I am hoping for some insight into building a 6x47 Lapua on a push feed model 70. I read one account online stating primers pierced often due to the firing pin diameter. Has anyone chambered a small primer high pressure round on a model 70 with a full size pin? Are smaller pins readily available for conversion? Would those who have done it do it again?
     
    My Remington 700 in 6x47 is setup with a large firing pin which limits me to 37.5 grains of RL17, 3050 FPS in a 26 inch barrel. I have some 5.56 match primers coming to try.

    I am not sure if i would push it much harder anyway as the round has performed well for me out to 1300 so far. I have a new PTG bolt ready for installation but still not sure if I am going to install it.
     
    a small firing pin is an essential part to shooting a cartridge with a small primer. Most good gunsmiths will tell you that the firing pin hole will need to be bushed and a small firing pin installed. It's not that big of a deal to do it right.
     
    jakelley,

    I had my push feed mod 70 re barreled this summer from .308 to 6.5x47 Lapua.
    to speak directly to your inquiry, yes. I had primer piercing problems. Even with light loads cratering was terrible.
    My Lapua brass was a little short for the new chamber, and in vain I had hoped that the problem would vanish on the second firing. I should have just had the firing pin bushed from the start. $60 later I now have a bushed firing pin hole, and a factory firing pin turned down to fit it. All is well. Problem is absolutely solved.
    To address a second point about not wanting to invest in the factory bolt. In my opinion, the factory Winchester bolt is perfectly fine. Just run it. $60 man. Compare that to $??? for an aftermarket bolt? I would be a little more comfortable with an aftermarket firing pin. Even that may just be in my head, but that thing gets dry fired a LOT. Good luck, the Mod 70 is a very capable action.

    -Will
     
    Thanks everyone. Sounds like it is the deal breaker I thought it was. I like the idea of turning and bushing the factory pin, GAP is doing the rebarrel so it should be no problem. I had it done to my 700 6x47, but I wondered about the 70.
     
    I have had a Howa re-barrelled to 6x47 L but havent had the bolt bushed and have the
    original pin. I have put about 100 rounds through it and haven't had any issues so
    far. I have settled on a load of 105gn amax, 38.4gns Adi 2209 and CCI 450 mag primers.

    Should I expect issues with pierced primers? 2209 is H4350.
    I have been up to 39.4gns with no probs.